Lately all I do is work and sleep...on my days off, I relax and sleep. The days are getting longer and ski season gets a day shorter daily.
Grooming's been good so far this week. SuperHero Snow reigned on my first shift of the week. We kicked it big time, knocked out some extra trails, and were punched out early. Last night, the squeak in the snow was gone, but temps had stayed reasonable, so it still went well.
Still, I felt used up driving home. I've been meaning to hit the Post Office and grocery store each morning after work, but I guess I've deemed these to be Non-Essential trips. I can survive on my larder, such as it is.
That new distributor isn't going to install itself...just a sunny day God...that's all I'm askin'...
I fell asleep twice today watching Formula One P2 Practice on my DVR. Last evening I streamed P1 which is presented without commentary. I was struck by how much the weather in Shanghai looked like Coastal California winter weather. I enjoyed the long, uninterrupted looks at the team's latest aerodynamic bits, especially the front wing elements (which are terrifically complex, and sculpturally gorgeous)
So this morning I was watching P2 from China when Steve Matchette former Benetton-F1 mechanic and SpeedTV F1 Analyst commented on the smog in Shanghai...not a coastal marine layer ala Coastal California in winter...no industrial smog! Yikes! I remember the Summer Olympics from Beijing, and how I worried for the athlete's health...it looked worse yesterday.
P3 streams at 8PM PDT and Qualifying is DVR-ready at 11PM, and the Chinese Grand Prix rolls out Saturday night at 11:30PM PDT
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Master and Commander
A great film that one. Captain Jack Aubry had a great line in it: "What a fascinating, modern world we live in"
I often remember that line when today's tech offers a new experience. Tonight it was 90 minutes of live streaming video from Shanghai, China. Formula One's P1, the first free practice of the F1 weekend.
This is pure raw video without commentary, and with only the barest compliment of graphics showing the time rankings.
This is good for a hardcore gearhead like me. It seems the teams are much less protective of their stuff when there's not a pit lane reporter accompanying the camera man to explain every new nuance to the millions of television viewers around the world. Long, lurid looks at the latest front wing elements, and other aerodynamic bits would get the garage door slammed in mid-shot on TV. Man does this stuff flick my switch!
I gotta keep it short today...I needed my sleep!
I often remember that line when today's tech offers a new experience. Tonight it was 90 minutes of live streaming video from Shanghai, China. Formula One's P1, the first free practice of the F1 weekend.
This is pure raw video without commentary, and with only the barest compliment of graphics showing the time rankings.
This is good for a hardcore gearhead like me. It seems the teams are much less protective of their stuff when there's not a pit lane reporter accompanying the camera man to explain every new nuance to the millions of television viewers around the world. Long, lurid looks at the latest front wing elements, and other aerodynamic bits would get the garage door slammed in mid-shot on TV. Man does this stuff flick my switch!
I gotta keep it short today...I needed my sleep!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Light Switch Weather
I'm being more than a little lazy this morning...this being laundry day and all...I was up before 0430, and fell back asleep until 8:30AM. Upon waking, I was elated to see another bluebird morning shaping up.
I fought my better nature, and lazed in bed for another hour and a half...scanned the email, read some pundits, caught up on the Formula One News, and watched the Trainwreck News.
I finally got up and headed upstairs to make sure the garbage and recycling were curbside just before 11AM. WTF? It was snowing horizontal...and there was a half an inch on the deck and stairs!
Now at 11:30AM the sun is starting to break through again! There's still snowflakes floating about, but the little front appears to be blasting through in a hurry...as forecast.
I scanned the webcams, satellite images, and checked CalTrans for chain controls...chain controls are up on Hwy50 over the summit...no controls on I-80 yet, the Kingvale webcam shows wet lanes, but no shadows yet. The remote sensors have the mercury just under 30°F at pass level 7337 Ft.
The sun's getting brighter out, so it's probably all but finished...laundry is dragging on too...the snow came on like a light switch, but it looks more like the end will be the taper-off kind...
I watched the Noon News from Sacramento...should be some cold air hanging around for a day or two...fingers crossed!
