Today seasoned veteran patrollers, Chris and Ted were the designate team to review the lower mtn. They departed at the Griz gate around 11:30a and returned via the lift just after 1:00p. As they worked there way down they were very optimistic on the upper portions, however as they preceded further down, the optimism quickly faded away and more safety concerns/issues arose. The snow is very unconsolidated and on the lower third they would break through down to the ground, rocks, branches and stumps. At the bottom of the bowl there is less than 18” on the ground.
West Ridge and Snow Valley are not even in consideration, the boulders on the Goat Trails breakover and the willow are the blocking factors. Off of West Ridge there have been multiple wet roller ball slides everywhere.
In the interest of not getting skunked this season, we intend to come up with a plan and provide a safe but limited amount of skiing and riding experience on the lower mtn. That being said, we have a regulatory requirement from the USFS in that we must be able to evacuate stranded skiers/riders from the bottom of the bowl by some other means besides the chair lift. We need to be able to get a snowcat and the tour cat down to the bottom of Griz and more importantly back up again.
The PLAN – once we reach an agreement that the conditions are ready (late next week) and if we can effectively evacuate people out via the road, we will open Griz Gate for a limited time in the mornings for “corn snow” skiing, then closing just before the surface conditions get rutted and sloppy. This provides and maintains a quality ski/ride experience for the following days and future guests.
However, the lower mtn will remain closed at least through this weekend. Early next week the patrol will re-evaluate the conditions as this weeks forecast is to remain unseasonably warm, it could rain, get very cold and then snow again this weekend.
Another update this weekend.
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9 Responses to Lower Mtn Update (03/21/12)
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I think you should throw that one past the team at Mountain Adventure office next to the Cafe’!
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Hi Jim,
Hey, it was a pleasure to meet you last weekend and I hope you understand my passion for skiing and Bear Valley. Its a good place with good people.
Of course, I hope circumstances allow a limited Grizzly opening but I realize it is what it is and we my not get Griz this year but I had a thought that I’d like to run past you. In lieu of no Griz chairlift, how about hiking access out of Bad Boy/Horse Canyon and Snowshoe Thompson areas? What are the operational logistics of that? Does your USPS permit allow? What about a checkin/out type deal at a gate at the top?? Yes, put the skins on and hike out on the access road??? It’s good spring skiing down that way too (:-).
It’s just my crazy mind thinking out loud…
Bob Rynd
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Hi Bruce, its no secret that this has been a challenging and unsual season! Granted some of my decisions may be short sighted on our part and on other days we obviously become our own worst enemey. However, we have had to take certain steps to preserve the opportunity to fight another day.
As to your comment on the Village F&B, we always try to have at least on opportunity open in the village, if Pizza or the Grizzly Lounge are closed during the day, the General Store is always open. The General Store makes the best deli sandwiches in the Village, they also serve beer and wine. Except for a few days around the owners recent passing & memorial service, I am confident in saying as long as there is power, there is always someplace to eat and drink in the village from 9a to 9p(ish).
As to March Madness, I bet I passed by the different TV’s around the day lodge throught the month and saw at least 20 to 25 games showing. Could we have missed a game here and there, absolutely, was there a day or two where we missed the mark, definintely, but next time, all you have to do is ask and i am sure we would accommodate your TV request for your viewing pleasures! After all we do claim to be the friendliest mountain! Only 19 days left so get out there and make’em count – Jim
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Hi Scott – Thanks for your comments, I hope you understand that this is more of a PG&E issue than an actual Bear Valley issue. As such, I will be meeting with PG&E this spring to discuss how they intend to provide more reliable service for next season. Granted our lifts that were built in 60′s & 70′s and need to be upgraded (or replaced) neither which comes at no small cost. In the meantime we will always error on the side of caution & safety which takes into consideration PG&G’s estimated time of restoration, time of day, temps, wind, wind chill as well as precipitation. These are the primary factors we use to evaluate whether we open or close our lifts during a power outage.
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This past weekend was great. The groomer runs on Saturday were fun and then Sunday was a great powder day.
In previous post you mentioned that you don’t groom during the day for safety reasons. While I understand and appreciate your concern for rider safety, I just wondered how the other resorts manage grooming during the day. As for the person who ducked under the rope and ran into the groomer, I am assuming you pulled his pass and banned him from the mountain.
I was looking at the improvement plans and was excited about the potential. I couldn’t help but think about why not improve some of the things you already have. If my memory is correct, one saturday this year, only one lift was running most of the day. Also, given the tough conditions this year my wife and I had some shorter days on the mountain and tried to stop in the lodge for a couple of drinks and food to only find nothing opened. I would have been really dissapointed to take a trail called lunch run to only find that their is no lunch. One day the pizza place was open during what I beleive to be outside their normal hours and we had a great time with the bartender and the other guests. Did someone say “friendliest mountain in the west”? I have to ask, no march madness games on in Monte Wolfe saloon, really?
Again, we have had a great time this season and really appreciate everything that the staff at bear valley has done to make sure all their guests had an enjoyable time during an “interesting” season. My comments are meant only to show that you might have more guests that would be interested in hanging out (and spending money) if their were some very slight modifications to existing services.
See you this weekend.
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Perhaps you should focus on your power problems, and the numerous other issues instead of whether or not a few of the locals and patrollers get skunked from the lower mountain
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Great job with the Blog! Thank you! It is nice that you keep such a great attitude considering the crazy season… Attitude is everything and we appreciate you!
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Thanks Jim,
This news lifts my spirits and hope to view the Griz Bowl from the chairlift this season. It’s been such a great view for so many years I would miss it.
With fingers crossed,
Aaron -
Thanks for the update!