Hiking

Hiking at Dusk: Morgan & Percival

Steve on Mount Percival Summit

It was never supposed to be like this.

Nine years ago, I fled Massachusetts to take a job in Vermont. I choose to leave the city, my friends, and my family behind to pursue outdoor recreation sans traffic, attitudes, pollution, and suburbia. I was running towards something, not away from something.

And it was amazing. There is something to be said for radical change. Dreaming up an idea and taking a risk. It is nice to have the freedom to do so rather than feeling trapped, without a dream to pursue — the locked down oppressive feeling I have come to know so well.

Seven years ago, I moved to central New Hampshire, sandwiched between the lakes and the mountains. Two hours or less from almost every ski area that I cared to ski, forty minutes from my favorite mountain. A perfect location. I once dreamily stated that it would be great if this specific position in this specific location opened up and I could get the job. And I did.

It was the last time that I could rely on haphazard circumstance to determine my direction. Which was fine for a few years. What was once endless enthusiasm for my work and my play carried me through four great years. But the last three years have been a grind professionally and personally — a grind that has had serious effects on my health.

But I think I am on the mend.

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2013-2014 Season, Killington, May

Killington: Closing Day

Superstar on Closing Day

Very little likely remains of the Superstar Glacier by the time this report is posted (more than two weeks after the trip). Killington legitimately pushed operations as long as they could feasibly go given the remaining snow. As it was, some might have suggested that walking was required in multiple locations. But as with so much in life, a single thing that is observed or experienced can yield varied and equally legitimate perspectives.

My perspective was that stepping out of your skis was not only not required, but a waste of time that diminished the enjoyment. To get to the snow, I gladly sidestepped my skis down the headwall over rock and dirt. Two chasms, muddy and growing, were easily straightlined providing an opportunity for flourish and flair. Superstar could be lapped without ever removing your skis.

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2013-2014 Season, Jay Peak, May

Jay Peak: For the Record

Yet another spring weekend has conspired against me. The weather for Saturday was adequate for spring skiing but hardly the banner blue bird on Sunday. I had plans for Sunday so I endured Saturday instead. It wasn’t horrible. But the cloudy skies never allowed for sunshine to soften the frozen groomer tracks on the lower mountain where groomers scraped the trail down to push snow towards the lift.

I awoke to torrential downpour at my house in central New Hampshire. But I trusted in the weather forecast and started driving north despite the rain. To hell with the rain, I was going to ski Jay once more before it closed even if it meant skiing in the rain.

But I arrived to cloudy skis without a rain drop in sight. The temperature was barely warm enough for short sleeve t-shirt skiing so I skipped the jacket despite the light breeze higher up the mountain. The sun never really came out but it was warm enough.

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2013-2014 Season, May, Sugarbush

Sugarbush: For the Record

“For the Record” seems to be the standard trip report for spring skiing this year. Despite incredible spring base depths and most major resorts going later than average and/or scheduled, weekend weather has not been weekend warrior friendly to say the least. Most spring weekends have been split between bad and not as bad. Occasionally, the weekend splits with a sunny day and rain. Back to back sunny spring days in any given weekend has yet to happen.

Sugarbush closing weekend was better than average at Lincoln Peak with top to bottom skiing. Most years, Sugarbush only has Stein’s or perhaps Spring Fling after skiing barely tolerable coverage on Snowball. Off the summit, Ripcord, Organgrinder, and Jester were skiing to the always horrid Downspout. The bumps on Ripcord absolutely sucked with huge gaps between the irregular mounds. Organgrinder was much better with mostly tight lines. Jester was beyond thin coverage and in the “guaranteed base damage” aspect. But being the only way to go top to bottom, Jester was mandatory.

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2013-2014 Season, April, Stowe

Stowe: Closing Day for the Season

Hayride

After closing out Mad River Glen last weekend, I had another “use it or lose it” voucher so I decided to close out Stowe for the season. Perhaps next weekend I will close out Sugarbush before moving onto Jay and finally Killington. The choices are rapidly decreasing and the odds of unused vouchers are increasing.

Meanwhile, I am not earning turns (despite the sunk cost factor) because I can’t bear to let my vouchers go to waste. I hadn’t accounted for the Jackson Hole trip when I purchased my vouchers. Otherwise, I would have had nearly flawless execution of my voucher strategy this season. For next season, I need to remember I only need vouchers for three months. Early and late season are cheap and earned turns in April on Washington are even cheaper.

As with Mad River Glen, the temperature was just barely conducive to t-shirts but damn it, spring is here, so I rocked the short sleeve T again despite the slight chill while riding the lift. Another bluebird day with excellent corn snow commenced. But could I find the same bump line to die for that I found last weekend on Paradise?

Nosedive

I cruised down to Hayride where I enjoyed soft and easy turns. Near the bottom, some bumps avoided the mower but they left much to be desired. I continued warming up on Nosedive where I opened up my turns nearly edge to edge and let it fly. Super fast big turns still put a smile on my face, I seldom utilize the style but it just felt right on Nosedive.

Feeling properly warmed up, I dropped into National where I found decent bumps but nothing overly exciting. I was beginning to fear that the afternoon would be less than satisfactory in regards to spring bumps. But I found mine on Goat where an absolutely amazing line had setup with perfect rhythm and flow. Lap after lap after lap, Goat kept on delivering. Goat ended on Lower National which had a really nice line on skier’s far left.

Mixing it up a bit, I tried National again but ducked through the woods onto Starr. After a few mediocre pitches, I found more great bumps with good lines and flow. The punishment was hooking right onto lower Lookout which sported mandatory grass skiing and ice patches. Interesting “skiing” but Starr wasn’t better than Goat so not worth the minimal punishment at the end. I finished my day with another Goat run and left satisfied.

Stowe closes with deep wall to wall coverage on almost all trails excepting a few thin areas at the very lowest reaches of the mountain. Turn earning should continue for at least another month if not more. It is hard to believe Stowe couldn’t make enough money to continue operations by only turning the Forerunner and the Overeasy, what with $10 burgers (without fries) and $68 lift tickets. But I suspect most skiers today were pass holders, skiing on vouchers, and/or brown bagging it. So returns are diminishing below their established thresholds.