Drat, a close reading of Reno's AFD says normal temps will likely return by Thursday afternoon...for sure the Hero Snow will be baked off by Friday night. #earningit
I fought my better nature, and lazed in bed for another hour and a half...scanned the email, read some pundits, caught up on the Formula One News, and watched the Trainwreck News.
I finally got up and headed upstairs to make sure the garbage and recycling were curbside just before 11AM. WTF? It was snowing horizontal...and there was a half an inch on the deck and stairs!
Now at 11:30AM the sun is starting to break through again! There's still snowflakes floating about, but the little front appears to be blasting through in a hurry...as forecast.
I scanned the webcams, satellite images, and checked CalTrans for chain controls...chain controls are up on Hwy50 over the summit...no controls on I-80 yet, the Kingvale webcam shows wet lanes, but no shadows yet. The remote sensors have the mercury just under 30°F at pass level 7337 Ft.
The sun's getting brighter out, so it's probably all but finished...laundry is dragging on too...the snow came on like a light switch, but it looks more like the end will be the taper-off kind...
I watched the Noon News from Sacramento...should be some cold air hanging around for a day or two...fingers crossed!
Drat, a close reading of Reno's AFD says normal temps will likely return by Thursday afternoon...for sure the Hero Snow will be baked off by Friday night. #earningit
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Cheeseburger Time
Sunday mornings are my Friday Nights. After our most excellent Saturday Graveyard Shift, my week ended on a high note. I had enough time in hand to spend a few minutes on top of my mountain with all my lights off watching the first colors of dawn paint my world as Venus changed from Mars red to Venus white.
We wrapped up the mountain and base areas by 8AM and we finished the shift helping Park Guy wrap up his list. We were back at the fuel dock by 8:30AM, and punched out by 9:00
A glorious morning made me savor my drive home...blue sky, cobalt blue lakes, velvet mountain forests is the sunshine, clean, cold air...every time I have a morning like this, I thank my lucky stars that life lead me here.
In Full Savor Mode, I postponed a grocery store stop and headed home to the DaveCave, where my DVR was brimming with open wheel racing and the Spring Classic Paris/Roubaix bicycle race.
I parked the parts runner in the driveway, grabbed my stuff and headed down the stairs. As I took the first step, I heard it...the first cheeseburger bird call of spring. "Hell yes!" I shouted...
After watching the F1 Qualifying and the start of the Malaysian GP, then sleeping through the Giants/Cards Game, I woke up and finished viewing a great F1 race from Mayalasia. The IndyCar Race from Alabama's Barber Motorsports Park was quite a bit less engaging so I surfed the web and found this:
No, I'm not the Goofy Gus muggin' for his child here, but you can hear my point...
I don't think Springtime has officially arrived until I hear the Mountain Chickadee sing "Cheese-Bur-Ger" I love these little guys!
We wrapped up the mountain and base areas by 8AM and we finished the shift helping Park Guy wrap up his list. We were back at the fuel dock by 8:30AM, and punched out by 9:00
A glorious morning made me savor my drive home...blue sky, cobalt blue lakes, velvet mountain forests is the sunshine, clean, cold air...every time I have a morning like this, I thank my lucky stars that life lead me here.
In Full Savor Mode, I postponed a grocery store stop and headed home to the DaveCave, where my DVR was brimming with open wheel racing and the Spring Classic Paris/Roubaix bicycle race.
I parked the parts runner in the driveway, grabbed my stuff and headed down the stairs. As I took the first step, I heard it...the first cheeseburger bird call of spring. "Hell yes!" I shouted...
After watching the F1 Qualifying and the start of the Malaysian GP, then sleeping through the Giants/Cards Game, I woke up and finished viewing a great F1 race from Mayalasia. The IndyCar Race from Alabama's Barber Motorsports Park was quite a bit less engaging so I surfed the web and found this:
No, I'm not the Goofy Gus muggin' for his child here, but you can hear my point...
I don't think Springtime has officially arrived until I hear the Mountain Chickadee sing "Cheese-Bur-Ger" I love these little guys!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Embarrassed By My Riches
We enjoyed another phenomenal shift last night.
It began with a beautiful view of the crescent moon setting over the mountains to the West. A thin coat of new snow greeted me on the way out of the DaveCave, and the ambient temp was noticeably colder than it's been in weeks.
