Ride Delaware ?

After an average day at Killington, I was relaxing and checking up on Facebook, when I noticed that Bretton Woods was opening for the season the next day. I had resigned myself to another day fighting the masses and walking the stairway at Killington, but this gave me a little more to think about. The drive to BW is 2.25 hours, but it was priced similarly to Killington at $29, had t2b skiing, and was serviced by a high speed quad. After waffling back and forth for a couple hours, I decided that if I woke up early enough, I would head to BW. I woke up the next morning at around 7:30 and got ready before heading out at 8:30. The drive was mostly uneventful. There was still some snow on the edges of the highway, but otherwise the roads were clear. I arrived at BW just before 11 to 26 degree temps and snowmaking going at the base. Compared to Killington the day before, there was nobody at the mountain. Including the employees, there were maybe 70 cars in the parking lot. I booted up, went inside to grab my $29 lift ticket, then headed out to the lift. They were making snow outside the lodge on the beginner terrain and the other high speed quad. The only trail open was Range View off the Zephyr high speed quad. The trail was only a green, but it had been groomed and was being pounded by snowmaking. They had received roughly 6" of snow two days before. I couldn't see any bare spots from the lift and was already happy with the decision I had made. I got off the lift and immediately decided to head down underneath the guns. Unfortunately, the guns were running a little wet, were glazing my goggles, and the snow was a little wet. The snow report claimed a 4"-18" base, and that was pretty accurate. I was happy with the crowds and coverage, but I was hoping the snow was a bit better. My thoughts on the conditions took a drastic change for the better on my second run. I decided to hit the far skiers right directly under the lift and off the groomed surface. There was a little natural, but there was plenty of blow over from the snow guns. It was ungroomed and dense, but there was still great coverage, I was out of the guns, and I got some "powder" turns. My next run up, I decided to try out skiers left close to the base of the snow guns. The snow guns were blowing farther into the trail, and this side offered more of groomed surface with a light dusting of manmade every run. It was also a smart decision. I ended up doing 12 runs straight. I never waited in a lift line, and there were only skiers and riders on every fifth chair. I decided not to ski under the guns again and stuck to the sides. The water bars on skiers right were a nice touch and allowed for some natural terrain features. I was able to do 12 runs in 10 minutes longer than 11 runs at Killington while doing twice the vertical. It was well worth $29. All in all, I had a great day. BW has great infrastructure and is now owned entirely by Omni resorts. It looked like they would have at least 3-4 more trails and 2 more lifts by Root Friday. It may get a rap for being flat, but the route they offered was much better than what Killington was offering. I'd love to get back later in the season when the whole mountain is open, but overall, I must say, my first trip to BW was a success.

