Mad River Glen - March 16 & 17

snowmonster · Mar 18, 2007, 11:21 PM

Date(s) Skied: March 16 & 17

Resort or Ski Area: Mad River Glen

Conditions: March 16 - hardpack, ice, crud, PP on Antelope; March 17 (After the St. Patrick's Day storm) - Powder

Trip Report:

What a difference a day makes! The original plan for this weekend was to ski MRG on Friday, spend the night at KingM's inn then move south to Killington/Pico on Saturday. I knew there was a storm on the way but I didn't expect this much snow!

Day 1: Got to MRG at about 11 am after a late start from Boston. Started off the Sunnyside Double -- Quacky to Porcupine then Quacky to Chipmunk. The conditions were formidable -- hard, icy, bare in spots. Every time I turned near an exposed rock, I kept trying to listen for my ski hitting it. My poor bases! Just about every trail had a "Thin Cover" sign.

I hit the Single Chair after a short break and conditions were better up there. Peeked down Catamount Bowl and the bumps looked absolutely solid. I was primed for less of a challenge so I took Antelope to Catamount. The first part of Antelope was groomed well and the snow was more or less packed powder. With no one up there, it was great just ramping up the speed on this trail. Did this to mid-station about a half-dozen times.

Going down the mountain, I hit Moody's (bumpy PP), to Canyon where the bumps were particularly hard and unforgiving, to Bunny to Rockefellers (icy bumps). Did one last run down the mountain but changed it up by hitting Beaver which, at the end of the day, was cruddy and looked like coral. I tried to ski it too cautiously and ended up double ejecting!

Though the conditions were not epic, on the plus side, there was hardly anyone there and I had the mountain to myself allowing for multiple runs off the Single.

Post Day1/Pre Day 2: At dinner, couples on both tables talked me and li'l snowmonster to ditch the trip to K and stay in the valley. In Boston, the snow was just supposed to be a couple of inches. Now, all these folks in VT were telling me to expect 20 inches! Made tentative plans to maybe stay in the Valley and headed to KingM's inn for the night. At about this time, the first flakes were falling. Woke up at around 2:30 just to have a look outside and more than a foot had fallen and it was still falling fast. No way were we leaving the MRV.

Day 2: Happy St. Patrick's Day! Not Irish but I think I bring their luck with me. Everytime this year that I hit the MRV, we get a massive snowstorm (V-Day then this). Hmmm, lemme arrange a trip there in April. After a great breakfast and getting an MRG voucher at the inn, we headed to MRG to see everything coated in powder. What a difference a day makes, really! Bulletproof one day, pow the next. No lines one day, monster lines on the Single the next.

Got on the Sunnyside and headed for Birdland. Quacky was way different today -- instead of hearing your skis scrape off the sides of the bumps there was just this unusual sound -- sounds like powder!

The terrain at Birdland is tame and is probably not for most advanced skiers. But, if it was powder you wanted and lots of runs, this was the place to be. No lines, no one there but a few little kids and their parents and lots of untracked snow. Worked on my non existent powder skills in the woods off Duck and did "la face plante grande" twice! Anyway, after a few more powder runs, I got the hang of it. Had a quick lunch at the Birdcage (never saw it open until today; they also have the "trough" in there) then headed for the Single.

Waited in line for about 20 minutes, got on then contemplated my existence while having a quiet moment on the Single. Hit Antelope again. It was also nice soft bumps now instead of being more of a race course the day before. Cut though Moody's again then saw some folks duck into Ferret. I followed them and had a great tree skiing experience surfing through powder (I'm starting to like this). Ended up on Upper and Lower Glades for more powder bumps. Ended the run on Waterfall where, due to exhaustion, I face planted again just as I was finishing up.

Did another run off the Sunnyside Double and my last lap on the Single before it's replaced. Tried to hit every trail I did the day before just to compare. Unbelievable. What had been ice the day before was now covered in powder. It was like skiing two different mountains in two days. Caution though that the iciness was still there just below the pow and if your ski dug or scraped deep enough, the ice bumps were still there to grab you.

I wanted to stay one more day since it was still snowing at 4:30 and couldn't get enough of the pow. But li'l snowmonster was feeling ill and so I reluctantly left the MRV. This ski day was definitely one for the books. Ranks up there with the AZ Burkeapaloza last V-Day.

