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Hankering for some turns
Whilst marooned in Pennsylvania some 2000 miles from the nearest
skiing I came upon an idea of how to go downhill skiing in the summer.
I had previously come across people skiing on sand dunes and wondered
weather the same idea could be applied to the Coal tips in North
Eastern Pennsylvania leftover from the Industrial Revolution. Coal
slag, whilst larger in lumps than sand, is less stable, especially
when wet; or that's the theory anyway.
First find your heap...
I found a suitable heap next to a commuter parking lot in Carbondale.
Getting to the top proved to be quite a challenge. The coal waste
is rather soggy when you try and climb it, sinking in about 6 inches
or more, very much like soft sand or spring snow on a very hot day.
The coal may be soft to climb, but it isn't so kind on your skis.
I had made the precaution of binging along an old slightly bent
pair of K2 MSL's - a nice solid wood core ski, a little too beat
up to be worth any money. The only boots I had to hand were my rather
nice Lowa touring boots. Not wishing to wreck these I gave the lower
half of the boot a protective coating of Duck Tape.
  
Almost, but not quite, like
spring snow...
I had picked quite a steep slope to try, some
45 to 50 degrees, guessing it wouldn't be that quick. My first run
was quite a surprise, the surface was faster than I expected requiring
sharp turns to avoid gaining too much speed and far more forgiving.
To ski it was quite like late spring snow that has been in the sun
all day. I sank in when turning, actually putting up some spray!
My second run I was reminded how much skis have changed lately,
catching an edge on my long straight boards, almost going straight
into a road. After two runs and a couple of good scares, I decided
to call it a day and go back to the nice safe sport of ATV's.
Worth climing the slagheap
Slagheap skiing was fun, and because I had all the stuff to hand
was well worth the effort. But I wouldn't recommend it unless you
are really desperate to get some turns in, and couldn't care less
about your equipment…
Words and Pictures
from Tom
Greenall - Natives Resort Reporter
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