I'm spending Thanksgiving this year with the girlfriends family in Maine, so I decided to come up a little early to get a few days in on the mountain. I left a housewarming/le-laf viewing party Sunday morning and headed north. I hardly hit any adverse weather until I hit Killington. Green grass and clear roads turned to slushy messes with 3-4" of snow on the sides. The drive between Killington and Sugarbush had limited visibility at times, but the roads were clear until the Granville Gulf. Similar to Rutland/Killington, the Mad River Valley was green, while halfway up the access road, the snow started to accumulate quickly. There were a couple inches on the ground when I arrived. After a long drive with its tense moments, I decided to watch the football game and not rush out the next morning. I woke up around 8, took my time getting out of bed, and left the Bush around 10:30. I arrived at Killington just after 11:35 to packed parking lots, new traffic routes due to the World Cup, venue construction crews, and 21 degree temps. I booted up and headed over to the ticket window where I found someone willing to split a 2 for 1 with me. I boarded the gondola right at noon. There were some patrons poaching down to the bottom, but the majority were still downloading. Killington advertised 10" of snow, and while I believe it, it was tough to tell. There were some very strong gusts overnight, and still some moderate gusts during the day. Great Northern was open down to East Fall and Rime, so for the first time this year, I didn't have to hike both directions. The snow was soft and didn't seem too crowded. There were lines at the lift, but I hopped in the singles line and never waited more than 2 minutes. The trails were much more crowded than the lift. Every race team in New England seemed to be there. Couple that with the World Cup and the holiday weekend, and there were plenty of people. The trails weren't too congested, but you had to deal with racers training on an open slope and groups of racers huddling in intervals down the trail to talk to their coach. The same trails (plus GN) I had ridden on 3 weeks ago were still the only trails available. The base was deeper than last time, but also considerably firmer. Upper Rime was in excellent shape. The snow was soft and flat and easy to cruise on. Unfortunately, the race teams knew that as well. Reason was probably the secret of the day. The park had limited features due to the natural snow, but it kept most people off it, and skiers left was soft and deep all day. East Fall was like a glacier at the entrance, but it became a mix of soft bumps and ice further down. Lower Rime was a disaster. It had some bumps on skiers right, but most of if, especially where it funnels to the lift, was glare ice. I ended up doing 11 runs in just over two hours. I hiked the Stairway for what I hope is the last time this season. Killington passed their snow test with the course, but they still blew snow on Superstar to add some cushion. They also blew on Skylark to create a training trail since the racers can't use the course for a week before the race. They had begun shifting that capacity to Snowden to get t2b. Guns were running about halfway up, but the guns on middle GN were still silent. I expect that they will turn them on tonight as they begin to ease off Skylark. All in all, not a bad day for day #3. Easily worth $30. Might check out Bretton Woods tomorrow for t2b on a high speed if I wake up early enough.

Boulder has proven time and time again that they have the micro climate and the will. Wouldn't be surprised. Only show in town will bring in lots of revenue.

They might set up another sweet park in the tubing park and let you hike it for $10!!!

Is this just a quick stop?

Killington and Sugarbush were probably around 12" apiece. Lots of it got wind blown. Hard to tell for sure.

If it's in PA, it's going to be Boulder. Unless Camelback does something nobody expects...

This POC wishcasting, or do you have a RideDE "reliable source"?

Not my intention. I guess I mistakenly thought they blew all day as well. Didn't realize they turned them off today.

Update 50 minutes ago... I don't see much progress...

I wonder if they will skip their non perishable can roundup if they open Thanksgiving?

It's rare nowadays that you're going to find any untracked woods. Tougher and tougher to find.

The lift ticket was affordable, but it would have been tough to justify Montage with Bell being 30 minutes further and Platty 30 minutes past that...

Camelback had a solid run there 5-6 years ago with late season off the Sullivan. I had some stellar late season days in early to mid April. I want to say it was like April 6 and 10th? Now it seems like their goal is last weekend in March.

This would be largely unprecedented for them in recent history. I remember a stretch of 5 straight snowmaking days before Thanksgiving, probably about 6 years ago, where they had 4' of base on their 8 standard opening day trails, and they opened the tubing park with a hike park. However, with the opening of the hotel, they may push it a little more to try and get a little bit higher occupancy.

Belleayre is playing their cards close to their chest, but with the recent investments by the ORDA, I bet they open Friday with a full trail or two. That would probably be the least crowded terrain in the Northeast.

Sounds like a royal decree...

When was POC's wishcasting set for?

This weekend is starting to look even more promising as the models come into agreement. I've gotta think that Bell and Hunter will both be open by Root Friday...

I haven't even looked at the forecast for PA, but the VT pattern looks like it will change for the best this Sunday. I would imagine that the Catskills will get in on the game too...

Is Root actually skiing on Root Friday?

If it's not broke, why fix it?

No insider info on this one. Just reporting from AZ. You'd know if you didn't get kicked out...

While operations look to be limited or non existent again this season, there is a significant effort underway to turn the resort into a community owned mountain. My understanding is that it isn't a co-op, but I could be wrong... They are currently raising money to purchase the resort proper from the Berry family.

It was a joke... but yes, I know you can walk right out...