AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING- GETTING AFTER IT

this summer i've been learning to surf
im a total Gaper
but a Gaper that gets after it is still better than someone sitting at home
In Grand Targhee, Wy and Pomerelle, ID I found two of my favorite gettin' after it gapers.

SNOW? ARE YOU THERE.... ITS ME, RATFACE

my Sun Valley early/late pass

What have I been up to?
I'm sure you are all dying to know.
(No one cares)
Well, I better write it down; I seem to forget things as soon as they happen.








 
 
 

The Giant at Jay

I've got 14 days on the hill.....
should be more but there are a million stupid excesses, like:
(all these should be read in a super whinny voice)
I live in Brooklyn......
More people need to give me money.......
The thing that I put in my binding that is connected to my leg seems to be broken or something......
I have a job.....
I'm old and fat......
My ass hurts........

Mary and the snow-less bowls- Sun Valley

Anyway-
sorry about that
I've had some days in Sun Valley, Targhee, Killington, and Jay Peak.
The lack of snow at the places I have been privileged to frequent could be devastating to some
but I'm just beginning the season of my life.

Me & Andy- Sun Valley

Sun Valley- Idaho
My mecca. Spent eight days riding with my family
and friends.
Most of the hill was open and the trip was filled with sweet Sun Valley bluebird days.
I missed the bowls terribly. 
We discovered the horrors of doppelgapers.
and had some detonating fun.

Mary and the Grand Teton- Targhee

Targhee- Wyoming
Spent two days here with lil sis Mary and there was pow, cause it's Targhee.
but there was a lot of stuff hiding ready to bite
Yeah, I got eight core shots..... 
it was totally worth it-
Team Awesome was born

bare bunny hill- Killington

Killington- Vermont
Spent two days with the Giant
about half the massive resort was open, no stash or pipe, but they've got some new parks.
Was cool to see Killington doing well after hurricane Irene- they got hit pretty hard.
Day two the famous blue stuff came out- I believe it's called ice?
Just suck it up and go straight

Jay Peak- Vermont (they say it's VT but it's like, really Canada)
Spent four days here with The Giant, Zims, and Yuko.
I only rode two, due to my traitor of a foot.

Jay is where it is at in the east.
And the trees are where it's at, at Jay.
Thank goodness they had some snow.
It didn't get warmer than -5, and that was balmy.
Can't wait to return.

                                                 The west is getting pounded.....

                                                    in the east we wait for ours

WRITING ON THE WALL- IT'S A NEW DAY

SOHO

East Village

Ketchum, Idaho

my pops

Miami- photo- The Rician

BK Heights- BK

the warehouse- Nariman Hallett

CONTESTS YOU CAN'T WIN XI

La Sal- UT

win some Rome boots
http://www.snowboardermag.com/enter-to-win/rome-antics-giveaway-libertine-boots/#comment-33163

write about your local shop and win a snowboard and get published
http://www.frqncy.com/pages/shopstories

win utah lift tickets
http://www.facebook.com/skiutahyeti?sk=app_236050283114351


live in Europe? design a park and Analog will build it
http://onboard.mpora.com/featuredcontent/analog-design-features-europe.html
i would make it like candy land

Win a snowcat trip in Idaho
http://secure.elabs10.com/functions/social_create.html?socid=ddde835f301985dee1e35890d824801c4bd12775c3931a106b49bf896f82657ff9bb78fc88

Lil' Mo- Killington

ELEVATED LOCAL- GABRIEL EMBLER

GABE

 Self proclaimed rock head, Gabriel Embler blew out of central Washington for Germany after high school. The plan was to soak in the Alps for a season, that season lasted three years.  Gabe initially landed a gig in a pizza shop working for AFRC. Noticing the need for a little nightlife while living with 400 coworkers in a renovated hospital building he opened a bar, The Loft, at the top of Garmisch, Germany and started making dreams come true. 