To paraphrase MRG's sticker, when it's a pow day, ski it if you can!

KingM's inn: Just wanted to thank KingM for his and his wife's hospitality (terrific folks! just like all AZers.). Great place. Highly recommended. Location is key, rooms are very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was great (the homemade granola and coffee cake were excellent)! Special rates on MRG tickets too and that was more than appreciated. Definitely staying over again in the summer -- if not sooner!

andyzee · Mar 19, 2007, 6:57 AM

Nice, excellent report! Looks like you made a good choice staying at MRG. Only thing, you should have stayed one more day

KingM · Mar 19, 2007, 8:57 AM

Quote:

KingM's inn: Just wanted to thank KingM for his and his wife's hospitality (terrific folks! just like all AZers.). Great place. Highly recommended. Location is key, rooms are very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was great (the homemade granola and coffee cake were excellent)! Special rates on MRG tickets too and that was more than appreciated. Definitely staying over again in the summer -- if not sooner!

Hey, thanks! My wife makes both the granola and the coffee cake, and I'll pass her the compliment. Most importantly, I'm always happy when AZers come and we can deliver on the snow!

snowmonster · Mar 19, 2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyzee

Nice, excellent report! Looks like you made a good choice staying at MRG. Only thing, you should have stayed one more day

Thank you, andyzee. I know. I was kicking myself in the head for going home on Saturday and reading all the Sunday TRs here was torture. But, li'l snowmonster was getting sick and wanted to go home to "water her plants." Anyway, Sugarloaf awaits this weekend.

Hope to ski K with you before the season's out!

snowmonster · Mar 19, 2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingM

Hey, thanks! My wife makes both the granola and the coffee cake, and I'll pass her the compliment. Most importantly, I'm always happy when AZers come and we can deliver on the snow!

Regards to Mrs. KingM. Hope to see you folks soon. Other guests at the inn were also very nice. Met up at MRG with this father-daughter group from Canada that sat down with us at breakfast. Good vibes all around last weekend.

andyzee · Mar 19, 2007, 4:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmonster

Thank you, andyzee. I know. I was kicking myself in the head for going home on Saturday and reading all the Sunday TRs here was torture. But, li'l snowmonster was getting sick and wanted to go home to "water her plants." Anyway, Sugarloaf awaits this weekend.

Hope to ski K with you before the season's out!

A pow day like we haven't seen in quite awhile on the east coast and she wants to water plants, even worst, you listen? I like li'l snowmonster, really seems cool but,

snowmonster · Mar 19, 2007, 5:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyzee

A pow day like we haven't seen in quite awhile on the east coast and she wants to water plants, even worst, you listen? I like li'l snowmonster, really seems cool but,

My thoughts exactly -- but I couldn't argue with the sick part! Oh well, maybe we're in for another epic storm soon. You never know with New England.

mountaindude · Mar 20, 2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyzee

Nice, excellent report! Looks like you made a good choice staying at MRG. Only thing, you should have stayed one more day

Could not agree with you more Andyzee. I was there Sunday with three good friends. It was by far one of my top 2 ski days ever. Deep, blower powder and good company.

snowmonster · Mar 20, 2007, 4:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountaindude

Could not agree with you more Andyzee. I was there Sunday with three good friends. It was by far one of my top 2 ski days ever. Deep, blower powder and good company.

Aaaaggghhh!!! Stop! You guys are making me want to strangle li'l snowmonster for dragging me home!!!

