Category: Earned Turns

2006-2007 Season, Because, Earned Turns, July, Mount Washington, Tuckerman Ravine

End of Season July Turns in Tuckerman Ravine

0607season/20070701tuckerman/

Met up with Patrick for some July desperation turns on this fine Canada Day, eh? This is my third season in a row skiing the Ravine as late as I think can safely be done without excessive stupidity (only moderate stupidity was required today). Despite there being more snow at the patch than the previous two years, the overall safety level was much less which resulted in Patrick and I only skiing half of the snow patch.

We made a late start leaving Pinkham around 9 A.M. and made steady time. We incurred the normal barrage of questions and comments but not as many as experienced in prior years. The doubters were incorrect as always displaying amazing ignorance, on occasion even claiming superior knowledge of the Ravine in that they knew no snow was left. Halfway up the TRT, the sun was shinning and I dared remark that “What was up with that 30% chance of rain?” Fortunately we made it to HoJo’s and cover before it started coming down heavy. The two other skiers that passed us did not fair as well having already pressed on to the ravine.

After the rain showers passed, we made our way up to the Bowl. En route, Patrick got a little sarcastic and told a passerby that there was snow in a cave up there. A short while later, we caught up to the same hikers and they asked “is there really a cave up there you guys are going to ski through?”

(more…)

2006-2007 Season, April, Cannon Mountain, Earned Turns

Spring Corn Skiing via Earned Turns

0607season/20070421cannon/

After a rather long hiatus with only occasional lift assisted skinning, the One Run for the Price of None Tour 06-07 fires back up again with a vengeance… and man are my arms tired. My legs too. All of the powder and packed powder skiing this season has my physical condition less toned than usual at this time of year despite passing my season total of 39 days. Speaking of lifts turning, I can honestly say I am glad Cannon always shuts down the first week in April because boy oh boy was it nice having the mountain almost entirely to myself. This was the best day of skiing I have had….. in the past seven days.

Originally, the plan was some local BC but downed trees had me concerned. Opting on a summit from the M side, I was blown away by both the coverage and blow down. This is better coverage than I have seen during many years in January, wow! Also impressive was the wind and weather damage done to the summit tower. Many pieces of wood were torn clear off the tower making the summit tower access slightly dangerous but safe enough. Views everywhere were amazing. I spread my arms, felt the breeze, and smiled a big toothy grin. This was a truly beautiful Spring day and there was no where else I would rather be. Something about this mountain, I don’t quite know what it is, continues to leave me in various states of awe.

(more…)

2006-2007 Season, Burke, Dawn Patrol, Earned Turns, January

Dawn Patrol at Burke

With the second busiest week of the year under way at work and a sizable snow storm barreling into Vermont, I had few options for mid-week powder pursuit. A day off from work was strictly off the table and post work festivities could not begin until well past dark. My desire for turn earning and adventure dictated drastic action in the form of my first ever Dawn Patrol. Unfortunately, there was no powder to be found due to mixed precip and a poor setup the day before. But turn earning is more about the adventure than finding perfect snow and my first ever skin into the darkness was a reward in and of itself.

My position requires strict timeliness to open my place of employment at exactly 7:45 A.M. This sad fact combined with a need for a shower and complete change of clothes made logistics rather difficult. Fortunately, I work at a College where access to a shower at the Gym is available at seven in the morning. I set my alarm for 3:30 A.M. to be safe but later learned the hard way that 4:00 A.M. not only would have been fine, but would have been better. After gathering my gear and getting the wheels rolling, I stopped by the local Cumbies for a quick breakfast snack. The employee ringing the register inquired “What are we up to this morning?” To which I replied that I was heading up to Burke to earn a ski run before work. I got a rather blank and dumb founded look in response.

(more…)

2006-2007 Season, Earned Turns, Jay Peak, November

Earned Turns at Jay Peak Under the Guns

0607season/20061122jay/

With Jay Peak planning to open for the Season this coming Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, I planned a double purpose trip to Jay Peak. Instead of fighting the crowds on Saturday morning to get my Season Pass picture taken, I opted to visit the office this morning and take care of business before the rush. The other purpose was of course to make some turns and claim my seventh day of the season. While Jay Peak’s Faux Sneaux left much to be desired, claiming day seven before Thanksgiving is not too shabby, especially considering the first major New England ski areas just opened yesterday.

Arriving at The Jet triple and clicking into my skis, I happened upon a pot of gold. White Gold that is. With snow guns firing and a bright sun blazing across a deep blue sky, a rainbow had formed at the nozzle of every single snow gun. The end of the rainbow led to a bountiful pot of white gold. I have never chased the end of a rainbow before; but now that I have, I know that the story is true.

(more…)

2006-2007 Season, Earned Turns, November, Stowe

Early October Earned Turns on Mount Mansfield

0607season/20061105stowe/

“Damn, I wish it was still October.” Not often are these words spoken in New England by skiers. But based on short and long term forecasts, there is a distinct possibility that October will have been a better month to ski New England than November. Which is not to say that the skiing on Mount Mansfield on November fifth was not more than satisfactory and excellent for November. But it sure was no October 2006.

Austin, Marc, and I all arrived at the Gondola lot early Sunday morning for some skiing on Mount Mansfield. Snow Guns were firing hard on Upper Nose Dive and on the other side of the mountain. We opted to ascend via Nose Dive and make plans for the descent once we were higher up. A short hike up Nose Dive was required before we could put skins to the snow and beginning skinning. Snow coverage was still substantial and wall to wall after a short hundred vertical feet of dry land. It is still hard to believe how much snow has stuck around for so long considering the date!

(more…)