Bristol Conditions

[Johnny V.]

Another armchair update. U/L Rocket, Nova and Shooting Star are opening today. The new Launching Pad N will open this AM. They are blowing snow on Upper Galaxy, Lower Meteor and Outer Orbit. As a long time passholder, there's lots of things I can criticize Bristol about, but the Fullers are not afraid to turn on the snow guns.

I plan on going tomorrow-I'll let the new snow settle in a bit and hope the crowds aren't as bad on a Sunday.

 

[Johnny V.]

OK, finally got my butt down to the hill. Skied yesterday with my two older granddaughters. Crowds weren't too bad although they got a little heavier in the early afternoon-it was fine as the girls were ready to quit. Open trails were Upper/Lower Rocket, the trails that make up the "Loop", Shooting Star, Nova and the new Launching Pad-we had to give the new covered magic carpet and the regraded slope a try. Conditions weren't bad except for Upper Rocket which was pretty skied off.

Skied today-the Comet detach was closed on opening because of overnight icing but opened up around 10:30. Used my slalom skies instead of my tired 88's as they are much better on ice. Actually it warmed up and created nice creamy very edgeable conditions and we even had some sun. Not many people and sun made for a very nice second day. See how the rain looks for the next couple of days and it looks like we will have cold nights in the next few day to get more stuff open.

 

[Johnny V.]

Made a few runs today on my way back from Branchport to Rochester. Conditions were "firm"-glad I had my slalom skis in the locker especially on Upper Rocket. Gray and overcast made for flat light and I left my ski jacket in Rochester- layers with fleece jacket on top offers little wind protection. Good news-they are blowing snow on the top half of the hill-Comet, Upper Galaxy and Milky Way. Pond looks pretty full and with the upcoming cold temps, they should get more terrain open in the next few days. Should make for better Christmas/New Years coverage than last year.

 

[Andy_ROC]

Made a few runs today on my way back from Branchport to Rochester. Conditions were "firm"-glad I had my slalom skis in the locker especially on Upper Rocket. Gray and overcast made for flat light and I left my ski jacket in Rochester- layers with fleece jacket on top offers little wind protection. Good news-they are blowing snow on the top half of the hill-Comet, Upper Galaxy and Milky Way. Pond looks pretty full and with the upcoming cold temps, they should get more terrain open in the next few days. Should make for better Christmas/New Years coverage than last year.

Thank you for the update. It's been a rough handful of years especially Christmas. Hopefully this year is much better for them.

 

[Johnny V.]

Sunny but cold. Still limited to U/L Rocket, the Loop, Nova and Shooting Star.........but.......lots of snowmaking on Comet, Outer Orbit, Sunset, Milky Way, Upper Galaxy and Lower Meteor plus the beginner area. We should have most of those trails open sometime tomorrow. Much better holiday weeks upcoming than the past couple of years. Conditions today weren't bad, although I was glad I used my slalom skis, especially on Upper Rocket. I got out around 9:30 and skied until about 11:30-started to get busy due the to limited terrain and the expected Sunday crowd.

 

[Johnny V.]

Got down late after having my truck serviced in Canadaigua. New trails are Comet/ Outer Orbit and Upper Infinity. Big piles on Sunset. Upper Galaxy, Lower Meteor, Milky Way and Challenger with guns running on Southern Cross and other spots. Comet was actually pretty good for the first day-not too many marbles and the Loop and Nova were nice. Heard complaints about Rocket, but with sharp slalom skis it was somewhat edgeable. Smoking turkey breasts for Christmas eve, so nothing tomorrow, but I may ski Christmas day during the lull between presents and dinner if my older granddaughters want to.

 

[Johnny V.]

Skied today with my two older granddaughters (14 and 12 1/2). They have no problem keeping up with me, but I have no problem keeping up with them, so they are OK skiing with an old guy (at least for now).

Kudos to Bristol for cranking the snow guns given the opportunity with the cold weather! Best Christmas week I've seen in a long time. Open trails are: The Loop, Nova, Shooting Star, Sunset, Southern Cross, Challenger, Comet, Outer Orbit, Upper/Lower Rocket, Upper Galaxy, Lower Meteor,Upper Infinity plus all the connectors. Today even with marginal snowmaking conditions, they had guns going on Lower Galaxy, and Upper Northstar.Crowds weren't too bad-the usual slowdowns on the Loop, especially as the day went on, but plenty of room to maneuver on most of the steeper stuff. The new beginner area with the regraded slopes and covered magic carpet looked busy. Looks to be a financially good start for the season, and even with the predicted warmup, there should be enough snow to get them through until the next cold spell.

 

[Johnny V.]

First day since last Thursday (felt a little under the weather Friday and Saturday) and didn't want to deal with the rain yesterday morning as I wanted to watch the Bills game. They've lost a lot of snow-back to green and mud apart from the slopes. Only closed slopes that had been open were Southern Cross and Nova. Thin spots and brown in places, but I think they are in decent shape until the upcoming cold weather arrives.

 

[Johnny V.]

Good news-no more closed trails from yesterday to today. Got out late and it was spring conditions-at least there was some sun. Back tonight to take part in the torchlight parade down Rocket-always an adventure going down what is usually a pretty bumped up slope carrying two highway flares duct taped to old bamboo with no other illumination. Skiing tomorrow with the two older granddaughters then bring on the cold temps!

 

[Johnny V.]

Did the torchlight parade last night-one of the better times I've done it. No real moguls as there have been some years and no rain. Took about 25 of us around 11 minutes to decend Rocket followed by an excellent fireworks display. Our oldest granddaughter (14) was hesitant this year, but wants to do it next year. Head back later today with my wife and the two oldest granddaughters-think snow instead of rain!