GCWarrior

Keep the rain away from anywhere above the MA border. This is the biggest weekend for the ski resorts and communities that support them.

Finally got out for a tour. Been since March 2023 for really good natural snow touring around here. Today I headed up to East Dover town forest backcountry zone. Off rice hill road in Dover, VT. What a treat 45 mins from my couch! My first time skiing up there and I want to go back tomorrow! Tons of snow, 6” of fresh on top of deep base, it skied very well. My 98mm touring rig wasn’t really wide enough up top to stay on top of the slight ice crust. Had to hop out of the turns. I’ve stopped keeping track of my stats but I honestly could have skied all day. Had to make it home for the pup though. Double dipped and did some laps at the home hill later in the day. Conditions were really good in the woods. Reminded me of Sugarloaf, icy, rocky, chalky wind blown snow on top. Last picture is Berkshire East for reference !

Didn’t notice because they had mechanical problems today but DJs Tramline at Cannon was open yesterday. They must be getting some decent density snow to get that run open so early. Very rocky.

That one has some decent consensus one week out wow! EURO clips SNE on Tuesday as well.

Seems a hard one to avoid a snowday here. Especially if things stay all frozen.

4-5” in Campton, nh when I left this am. Cold and wind coming in hot and heavy later.

UMASS is a sweet run! Trees in between UMASS and Grizzly are pretty fun as well. I sadly had to work this am. Man I am jealous!

Down to 27 with blowing snow here in Berkshire county.

Sunday is good timing. No snow days!

I’m having a hard time putting my finger on a recent similar winter to this one so far. I’m 43 so those 80s winters aren’t really in my memory. Our winter is a bit different than what you have further east. 13-14?

I just want to hold these se ticks.

Hoping for 6” at the home hill. Gonna be a little crazy Monday am.

Sugarbush is so awesome but I will say their lift fleet is aging. I know they have the new heavens gate and valley house is newer but their HSQs date back to ASC. That’s a long time ago at this point. I wonder if Alterra is a little bogged down with the legal problems associated with the abasin purchase.

Managed to make it up to Northern Vermont for a couple days. Stowe Friday and Jay Peak today. Both skied extremely well. This most recent storm and upslope has really helped them make a quick recovery for the natural snow terrain. Talking to people on the lift it seems much of the rest of NNE outside NVT is very bleak. Both mountains were crowded but we still managed to get plenty of runs in plus skinned to the top of the tram and down Green Beret.

I’m no expert. I have been skiing powder all over this great continent since back in the day. Think 200cm gs skis. I skied Stowe yesterday and Jay today and I will say Jay had better coverage by a lot especially down low. And Stowe was great by the way. That is all.

Past the holiday doldrums! Yay! Time to get after it. Stowe tomorrow and Jay Saturday. Freshest snow in the lower 48 right now?

Not up in Savoy as I remember.

At least it’s trending to not be a complete washout. Ski industry appreciation week(s) right now.

We had some biggies near here in the early 2010s. Boxing Day, Jan 2011, Oct 2011. Pretty substantial.

Absolutely! Snowicane I think was what it was called. Heath, Savoy, Florida Mass got easy 3 feet. Total elevation bomb above 1500’. I was up at Saddleback for the storm, waist deep powder and young legs.

Yes 2011! That was so much snow easy 3’. March 2023 was insane. Feb 2010 had well over 3’ about 10 miles from here. April 1997 in 9th grade was big. I’m always too busy skiing to measure the biggest storms.

I’d agree with no 30” down in the valley. Slightly higher here in Shelburne falls we have had 30” March 2023 and October 2010 as I can remember. And those may not have been 30”.

Gonna be a cold one out on the slopes doing training all day!

Mount Snow is a bit behind. They have one of the better snowmaking systems in New England though so I can see them catching up pretty quick. Going to be needed with Christmas on a Wednesday, all next week is going to be crazy! Personally lacking motivation for anything more than local turns. The holidays always have a way of taking my ski vibe away! After new years, bring on the nfl playoffs, more daylight and of course better skiing!

Berkshire East has the guns on and is opening for the weekend. Conditions won’t be nearly as good as this past weekend but it’s better than not skiing!