2011-2012 Season, March, Stratton

Stratton Slush Show

Summit Gondola & Upper Standard

Stratton was the only mountain in New England with a 2,000 foot drop that I had not skied. I felt obligated to ski Stratton to round out my knowledge. So out of morbid curiosity, I put Stratton on my List. I was spoiling for a fight and prepared myself for another shit show. But instead of a shit show, I found a slush show.

Of all the heirs to New England’s ski resort throne, Stratton is of a higher and uncontested pedigree (and I mean that in the most derogatory way possible). On occasion, I have used the word gaudy to describe recent resort developments such as Claybrook at Sugarbush and Spruce Peak at Stowe. But the level of distastefulness I experienced at Stratton’s was supremely offensive.

How does the target demographic not revolt due to shameless patronizing? Why do the richy rich respond most favorably to homogenization without substance? I don’t disrespect wealthy individuals for wanting a well furnished upper class second home. But I do disrespect lack of taste and originality. The human desire to want what the other has is what keeps Stratton in business.

There is only one thing I hate more than homogenized faux villages and that is parking lots that require a bus. And Stratton doesn’t screw around in this department. If you aren’t a VIP guest or paying for parking, you can take the bus. I got sent down to Lot 2, three quarters of a mile away from the ticket window.

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Gear

Atomic Theory Review

Atomic Theory 186cm

After four incredible years, my Fischer Atuas are nearing end of life. The camber is fading fast and when pressed together, the tips resemble a rocker-rocker ski despite originally having full camber and no rocker. One ski has a noticeably different profile.

My 2007 Atuas were demo skis that I purchased on the cheap. They extend the tape measure 186cm with a 129-96-119 sidecut and a 22m radius. Construction includes a full sandwich sidewall and a wood core without metal. They are my current natural snow and powder skis for the lifts. And I love them dearly, though I despise the non-turntable Look PX12 binding.

A suitable replacement would also be a non-metal wood core ski featuring similar sidecut and radius. A little fatter would be acceptable, a little skinnier would not. I wanted to give rocker a try but I was skeptical. Full tip to tail rocker is out of the question as skiing hard pack in between tree runs is a daily necessity. Thus, camber was also important. My first selection was Fischer’s Watea series but the son of the Atua was entirely different in design, style, and function with ski lengths inappropriate for my needs.

Enter the Atomic Theory in 186cm. (more…)

2011-2012 Season, March, Mount Sunapee

Don’t Sunapee Cannon

You will have to excuse the lack of pictures in this report. It wasn’t for lack of a blue bird spring day. And it wasn’t for lack of intent. Upon arriving at Mount Sunapee, I was directed to park in distant lot three which requires taking a bus to the lodge. Since it was busy enough for a bus, I opted to boot up at the car (which I am unaccustomed to doing). Between the bus and booting up at my car, I forgot my camera in my car way back in lot three. Alas, no photographic evidence was recorded of my first and likely only visit to OkemoNH Mount Sunapee.

If you follow thesnowway.com, you may recall my particular distaste for long distance parking lots that require bus transportation. It is one reason that I don’t care for many other large scale resorts with long distance parking. I don’t mind walking. But if I am paying to ski, I prefer a short walk over a third of a mile haul with gear.

Okay, enough about the bus.

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2011-2012 Season, Jay Peak, March

Sleepy Jay Day

Trees at Jay

My destination decision on Saturday was based on open terrain versus powder potential. With only two to four inches in the forecast for most of Vermont, I opted for open terrain. I assumed Jay would add something onto their reported 3-6″ from the day before. And perhaps I could locate a few lesser known stashes with two days worth of accumulation. As reports from Sugarbush can attest, I had chosen poorly.

Jay over reported the higher end of their range from Thursday. I was able to find many pockets of untracked snow but none of those pockets yielded anything close to half a foot. Adding insult to injury was that Jay got nothing from the storm. So whereas I expected 3-6″ + 2-4″ for potential pockets of 5-10″, I actually got a few pockets of 3-4″.

Which isn’t to say that the skiing wasn’t really good. Conditions were packed powder with lots of loose snow and the rare hit of powder. All trails were open except for the ridge. And base depths were significantly improved since my last visit before the massive Leap Day storm. But I still wasn’t feeling it.

Worse, I was completely out of it. Lack of sleep and tough times at work had me blurry eyed with lackadaisical legs. I wasn’t making my turns and my eyes were drooping in the trees. After a little more than an hour’s worth of skiing, I decided it was dangerous to continue forcing it, I was done.

But not before failing to rotate a jump turn, releasing from my ski, and post holing down to my sternum in a spruce trap. Extraction was a bitch to say the least. But at least I know first hand that Jay has a deep base and should weather the warmth better than most.