TR: Chestnut 1/21/2007

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 05:50 PM

Sunday I ventured out to the finest resort in Illinois, Chestnut Mountain.
It was snowing like crazy.

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 06:05 PM

They were predicting snow for Sunday, and this time they got the location right. The night before, my brother called me and invited himself along. Your wise "no friends on a powder day" words, echoed in my head.

"Do you have your skis?" I asked.
"I will have to go get them from Mom's house. We can do it first thing in the morning."
"No," I replied. "Get them tonight."
"OK. When do you want to leave? 6am?"
"Yes. 6am," I confirmed. "Call me at 5:30 when you are ready to leave."
"OK."
"Tomorrow promises to be the best day of the season," I told him. "You have to be ready when I leave if you want to go with."

I pulled out of the driveway at 6am sharp. Alone.

My phone rang at 6:50am. It was my brother with some lame excuse about not having gone to get his skis and being up until 3 the night before... Whatever.

At around 7:30 my buddy Brent called asking where I was going. He was headed out to ski with his daughter, son, and his son's girlfriend. I told him the weatherpeople had picked Chestnut for the heaviest snow, but he could go where he wanted, and to have fun.

A few minutes later he called me back to confirm the directions to get there. I gave him the directions and told him how carppy the roads were. For the last 20 miles, it didn't even look like the snowplows had even been by. It a was challenging drive in the 3, but I made it.

I got there so early I got an even better parking spot than we got with the van on Monday.

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 06:07 PM

I got out there as fast as I could and quickly moved over to the steeper slopes. This photo is an unusual sight. Fresh tracks in the midwest.

some of those are mine

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 06:12 PM

There was about 3 inches on the ground when I got there and it snowed hard all day. I pounded out as many runs as I could while waiting for my friend to show up. I had an especially good time jumping over the crest shown in this photo. You can see a train rolling along the river too. mmmm... smells like commerce!

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 06:19 PM

I took this picture (and all these pictures) from the lift on my way back up. Thank goodness for the Chicago Bears. They kept the lift lines short on this awesome day.

I rode for about 2 hours and by then the pow was pretty much all played out. There was still fresh on the edges and in more creative spots though. I did something hopping over a tiny mogul on one of the more tracked out sections and jazzed up my back. I picked through the pow for 2 more hours anyhow.

I still had not seen my friend or his family. I was starting to get worried. Of course not worried enough to stop riding or anything.

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 06:24 PM

Eventually my phone rang. It was my buddy. He told me he was in the bar and I joined him for a beer and a slice of pizza.

I asked him what time he got there and he said 10am (1 hour after opening). I said I was sorry to hear that. I asked him where he had been, and he said on the easy slopes with his family. I again said I was sorry to hear that.

After I slugged down my beer and a slice, I hopped back out on the slopes.

Apparently, they had so much snow they were able to make some snow sculptures. They even made one of me.

RenegadeRick · 01-22-2007, 06:28 PM

After lunch, my friend and his son ditched the girls and headed over to the steeper part of the hill. We took a few runs together and I showed them where they could still find some pow.

I got fresh snow EVERY run that day, but my back was screaming at me, so after about 2 more hours I headed home. Today I can hardly stand upright. It was so worth it.

amydalayna · 01-22-2007, 07:32 PM

i love how football keeps people inside. superbowl sunday is one of the best days on the mtn.

looks like you had fun. yr brother must be bummed he didn't get his act together.