I got to work about 15 minutes early, and all the swing shift guys were already in the Groomer's Ready Room, signed out, and ready to go home...they were a jovial bunch. Hero Snow will do that!
The Graveyard Crew would be looking for something to do before sunrise...cool...
Into the night we went. I was going for the same trails I opened Thursday night. Now I'd be able to climb these runs, and they'd be perfect when I finished.
As I surmised, we were looking for something to do a little after 0500. At 0530 the Boss called and I asked him if he'd winch a run in the demo Beast Winchcat when he got in. "Sure, I'll give you a shout on the 2-way when I get there"
I radioed Jeweler, and asked him to meet me. We tag-teamed a plow project that I've been trying to do for three weeks. With the big winch on deck, I finally had the place to put a ton of snow, and another cat to make the pushing much easier.
Jeweler dug and pushed blade-full after blade-full of snow 50 yards, and piled it up in front of me. I pushed it down into the run the Boss would groom when he got in. All in all, Jeweler and I moved around 120 cubic yards of snow in a little over a half an hour.
We got a good start on the project. Jeweler took the big wind drift down five feet. Now our guests don't have to climb up and over this thing (or skirt around it) It's still uphill from the bottom of the ramp to the trails to the West, but now it's a gradual rise, not a Himalayan Expedition.
I expect that barring breakdowns, we'll have another go at it tonight.
It began with a beautiful view of the crescent moon setting over the mountains to the West. A thin coat of new snow greeted me on the way out of the DaveCave, and the ambient temp was noticeably colder than it's been in weeks.
I got to work about 15 minutes early, and all the swing shift guys were already in the Groomer's Ready Room, signed out, and ready to go home...they were a jovial bunch. Hero Snow will do that!
The Graveyard Crew would be looking for something to do before sunrise...cool...
Into the night we went. I was going for the same trails I opened Thursday night. Now I'd be able to climb these runs, and they'd be perfect when I finished.
As I surmised, we were looking for something to do a little after 0500. At 0530 the Boss called and I asked him if he'd winch a run in the demo Beast Winchcat when he got in. "Sure, I'll give you a shout on the 2-way when I get there"
I radioed Jeweler, and asked him to meet me. We tag-teamed a plow project that I've been trying to do for three weeks. With the big winch on deck, I finally had the place to put a ton of snow, and another cat to make the pushing much easier.
Jeweler dug and pushed blade-full after blade-full of snow 50 yards, and piled it up in front of me. I pushed it down into the run the Boss would groom when he got in. All in all, Jeweler and I moved around 120 cubic yards of snow in a little over a half an hour.
We got a good start on the project. Jeweler took the big wind drift down five feet. Now our guests don't have to climb up and over this thing (or skirt around it) It's still uphill from the bottom of the ramp to the trails to the West, but now it's a gradual rise, not a Himalayan Expedition.
 |
| Prinoth Beast Winch |
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sweetness and Dark
It never ceases to amaze me...just how much an inch or two of new snow will improve the outlook of a groomer in Spring...I'm talking Hero Snow...with just a few weeks to go in Ski Season!
My dream every spring, especially "down the stretch", is to get a small storm once a week, with cold temps, to stave off the afternoon slush/graveyard boilerplate routine. As long as the snow stays squeaky, I'm in paradise...once the thaw/freeze/thaw regime begins, well let's just say that's when grooming becomes a job.
That hour or two of "Perfect Corn" seems like so much settling to me. As a groomer, I'm all about winter snow, period. Once springtime conditions set in, I'm all about fishing, bicycle racing, motorsports, and baseball.
Last night was a rare springtime gem, hero snow from top to bottom, and even though half my crew showed up an hour late, conditions were so favorable that we kicked the list despite a winchcat going down after sunrise. A few very cold mica-like flakes, cold ambient temps gave the shift extra sparkle before a clearing sunrise promised a bluebird day. Words fail on these kinds of mornings...plenty of joy for the crew, another peak experience don'tcha know!
