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When,where did you last ROPETOW?How was it?

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ciscokid
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Location:west Mi.

Posted: Feb 09, 2008 - 5:51 PM GMT

Edited: May 29, 2009 - 4:37 PM GMT

After tubing at Pando with the family last night I HAD to try their ropetow ski/ride area for the first time.I could not get over the speed of these silent snow hugging/skimming uphill tows as it has been eons since I last rode a ropetow.I had ALL I could do to grip the "steeper" hill to the top as this thing was fast and super slippery,I wish I had one of Woody's ropetow grippers!I thoroughly enjoyed this "back in time" 60's era redux.

Where and when was the last time you did a ropetow,about how long and fast was it,did you encounter trouble maintaining your grip up the steepest section(s)?

I sure wish these ropes were T's,J's.or Poma disc!,but then that would be too modern for "Jake's Place".I think my hands and arms had a better workout than the legs!

threw this pic in of Cannonsburg a few miles down the road from Pando
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Brian
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Posted: Feb 09, 2008 - 7:28 PM GMT

for me-------------last rope tow ride was the old PINE RIDGE! my fave in barre,mass. it was short ride,easy to grip,and slow. it was when i was teaching somebody the basics! you gotta start somewhere!

regards/brian o

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"riders on the storm" JM

bousquet19
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Posted: Feb 09, 2008 - 8:30 PM GMT

Ciscokid, my last rope tow ride was about 1967 at Bousquet Ski Area in Massachusetts. This was the long rope tow about 1200 feet long that ran alongside Paul's Clearing, now Lower Beeline. The rope was wet, heavy and smooth. I didn't have a tow gripper that day and can't say the ride was fun.

The next year, new management (a trio of businessmen who owned and ran the place for 1967-68 only) moved the upper poma down to the base, replacing this rope tow.

Woody
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WoodCore
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Posted: Feb 09, 2008 - 11:40 PM GMT

Last time riding a rope tow was probably around 2003/2004 at Bousquet. I was riding up the beginners rope tow to access the summit double. It's since been replaced by a magic carpet.

Regardless, hoping for some good snow in the coming weeks so that I can utilize my membership at the Greylock Ski Club and make some laps on the longest and fastest rope in the East!!

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jb66
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Posted: Feb 09, 2008 - 11:58 PM GMT

Alpine Valley, OH, 25 years ago. Gotta get to NE Slopes this year...

Before that it was Silver Mine, NY, another decade before that. What a couple of great rides!

johnskiismore
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 12:41 AM GMT

The Kancamagus Recreational Area in Lincoln, NH last season. Tough thing for me is that I have dislocated/displaced my shoulder too many times in the past, and that ropetow dosen't help! Great slope to get a bunch of turns on!

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remski
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 1:24 AM GMT

Feb 2005 at Abenaki In Wolfboro NH. Talk about HIGH SPEED and a handful of fun runs. I'd go back for a pm session anytime.

Rick
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 1:31 AM GMT

Does water skiing count?

furry eldo
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 1:33 AM GMT

hit the rope tow at magic today, it rocked!

Jonni
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Location:Sunapee, NH & Lyndonville, VT

Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 2:26 AM GMT

Last rope tow ride was the rope tow at Lyndon Outing club, last year. Here's the specs:

Rope Tow Length: Maybe 85 feet.
Approximate Ride Time: About 4 seconds, at least when it's in high gear.
Approximate vertical gained: Maybe 30 feet.
Condition of gloves afterward: In tact.

Fun ride, definitely required at a nostalgic area like this under the lights. I look forward to logging another night there this coming week if possible.

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Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

rocket21
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 2:44 AM GMT

Quote:

Feb 2005 at Abenaki In Wolfboro NH. Talk about HIGH SPEED and a handful of fun runs. I'd go back for a pm session anytime.

I intend to hit it up for a night session sometime soon - perhaps you can join me on the campaign trail!

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jedk
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 5:18 AM GMT

Just 2 week ago at Nashoba. I get a kick out of the kids that often seem to have a weak grip--I end up giving them a push sometimes. I follow my granddaughter at the end of the day when she gets tired of the longer runs and goes to the green rope tow areas.

trackbiker
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Location:Eastern PA

Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 7:51 AM GMT

Edited: Feb 10, 2008 - 7:53 AM GMT

I'm guessing Spring Mt. when I was in college circa '78 - '83.
The John Deere dealer down the road used to do a good business in insulated leather work gloves before they replaced it with a triple chair. Bet they were sad to see the old rope tow go!

iskiatomic
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Location:SOUTHINGTON, CT

Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 9:10 AM GMT

Wow, a rope tow! I believe I will have to say my home hill of Mount Southington about thirty years ago.

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MissDaEast
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 11:58 AM GMT

Edited: Feb 10, 2008 - 12:03 PM GMT

Well, last year I went up the handle tow, which is a sort of rope tow, with my three year old great-niece at Quechee Lakes.

Other than that, the last real rope tow I used was at Drumlins, in Syracuse,NY...in about 1955 ! I have posted about this rope tow before...I was nearly decapitated when, near the top of the hill, I fell underneath it. I was a small eight year old, and it was a big fat heavy rope that I could not lift off my neck (especially because it was moving). I still have nightmares about that experience!!!

usafnav2191
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 12:12 PM GMT

Edited: Feb 10, 2008 - 12:16 PM GMT

Hi All,

Camillus Ski Association in Camillus, NY near Syracuse aka East Hill! Faaaaasst and steep dual tows...they also used to sell these great leather mittens for the ropetow. The mittens were bright green with fleece liners...very toasty on the inside. I think they were like 5 bucks....

Cheers!

RAH

sledhaulingmedic
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 1:59 PM GMT

Rope tow, as opposed to handle tow:

Darrow School, 1976, IIRC.

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rogerjack
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 3:44 PM GMT

Twenty years ago at Alta. I believe they still run the tow between the lodges, Rustler's and others.

rstuthill
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Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 4:30 PM GMT

March, 1969, Chapman Hill, the day after Clarkson lost in OT to Harvard in the ECAC's at Boston Garden. Still remember the frost heave that I hit on Route 12 in the middle of night in my Europa. Had two pair of alpine skis and two pair of skinny skis on the rack. We parked the car at MIT, left the skis in my brother's dorm room, and took the T to the Garden. Is that enough detail? Still smarting from that loss to Hahvad. Never like to lose to them.

flexon4237
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Location:Hudson, ME

Posted: Feb 10, 2008 - 6:25 PM GMT

Crystal Mountain PA - mid 80's. An old car at the top powered the tow and served as the liftie shack. If memory serves, there was an extension cord across the trail plugged into an outlet that served as the emergency shut off.

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