Shawnee Peak, ME 2/27 (night)

[deadheadskier]

Date(s) Skied: 2/27/08 (night)

Resort or Ski Area: Shawnee Peak (ME)

Conditions: Packed Powder, tracked up heavy powder - overall variable

Trip Report:

For the first time tonight, I skied with a fellow Azer - Terry. He was kind enough to invite me along to ski with him and a couple of guys who are from the BobR Sunday River crew. Beautiful night to be out on the hill, high 20's, minimal wind. I rolled up to the lift at 6:45 and I thought that it might be Terry riding on the lift in front of me and when I got off, called out his name and sure enough it was.

While it certainly wasn't as good as I'm sure it was this morning, the conditions still rocked. They had gotten a solid foot of snow and while it was 99% tracked, there were still a few spots on the side that you could dive into and experience the depth of the new goods. Only problem was, you couldn't see in those areas to well as the lights aren't positioned to cover the trail edges. We essentially did six or seven runs from the top on all the various ways down that were light. There were a few good bump lines, though short here and there, especially lower Haggerts. Beautiful snow everywhere, though the skiing was tiring. I found this especially true on the lower angle stuff as you want to carve big turns and let em' run, but you had to stay back and focused for all the little speed bumps that were here and there.

Great fun couple hours skiing with these guys. I was very impressed with Terry's skiing. For a guy who started in his late 30's and has only been at it for 8 years, you'd swear he'd been on skis his whole life. He's very smooth, good form and fast skier. I look forward to the opportunity of skiing with him again someday.

If I have one complaint about all this snow, on the way back home tonight, the snowbanks were so high in places that the speed limit signs were nearly buried . I don't know the road well enough and the limits go from 55 to 45 to 35 pretty quickly without being easy to tell at night. Part of me almost wanted to get pulled over, so I could tell a cop, I'm sorry for speeding, but the signs were buried and I thought I was in a 55 zone.

[Terry]

It was nice to meet and ski with you last night. The snow was just incredible. You and Norm were just ripping it up. I couldn't even begin to keep up but I had fun trying! I hope that I didn't hold you up to much. My legs are feeling it this morning but it is a good feeling. Hope to ski with you more in the future. BobR we missed you. The conditions were incredible but from the looks of the SR video you had a great day!

[deadheadskier]

Bull Shit you couldn't begin to keep up. The first two runs I spent chasing you, norm and george down the mountain. The reality is I'm completely out of shape. I forced myself to ski faster than you all just so I had more time to rest my legs I appreciate your modesty Terry, but by no means did you hold me up at all. You and the crew are great skiers and pushed me to ski harder than I normally would. Nothing better than that - very fun.

I should be there Sunday afternoon. If you're around, I'd love to hook up for some runs. If you and your wife end up hitting Cranmore instead, have fun!!

[salsgang]

We took and after work / school run to Shawnee Feb 29. Conditions hadn't changed much of course. Still lots of snow! Our last couple of ski days had been on LG / Hard Pack... fast and firm.... and what a difference PP / Powder conditions are! First few runs I had to get used to skiing real snow again!

Only issue is that it was pretty cold - but we got a good 3 hours of night skiing in. My boys are starting to bounce of the boxes in the terrain parks which is fun to see. I thought lower Kanga... along with the Main were especially good. We got a couple of Jack Spratt runs in from the top before we got too frozen.

Good evening of skiing - Shawnee is buried, and only going to get more buried after today. I can't imagine how high the snowbanks are going to be in Naples & Bridgton are going to be!

[Terry]

Tam and I are heading over to the Peak this morning. Hoping to get there for first tracks! It is going to be SWEEEEETTTT! This winter has been unreal. Maybe with all this snow the Peak will stay open longer into the spring? We can only hope.