The hits just kept coming once I got home to the DaveCave! Today was the Home Opener for the World Champion San Francisco Giants. CableTV showed the opening ceremonies where the Championship Flag was hoisted over AT&T Park, and I was ambushed by how emotional it all made me feel. Like all SF Giants Fans, I waited a lifetime for baseball glory to visit our house.
The Giants put on a fine show and won the game over the St Louis Cardinals 5-4 in twelve innings. After the game, Giants' manager Bruce Bochy said: "It's obvious we're not retiring 'Torture'"
Isolated snow showers are in tonight's forecast, but Spring is in the air...with all it's sweet paradoxes.
Breathe deep...
My dream every spring, especially "down the stretch", is to get a small storm once a week, with cold temps, to stave off the afternoon slush/graveyard boilerplate routine. As long as the snow stays squeaky, I'm in paradise...once the thaw/freeze/thaw regime begins, well let's just say that's when grooming becomes a job.
That hour or two of "Perfect Corn" seems like so much settling to me. As a groomer, I'm all about winter snow, period. Once springtime conditions set in, I'm all about fishing, bicycle racing, motorsports, and baseball.
Last night was a rare springtime gem, hero snow from top to bottom, and even though half my crew showed up an hour late, conditions were so favorable that we kicked the list despite a winchcat going down after sunrise. A few very cold mica-like flakes, cold ambient temps gave the shift extra sparkle before a clearing sunrise promised a bluebird day. Words fail on these kinds of mornings...plenty of joy for the crew, another peak experience don'tcha know!
The hits just kept coming once I got home to the DaveCave! Today was the Home Opener for the World Champion San Francisco Giants. CableTV showed the opening ceremonies where the Championship Flag was hoisted over AT&T Park, and I was ambushed by how emotional it all made me feel. Like all SF Giants Fans, I waited a lifetime for baseball glory to visit our house.
The Giants put on a fine show and won the game over the St Louis Cardinals 5-4 in twelve innings. After the game, Giants' manager Bruce Bochy said: "It's obvious we're not retiring 'Torture'"
Isolated snow showers are in tonight's forecast, but Spring is in the air...with all it's sweet paradoxes.
Breathe deep...
Friday, April 8, 2011
Churning
Last night was more welcome than home made ice cream right from the churn!
Snow started falling in the evening across the Tahoe Sierra. I parked in three inches of new fallen snow when I got to work. Swing shift were happy as clams! What's not to like? Freezing temps, new snow, and for the first time in weeks...no digging projects!
My tractor was running like new. We've been trying to track down a glitch in the drive for two weeks now. Not always the easiest chore...yesterday it came to me, or rather I remembered the fix from a season or two ago. The shop replaced the potentiometer in the left FNR lever and problem solved!
BR350's, like all modern grooming machines are electronic over hydrostatic systems. The FNR sticks control the track drives. My Ol' Faithful has more than 8700 hours on the clock, but it never has suffered a total loss of hydrostatic fluid, so the pumps and motors are still in like-new condition. The glitch we've been chasing looks like impending pump or motor failure that every groomer who's spent much time in BR275's or earlier snowcats is all too familiar with.
When Bombardier designed the BR350, not only did they up the ante horsepower-wise, they also used a lot more hardline and a lot less high pressure hose in the drive system. The bottom line is a whole lot fewer total fluid loss events and consequently a whole lot longer drive system life. All it takes is one or two of these fluid loss events to fry a pump and/or motor...their tolerances are that tight. Then it's $8000+ to rebuild a pump or motor, and a bunch of down time while repairs are made.
The FNR pot is a cheap component, and a quick fix. They are a wear item, and eventually they grow a flat spot...this is what I remembered and the shop fixed.
I warmed up the ol' girl and set off into the snowstorm. It was blowing like stink, and the conditions finally were in our favor...we would have time to start grooming some secondary trails that have seen little love during the siege of snowfall followed by a long week of balmy temps.
I rumbled over to the study plot to look at the 24 hour snow stake...it was laying on it's side. I started grooming my way up the mountain...seeing wasn't the greatest, but nobody was complaining! The winds were picking up. I called Jeweler on the 2-way. I wanted to know how the winds were up top. "50-60MPH steady from the Southwest" came Jeweler's reply.
