Latest Powderpig News

Last updated Tuesday, 5-6-08

GETTING SIGNED UP FOR 2009!

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Alpental will be open for one last weekend!

VERY TOP OF CHAIR 2 AT ALPENTAL - Taken from the front deck of the Pigpen -4-25-08

Can you find Chair 2 and the lift shack at the top? 

Although spring has arrived and the big melt has finally begun, our unusually fine snow pack continues - and real spring skiing/riding conditions will  continue to prevail for some time.   In light of the enthusiastic hoards that have been coming up to ski and ride, the Area has extended operations for at least one more weekend for all you Powderpig diehards.   

Meanwhile, back here at Summit Central last weekend, we could hear skiers and snowboarders whooping and hollering, singing and yodeling up on the slopes above the Pigpen. 

One snowboarder (we see him often) creates patterns in any uncut snow he can find

and almost always sings at the top of his lungs as he rides.  Although you can't see it in this photo, he managed to create graceful tracks all the way from Reggie's to our woods.  What an artist!

Speaking of singing at the top of one's lungs  - with the recent onset of spring, almost all our summer birds have suddenly returned - and when we were digging out the signs that had gotten buried under all that snow,

We discovered this sure sign that winter is indeed long gone.

We have still not discovered who is building the nest.

Now that Summit Central is closed, Powderpigs are still coming up to play in the snow -

Now that the snow is finally beginning to melt, we are back to where we were  on the second to last week

 end of lessons.  How can we tell?  Because on Saturday night, that weekend , we tie dyed the Powderpig T-shirts out in front of the Pigpen - and in the process, tie dyed the snow as well.  The kids (of all ages) who did the tie dying,  decided to tie dye the snow underfoot as their grand finale.  That night, it began to snow again.  In the morning the colorful snow was almost hidden by yet another layer of soft, fluffy snow by the time everyone arrived for lessons.   It continued to snow diligently all through the month of April. 

Last Thursday, the weather began to change when real spring conditions gently arrived.  As each "snow storm" melts and evaporates,  yet another layer of Powderpig activities is revealed.  As each new layer appears,  we are out looking for last treasures and picking up litter buried by each successive storm.  Check back here for news of lost items :0)

So far, the Powderpigs of 2008 have earned great shiny gold stars for picking up and packing out their litter. 

*  *  *  *

Thank you all so much!  

A whole bunch of Powderpigs have been coming up and skiing and riding on all this wonderful snow

but not everyone was on skis and snowboards.

On the next to last weekend of skiing at Summit Central,

 while some of the grown up Powderpigs were out skiing and riding,   

Carson and her very good friend Audrey went snow shoeing with Lily. 

Here is Carson figuring out how to put her snowshoes on. Very different from ski bindings.

Snowshoes are great for walking on soft or icy snow - but they are fun on really good snow too -

and you can walk straight up or down the hill if you want.

Carson & Audrey  head down the trail towards Reggaes chair

See? You can just walk right along - no matter how deep the snow is!

.

Here they are - taking a rest before heading back to the Pigpen for a picnic lunch. 

And do you know what they found hanging on Reggaes just like a big chair?

This funny looking yellow basket.  The maintenance guys climb into it and ride up to each tower

so they can work on the cable & the wheels on the chair lift towers - way up in the air. 

Heading back to lunch!

On the next to the last day (night) of April, it snowed some more!

Does this look familiar?  Probably! But these pictures  were taken the night of April 29.

Yup!  It was still snowing up here at the very end of April!

AND THEN - 

SPRING!

POWDERPIGS 2009 - ALREADY??? Yup!  Now is time to get signed up in order to assure getting your first choice of the programs we offer. See "Registration 2009" on the main menu.

Why so soon? In the last few years, an amazing number of families  have started to contact us about getting their kids signed up for the next year during ski school - even on the very first day of lessons.  Because we need to focus all our attention and energies on our current Powderpigs,  we wait until the end of April before opening enrollment with the intention of making sure that our current Powderpigs get first crack at enrollment should they wish it. 

