Category: April

2012-2013 Season, April, Mad River Glen

Shareholders Day at Mad River Glen

Quaky at MRG

I was heading to Mad River Glen for the Annual Shareholders Meeting regardless of snow conditions so I might as well bring the skis and have at it. Snow conditions alone would not have justified the drive. While I was very happy to see Mad River make it into April with ample coverage, the lack of good spring skiing conditions have been disappointing. Mad River Glen is a great mountain for spring skiing since most trails are left natural and bumpy. But today was a poor day to sample even the groomers, let alone the bumps, at Mad River.

I got a late start but not late enough. I skied Fox to Bunny and then Antelope to Bunny before deciding that it was time for a lunch. After grabbing a bite to eat, I met up with MadPat and went up for a rerun of the groomers from each chair. I may have skied more top to bottom groomers today than I’ve ever skied at Mad River Glen in total. Not much had changed. But from the Single, MadPat and I both spied one of the Quackys lit up by sunshine. While the bumps were a touch abnormal, the snow condition was prime spring corn and the only bit of it on the mountain.

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2011-2012 Season, April, Killington

Closing Weekend at Killington

Gondola Cars All Lined Up

Day twenty-nine: almost halfway to my season goal of sixty. I never thought approaching thirty days would feel like an accomplishment. But with two months remaining of this craptastic season, I’ll be extremely happy to hit thirty on Mount Washington next month.

A terrible season puts things in perspective. Killington making it to April 22nd this year is a significant accomplishment. In past years, closing this weekend was considered an “epic fail”. And if not for a late season dump, this weekend would not have been possible. So there is some perspective, it could always be worse no matter how bad it seems to get.

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2011-2012 Season, April, Jay Peak

Juxtaposition at Jay

Old Jay, New Jay

Highs are higher because of the lows. My father never appreciated that part of my personal philosophy, perhaps fearing I would probe for lower depths instead of reaching for new heights. I not only ride the emotional roller coaster, I relish the experience. The roller coaster is an essential part of northeastern skiing. You can enjoy the ride, attempt to cope, or grab a barf bag.

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2010-2011 Season, April, Gore

Dacks Day 2: Gore Mountain

Harvey on Topridge

Climbing into the loft Saturday night was excruciating. My fall in the Slides Saturday nearly ended my season prematurely. Despite skiing out and finishing the day, I was in pain.

Shuffling to the out house on uneven snow filled me with doubt about my first visit to Gore. My limp was pronounced as I dragged myself into the lodge and slowly got changed. To say I was not “feeling it” would be an understatement.

We boarded the Northwoods Gondola at opening bell and Harvey led the charge down Foxlair to Sunway. I was grimacing the entire way. The pain varied from throbbing to excruciating on a groomed green circle. I tried to hide my frown as we reboarded the gondola. I couldn’t bare to share with Harvey what I was thinking–this next run is going to be it. I can’t go on. Worse than the pain was the thought that I could wreck the post-lift season in a needless masochistic effort.

I thought I could handle a groomers only day. As disappointing as that would be, it was better than the alternative of driving home having only skied two runs at Gore. So we took Uncas and Topridge which further tested my resolve and pain tolerance. With each turn the pain subsided slightly; but I never completely felt in control. I was sliding along desperately trying to get the edges to bite without pressuring my right ankle. It was absurd–but I couldn’t yet push past the pain. We headed for the summit so I could at least see the rest of the mountain before crying mercy.

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