Category: Trip Reports

2005-2006 Season, Mad River Glen, March

Painful Set Back at Mad River Glen

Sunday at Mad River Glen was the culmination of a week’s vacation celebrating my return to fully functional condition following a three month recovery period due to a broken elbow and two weeks of taking it easy as I eased myself back into the world of skiing. With much soreness and fatigue, I got myself to Mad River Glen to use my second of three prepaid Mad Cards believing that it would be the last day of operation for the venerable Single Chair.

While getting dressed in the Base Box, I managed to slam my elbow into a hard wood table not once, but twice. The result was a locked up elbow that could not fully bend due to swelling. After massaging the swelling away from the painful nerve and joint motion area, I finally felt well enough to take a run.

Up the Single Chair I went, greeted with a warm air and overcast sky. I opted for Fall Line for the first run since it skied so well earlier in the week. However, the weather had since changed leaving a crusty mess that made for poor conditions on Fall Line. Halfway down the trail, I came across an icy thin cover section on which I lost edge pressure and took a nasty fall during which I banged my elbow. Once again my elbow locked up and provided my nervous system with a wide array of painful sensations. I deemed my Sunday at Mad River Glen over upon my return to the Base Box at which point the swelling would not go down and I could not obtain normal elbow motion.

After a few days of rest, the pain and swelling went away and I was ready to return to Mad River Glen the following Saturday to close out the Ski Area on its final day of operation.

2005-2006 Season, Jay Peak, March

Jay Peak, VT

Friday presented the excellent opportunity to do some great skiing with some great people. NHpowderhound, Sledhaulingmedic, and I converged on Jay Peak on Friday for an exciting afternoon of skiing. We essentially witnessed the official start to the Spring Skiing season as the snow consistency was mainly wet consolidated snow. Temperatures are not yet warm enough for the upcoming slush fest, but loose powder was no where to be found as the thermometer was definitely way above the freezing mark.

After introductions at the Stateside lodge, we boarded the Bonaventure Quad and took a warm up run down to the Jet Triple. We probably could have used another warm up run to get the legs pumping, but adventure awaited and we would not be deterred by slowly moving limbs. We entered the trees and ate up some delicious open lines with very nice but soft snow. With legs burning and hearts pumping, we fired off a quick groomer run down The Jet before hitting Kitzbeuhel and woods en route to the lodge to strip off some layers.

Back on the Bonaventure Quad, we skied Goat down to Buck Woods which skied delightfully though was thin in places. A quick trip up the Flyer (with low winds!) yielded impressive and delightful soft snow and ample coverage in Beaver Pond Glade. Another trip up the Freezer had us heading back to the lodge for a quick refuel and clothing adjustment via a few hairy woods trails.

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2005-2006 Season, Mad River Glen, March

Mad River Glen Says “It Ain’t Over”

It Ain't Over

After closing up shop last week due to a horrible melting period and rain storm followed by a rapid freeze, Mad River Glen fired up the Single again earlier this week to the delight of skiers everywhere. At least those skiers that still think it is ski season. The foot of fresh that Mad River Glen received last week was wonderful for the Upper sections of the mountain but only succeeded in covering up potential obstacles down low. After a lot of wind blown snow and grooming, Mad River Glen was able to open up again despite thin cover conditions dominating the lower mountain.

Having taken the previous day off to rest and recuperate for four days in a row of skiing, I opted to burn my first of three Mad Cards today with hopes of returning on Saturday and Sunday to use the remaining two. My vacation this week has been wildly successful scoring some exciting skiing and great conditions and today was no different.

I began my morning by heading up the Single and descending down the groomed roller coaster that is Catamount. Peering up at Cat Bowl, I noticed some enticing bump lines so I boarded the Single at the mid-station and skated over to Cat Bowl. Coverage was mostly good with some occasional thin spots and loose snow on skier’s left. While maintaining my line down skier’s left, I thought that the bumps would be perfect once things warmed up a little. But I would not have the opportunity to return later to find out.

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2005-2006 Season, Jay Peak, March, Powder Day

Lots of Untracked at Jay

Austin Skis Kitz

SICK SICK SICK! If anyone thinks that this season has sucked, they have not been paying attention! Reports of this season’s premature ending have been greatly exaggerated. Thanks to orographic lift and a great location, The Jay Cloud continues to churn out massive amounts of snow on an almost daily basis refreshing lines with six inches of snow throughout the weekend. Though snow fall totals from the night before were only six inches, up to twelve inches of untracked could easily be found in addition to the occasional shot of knee deep. Despite only having a moderate amount of new snow in that magical 6-12″ range, Monday was my best lift serviced day of skiing this year. With exception of skiing a few groomed trails in between the trees, I essentially skied nearly untracked powder all day long.

Forgetting that powder hounds would still be out en mass even though it was a Monday, I took my time getting ready at home. As a result, despite getting into line for the Tram at 8:45 A.M., I still waited for the third Tram Car to ascend to the Summit of Jay Peak. My delay could not have been more fortunate! Despite not being able to make first tracks down Valhalla, my delay resulted in an even better occurrence. As I departed the Sky Haus, I heard my name being called out. When I turned around, I saw none other than Austin who posts on AlpineZone and FirstTracks!! Online. Austin said he would be running late and hopefully we could meet up later in the day. Turns out I was the one running late and Austin arrived earlier than planned. The unexpected run in provided great company and a skiing partner for the afternoon romp through Jay Peak’s extensive glade network.

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2005-2006 Season, Jay Peak, March, Powder Day

Powder Left Overs at Jay Peak

With the Jay Cloud in full effect thanks to Orographic Lift, Jay Peak along with most of the Northern Green Mountains picked up over two feet of snow in three days. Most of that snow fell mid-week from Wednesday through Friday, so knee deep untracked was impossible to find by the weekend. However, the new powder falling overnight was more than enough to refreshen the glades and make skiing primo for Saturday. Jay Peak may exaggerate their snow totals occasionally, but no one can exaggerate the fact that Jay Peak gets a ton of snow when most other New England Ski Areas come up empty.

Arriving at the Stateside Lodge at 8 A.M., I noticed that the parking lot attendants were already packing the cars in like sardines. Despite the parking situation, due to Jay Peak’s far northern location, the majority of skiers did not arrive until late morning leaving fresh lines for the early birds. However, by 10 A.M. all the lots were full and the Jet Chair was averaging more than a ten minute wait.

Jay Peak had reported in on Thursday morning with two feet of fresh snow. By Saturday the best I could find on the mountain was the occasional one foot of untracked which was a rare find indeed. The rest of the snow was either tracked up, packed down, or blown away by the high winds. Due to those high winds, the Groomer Trails were a pathetic mix of wind blown hard pack, frozen granular, and the occasional legit icy patch. Not that any one skiing Jay Peak would want to ski the Groomers… they only reason to ski at Jay Peak is heading into the trees.

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