Arizona/New Mexico 2021-2022 Four Corners Ski Resorts/Conditions/Meetups

[Core2]

There are also direct flights from PHX to Telluride now. When I checked prices round trip was like $350 so not too bad.

 

[raisingarizona]

There’s some more affordable lodging options in Rico as long as you don’t mind the commute.

local skiing is really good right now. If you like your bumps tight and firm then Blackjack is hitting. For more open and round lines White Lightning, the trees and Casino are fire. If you want fast groomer rippers then Volcano and Ridge to Agassiz are where it’s at! Watch those ice patches, I almost blew a corner on top of Waterfall which would have sent me into the trees at 45-50 mph. I saved it but I practically blew my ACL torquing the shit out of my leg. It’s best to take it easy on your first couple of laps, figure your lines out and where the good snow is before really going for it. Bone apple tit my friends!

 

[Jerez]

Santa Fe got 6" on Wednesday and a surprise 3" overnight last night. Bluebird skies and fresh snow!
They have let most all runs bump up.

 

[Frank Ricard]

There’s some more affordable lodging options in Rico as long as you don’t mind the commute.

local skiing is really good right now. If you like your bumps tight and firm then Blackjack is hitting. For more open and round lines White Lightning, the trees and Casino are fire. If you want fast groomer rippers then Volcano and Ridge to Agassiz are where it’s at! Watch those ice patches, I almost blew a corner on top of Waterfall which would have sent me into the trees at 45-50 mph. I saved it but I practically blew my ACL torquing the shit out of my leg. It’s best to take it easy on your first couple of laps, figure your lines out and where the good snow is before really going for it. Bone apple tit my friends!

I actually might have done that yesterday at SB - first run down on the new Mantra's - just taking one of the Blue's down, it was nothing special - felt good and I leaned into the skis and started picking up the pace - and caught an edge on some ice I didn't think would be there (brand new skis without a detune to the front edges as well... I should have taken it easier). Went down and heard a pop, twice. Knee is swollen to all hell and is giving out when I try to put weight on it right now. Pretty bummed. No bruising though, so I am hoping its a bad sprain or meniscus, not ACL/MCL.

 

[RobSN]

I actually might have done that yesterday at SB - first run down on the new Mantra's - just taking one of the Blue's down, it was nothing special - felt good and I leaned into the skis and started picking up the pace - and caught an edge on some ice I didn't think would be there (brand new skis without a detune to the front edges as well... I should have taken it easier). Went down and heard a pop, twice. Knee is swollen to all hell and is giving out when I try to put weight on it right now. Pretty bummed. No bruising though, so I am hoping its a bad sprain or meniscus, not ACL/MCL.

Oh gawd - been there done that - on Volcano on 3/24/21 which ended my season last year, funnily enough ... on brand new skis. Probable meniscus tear. Physio and cortisone shots have me back on skis, but I'm more tentative than I used to be and when the offending knee gave a twinge at the top of Upper Ridge on Wednesday, my skiing went to pot until I got down to somewhere I could carefully evaluate myself. Fortunately, for me on Wednesday, all seemed ok, but my commiserations because it is not fun.

 

[RobSN]

I almost blew a corner on top of Waterfall

Ok, I admit it, I don't know where Waterfall is ... my suspicion is that it's an old name that the long-term folks use ... wanna clue me in? I hit ice last week on Northstar thoroughly unexpectedly which certainly gave the "Vibe stop" on my Renoun's a run for their money, plus a spike in the old heartbeat!!!

 

[raisingarizona]

I actually might have done that yesterday at SB - first run down on the new Mantra's - just taking one of the Blue's down, it was nothing special - felt good and I leaned into the skis and started picking up the pace - and caught an edge on some ice I didn't think would be there (brand new skis without a detune to the front edges as well... I should have taken it easier). Went down and heard a pop, twice. Knee is swollen to all hell and is giving out when I try to put weight on it right now. Pretty bummed. No bruising though, so I am hoping its a bad sprain or meniscus, not ACL/MCL.

Ice and elevate!

 

[raisingarizona]

Ok, I admit it, I don't know where Waterfall is ... my suspicion is that it's an old name that the long-term folks use ... wanna clue me in? I hit ice last week on Northstar thoroughly unexpectedly which certainly gave the "Vibe stop" on my Renoun's a run for their money, plus a spike in the old heartbeat!!!

It’s the steeper roll over on Lower Ridge.

Today wasn’t nearly as good for me. It was much colder and firmer up there. I did 20 or so laps yesterday and I’m finding my needed recovery time has just changed. I can’t really do repeats back to back anymore. Ugh, getting old is interesting.

