MRG and a little Sugarbush, 3/3-3/7

**JimG.** · Mar 9, 2007, 11:49 AM

I'm bad at following TR rules...sorry about my personal format.

Got back yesterday from 5 days in the MRV...I just don't have the words to describe how good it was.

They got about 15" from the Friday 3/2 storm; the ride up Friday night was a white knuckler all the way, lots of ice and fog. Really couldn't see in certain areas of the trip up 91 and 89, but glad I decided to use the longer interstate route; travel would have been virtually impossible on back roads. I was determined to get there for Saturday.

Saturday 3/3 was sunny and pleasant at MRG, lots of untracked powder everywhere. Woods shots just off some trails were still untouched in places. The woods shots off Upper Antelope were sublime. Even the on trail conditions were amazing...I have never skied Paradise in such awesome snow! It was crowded, I was basically on the 1 lap per hour plan, but it was so worth it. Spent the day in powder heaven, my first real taste of fresh pow this season. I had no idea it was just the appetizer.

Sunday 3/4 dawns colder and cloudy. In an effort to get some more vertical, I went to Sugarbush. Spent pretty much the whole day on the Castlerock double at Lincoln Peak, never waited on a line. Still found untracked snow in easy to access trees like those on Paradise. Rumble was at its' best. Then fluffy, light, dry snow started to fall for real at about noon and by 2pm it was dumping snow. 1-2" per hour. Light and dry. Last run I went down to the base and back up to ski Lew's Line; started my run at 3:45pm in 6" of new fallen fresh. By 4:30pm access roads to Sugarbush and MRG closed due to snow hazard.

Monday 3/5...back to MRG. It was cloudy but dry at the Inn I stayed at, but the snow was falling hard by the time I was halfway to MRG on rt 17. 10"-14" fresh overnight. And this was very light and dry snow. Everything was buried in fresh powder. I was in my trees/steeps clinic and everyone was smiling. I don't even remember half of the tree shots we skied, but everything was untracked pow. AMAZING!

Tuesday 3/6 was COLD at MRG! Never got above zero. Windy too, some of the snow was getting wind packed. But there were still plenty of sheltered areas that had untouched snow. Even places like Falldise and 20th had easy to find untracked lines. Pinching myself at this point to make sure it isn't a dream. The 2 day clinic became the best 2 days of east coast skiing for me EVER.

Wednesday 3/7...gotta go home today, but not until I get another day in at MRG. Temps hovered around zero, felt warm compared to Tuesday. Snow was great, still plenty of untracked shots to explore. And I had the pleasure of meeting up with Eric Freidman the marketing director at MRG. Another skier with a big grin on his face. So Eric showed me a few more untracked tree shots. My last run down 20th to end the trip was untracked top to bottom.

I tried, but the words do it no justice. 5 best days of the season hands down, all 5 probably in the top 20 all time. I could barely move yesterday.

They say that a picture is worth 1000 words...Eric was kind enough to snap a few shots of me to document the outstanding conditions and skiing. This one wound up on the snow conditions page yesterday on the MRG website.

Yup, it's the infamous "call out Greg" pic. Eric really wanted Greg to ski with us on Wednesday. In any case, it's a great shot and my 15 minutes of 2007 ski season fame. Eric took a few more of me, just your run of the mill untracked powder shots in sweet tree filled terrain. I'll get those from him and post them too.

FRITOLAYGUY · Mar 9, 2007, 3:54 PM

Good stuff Jim, its a good sore though right!!!

**Greg** · Mar 9, 2007, 4:23 PM

You know how to pick the right week, that's for sure. It was very cold, but worth it for the surface we were blessed with in the MRV. I know you and Eric wanted me to head over on Wednesday, and you know I'd have joined you in a second had this been a "guy's weekend" or something. Sometimes you gotta be diplomatic to keep the tribe happy; I'm sure you understand. My wife was very understanding and let me get out a ton, but Wednesday at MRG just would not have worked out with the plans we had. I think a few days of AZer skiing in the MRV should be on the docket for next season (or maybe in the spring...).

**bvibert** · Mar 9, 2007, 8:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

You know how to pick the right week, that's for sure.

