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Bio: Matt WinterHome: Incline Village, NV |
Hello skiers and snowboarders, and welcome to the '97/'98 ski season. There has been much anticipation by everyone
for this season to get started, what with all the media attention to EL NINO. Here in Lake Tahoe things are off to
a slow start. We have been so starved for the good stuff that hiking for a few runs a day has seemed like paradise.
Now that some ski areas have opened, we remember what a joy it is to ride a comfortable quad, even if the mountains
have all opened with minimal coverage and selections of runs. Here in the Tahoe region Boreal, Heavenly Valley,
Alpine Meadows, and Northstar-At-Tahoe are the only resorts that have opened for the season.
Tony Peterson and I took the opportunity to ski an early-season
day at Northstar, and we had a great time of it. After an early breakfast rendevous we were on our way to the hill.
We arrived at about 8:30 and went to the activity center to pick up our tickets. To our surprise, we were issued a press-pass
version of Northstar's innovative Vertical Plus. Vertical Plus is a wrist band that can be used for discounts on lift tickets,
direct lift access, member only lines, and rewards on purchases throughout the resort. The Vertical Plus program is also available
at Northstar's sister resorts, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Bear Mountain.
We then made our way to the marketing department for some quick introductions.
There we met Judy Daniels-Public Relations Director and her assistant Laura Abbey (who coordinated our day ahead of time with Tony),
who gave us the scoop on some exciting new additions for the '97 season. To start with, this is Northstar's 25th anniversary, and
to celebrate there will be parties, giveaways and 1972-style fun (including 1972 drink specials in their bars). Northstar will be
opening 200 acres of formerly out-of-bounds, off-piste terrain on the north side of Lookout Mountain. This terrain features a 50%
pitch with an 1,100 vertical foot drop. At the bottom, skiers and boarders will be transported back to the mid-mountain area via snowcat.
Northstar has also purchased a new, state-of-the-art "Scorpion" for grooming halfpipes, as well as one new winch-cat to use on some of the
steeper slopes. Each day, the grooming staff will select one to three runs to groom after 12 noon for fresh afternoon tracks.
Normally there are over 2,400 skiable acres and 63 different runs to choose from,
however since it was very early-season, we were limited to three chairlifts and a handful of runs. We started out by taking the Big Springs
Express Gondola from the base area up to the mid-mountain day lodge. We then rode the Arrow Express Quad to the top of Main Street run.
This was the only intermediate run open on the hill. The sun was shining and the snow quality was superb, a mix of machine-made and natural
snow, groomed to perfection. We took some time out to capture a few video images of the run, and even talked with several hot young local skiers.
These kids were enthusiastic and excited about the upcoming season, and their natural joy infected us as well. We even found a small jump to
catch some air off of and were joined by these guys for some foolish fun. We skied a dozen or so runs on Main Street and decided to try the only
other lift running at the mid-mountain. As we pulled up to the Bear Paw Double chair, we could see a snow-play/instruction area for younger
skiers off to the side. From the top of Bear Paw, we had our choice of three short, but immaculately groomed runs. We played on these runs for
a bit and decided to head back up Arrow Express for a few more turns.
>Even though we only skied about 6,200 vertical feet (confirmed by our Vertical Plus
wrist-bands at the end of the day), the quality of the runs that were open made for a very enjoyable early-season day. I cannot say enough about
the people we met at Northstar, from the attendant who helps you load into the gondola, to the lift operator shoveling snow onto the ramp at the
top of Arrow Express, everywhere you look on this mountain you see smiling, happy faces. We were not able to enjoy everything that Northstar
has to offer since Mother Nature hasn't turned her full attention to Tahoe yet. That will happen soon enough (in fact as I write this we are
awaiting the approach of a nice looking storm, hoping for freshies tomorrow), and as we left the hill, I couldn't help but look forward to my
next trip to Northstar. Soon the hills will be PHAT and our souls will once again become attuned to the rhythms of winter. Until next time
sliders, PRAY FOR SNOW!!!
