News

Sunday River: First Eastern Area to Open for the 2009-2010 Season

Sunday River became the first eastern ski area to open for the 2009-2010 season today. Utilizing the uploading and downloading capabilities of the Locke Mountain Triple’s mid-station, Sunday River has T2 currently open with potentially more trails open for this weekend depending upon temperatures and snow making. Today featured an unannounced “soft” opening featuring free skiing and riding until 3:30 P.M. Thursday through Sunday, skiers and riders can enjoy T2 from the mid-station of Locke Mountain for $25.00. Snow making continues as temperatures allow.

This season saw a significant early season snowmaking push from former ASC brand resorts Sunday River (now owned by Boyne USA Resorts) and Killington (now owned by Powdr Corp). Both resorts began snowmaking operations earlier than any other year in recent memory and dropped hints of an early opening. Currently, Killington has neither committed to nor denied opening this coming weekend. Since Sunday River has already opened, the race is over and the pressure is off Killington for first to open honors.

The mid-mountain load station on the Lock Mountain Triple lift provides the Newry, ME based resort with significant advantages for opening faster than other ski areas. Unlike Killington and other ski areas in the early to open race, Sunday River need not have top to bottom skiing to open. Whereas Killington and other early opening mountains generally need temperatures to drop low enough to allow snow making top to bottom.

Thus begins the 2009-2010 ski season!

Random

To Season Pass or Not to Season Pass, That is the Question

After four years of being a season pass holder at Jay Peak, I have come to pose a question of whether or not the season pass is worth it. When I lived in Saint Johnsbury, it was an absolute no brainer. But as a resident of central NH, the geographic hurdles are sufficient to incite thoughts of going back to being a wanderer.

Reviewing my trip reports from the last two years, I have noticed a lot more variety concerning my ski destinations that when I lived in Saint Johnsbury. These past two years, I barely broke even on a season pass two years ago and would have lost money on a season pass last year had I paid for one. I enjoy seeking out the most snow instead of being locked down into one mountain and feeling like I am loosing money if I pay for a lift ticket somewhere else. Especially when I am already barely breaking even.

Here is how the economics break down. (more…)

Ski Movies

Wild Stallions by the Meatheads

Another year, another installment of east coast shenanigans from Meathead Films. How does this year’s film stack up to the rest of the Meathead library? It stacks up as better than average, better than last year, but still not realizing the potential we saw in Born From Ice.

Wild Stallions is downright exotic in its location selection. The Meats have always impressed me with their “ski anywhere” mentality and attitude. As a turn earner, I dig how far these guys will go to do something interesting. But they will also step outside of their home, climb a playground ladder, click in, and let it slide.

We get treated to all sorts of interesting places but the Mount Bohemia scene from Michigan was perhaps one of the more interesting selections in Meathead history. East Coast internet forums have highlighted this small mountain on a northern Michigan peninsula that features “triple diamond” terrain. It turns out that Mount Bohemia is no joke! Despite its limitd 800 vertical feet, Mount Bohemia looks to have more knarly natural terrain than all but a handful of New England ski areas.

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Gear

Trigger = Pulled

It must be getting close to the start of the season. I have released the inner gear whore within me to unleash sixteen digit numbers upon very willing online retailers that deal in snow sport gear. Amongst my most recent acquisitions include a replacement pair of Salomon X-Wave 10s which replace my existing pair of the same boots with 200 days on them. And more importantly, a pair of Garmont Radiums (pictured) to replace my sloppy Garmont G-Rides.

The existing G-Rides needed a new liner any ways and I have never been satisfied with their downhill performance. These past two years, I have toured less than I might have due to not enjoying touring in my existing boots. Perhaps more importantly, the Garmont Radiums have “tech binding inserts” (a.k.a. Dynafit compatibility) which suggests that next year’s gear whoring will likely involve a new backcountry powder board and bindings. Oh what a happy day that will be! For this season, the excitement of new better fitting and better performing boots should be enough to see me touring much more frequently than in recent seasons past.

2008-2009 Season, AlpineZone Meet Up, April, Sugarbush

Reinjury at Sugarbush

This season continues to be the ski season that was not. At less than twenty total days, my season came to an end on this less than stellar day at Sugarbush. AlpineZone.com forum members numbering about a dozen arrived at the bush to find a cold spring day featuring rather firm and unforgiving snow conditions.

I arrived early and stashed some food at Allyn’s Lodge. Immediately, I noticed the snow had set up hard and firm. Other skier’s said to avoid Heaven’s Gate. So I warmed up by taking the traverse down to Spring Fling twice before heading towards the Heaven’s Gate Chair to the meet up location. A meet up was the only reason for anyone to be heading towards Heaven’s Gate.

After a horrendous ski down a slick and icy Jester, we took the traverse to Stein’s Run which was just starting to get skied in. Bumps up top were widely spaced but better than a few weeks ago. I started finding a groove towards the bottom of the run. After finding a really nice line, I let the speed run a bit. But near the bottom, my legs stopped hammering and I got into the back seat causing a wheelie and a fall. My right palm hit harder causing a reinjury of my ligament damaged right thumb.

I knew right away that I was done for the day and likely for the season. A season that never really got started despite some good days early season. Jay Peak got less than a foot of snow from March 1st through the end of the season (normally, a very snowy period). I spent the best powder days on the disabled list or at work. With a total of just under twenty days on the season, I can rank this season as my worst in over a half dozen years. Even without the injuries, it would have still ranked rather low. This is one season that I am not sad to see end.