A HEADS UP FOR OLD POWDERPIGS!  This last year, a number of our old timers, who have been with us long enough to remember back when, if you sent in your kid's apps in October/November you were early and December was not all that late as long if it got here before the 20th, sent in their apps at the "usual" time.  Unfortunately, that has become "much too late" in recent years - and we had to tell some of them a very painful "Sorry!  So this is your reminder to send in your apps.   It is downright painful to have to tell old Powderpig friends they waited too long and there is no more room  for them that year.  Don't be among those to whom we must "just say NO!"

SO, if you even just think you might be joining us in 2009, Late April-June is the best time to nail down a spot for your Powderpig(s.)  Especially if you have a preference for a specific program or day.  It seems downright brutal to be thinking about next year already, but times have changed from the old days when we still had  a few openings even on the first weekend of lessons.  Now, some of our programs reach capacity very early on. 

WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING FOR MORE GOOD INSTRUCTORS FOR NEXT YEAR! If you think you might be interested in teaching with us, the Powderpig Instructor Training program will help you prepare for this very rewarding adventure.  There are a number of benefits to being a Powderpig instructor - There is, of course, the Instructor Pass (This year, as in the last probably 10 years it was $50 + tx), then you get a good discount on your child's tuition and, on top of that,  you even get paid!  But best of all, you get the joy of becoming part of the team that creates and provides the Powderpig experience for our kids. 

If you would like more information about becoming a Powderpig instructor, email Nancy at <thinksnow@powderpigs.com>. 

On snow clinics in December - getting ready for this season .

This year's class and big group pictures, substantially delayed by Mother Natures wild and woolly snow storms in February, will be available on line soon and you will find them on <powderpigs.com> under the "Class Pictures" button on the main menu - just as soon as Sonia and Casey can get them all taken, processed and posted.   If your child was absent, make up pictures will be taken  on the last days of lessons.   If you have any questions about the pictures, just email us.

By popular request we are keeping the pictures OF THE GREAT SNOW OF 2008 and now the story of Tippy, the Avalanche Dog.

It was a long and stormy winter, back in the winter of '08. . .

and it snowed and snowed and snowed - all day and all night -                                           

and it was very difficult to walk around outside because the snow was soooo deep!

Even the chair lift tower got buried in soft fluffy snow!

When it finally stopped snowing for a little while on Sunday afternoon, everyone  went outside to see what it looked like after it had snowed for so long.   

Here is what we discovered when we got outside - Everything was hiding under the snow!

Both the Little Pigpen and the Big Pigpen had big fluffy snow comforters on their roofs and the trees were weighed down by snow on their branches - and when you went into the Pigpen there were only the top 4 or 5 stairs left - because all the rest were covered up with snow.  It was a very snowy world!   

Even on the packed trails, the snow was REALLY deep!

And if you got off the trail,

If you were Lily, you had to swim!

Later on Sunday afternoon, the lift ops came over with shovels and started

digging our chair lift out!  It was a huge job and it took them almost two weeks

to get it ready for us to use. 

Because the very next day, it began to snow again!

Meanwhile, back at the Pigpen, a whole lot of this was going on. . .

Because it snowed and snowed and snowed some more!

THE END!

HERE IS THE STORY OF TIPPY.

On Sunday of Week #7, we had a very special friend come to visit. 

Tippy, the Avalanche Dog!   Tippy and her partner and best friend Aaron, an old Powderpig instructor and Avalanche expert who works for the DOT doing avalanche control work during the winter, are members of the Alpental Bark Team.  These are the highly trained pups and people who work very hard and sometimes even risk their lives to find and rescue those who get caught in avalanches.  Tippy and Aaron also go on searches in the back country when people get lost. 

One Sunday this year, Tippy and Aaron had a day off and so they came to visit so our Powderpigs could meet a real avalanche dog.   

Here is Tippy making some new Powderpig friends. 

Tippy's other very best friend is Keegan,

Who is also our very good friend and Powderpig Snowboard program director.

Here is a closer look at Tippy in the Avi vest she wears when she is at work. 

Tippy and Lily are good friends and they really like to play together when Tippy isn't on avalanche duty!

Tippy and Aaron said they will come back and visit us again soon.  Lily says she can hardly wait!

                    THE END  :0)

            WE WILL UPDATE "LATEST NEWS" WHENEVER THERE IS FRESH NEWS!

If you have questions, just email us at <thinksnow@powderpigs.com>