Powder Mountain

[Augie]

I had essentially given up trying to get management on board with the kiting thing. New owners and essentially a "who cares"attitude toward the few kiters who showed up didn't make it a top priority for management. Well, on Sunday morning the Ski Patrol director cornered me and said that he was asked if the kiters who were there on Saturday had ski passes. He said that when he went to talk to the kiters (Marty and someone else) they were very polite and helpful (Thanks guys) but they didn't know anything about the pass requirement . To make a long story short Powder Mountain wants to come up with some kind of a kiters ski pass and designate an area for that purpose. I don't know if they realize the liabilities that come with charging a fee such as first aid, search and rescue and end of the day closing. I volunteered my services as both a kiter and patroller to help expedite this matter and I will keep everyone informed when something concrete develops. By the way, last Friday was perfect-15mph steady uphill beeezes with downwind runs of probably 45 mph and only 2 of us there. I wish I had a GPS!

[Marty Lowe]

Augie,

Thanks for the effort you put into this.

My main question is,
are they also going to have all the snowmobiles buy a pass??
Not to be difficult, I know it's private property, but what's the difference?

We could also keep it quiet,
less kiters, less problems.
(sorry, I'm powder selfish)

-Marty

Saturday was good
2 hour session on 13M,
and still home by 1:00, for honeydues.

[Augie]

On Sunday they were talking about designating a kite area and keeping the snowmobiles out. I am really just a fly on the wall here and do not make the decisions. I am just offering some advice to them since they know I kite and also have worked there since 1985. No way to keep it quiet now since it is on a public forum. I am just trying to keep it from getting screwed up since I am a powder hog also but dollars can be made. I hope they realize they have responsibilities when they start charging.

[Marty Lowe]

I don't have a problem paying my share,
Just hope they offer something for paying.

A ride/lift pass to the top would be better than
kiting off the parking lot anyway.

We have not been past the towers yet.
does wind other than south, south west, west,
work on top?

-Marty

[Augie]

Definitely the wind gets stronger and easier to grab if you go to the far ridge from almost any direction. You are almost direrctly above Cobabe Canyon at that point. The worst wind direction is north but even going past the far ridge should fix that. We just haven't tried it much yet. I was there Wednesday with a West wind and had difficulty staying upwind because the wind was blowing downhill. However if you get a north wind just drive up Monte Cristo to just before the snowmobile parking lot at mile marker 36. Walk away from the road about 1/4 mile to the north and there is a HUGE bowl. I spent 51/2 hours there 2 Fridays ago and it was great. I think there is more terrain to explore just a little further north than that also.

[Marty Lowe]

However if you get a north wind just drive up Monte Cristo to just before the snowmobile parking lot at mile marker 36. Walk away from the road about 1/4 mile to the north and there is a HUGE bowl.

Thanks a ton.
Anything closer to home is a treat.
I can only imagine the possibilities
with a snowmachine.

See ya soon.

I have a 06 Slingshot Turbo Diesel "bow"
kite to demo tomorrow.
Looks like Skyline may be the call.

-Marty

[jason morton]

Marty-
I really want to check out PM, but have no clue how to get there, where to ride, what wind direction works best, or how to access weather forcasts for the area? How do you decide on PM vs. Skyline. Do you ever ride Strawberry or the PC dump? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've been working way too much and need a kite fix, but need to be smart with my free time and make educated choices on where to ride. Thanks- Jason

[Augie]

You have to have 4 wheel drive to get to the Hidden Lake parking lot. From there you can see the area where we ride off to the Northeast-look for the microwave tower. As far as where to ride just check this same thread further back. Mark has some detailed maps. Check yesterdays posts on wind forecasting. I have only been to Skyline once-the drive kills me and thats why I usually go to PM. I have never ridden the PC dump but have gone to Strawberry. The snowmobile parking lots by Daniels summit have better wind than Strawberry.

[Marty Lowe]

Marty-
How do you decide on PM vs. Skyline. Do you ever ride Strawberry or the PC dump? Thanks- Jason

For me it's all about,
Wind forcast
close drive
snow conditions
possibility of whiteout

If the storms are in the north
I do Skyline
If its clear enough, and S,SW wind
PM is the call

If I was to do PC or Strawberry,
I may as well go to Skyline
From where I live

-Marty