Turtle Bowl

Still hooked on high country living, Gabe returned stateside and settled in Ketchum, Idaho. Drawing inspiration from the Boulders, Pioneers, and Sawtooth mountain ranges he began to explore stone sculpturing. Scavenging stones from riverbeds to mountain peaks his work ranges from functional, practical works you need around the house to abstract pieces that I have been known to stare at for hours. (http://gabrielemblerstonesculpture.com/)

Women and Wine

 The winter for Gabe is filled with Sun Valley laps and glasses of Guinness. Summer is filled with frisbee golf games and glasses of Guinness.  I made the mistake of bringing him Budweiser for the interview. (really, Small Brain Problem is a medical disease!) Some might call him a Hippie. If the frisbee golf playing wasn’t a tip off, he also follows Phish around the county.  Gabe knows how to stay elevated and can cut a mean rock. 

music- Fela Soul (gummysoul.bandcamp.com/​releases)

contests you cant win V

bike seat mushroom- Pioneer Mountains- ID

Stuff it-
win a ride board bag by saying some stuff on facebook
http://www.shayboarder.com/2011/09/ride-snowboards-board-bag-giveaway.html


Win Rossi boots, bindings, and skis
Bet you didn't know that my first board was 164 Rossi aka THA TANK. My dad was a little confused about snowboards, he skied on a pair of 217's (1994). He didn't know that buying me THA TANK would make me a BEAST forever.
http://www.powdermag.com/industry-news-and-events/evo-rossignol-ski-package/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Win a trip to Whistler for you and someone who likes you
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/lovesnow/index.htm?etc=LoveSnowTwitter


Danny Don't Know-
if winning this T-shirt is like, really important to you
http://www.yobeat.com/2011/09/26/win-ten-days-of-danny-dont-know/


Win a chance to see Black Star (NYC heads)
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/contest-see-black-star-at-irving-plaza/56802/

Win a trip to Jackson to ride with Travis Rice and then marry him
(Dear Travis Rice,
You are invited to my wedding.
You will be the groom...........)
http://www.jacksonhole.com/travis.html

The Daily Shake-
win snowboard stuff with the shake of a dice
http://www.snowboarddaily.com/

mom? i don't think you're supposed to eat that

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING- CHILDHOOD

I seem to have the best sort of brother and sisters. The brother teaches at Sun Valley, the middle sister is moving to Breck next month, and the youngest lives next to Targhee. Guess I will have to spend my winter couch surfing, poor pitiful older sister.
Anyway, question of the day- Once a Gaper, Always a Gaper?

Andy and Mary at the Pom

A PRESENT, SOME SAVINGS, WIN STUFF, AND PIC.S OF PIGS

Big ups to JR for always sending me killer mash ups (still can't get over that Wu VS Beatles) here is a Fela Kuti meets De La Soul (http://boingboing.net/2011/09/16/fela-soul-fela-kuti-meets-de-la-soul-gummy-soulamerigo-gazaway-mashup.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29) It's nothing but sweetness.

GRAND TARGHEE- WY  
Book three days of lodging or more by 9/30/2011 and save 40%. You have to call 800-827-4433. Warning, they aren't very good at answering the phone or calling you back. Last year I must have called ten times with no response. Then when I finally complained to a real person there was no apology. I am ashamed to say- we still did our annual Targhee trip (http://elevatedlocals.blogspot.com/2011/03/grand-targhee-snorkeling-in-mountains.html). Dealing with incompetence is a small price to pay for no lines, perfect powder, and a beautiful terrain.
Ps- it's already started snowing there

This weekend (9/17 & 9/18) the Road Warriors will be in Syracuse at the NYS fairgrounds. Just show up with your gear on and you can win tickets for Whiteface and enter to win a Whiteface season pass. (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130980356993632) The Road Warriors will be in Westchester on 8/8- 8/9 (das classy).

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING- ATTIRE

   AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING 

 Having a proper outfit is the first step to gaping:

Example A- Snow (Sun Valley)

Example B- Sand (Coney Island)

DISCOUNTS- HEADS UP FOR NEXT SEASON

me- Jay- Valentine's day last year   photo-The Giant

So most mountains sell discounted passes during the fall. Here are some deals and deadlines if you need to save for a bit;  I never have piles of money lying around.