With the 24 hour stick out of commission, I called the Snow Removal Crew to get an idea of how much snow had fallen since morning. They said two or three inches, max. It had been snowing and blowing for almost four straight hours, but it didn't seem to be stacking up. Oh, the wind was playing havoc with our freshly made corduroy, but it was getting blown away, not buried.
At 0400, I called the Ski Patrol Boss like I do every Storm Night. We discussed the snowfall and wind, and he makes the Go/No-Go Call for Avalanche Control. Despite the dearth of snowfall, the winds were the determining factor. A/C is a Go.
We refueled the fleet by 0500 and we packed up and made the push to the tops for the lift mechanics. By the tine I hit the Big Blind Meadow, twilight was dawning making navigating a snap. Lots of drifting up top, but no genuine accumulation. Thankfully no digging was required to open the lifts...just a quick till of the maze areas.
My crew re-rolled everything basic and headed up to help the Park Guy down the stretch. Patches of blue sky were breaking through the clouds, and sunglasses were deployed. Back at the Groomer's Ready Room, the guys were ebullient...the mood was joyous for a change.
Better than home made ice cream fresh from the churn!
Snow started falling in the evening across the Tahoe Sierra. I parked in three inches of new fallen snow when I got to work. Swing shift were happy as clams! What's not to like? Freezing temps, new snow, and for the first time in weeks...no digging projects!
My tractor was running like new. We've been trying to track down a glitch in the drive for two weeks now. Not always the easiest chore...yesterday it came to me, or rather I remembered the fix from a season or two ago. The shop replaced the potentiometer in the left FNR lever and problem solved!
BR350's, like all modern grooming machines are electronic over hydrostatic systems. The FNR sticks control the track drives. My Ol' Faithful has more than 8700 hours on the clock, but it never has suffered a total loss of hydrostatic fluid, so the pumps and motors are still in like-new condition. The glitch we've been chasing looks like impending pump or motor failure that every groomer who's spent much time in BR275's or earlier snowcats is all too familiar with.
When Bombardier designed the BR350, not only did they up the ante horsepower-wise, they also used a lot more hardline and a lot less high pressure hose in the drive system. The bottom line is a whole lot fewer total fluid loss events and consequently a whole lot longer drive system life. All it takes is one or two of these fluid loss events to fry a pump and/or motor...their tolerances are that tight. Then it's $8000+ to rebuild a pump or motor, and a bunch of down time while repairs are made.
The FNR pot is a cheap component, and a quick fix. They are a wear item, and eventually they grow a flat spot...this is what I remembered and the shop fixed.
I warmed up the ol' girl and set off into the snowstorm. It was blowing like stink, and the conditions finally were in our favor...we would have time to start grooming some secondary trails that have seen little love during the siege of snowfall followed by a long week of balmy temps.
I rumbled over to the study plot to look at the 24 hour snow stake...it was laying on it's side. I started grooming my way up the mountain...seeing wasn't the greatest, but nobody was complaining! The winds were picking up. I called Jeweler on the 2-way. I wanted to know how the winds were up top. "50-60MPH steady from the Southwest" came Jeweler's reply.
With the 24 hour stick out of commission, I called the Snow Removal Crew to get an idea of how much snow had fallen since morning. They said two or three inches, max. It had been snowing and blowing for almost four straight hours, but it didn't seem to be stacking up. Oh, the wind was playing havoc with our freshly made corduroy, but it was getting blown away, not buried.
At 0400, I called the Ski Patrol Boss like I do every Storm Night. We discussed the snowfall and wind, and he makes the Go/No-Go Call for Avalanche Control. Despite the dearth of snowfall, the winds were the determining factor. A/C is a Go.
We refueled the fleet by 0500 and we packed up and made the push to the tops for the lift mechanics. By the tine I hit the Big Blind Meadow, twilight was dawning making navigating a snap. Lots of drifting up top, but no genuine accumulation. Thankfully no digging was required to open the lifts...just a quick till of the maze areas.
My crew re-rolled everything basic and headed up to help the Park Guy down the stretch. Patches of blue sky were breaking through the clouds, and sunglasses were deployed. Back at the Groomer's Ready Room, the guys were ebullient...the mood was joyous for a change.
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