Mar 18, 2007, 11:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
snowmonster Stowe - December 31, 2007 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my mind, northern New England Posts: 767	Mad River Glen - March 16 & 17 Date(s) Skied: March 16 & 17 Resort or Ski Area: Mad River Glen Conditions: March 16 - hardpack, ice, crud, PP on Antelope; March 17 (After the St. Patrick's Day storm) - Powder Trip Report: What a difference a day makes! The original plan for this weekend was to ski MRG on Friday, spend the night at KingM's inn then move south to Killington/Pico on Saturday. I knew there was a storm on the way but I didn't expect this much snow! Day 1: Got to MRG at about 11 am after a late start from Boston. Started off the Sunnyside Double -- Quacky to Porcupine then Quacky to Chipmunk. The conditions were formidable -- hard, icy, bare in spots. Every time I turned near an exposed rock, I kept trying to listen for my ski hitting it. My poor bases! Just about every trail had a "Thin Cover" sign. I hit the Single Chair after a short break and conditions were better up there. Peeked down Catamount Bowl and the bumps looked absolutely solid. I was primed for less of a challenge so I took Antelope to Catamount. The first part of Antelope was groomed well and the snow was more or less packed powder. With no one up there, it was great just ramping up the speed on this trail. Did this to mid-station about a half-dozen times. Going down the mountain, I hit Moody's (bumpy PP), to Canyon where the bumps were particularly hard and unforgiving, to Bunny to Rockefellers (icy bumps). Did one last run down the mountain but changed it up by hitting Beaver which, at the end of the day, was cruddy and looked like coral. I tried to ski it too cautiously and ended up double ejecting! Though the conditions were not epic, on the plus side, there was hardly anyone there and I had the mountain to myself allowing for multiple runs off the Single. Post Day1/Pre Day 2: At dinner, couples on both tables talked me and li'l snowmonster to ditch the trip to K and stay in the valley. In Boston, the snow was just supposed to be a couple of inches. Now, all these folks in VT were telling me to expect 20 inches! Made tentative plans to maybe stay in the Valley and headed to KingM's inn for the night. At about this time, the first flakes were falling. Woke up at around 2:30 just to have a look outside and more than a foot had fallen and it was still falling fast. No way were we leaving the MRV. Day 2: Happy St. Patrick's Day! Not Irish but I think I bring their luck with me. Everytime this year that I hit the MRV, we get a massive snowstorm (V-Day then this). Hmmm, lemme arrange a trip there in April. After a great breakfast and getting an MRG voucher at the inn, we headed to MRG to see everything coated in powder. What a difference a day makes, really! Bulletproof one day, pow the next. No lines one day, monster lines on the Single the next. Got on the Sunnyside and headed for Birdland. Quacky was way different today -- instead of hearing your skis scrape off the sides of the bumps there was just this unusual sound -- sounds like powder! The terrain at Birdland is tame and is probably not for most advanced skiers. But, if it was powder you wanted and lots of runs, this was the place to be. No lines, no one there but a few little kids and their parents and lots of untracked snow. Worked on my non existent powder skills in the woods off Duck and did "la face plante grande" twice! Anyway, after a few more powder runs, I got the hang of it. Had a quick lunch at the Birdcage (never saw it open until today; they also have the "trough" in there) then headed for the Single. Waited in line for about 20 minutes, got on then contemplated my existence while having a quiet moment on the Single. Hit Antelope again. It was also nice soft bumps now instead of being more of a race course the day before. Cut though Moody's again then saw some folks duck into Ferret. I followed them and had a great tree skiing experience surfing through powder (I'm starting to like this). Ended up on Upper and Lower Glades for more powder bumps. Ended the run on Waterfall where, due to exhaustion, I face planted again just as I was finishing up. Did another run off the Sunnyside Double and my last lap on the Single before it's replaced. Tried to hit every trail I did the day before just to compare. Unbelievable. What had been ice the day before was now covered in powder. It was like skiing two different mountains in two days. Caution though that the iciness was still there just below the pow and if your ski dug or scraped deep enough, the ice bumps were still there to grab you. I wanted to stay one more day since it was still snowing at 4:30 and couldn't get enough of the pow. But li'l snowmonster was feeling ill and so I reluctantly left the MRV. This ski day was definitely one for the books. Ranks up there with the AZ Burkeapaloza last V-Day. To paraphrase MRG's sticker, when it's a pow day, ski it if you can! KingM's inn: Just wanted to thank KingM for his and his wife's hospitality (terrific folks! just like all AZers.). Great place. Highly recommended. Location is key, rooms are very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was great (the homemade granola and coffee cake were excellent)! Special rates on MRG tickets too and that was more than appreciated. Definitely staying over again in the summer -- if not sooner! __________________ To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.

Mar 19, 2007, 6:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
andyzee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Home Posts: 7,583	Nice, excellent report! Looks like you made a good choice staying at MRG. Only thing, you should have stayed one more day __________________ __________________________________________________ _ I love the Bush!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode