2002-2003 Season, Articles, Black Mountain, February

The Black Mountain Experience

Doublehead from White Knuckle

Driving into the parking lot, I was directed where to park by an attendant. Upon opening my car door, I was greeted with friendly and warm conversation despite the frigid cold of the morning. Entering the lodge, I was enthusiastically and happily greeted by several employees. The main floor of the lodge is spacious and contains ample tables and chairs, including wood benches surrounding a red brick fireplace. Downstairs on the bottom floor, I purchased my lift ticket for $32 and quickly became engaged in conversation with Black’s attentive and hospitable staff. I was amazed by their Rental setup which seemed well designed and well staffed. Black’s reputation as a family friendly resort that specializes in beginners and those just learning is well deserved. But I was about to learn that Black has more to offer than just for families and beginners!

Black is a Mountain for everyone. First timers to Experts alike will delight in Black Mountain’s classic, narrow, winding trails. Beginners have two dedicated areas for learning which include a J-Bar servicing a wide open practice slope and a Platter Pull Surface Lift which accesses three charming Green Circles. Even expert skiers would do well to try the Platter Pull lift at least once for the experience! If you have never seen a Platter Pull lift, think T-Bar with a plunger instead of a T. The plunger gets placed between your legs which may lead some self-absorbed skiers to believe it is an extension of their man hood.

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2002-2003 Season, Cannon Mountain, February

Cannon Mountain, NH

Cannon from Mount Jackson

Despite recent disappointments with Cannon grooming almost all of their trails flat as a pancake, I could not resist the Two-Fer $40 on Valentine’s Day. There is nothing I would rather be doing on Valentine’s Day than skiing by myself! I am not being facetious, I mean that quite literally and seriously. But my opinions on Hallmark Holidays, their negative effects on mental health and general outlook on life, and binge Holiday consumption are really neither here nor there and do not pertain to this particular report. Feel free to email me; however, if you would like to discuss these topics in depth!

It was a freezing cold day at Cannon on Friday. Temperatures at the summit started at -20 F. Fortunately, the wind was manageable as I unloaded from the High Speed Quad and quickly ducked over to By-Pass. Quickly, I noticed that most trails were groomed to what some skiers might call “perfection.” However; unless I am in the mood for ripping GS turns, any grooming leaves much to be desired. I tracked down to the Front Face and ran laps skiers left to right starting on Gary’s. Gary’s and Rocket featured the so called perfect groom with occasional natural pockets on skiers’ right on Rocket. Not much consistency or fun to be had on those occasional natural snow areas.

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2002-2003 Season, February, Haystack

Haystack, VT

Made it up to Haystack in Vermont for the Massachusetts Day $29 deal. Haystack is the often overlooked little sister of Mount Snow and the Bastard Child of American Skiing Company. Despite Haystack being less crowded, having no lift lines, and decent terrain, the mountain has not been as successful as neighboring Mount Snow. Instead of increasing advertising and awareness, ASC simply turned Haystack into a weekend only operation to reduce friendly fire on Mount Snow.

The loss of everyone else becomes my gain! Despite the $29 deal for Massachusetts residents, the mountain remained rather uncrowded. Most lifts were ski on with an occasional one to two minute wait on the POMA Brand Barnstormer servicing the summit and the Hayfever Triple accessing two-thirds of the mountain. The CTEC Brand Witches Triple, servicing Haystack’s expert terrain, closed shortly after the mountain opened due to high winds. This lift would later re-open and was always ski-on. The base lodge was roomy and had adequate seating with a perfect window view of the mountain face.

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2002-2003 Season, Cannon Mountain, January

Superbowl Sunday at Cannon Mountain, NH

Super Bowl Sunday Two-Fer at Cannon Mountain. Whereas last year’s Super Bowl crowd was minimal this year people packed the parking lots. Two major differences exist between the two seasons. Last year was a horrible snow year and the New England Patriots were featured in the Super Bowl whereas this year has been a great snow year so far and the teams involved in the Super Bowl are of little interest to New Englanders. Despite the crowds, wait times for chair lifts never exceeded two to three minutes and the Tram was generally only a one or two Tram wait. Cannon’s staff did an excellent job filling every chair and directing traffic in the lift corals.

Conditions started off as a groomers paradise. Almost the entire mountain had been groomed and the morning snow was hard, fast, edgable, and mostly enjoyable. By 11 A.M., good quality snow required some searching. I found it on skiers’ right of Rocket in the form of soft and loose snow with occasional bumps.

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2002-2003 Season, Earned Turns, January, Lost Ski Area, Sea View

Lost Ski Area Skiing: Sea View in Rowley, MA

Seaview

For the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend, I had to work both Saturday and Monday. I dreaded the crowd potential of any ski area during the holiday weekend. I decided this would be a perfect weekend to explore trails off the beaten path. Way off the beaten path. Such as Lost Ski Areas that are no longer in operation.

For Sunday, I choose local Sea View Ski Area in Rowley, MA. I had previously made a summer hiking trip to this lost area for exploration purposes. I thought some fun and interesting turns could be had down the narrow trail that is currently a leg of the Bay Circuit Trail. So I embarked on a solo expedition to the Lost Ski Area formerly known as Sea View which is also known as Prospect Hill.

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