Wildcat Spring (?) Fling 3/31/07-4/7/07

**JimG.** · Apr 9, 2007, 3:16 PM

So, I'll add to the snow orgy reports with this one since it's from a mountain that I seem to be the only AZer to have hit...Wildcat.

After skiing Hunter 3/31-4/2 in some of the finest spring conditions the Catskills have to offer, I headed up to the Mt. Washington area with my family on 4/3. I expected to spend a little time with my youngest son James, ski some leftover spring snow at Wildcat, then hike a day or two in the ravine to score some spring corn. I know, I said it would snow...but I was kidding, really. Snow would have been just too perfect to be true, and after my MRG trip in early March I figured I had used up all my snow luck.

What actually happened still has my jaw scraping the floor. We arrived on Tuesday 4/3 in Gorham and it was cloudy and cold; it started to snow after dinner Tuesday...and it never really stopped.

Wednesday started out snowy and turned into a full blown blizzard. Conditions at Wildcat were boilerplate; I did have the pleasure of meeting AZer Breeze who filled me in on conditions. The beginner area was shutting down for lack of snow, so I took my 4 year old James to Bretton Woods where they let me ski with him for free. Conditions were crap...groomed boilerplate. But James had fun. I poached a few runs after we were done, and the skiing was marginal. The lift rides were hell with windblown snow pelting me. I'm sure the conditions at Wildcat were no better. The ride back to Gorham was a white knuckler.

I awoke Thursday charged with adrenalin, and was not disappointed to see about a foot of new snow on my car. It was fairly heavy, and I hoped that higher up at Wildcat it would be lighter. Again, I was not disappointed...not only was it lighter, there was twice as much! Wildcat had gone from 40% open to 100% going off open. I was on the lift at 8:30; I watched for 2 runs as the locals ignored ropes and skied everywhere. So I started ignoring them too. I skied everywhere, every trail, every glade, and finally tree shots I found by looking for tracks into the woods. Patrol seemed to be OK with discreet rope ducking; my impression was that competent skiers got a one run pass on each closed trail; snow hogs were not treated as nicely. They were trying to preserve trails because many were still unopened on Friday and did not open until Saturday. There was PLENTY of snow...I do not duck ropes or dive into unknown tree shots without careful consideration. I never hit an obstacle and barely put a scratch on my skis with all the insane skiing I did Thurs-Sat. It may have been my best day of the season.

Friday and Saturday were great at Wildcat too. My two oldest boys joined me both days. For them, it brought back memories of MRG 2 years ago, except this time we shared it together. I really got to know the mountain well. Patrol kept alot of runs roped on Friday, so those reserved runs still skied great. There were few people. Even on Saturday I waited no more than a minute on a lift line. By Saturday afternoon, most runs were opened and they started to get cut up pretty bad. I was done. Spent, total snow frenzy followed by total burnout. Drove home in a mental snow fog.

Best 3 days of April snow conditions I have ever experienced in the east, maybe out west too. Never made it to the ravine...high avalanche danger from Wednesday on, snow, wind, and alot of clouds and fog. Sherburne looked great, but what was the point of wasting time skinning up that when HSQ served pow was available? I really got to love Wildcat. I like it when I can get to know a place because I ski there 3-4 days in a row. That is another old school hill that has personality and terrific terrain. I will be back.

I want to again thank Breeze for her daily hello and conversation...what a sweet, lovely lady! You do a good job there.

Still totally high from the experience today.

Breeze · Apr 9, 2007, 3:58 PM

When I caught up to JimG Friday morning, I was working in a different position than my usual place. I asked him how the conditions were on Thursday and he had a one word answer for me...

" Berserk"

He did allege that he skiied his brains out Thursday, but on Friday he still had a huge grin with 2 older kids in tow.......and Saturday even his littlest ( 4 yrs old) made an appearance, and was stomping around the base lodge totally < in 'tude, dude>.

Priceless to see and share,

Thanks JimG.

NB, when Jim G and his family ski, they ski hard and long

**JimG.** · Apr 9, 2007, 5:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breeze

When I caught up to JimG Friday morning, I was working in a different position than my usual place. I asked him how the conditions were on Thursday and he had a one word answer for me...

" Berserk"

He did allege that he skiied his brains out Thursday, but on Friday he still had a huge grin with 2 older kids in tow.......and Saturday even his littlest ( 4 yrs old) made an appearance, and was stomping around the base lodge totally < in 'tude, dude>.

Priceless to see and share,

Thanks JimG.

NB, when Jim G and his family ski, they ski hard and long

Berserk was the only word that fit my attitude on Friday morning.

I was on a total pow bender.

ski_resort_observer · Apr 9, 2007, 5:46 PM

Thanks for the TR. Sounds like the fact that Wildcat has been for sale for a couple of years now hasn't disaffected the skiing.

eatskisleep · Apr 10, 2007, 11:07 AM

Wildcat is awesome. Breeze the site says it will stay open until at least April 15th, what are the chances of it staying open longer?

**bvibert** · Apr 10, 2007, 11:37 AM

Sounds like an awesome time Jim. That snow really does follow you on vacation!

**JimG.** · Apr 10, 2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bvibert

Sounds like an awesome time Jim. That snow really does follow you on vacation!

I had a good track record of attracting snowfall during my vacation time, that's for sure.

This one really blew me away though. Who'd a thunk it?

