Me and my Branson...dreaming of a white xmas

[sassafraspete]

looks like a big snow is coming to Southern Indiana after midnight tonight, just in time for the official Winter season, and just in time for Xmas. Funny, I just watched Bing Crosby's classic movie on Sunday. I am ill prepared though....will have to skip out of work today early and prep my tractor. I have a front blade....do I keep the backhoe on or off? That back blade sure comes in handy to supplement the front blade though....however the BH adds good ballast.
It will be fun whatever I do.

Looks like we will be able to put the skis on top of the jeep and head out to one of those big Indiana mountains, just in time for xmas. Eat your heart out Egon.

I am getting flashbacks to school days called off for snow...good feeling those day were....do you all remember?

Merry Xmas to everyone.... I hope you all enjoy your tractors over the holidays.

Sassafraspete

 

[RobS]

Is your front blade enough counter balance for the hoe? Could get too light in the front for steering. Other than that, you should be fine.

Is the ski place on 46 still in operation? Great place for a ski resort but hard imagine them being open much? C'mon up here we've got all runs open just 30 minutes from the house /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DavesTractor]

Do they have moutains in Indiana? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[LMTC]

You need mountains to ski?

You need to understand that an elevation of 400' (yes, hundred, not thousand) in the Midwest is a mountain. And we're ok with that.

 

[DavesTractor]

Wayne, we have molehills higher than that! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Dargo]

Yeah, you can tell when a big snow is forecasted for us here in
Southern IN; everyone flocks to the grocery and wipes them out of bread, milk, eggs, etc. These people are aftaid that they will not be able to get food again for another two months! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Personally, even though I'm too old for it, I hope we get blasted with snow. I have 5 kids and it's a blast playing in the snow with them. As you know, it is somewhat a rare event to really get a heavy snow. Let it snow, let it snow... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Rob, the front blade is pretty heavy plus it is sticking out there on the end of the FEL ... probably a perfect balance to the backhoe actually.... however I like having blades on both ends. The back blade is too light....and one of these days when I have more time to learn to weld, I'd like to add a weight system the rear blade as several have built here on TBN.

The place on 46 went out of business about 3-4 yrs ago. The owner passed away and his wife and kids ran it for awhile, but the coup de gras happened when someone skiied into the snow cat, and had a head injury . My understanding was that the insurance company raised rates so high , they could no longer afford to operate.

Too bad really, was like a 20 min drive from home....and could hit it easily after work...so got in a lot of night time skiing in.

 

[sassafraspete]

Dave, yes just said mountains to get your attention.....we call them hills down here. We do have to fight the moles off sometimes just to make a run. Glaciers stopped about 2/3rds down the state, so southern Indiana is hilly....central and northern is flat. We have had 5 different ski areas in southern Indiana that I am aware of, of which 2 are still in operation. Use lots of man made snow, and the season is short. When our local hill was in business, I met people who came up from places like Nashville TN and Memphis Tn on a regular basis, just to ski the weekend... and had a good time.

While on one of my trips out west, I discovered to my surprise that even Kansas has a ski hill!

 

[sassafraspete]

Wayne, ...flatlander skiing ....just a car hood turned upside down and towed behind the tractor.

 

[sassafraspete]

Dargo, we are never too old to play in the snow. It is 3 AM here, and just now starting to get a dusting of snow. I didn't make it home before dark, so had to do my tractor prep with the aid of some lights. Got the front blade on ...about a 5-10 minute operation with the quick attach, and hooking up hydraulics. As for front chains....not too hard....just lifted the front end up by using the FEL, and got the tires off the ground to where I could slide the chains under the tires. Always takes some work to get them cinched up tight. Left the BH on for now...will see how that works. I watched 3 different Indy TV stations, and the snow forecast was all over the map. Anywhere from 8-20 inches here, depending on which station you watched. Packed in a bunch of firewood tonight, and just going to sit in front of the fire in the morning with a cup of coffee, and watch birds at the bird feeder, and enjoy the country and the snow.

sassafraspete