Category: Vermont

2004-2005 Season, AlpineZone Meet Up, Burke, March

AlpineZone.com Meet Up at Burke, VT

Steve at Burke

I have been long overdue on hitting up Burke this year. A combination of being drawn to Cannon and noticing the Northeast Kingdom did not receive a lot of snow this year kept me away. Meeting up with fellow skiers for an AlpineZone.com Meet Up was the perfect excuse to sample the charm and character of Burke Mountain.

Burke was amazing today and with excellent views and superb conditions. Visibility was great with Sugarbush, Mansfield, and Jay Peak all visible. Weather started cold but warmed up good by noon time. We began the morning skiing impeccable groomers including top to bottom on the Dippers and Willoughby. Burke’s perfect groomed conditions would rival even Sunday River’s legendary grooming. Seriously folks, Burke is THE BEST ski area in New England if you like cruisers with character at any speed. I am one to normally head for the trees and the bumps. But even I was lapping up the perfect groomed laying down railroad tracks in the morning.

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2004-2005 Season, Earned Turns, February, Lost Ski Area, Powder Day, Snow Valley

NELSAP Day at Snow Valley, VT

Steve

A NELSAP Special Event sponsored by the new Snow Valley owner allowed NELSAP’ers a rare chance to earn turns at the Private lost ski area Snow Valley. The owners plan to develop a Private Ski Club with Private Real Estate and lodging for club members. Snow Valley is private property and earning turns at the Ski Area is not normally allowed making this powder day an extra special treat. Six inches of blower powder, sweet!

2004-2005 Season, January, Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain, VT

Goniff Glade

One week after a legendary blizzard slammed into Southern New England, I ventured forth towards Magic Mountain to sample Southern Vermont’s finest and most challenging terrain. Originally, I planned on driving to Magic the morning of the now infamous Blizzard of 2005; however, Salem Massachusetts received three feet of powder which left me snowed in. Nothing can be worse for a powder lover than being stranded at home by the magical substance said powder lover desires most.

Unfortunately, the snow from the previous week’s storm fell on uncovered trails lacking any base what so ever. Even more unfortunately was that after one week’s time, most of the powder had blown off the mountain and what little consolidation that occurred still left trails incredibly thin covered. However, Magic Mountain opened 100% of it’s legendary terrain for those skilled or desperate enough or both to attempt to brave their rocky trails.

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2004-2005 Season, January, Mad River Glen

Mad River Glen, VT

Fall Line

After a week of below zero temperatures, Mad River Glen decided to offer up an amazing deal too good to pass up. The Glen slashed prices in half all weekend for a promotion called “Freeze Your But Off Weekend” which allowed for 8 hours of skiing for only $25! Combined with the fact that MRG has more open terrain than any other area (100% open this weekend) made the decision on where to ski a no brainer.

My first visit to Mad River Glen in 2003 was a fun but ugly affair. The conditions were “dust on crust” which skied very poorly. Additionally, I was still developing my bump and natural snow techniques so I got showed up by the mountain pretty badly. I had planned to do a four day tour in the Mad River Valley, but was hurting so bad after two days of skiing that I packed it up and headed home. Despite less cover and a general lack of snow, my adventures at The Glen this time around were much improved.

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2004-2005 Season, December, Killington

Killington, VT

Having one more free pass to blow by December 20th, I hit up the formerly “Mighty-K” for my third time this season. I normally crap on Killington rather viciously. I still feel that Killington deserves such rants but after three tries at Killington during an awful early season, I have a little more respect for the mountain. Having as much terrain open considering the conditions is very impressive. I was expecting much less open terrain than they managed to open. Also impressive were the snow guns covering Lower Superstar and the Canyons area. I would guess Superstar through Ramshead may likely be fully open by next weekend except for the trees.

Wet spring like conditions were reported on Saturday which could not have been more different from today. I arrived at the Killington Access Road with tires spinning over a blanket of white. The fresh snow fall got me excited.

I began the morning on Snowdon and I ended the day on Snowdon. Sheets of scraped snow were everywhere by the end of the day. The North Ridge Triple offered natural snow on Ridge Run which sucked but it was completely natural snow so I could not complain! I was amazed that Killington had natural terrain open. They also had Upper Chute and Great Bear open with natural snow conditions but they looked too nasty and thin for even my tastes (which is saying something!).

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