Category: Vermont

2005-2006 Season, Burke, Earned Turns, November

Early Season Earned Turns at Burke

Willoughby Quad Under Construction

A legendary early season in New England continued on the week of Thanksgiving as two back to back storms slammed into the mountains. Waking up Wednesday morning to a mere dusting barely an inch deep at home in Saint Johnsbury, I knew better things awaited me at higher elevations. I opted for Burke as it was the closest drive and where I suspected had the most snow in the area. I was not disappointed with my decision. Upon reaching the mountain, I opened my car door and stepped out into half a foot of powder.

Burke was alive with action preparing for their opening just two weeks away. Pairs of men were working on various structures including a new stairway in the parking lot, the Mid-Burke Lodge, the Summit Quad, and the new High Speed Sherburne Quad. The new Sherburne Quad recently had its unload station installed, all of the towers flown in and mounted, and the haul rope hung. The newest High Speed Quad in Vermont is nearly ready to beckon a new age at Burke Mountain.

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2005-2006 Season, November, Sugarbush

Uploading Early Season at Sugarbush

Mount Ellen from Rim Run

After bailing on Sugarbush’s opening day on Saturday due to fatigue and just not feeling it, I rolled myself out of bed on Sunday hoping for the best but expecting the worst. My expectations were not to be disappointed.

Sugarbush opened up one run down from the summit of Glen Ellen. An upload on the Green Mountain Express dropped skiers off at the Summit Quad. A slow ride to the summit through a few snow guns landed way too many skiers and riders on way too little terrain. Rim Run to Elbow was the trail combination of the day. One fellow chair rider joking asked me “which trails have you been skiing today?”

Views were enjoyable with clear skis and minimal wind. Temperatures were above freezing at the base lodge but just below freezing near the summit which allowed for snow making on F.I.S. and Lower Rim Run.

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2005-2006 Season, Earned Turns, Jay Peak, November

Earned Early Season Turns at Jay Peak

Veterans’ Day Weekend typically signifies the start of the season for many Northeastern Ski Areas. The big players in the game including Killington, Bretton Woods, Okemo, and Sunday River usually aspire to appease the early season masses with Holiday Weekend skiing heading into mid-November. The freaky start to the 2005-2006 Ski Season continues as an abnormally warm weather pattern settled into New England for the first half of November. A brief cold spell allowed many ski areas, including Jay Peak, to begin snow making operations for the season.

Saturday morning I awoke with many doubts that the skiing possibilities being worth the required effort. After the big October storm roared through New England, many blow downs had occurred throughout the mountains which had me considering a hike into the local Backcountry to clean up some lines. I declined the nobler pursuit in deference to pure hedonism at Jay Peak based on their snow report and snow making operations. Jay was reporting 22 inches of new snow in the past four days. Despite the natural snow having melted, the man made base was indeed about 22 inches deep, and more!

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2005-2006 Season, Bolton Valley, Earned Turns, October

First Significant Snowfall at Bolton Valley, VT

Steve at Vista Peak

The amazing thing about backcountry gear is it allows a skier or rider to over rule ski area management about how long the season will be. The operation of lifts no longer dictate when I can or can not ski. So when it snows at elevation in Vermont during October and half a foot of White Gold coats the mountain tops, I can head up and get some. My last day on skis was 113 days ago during early July in Tuckerman Ravine. My latest season to date has been followed up by my earliest season to date and my shortest off season.

Reports of potential snow in higher elevations of Vermont began filtering through the NWS reports and subsequently many Northeastern Ski Forums. The weather forecasters totally missed the call on this crazy snow storm. Slowly the reports came trickling in Sunday Morning. An inch in the Mad River Valley soon became half a foot. Claims of a foot of fresh were posted from Killington. A report of 3-6″ on the lower slopes of Bolton Valley caught my eye and had my car wheels rolling within the hour.

Early in September, I made a call in a most joking manner that October 23rd would be the first big snow storm for my area. With humorous bravado, I went one step further and claimed that I would be skiing on the 23rd as well. I am still amazed that my off the wall guess was accurate.

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2004-2005 Season, Earned Turns, Killington, May

Late May Earned Turns at Killington

Late May at Killington

Saturday May 29th found me running all over New England for Memorial Day Weekend festivities and moving errands. At 10 P.M., I found myself in my old apartment in Salem, Massachusetts cleaning the place up and dropping off the keys to the landlord. I was looking at a late night three hour drive home to Vermont which was not very appealing. Also, I was planning a run at Killington’s Superstar the following day. Killington being two hours away from St. Johnsbury had me doing over 12 hours of driving in a 24 hour window which was very unappealing. Fortunately, I had planned for the dilemma by already packing my gear and sleeping bag in my car. I saved a four hour round trip from St. Johnsbury by driving straight up to Killington that night and doing some car camping at Hotel Mobil.

Says the cashier when I walk into the store the next morning looking for breakfast: “Was that you sleeping in the car?” Says I: “Yes it was!”

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