**bvibert** · Apr 10, 2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimG.

I had a good track record of attracting snowfall during my vacation time, that's for sure.

This one really blew me away though. Who'd a thunk it?

Lucky for us the storm left some snow at MRG on it's way over to you.

**Greg** · Apr 10, 2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimG.

I Who'd a thunk it?

Me! Please let me know of any extended ski trips you plan for next season so I can adjust my schedule accordingly.

**bvibert** · Apr 10, 2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Please let me know of any extended ski trips you plan for next season so I can adjust my schedule accordingly.

Me too, me too!

Apr 9, 2007, 3:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
JimG. MRG-20th hole Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hopewell Jct., NY Posts: 6,082	Wildcat Spring (?) Fling 3/31/07-4/7/07 So, I'll add to the snow orgy reports with this one since it's from a mountain that I seem to be the only AZer to have hit...Wildcat. After skiing Hunter 3/31-4/2 in some of the finest spring conditions the Catskills have to offer, I headed up to the Mt. Washington area with my family on 4/3. I expected to spend a little time with my youngest son James, ski some leftover spring snow at Wildcat, then hike a day or two in the ravine to score some spring corn. I know, I said it would snow...but I was kidding, really. Snow would have been just too perfect to be true, and after my MRG trip in early March I figured I had used up all my snow luck. What actually happened still has my jaw scraping the floor. We arrived on Tuesday 4/3 in Gorham and it was cloudy and cold; it started to snow after dinner Tuesday...and it never really stopped. Wednesday started out snowy and turned into a full blown blizzard. Conditions at Wildcat were boilerplate; I did have the pleasure of meeting AZer Breeze who filled me in on conditions. The beginner area was shutting down for lack of snow, so I took my 4 year old James to Bretton Woods where they let me ski with him for free. Conditions were crap...groomed boilerplate. But James had fun. I poached a few runs after we were done, and the skiing was marginal. The lift rides were hell with windblown snow pelting me. I'm sure the conditions at Wildcat were no better. The ride back to Gorham was a white knuckler. I awoke Thursday charged with adrenalin, and was not disappointed to see about a foot of new snow on my car. It was fairly heavy, and I hoped that higher up at Wildcat it would be lighter. Again, I was not disappointed...not only was it lighter, there was twice as much! Wildcat had gone from 40% open to 100% going off open. I was on the lift at 8:30; I watched for 2 runs as the locals ignored ropes and skied everywhere. So I started ignoring them too. I skied everywhere, every trail, every glade, and finally tree shots I found by looking for tracks into the woods. Patrol seemed to be OK with discreet rope ducking; my impression was that competent skiers got a one run pass on each closed trail; snow hogs were not treated as nicely. They were trying to preserve trails because many were still unopened on Friday and did not open until Saturday. There was PLENTY of snow...I do not duck ropes or dive into unknown tree shots without careful consideration. I never hit an obstacle and barely put a scratch on my skis with all the insane skiing I did Thurs-Sat. It may have been my best day of the season. Friday and Saturday were great at Wildcat too. My two oldest boys joined me both days. For them, it brought back memories of MRG 2 years ago, except this time we shared it together. I really got to know the mountain well. Patrol kept alot of runs roped on Friday, so those reserved runs still skied great. There were few people. Even on Saturday I waited no more than a minute on a lift line. By Saturday afternoon, most runs were opened and they started to get cut up pretty bad. I was done. Spent, total snow frenzy followed by total burnout. Drove home in a mental snow fog. Best 3 days of April snow conditions I have ever experienced in the east, maybe out west too. Never made it to the ravine...high avalanche danger from Wednesday on, snow, wind, and alot of clouds and fog. Sherburne looked great, but what was the point of wasting time skinning up that when HSQ served pow was available? I really got to love Wildcat. I like it when I can get to know a place because I ski there 3-4 days in a row. That is another old school hill that has personality and terrific terrain. I will be back. I want to again thank Breeze for her daily hello and conversation...what a sweet, lovely lady! You do a good job there. Still totally high from the experience today.

Apr 9, 2007, 5:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
ski_resort_observer bike shop, wyoming Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Waitsfield,Vt Posts: 2,354	Thanks for the TR. Sounds like the fact that Wildcat has been for sale for a couple of years now hasn't disaffected the skiing. __________________ 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

Apr 10, 2007, 11:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
eatskisleep Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 740	Wildcat is awesome. Breeze the site says it will stay open until at least April 15th, what are the chances of it staying open longer? __________________ http://www.skifreakz.com/forums/

Apr 10, 2007, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
bvibert West Hartford Res 6/22/08 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 11,377	Sounds like an awesome time Jim. That snow really does follow you on vacation! __________________ Brian SAC Tracker

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Apr 9, 2007, 3:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Breeze Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Bethel, ME Posts: 201	When I caught up to JimG Friday morning, I was working in a different position than my usual place. I asked him how the conditions were on Thursday and he had a one word answer for me... " Berserk" He did allege that he skiied his brains out Thursday, but on Friday he still had a huge grin with 2 older kids in tow.......and Saturday even his littlest ( 4 yrs old) made an appearance, and was stomping around the base lodge totally < in 'tude, dude>. Priceless to see and share, Thanks JimG. NB, when Jim G and his family ski, they ski hard and long

Apr 9, 2007, 3:16 PM
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