Sun Valley:
So the season pass is a fortune $1,549 (you need to go 23 days to break even), but there are some sweet deals in here: http://www.sunvalley.com/tickets/passes/. I got the early/late last year, and it rocked. The best deals need to be purchased before 9/5/11.

Jackson:
Jackson's season is Nov. 26th- April 8th (135 days) so if you hit the hill 100 times it's like $12 a day with a $1,195 season pass- no working allowed (nineteen days to break even) But seriously, they have sweet college deals (Mary). http://www.jacksonhole.com/season-pass.html

Breck snow sculptures- two years age     photo- The Giant

Jay Peak:
My east coast fav. The Season Pass is $649 until Oct. 11th. Tickets are $69 so you need to go 10 times to break even. http://www.jaypeakresort.com/#/skiing_riding/rates_hours/season_passes/

Targhee:
It's $599 (9 days to break even) for a season pass before 9/11/2011. It's $249 for a college pass (Mary- four times to break even). http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/rates/season-passes.php

Killington:
Their midweek pass is $499 until 10/13/2011. Their lift tickets are $69 so you need to go 8 times during the week to break even. http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/tickets_and_cards/comparison_chart/index.html

Hunter:
A season pass is $849 before 10/15/2011 (http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/tickets-passes/season-passes.aspx). That's 13 days to break even. But the midweek is $299, only five times to break even.

Pomerelle:
A season pass is $316.94 with tax. http://www.pomerelle-mtn.com/lift-rates/season-passes/index.htm
That's nine times to break even. This deal is good until Sept. 20th.

Breck, Vail, Beaver, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, and A-Basin:
The amazing epic pass is $649 and gives you unlimited access to all of these resorts. There isn't a deadline on the website, but I know you can't get this deal after the season starts. http://www.breckenridge.com/plan-a-trip/season-passes/season-passes-explorer.aspx?page=viewall Every time I see this deal I can't understand why I don't live there.

Ok, that's where I know I'm going next season- so that's all that matters- Ahahahahah
not really, I'll do more next Fri.

Targhee- Rach and me last March

WRITING ON THE WALL- SUMMERTIME

Prospect Park- BK

South BX

Idaho- M. Toft

Willyb, BK

San Fran

Coney Island- BK

stupid Queens photo- Dirty Mike

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING- DISCARDING EQUIPMENT

Note about Gapers-
Gapers just discard their equipment when ever something else catches their fancy.
Here are some examples:

This Gaper was probably so distracted by the thought of having his ass in the snow  that he forgot his skis and helmet behind.

Sun Valley Gaper

This Gaper knows how to put things away! Perhaps the Gaper thought this was a storage space- not an abandoned shack in Coney Island.

Brooklyn Gaper

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING- GAPE THE STAIRS

STUPID SUMMER

Today is the last day for many mountains. I hope those of you had a lovely winter. Keep hiking!

the Pom

GRAND TARGHEE- SNORKELING IN THE MOUNTAINS

MARY AND MARY'S NIPPLE

Grand Targhee is the kind of place where they let you on the chair before 9 AM when it's a powder day. They know how much you want those freshies and they are happy to oblige.  Powder is not rarity- Targhee is known for it's pow; they have 493" this season. They average 500" a year.

Grand Targhee is located in the Targhee National Forest in Wyoming (some of the resort spills over into Idaho). It has two peaks: Fred's Mountain has a 2,212' vert and Peaked Mountain has a 2,270' vert. The resort has 2,500 acres of skiing and riding. Targhee tries to be as green as possible- Hooray!(http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/environment/index.php) It's about 45 min. away from Jackson Hole. It's not as steep as Jackson, but it's got everything; chutes, glades, cornice drops, bowls and I've heard some people do groomers there.

