Magic delivered on MLK Day with the most new snow in Vermont. And while some locations in New Hampshire received the same or more new snow, Magic offered up the best combination of cost, terrain, and lack of crowds on a holiday weekend. Magic is always a safe (and cheap!) location on a holiday weekend for crowd avoidance. So this storm could not have been better timed.

Having said that, this was my first time skiing Magic during which they had a lift line attendant checking tickets and organizing the lift line. The two line coral backup up to a ten chair wait at one point. Wow! There were no chairs going up empty at Magic today until very late in the afternoon. It seems like the word is finally getting out about Magic.

Magic received half a foot of fresh. Powder consistency was fairly high moisture content but still rather of powdery. Great snow for packing down and improving the already ample base. My observations are that Magic did not receive rain prior to the snow. The new snow fell on a bomber but rather crusty base. The new snow was definitely much needed. Base is good but great conditions on a good base is better. All trails were open and skiing very well!

We started off working the mountain from left to right knocking off Talisman, Sorcerer,  Broomstick, Heart of Magician, Witch, and Black Line in short order. For Black Line, I opted for the upper entrance yielding excellent cliff jumping with ample coverage for soft landings. Talisman was pretty much untracked for our first run and Sorcerer was awesome despite being mostly tracked up and somewhat bumped. While skiing Sorcerer, I found my groove and my rhythm. For the first time this season, I felt like I had my A game back.

I then split from the group and hit Goniff leading into some really nice untracked woods. From the next lift ride up, I noticed that Red Line was getting hammered and some grass was showing in the steeper troughs. So Red Line was up next and I ripped it pretty good hitting all but one of the cliffs. The steeper moguls needed to be topped, for the most part,  due to the deteriorating conditions of the troughs. This is one heck of a fun trail to rip!

After Red Line, I hit Magician woods and then took to the trees finding everything from untracked to loose powder to packed powder to some occasional scraped. I got owned on one of Magic’s more formidable drops which already had a well played out landing. I finished up the day with some bumps on Slide to Wizard and a repeat of the upper option on Black Line for some rock hopping.

Today was simply a sensational day at Magic with all of its trails open and in fine condition. Magic could not possibly be in better condition in mid-January. With a bomber base and continuing  surface refreshes with more storms on the way, Magic is primed for an epic powder day if it can score a one footer or better before it gets a thaw.

Currently, the ownership of Magic Mountain is pushing for a Co-op and is actively selling shares to ensure the operation’s continued viability and financial solvency. Given Magic’s low profile in the Northeast Skiing world and its past, it is unfortunately no surprise that Magic Mountain has had financial difficulties.

What is surprising; however, is a mountain with the best terrain in Southern Vermont (and arguably better than most of New England excepting about a dozen or so other areas) is having difficulties at all. Most of us are not in the position to buy a share. But we all owe it to ourselves to visit this mountain and buy a ticket and tell our friends. It would be New England skiing’s biggest tragedy if this mountain was allowed to fail due to lack of skier and rider  visits.

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