Category: Vermont
Summer or Spring at Stowe?
As you can see, there are some pretty ugly developments happening at Stowe lately. You might also notice that the snow coverage isn’t that good either.
The development at Spruce Peak continues on its absurd scale. The new Spruce “Camp” Base Lodge feels more like a sterilized hotel lobby than a ski lodge. The faux wood benches and chairs are uncomfortable and lack practicality. Clearly this was a lodge designed by AIG big wigs without any input from skiers and riders. This seems weird to say but even the bathrooms took me out of the skiing mentality and put me into a city ambiance.
Adding financial insult to aesthetic injury, I had to pony up $5.00 for my “Evolution” card even though I already prepaid for a voucher. Unlike most other excessive ski resorts, Mount Mansfield’s terrain is worth dealing with the pomp. I made like an egg and crossed over to the Gondola. Due to the sun, I planned to take full advantage of the shade of the enclosed cabins.
Stratton Slush Show
Stratton was the only mountain in New England with a 2,000 foot drop that I had not skied. I felt obligated to ski Stratton to round out my knowledge. So out of morbid curiosity, I put Stratton on my List. I was spoiling for a fight and prepared myself for another shit show. But instead of a shit show, I found a slush show.
Of all the heirs to New England’s ski resort throne, Stratton is of a higher and uncontested pedigree (and I mean that in the most derogatory way possible). On occasion, I have used the word gaudy to describe recent resort developments such as Claybrook at Sugarbush and Spruce Peak at Stowe. But the level of distastefulness I experienced at Stratton’s was supremely offensive.
How does the target demographic not revolt due to shameless patronizing? Why do the richy rich respond most favorably to homogenization without substance? I don’t disrespect wealthy individuals for wanting a well furnished upper class second home. But I do disrespect lack of taste and originality. The human desire to want what the other has is what keeps Stratton in business.
There is only one thing I hate more than homogenized faux villages and that is parking lots that require a bus. And Stratton doesn’t screw around in this department. If you aren’t a VIP guest or paying for parking, you can take the bus. I got sent down to Lot 2, three quarters of a mile away from the ticket window.
Sleepy Jay Day
My destination decision on Saturday was based on open terrain versus powder potential. With only two to four inches in the forecast for most of Vermont, I opted for open terrain. I assumed Jay would add something onto their reported 3-6″ from the day before. And perhaps I could locate a few lesser known stashes with two days worth of accumulation. As reports from Sugarbush can attest, I had chosen poorly.
Jay over reported the higher end of their range from Thursday. I was able to find many pockets of untracked snow but none of those pockets yielded anything close to half a foot. Adding insult to injury was that Jay got nothing from the storm. So whereas I expected 3-6″ + 2-4″ for potential pockets of 5-10″, I actually got a few pockets of 3-4″.
Which isn’t to say that the skiing wasn’t really good. Conditions were packed powder with lots of loose snow and the rare hit of powder. All trails were open except for the ridge. And base depths were significantly improved since my last visit before the massive Leap Day storm. But I still wasn’t feeling it.
Worse, I was completely out of it. Lack of sleep and tough times at work had me blurry eyed with lackadaisical legs. I wasn’t making my turns and my eyes were drooping in the trees. After a little more than an hour’s worth of skiing, I decided it was dangerous to continue forcing it, I was done.
But not before failing to rotate a jump turn, releasing from my ski, and post holing down to my sternum in a spruce trap. Extraction was a bitch to say the least. But at least I know first hand that Jay has a deep base and should weather the warmth better than most.
MRG: Boot to Knee Deep is Boot to Knee Deep
During a season in which one inch became the new one foot and six inches became the new boot deep, it was nice to finally get pinched into wakefulness: today book to knee deep was boot to knee deep.
Harvey hatched a plan to ski Mad River Glen en route to points further north. I couldn’t help but throw in despite knowing that meant committing to seven days of skiing in a row. Harvey’s passion and enthusiasm for skiing is infectious. To play tour guide during Harvey’s first trip to Mad River Glen was an honor I couldn’t pass up. And Harvey brings good luck with him to Vermont, both times we have hooked up in Vermont were surprise powder days.