Northstar will be opening 200 acres of formerly out-of-bounds, off-piste terrain on the north side of Lookout Mountain.
in fact as I write this we are
awaiting the approach of a nice looking storm, hoping for freshies tomorrow
Message Matt's Mailbox
|
Hello skiers and snowboarders, and welcome to the '97/'98 ski season. There has been much anticipation by everyone
for this season to get started, what with all the media attention to EL NINO. Here in Lake Tahoe things are off to
a slow start. We have been so starved for the good stuff that hiking for a few runs a day has seemed like paradise.
Now that some ski areas have opened, we remember what a joy it is to ride a comfortable quad, even if the mountains
have all opened with minimal coverage and selections of runs. Here in the Tahoe region Boreal, Heavenly Valley,
Alpine Meadows, and Northstar-At-Tahoe are the only resorts that have opened for the season. Tony Peterson and I took the opportunity to ski an early-season
day at Northstar, and we had a great time of it. After an early breakfast rendevous we were on our way to the hill.
We arrived at about 8:30 and went to the activity center to pick up our tickets. To our surprise, we were issued a press-pass
version of Northstar's innovative Vertical Plus. Vertical Plus is a wrist band that can be used for discounts on lift tickets,
direct lift access, member only lines, and rewards on purchases throughout the resort. The Vertical Plus program is also available
at Northstar's sister resorts, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Bear Mountain. We then made our way to the marketing department for some quick introductions.
There we met Judy Daniels-Public Relations Director and her assistant Laura Abbey (who coordinated our day ahead of time with Tony),
who gave us the scoop on some exciting new additions for the '97 season. To start with, this is Northstar's 25th anniversary, and
to celebrate there will be parties, giveaways and 1972-style fun (including 1972 drink specials in their bars). Northstar will be
opening 200 acres of formerly out-of-bounds, off-piste terrain on the north side of Lookout Mountain. This terrain features a 50%
pitch with an 1,100 vertical foot drop. At the bottom, skiers and boarders will be transported back to the mid-mountain area via snowcat.
Northstar has also purchased a new, state-of-the-art "Scorpion" for grooming halfpipes, as well as one new winch-cat to use on some of the
steeper slopes. Each day, the grooming staff will select one to three runs to groom after 12 noon for fresh afternoon tracks. Normally there are over 2,400 skiable acres and 63 different runs to choose from,
however since it was very early-season, we were limited to three chairlifts and a handful of runs. We started out by taking the Big Springs
Express Gondola from the base area up to the mid-mountain day lodge. We then rode the Arrow Express Quad to the top of Main Street run.
This was the only intermediate run open on the hill. The sun was shining and the snow quality was superb, a mix of machine-made and natural
snow, groomed to perfection. We took some time out to capture a few video images of the run, and even talked with several hot young local skiers.
These kids were enthusiastic and excited about the upcoming season, and their natural joy infected us as well. We even found a small jump to
catch some air off of and were joined by these guys for some foolish fun. We skied a dozen or so runs on Main Street and decided to try the only
other lift running at the mid-mountain. As we pulled up to the Bear Paw Double chair, we could see a snow-play/instruction area for younger
skiers off to the side. From the top of Bear Paw, we had our choice of three short, but immaculately groomed runs. We played on these runs for
a bit and decided to head back up Arrow Express for a few more turns.
>Even though we only skied about 6,200 vertical feet (confirmed by our Vertical Plus
wrist-bands at the end of the day), the quality of the runs that were open made for a very enjoyable early-season day. I cannot say enough about
the people we met at Northstar, from the attendant who helps you load into the gondola, to the lift operator shoveling snow onto the ramp at the
top of Arrow Express, everywhere you look on this mountain you see smiling, happy faces. We were not able to enjoy everything that Northstar
has to offer since Mother Nature hasn't turned her full attention to Tahoe yet. That will happen soon enough (in fact as I write this we are
awaiting the approach of a nice looking storm, hoping for freshies tomorrow), and as we left the hill, I couldn't help but look forward to my
next trip to Northstar. Soon the hills will be PHAT and our souls will once again become attuned to the rhythms of winter. Until next time
sliders, PRAY FOR SNOW!!!
|
Northstar will be opening 200 acres of formerly out-of-bounds, off-piste terrain on the north side of Lookout Mountain. |
in fact as I write this we are awaiting the approach of a nice looking storm, hoping for freshies tomorrow |
|
|
Message Matt's Mailbox
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