 

[Core2]

A couple years ago some guy told me the rocks at waterfall (just below the GCX top terminal) was a "power point" where the native medicine men would go to pray because it had extra energy or some something lol. It always feels good when I pull some negative g's going through there is all I know.

 

[RobSN]

It’s the steeper roll over on Lower Ridge.

Today wasn’t nearly as good for me. It was much colder and firmer up there. I did 20 or so laps yesterday and I’m finding my needed recovery time has just changed. I can’t really do repeats back to back anymore. Ugh, getting old is interesting.

Ah, of course - excellent name for it. I am frequently concerned going down it that some teenager on a snowboard is going to straight line it. I usually ‘release’ about half way down but e.g. on Wednesday a kid shot past me with only a foot or so to spare, and I was going at a fair clip ...

Net result is that I usually stop at the pitch just before the waterfall to look for a clear run ...

And, yep, on the getting older stuff ...

 

[teejaywhy]

A couple years ago some guy told me the rocks at waterfall (just below the GCX top terminal) was a "power point" where the native medicine men would go to pray because it had extra energy or some something lol. It always feels good when I pull some negative g's going through there is all I know

Back in the day, (early 80's) that pitch seemed steeper. I think they may have softened it at sometime. Or perhaps my memory has exaggerated it, haha. For sure it wasn't kept groomed. We would stop at the top and survey our options. Once we watched a guy huck it at speed, flying over the moguls to the bottom and sticking the landing.. Whoa.

 

[raisingarizona]

A couple years ago some guy told me the rocks at waterfall (just below the GCX top terminal) was a "power point" where the native medicine men would go to pray because it had extra energy or some something lol. It always feels good when I pull some negative g's going through there is all I know.

That right hander corner just below the GCX top terminal on Ridge is named after a guy that lost an edge and went flying into the boulders just left of the rope line. It might be Herbys Corner but I can’t remember exactly. I worked ski patrol one season in 03/04 and we had to learn all of the old names for every nook and cranny.

 

[Frank Ricard]

Oh gawd - been there done that - on Volcano on 3/24/21 which ended my season last year, funnily enough ... on brand new skis. Probable meniscus tear. Physio and cortisone shots have me back on skis, but I'm more tentative than I used to be and when the offending knee gave a twinge at the top of Upper Ridge on Wednesday, my skiing went to pot until I got down to somewhere I could carefully evaluate myself. Fortunately, for me on Wednesday, all seemed ok, but my commiserations because it is not fun.

Saw my PT this evening... He thinks it's a meniscus tear and probably will need a scope/surgery, but MCL, LCL and ACL seem ok, so dodged that bullet. Going to a specialist Monday for a second opinion and probably imaging.

 

[RobSN]

@Frank Ricard I hope you’re younger than me (I was 66 when I went down on Volcano) so that you’ll have a faster recovery but be warned: it was a couple of months before I could do much with my knee, although I was able to bike (straight up and down) after a few weeks. Fingers crossed your recovery is much faster. All the best. Oh, fyi, I still use a knee brace as a back up- don’t know if I really need it …

 

[Frank Ricard]

Thanks for the kind thoughts, @RonSN.

I am 39, so not young enough that it's automatically a fast recovery, but young enough my body still reacts well to PT... Although I will say I had elbow tendonitis last yr that bothered me for 9 damn months, haha.

 

[raisingarizona]

Thanks for the kind thoughts, @RonSN.

I am 39, so not young enough that it's automatically a fast recovery, but young enough my body still reacts well to PT... Although I will say I had elbow tendonitis last yr that bothered me for 9 damn months, haha.

What were you doing to flare up the tendonitis?

 

[Frank Ricard]

What were you doing to flare up the tendonitis?

Demo'ing a room in my house.

 

[raisingarizona]

Demo'ing a room in my house.

So repetitive smashing of stuff?

I got it real bad years ago after a season working on a forestry crew using a chainsaw all summer. It was very painful.

Sorry to hear about your knee. I’ve had a bunch of partial tears and various strains in both my knees but I’ve never had surgery. Hopefully it’s not as bad as your PT thinks it might be. My general rule is to wait and see how it feels after 5 to 7 days.

 

[Frank Ricard]

So repetitive smashing of stuff?

I got it real bad years ago after a season working on a forestry crew using a chainsaw all summer. It was very painful.

Yeah, and I think the constant beating of the hammer on the wrecking and crow bar didn't do me any favors. My elbow had to slow down all that force and vibration. That's just a guess though.

Man, chainsaws might be one of my favorite tools to use, haha. Sorry to hear about how that summer effected you!

 

[teejaywhy]

Window of opportunity has opened for me next week. Was thinking three days at Purg, but I think I will give Wolf Creek a shot. Never skied there. Couple days there and a couple more at Purgatory.
Really hoping the predicted refresh happens this week!