Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board The big ski

Hi Cayden and I went to Mammoth yesterday -12 as we drove into Toms Place did reach 20 by the time we got off 203 into town.

Bought the season pass when it was first offered some years ago and never used it enough, spent more time in Utah or everytime I went to Mammoth the top runs would be closed. Last year never picked up the pass.

Doug had a nice set of gear he said I should try, duct tape on the right ski with an arrow pointing to the left.Width of the ski about half the width of a snow board and longer than the 215 SG's I used in the old days. Bndings I thought said LOOK but by the end of the day figured out they said lock, didn't matter any way he had them set to 10 so I wouldn't need to worry about them coming off. He had tuned one side so that explained the duct tape and said load the front or was it the back since the ski had the same shape front or back.

Cayden kept asking if I know how to ski on the drive up quite honestly I don't but with the Avi lung, probe, shovel, beacon,helment, Go pro and IPhone with all the apps I will be looking good well maybe as good as the boarders you know how they dress.I call it street clothes not an outfit. I noticed two boarders doing what they do at night fixing the screws that hold the boot plate onto the board Seems like we can go to the Moon /Mars someone could fix the screw system!!

No one ever went over to chair 15 so that was the target. Parking lot was full but Doug said park along the road and take the bus that was about a mile walk.

The tent is full of stuff now. Last time I went it was empty and said would be removed in about a year (long year). Ticket line way better than ever , had a line for people to pick up season passes which went very fast. The young lady with a badge saying TICKET MANAGER was VERY astute on the system and was overseeing the other three when a question would come up. The regular line also moved very quick. Since it was inside and a lot of other things going on it was easy way to do every thing in one location , Food, Rental, Gear Shop and rest rooms.

Lift line at 10:30 was 20 minutes but nothing like the old days of 45 minute waits, Lift was very fast loading with the ticket reader and chair operation that slows to load I think a 6 seater.

Now sure about the names of the chairs now I had the old number system down but the new people the names will be fine. I liked all the wide runs they have added miss the trees but could tell the open runs worked for the getting more people on the slope.

Snow is snow never been much concerned about quality as long as it covers the rocks and grass , so we hit runs from chair 15 up and over to just short of the main lodge all runs were top quality and when the wind picked up late afternoon they keep the upper runs open.

Doug taught Cayden over the last several years, focus on turns and control so it was amazing to ski with him on all the runs to see him turning down.


The gear Doug set up was like a dream... point down and go THE FASTER THE BETTER CONTROL surface condition made no difference.


From wood flats with spring and leather straps binding in Colorado as a kid to now Son, Grandson and I can see Mya at 4 is ready to have our new Ski Instructor give her a few leasons.Great day on a great mountain and really glad to see the same crowd as the old days not looking for the glitter just the Mountain.Thanks Doug

You never cease to amaze me Doug! Add one more to the list!!!
Have a Happy New Year!!!

Stacy (& Curt)

Sounds like as really fun time.

Looks like Cayden is going to be another very talented multi-sport athlete.

Love that it is now 3 generations. I, also, started as a kid with spring coil bindings, leather run-away straps (one broke at the top of the mountain, had a long walk down), lace-up boots and bamboo poles. We've come a long way... though it was just as fun then as it is now with the new gear. Dave and I will ring in 2013 on Mt. Hood with our shape skis. Happy 2013 Doug... to your family and the Portal crew. And always looking for 'just the Mountain'.

Enjoyed that story

" no glitter"

Cayden is a very lucky boy!

Doug - After skiing on Mt. Hood yesterday, we stopped at the Saw Tooth for pizza. Coincidentally, these old skies were propped against the wall. I had to take a photo for you... Leather bindings.

Hi M C I think I had to upgrade with the carved front! I had forgot about the poles but recall thinking what use was the baskets tied on with shoe laces.
Soon gave up on the ski thing and went back to grabbing the rear bumpers of cars at the stop signs. Summer fun was still tying the purse on the fishing pole and sitting along Colfax (Main road through Denver)waiting for the people to stop.Wonder what good clean fun kids do now? Doug

My skis from my childhood are still up in the rafters of my Parent's garage. If I'm there this weekend, I'll snap a photo of them. They were a bit more modern than the ones MC is standing next to.

Good clean fun these days? If it's grabbing rear bumpers or parachute ropes attached to trailer hitch with skateboarder on the other end I don't want to know about it (grabbing my chest like Fred Sanford).

Purse attached to fishing pole...lol...classic.

It's been 60 years since my parents first strapped a pair of skis on my little feet. When I was a teen, I occasionally used a pair of "jumping" skis that some guy had given to my mom decades earlier. They looked just like the ones in M.C.'s photo, but they had three groves on the bottom and no edges. I still have them.

>>>>went back to grabbing the rear bumpers of cars at the stop signs.

We did this up in Tahoe when I was a kid. We called it Hooky Bobbing. I hooky bobbed a police car once. Got major props from the gang of miscreants for that one.

Glad you enjoyed your ski day sounds like fun, big skis and all . I am always so stoked to hear about how much time you spend with your grandson, he is a lucky little man to have a grandpa who is so involved.

We skied from lone pine lake on thursday the 3rd snow was really good. Hoping someone broke trail further up since then .. We are headed back down now to walk and hoping someone else is getting out , hint all you dedicated Whitney hikers.. Legs are tired today. So If you like ski on ahead I will be happy to follow. Ha see ya down there later.