Hammerhead
After a day of epic riding at Lincoln Peak, I woke up on January 13 very sore but determined to ride again, this time at Mount Ellen. I got to the “other side” around 10AM via the shuttle bus and began with several runs off the GMX, since North Ridge was down. In quick succession, I hit up a groomed Cliffs, followed by Hammerhead, a sweet Encore, and Tumbler. It was my first time on Encore (lower lift line of North Ridge Express) since 07/08, and it was a great run, especially with the lack of an audience above (since the lift was down).
After these runs, I took 3 runs off the Summit Quad, on Rim Run/Lower Rim Run, Lookin’ Good, and finally Elbow to Northway to Semi-Tough. Semi-Tough started out great, but about 3/4 of the way down, I hit a waterbar with a stream running in front of it. My board nosedived into it, and since it was so cold, the water, mud, and snow instantly froze to the bottom of my board. With no easy way to scrape it off, I used my fingers and a branch of a tree to get just enough off to make it down the rest of the way to the base.
Encore
A visit to the repair shop to use a scraper, and I was back in action. But at this point, I was really getting tired so I finished with another run down Cliffs, then Cruiser and finally Which Way. By that time, the North Ridge Express chair had opened, but I was heading back to Lincoln Peak to put my gear away, then head for home.
It was my first day riding at Mount Ellen this year, and it was a good day. I was glad I hit up The Cliffs, Encore, Hammerhead, and Tumbler under great conditions, and look forward to my return visit to the “MEllen”, hopefully next Thursday.
Summit Quad
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