ME AND THE POW

Fred's Mountain is the main mountain. The Dreamcatcher Quad will take you right to the top. Drop off the Headwall and you will find yourself on the Blackfoot lift. This is a old school twofer that will give you a bit of a rest. There is also a sweet little beginner area (little monsters and googly eyes!). I have the happiest memories when I was little of Alley Oop (run of little rollers) and Eyeball Forest (baby tree run with wooden eyes on the trees). My family has been going to Targhee for as long as I can remember. My bro's first sentence was there, "Mama, see snow?". It's a great place to grow up in.

Peaked Mountain is a newer part of the resort. There used to just be catskiing on this hill with no lift access, but then they added the Sacajawea lift. Now you can easily drop the cliffs with little or no hiking, in theory. My cliff drops are never as pretty in life as I imagine they are going to be.

RACH

Then there is the infamous Mary's Nipple. This is within the resort, but it requires hiking. We didn't hike Mary's nipple this trip, there was too much snow to get with lift access.

This year I went to The Ghee with my bro. and two sisters. We were there for three days. We rode with smashed sandwiches in our pockets. It was too good to go in. The first day was clear with a light crust over their latest storm. The second day it pounded. I inhaled so much snow (charlie sheen voice). The third day was a bluebird powder day. This is rare, visibility can be frighting at Targhee. We could see our lines off the cliffs! Andy and I decided to try our luck. I mostly hacked my way over and around the cliffs, but Andy had some beautiful lines. We watched a group of eight come down the Pinkslip cliffs. I heard them cheering for each other and realized it was eight girls! Oh, you know; Just some local girls out for a sweet little powder day- dropping 50 ft' cliffs.

ANDY

DISCOUNTS- ROOTIN' FOR DEALS

OKEMO-
$39 tickets for March 24th, March 31st if you buy them online (http://www.okemo.com/okemowinter/ratesandrentals/specialdeals/onlinedeals.asp)
$39 tickets for Ladies on Tues.
$10 on April 1 if you bring 3 non perishable items

GRAND TARGHEE
$199 Daylight savings pass- valid March 13- April 17th
(http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/rates/daylight-savings-pass.php)
Mon. March 28th- Twofer special- register online a day before and pay $69 for two lift tickets
(http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/rates/twofer.php)

SUN VALLEY
$79 gets you a lift ticket and a stay in the fancy Sun Valley lodge until the end of the year, you need to bring someone or it's $119 for a room and a ticket (http://www.sunvalley.com/trip-planner/deals/)

HUNTER MOUNTAIN
$169 to ride as much as you like till the end of the season
(http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/tickets-passes/march-into-spring.aspx)

DISCOUNTS- MARCH MADNESS AND THE POM

Mary (lil sis), getting it at the Pom

SkiCoupons.com is having March Madness. They are giving away goggles and lift tickets every Mon. To enter, like them on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SkiCoupons?sk=app_4949752878#!/SkiCoupons?sk=app_4949752878) and then enter (http://www.skicoupons.com/scripts/giveaways.cfm?msg=success).

Liftopia has some excellent end of the year deals (http://www.liftopia.com/)

Pomerelle has three $20 days coming up (3/23, 3/30, and 4/6). Just bring two cans of food; the food goes to the Helping Hands Mission in Burley, Idaho. http://www.pomerelle.com/_webapp_3849710/2Can__$20_Days
Pomerelle is also selling next years season pass for $285.14 (what? amazing) and with that purchase you can also ride till the end of this season. This deal is good until 4/30/2011. (http://www.pomerelle-mtn.com/)

Okemo has a buy one get one free deal on 3/25. You have to become a fan on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/okemomountain) and then go to Fans Only for details.

Mary, top of Punch at the Pom

ART

I took today off of riding and went to play golf at blue lakes. (http://www.bluelakescc.com/)
Blue Lakes is so cool. It's a golf course in the Snake River Canyon that eats balls. Idaho is a remarkable place, golfing and riding within an hour and a half of each other.  This picture is in the girl's bathroom on the sixth hole. It's basically what golf means to me.



Even in this paradise I miss New York. Here are some reasons why:

Good Luck- BK- WillyB

Ramz- downtown

BK- Flatbush

 

BK- Marcy Projects