No kidding! Jim, can you be sure to let me know when you're going up there next year well ahead of time so I have a chance to arrange a trip up there for myself in the same time.

riverc0il · Mar 9, 2007, 8:23 PM

Let's hand it to JimG. Not only has Jim been calling all season for this week to be excellent and snow filled, it was the best damn week of the entire season bar none. I'm with Brian on this one, from now on, I am advanced booking my vacation days around which ever time JimG sets aside for powder skiing.

**JimG.** · Mar 12, 2007, 10:59 AM

I love it when a plan comes together.

There's something about that week in early March, the MRV, and me that makes alot of snow. I don't know exactly what it is, but that's 4 trips in a row in that time frame to that area that have been epic.

Probably just luck, but it's the best luck to have for sure.

**JimG.** · Mar 12, 2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

You know how to pick the right week, that's for sure. It was very cold, but worth it for the surface we were blessed with in the MRV. I know you and Eric wanted me to head over on Wednesday, and you know I'd have joined you in a second had this been a "guy's weekend" or something. Sometimes you gotta be diplomatic to keep the tribe happy; I'm sure you understand. My wife was very understanding and let me get out a ton, but Wednesday at MRG just would not have worked out with the plans we had. I think a few days of AZer skiing in the MRV should be on the docket for next season (or maybe in the spring...).

I know you felt a little bad about it though. Especially when Eric called you out, which I told you he said he would do. But it's good you did go check it out on Thursday because MRG just doesn't get any better than that.

I totally understand the family commitment thing...that's why I was so fortunate to be flying solo. Like I said, I love it when a plan comes together.

ski_resort_observer · Mar 12, 2007, 12:44 PM

Nice report!

**JimG.** · Apr 12, 2007, 10:34 AM

Here are a few pics from my trip in early March:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery...ry.php/cat/726

I don't recall ever being so stoked for more skiing in April than this season!

**Greg** · Apr 12, 2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimG.

Here are a few pics from my trip in early March:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery...ry.php/cat/726

I don't recall ever being so stoked for more skiing in April than this season!

Great pics! The image editing/color correction is top notch!

Mar 9, 2007, 4:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Greg Nassahegan, CT: 10/13 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Thomaston, CT Posts: 21,229	You know how to pick the right week, that's for sure. It was very cold, but worth it for the surface we were blessed with in the MRV. I know you and Eric wanted me to head over on Wednesday, and you know I'd have joined you in a second had this been a "guy's weekend" or something. Sometimes you gotta be diplomatic to keep the tribe happy; I'm sure you understand. My wife was very understanding and let me get out a ton, but Wednesday at MRG just would not have worked out with the plans we had. I think a few days of AZer skiing in the MRV should be on the docket for next season (or maybe in the spring...). __________________ Greg 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05 Life's too short for warm up runs.

Mar 9, 2007, 8:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
riverc0il Ari Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ashland, NH Posts: 6,858	Let's hand it to JimG. Not only has Jim been calling all season for this week to be excellent and snow filled, it was the best damn week of the entire season bar none. I'm with Brian on this one, from now on, I am advanced booking my vacation days around which ever time JimG sets aside for powder skiing. __________________ -Steve TheSnowWay.com featuring Big Jay Coverage "Skiing is not a sport, it is a way of life." - Otto Schniebs 52

Mar 12, 2007, 12:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
ski_resort_observer bike shop, wyoming Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Waitsfield,Vt Posts: 2,439	Nice report! __________________ www.firstlightphotographics.com It's always a good idea to bring an extra pair of pants when you go golfing as you never know you might get a hole in one. Q: How does a ski instructor become a millionaire A: Start out as a billionaire Q: What do you call a skibum without a girlfriend? A:. Homeless

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Mar 9, 2007, 3:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
FRITOLAYGUY Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 1,204	Good stuff Jim, its a good sore though right!!!

Mar 12, 2007, 10:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
JimG. MRG-20th hole Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hopewell Jct., NY Posts: 6,100	I love it when a plan comes together. There's something about that week in early March, the MRV, and me that makes alot of snow. I don't know exactly what it is, but that's 4 trips in a row in that time frame to that area that have been epic. Probably just luck, but it's the best luck to have for sure.

Apr 12, 2007, 10:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
JimG. MRG-20th hole Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hopewell Jct., NY Posts: 6,100	Here are a few pics from my trip in early March: http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery...ry.php/cat/726 I don't recall ever being so stoked for more skiing in April than this season!

Mar 9, 2007, 11:49 AM
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