1/22/05 - Ski Butternut

[skijay]

Resort: Ski Butternut

Date Skied: 01/22/05

Conditions: 10 degrees, clouds until 1:30 and then snow.

Trip Report:


I went to Butternut hoping to get some skiing before the storm started as I do not know if I will be skiing next weekend or not. I had a late start, a little before noon and arrived around 1pm. I get up there and boot up. From my drive on the Mass Pike, it looked like the snow was off in the distance.

Butternut was not crowded at all. Perhaps the cold temperatures & looming storm made people stay home or leave early. The first run was the right off of the TF Quad. There was a lot of loose granular snow, with no bare spots. Upper Applejack was closed and they were making snow. Great coverage overall.


While on the Overbrook Triple at 1:45pm, the snow started and it intensified from that point on. I could not tell if it was accumulating or not as I was looking in the trees. Each run from that point had a cover of fresh powdery snow! By the time I left I would say there was about 2 to 3 inches of fresh snow on the trails. It was awesome!

I did leave at 3:30pm because of the snow. Although my vehicle is awesome in the snow, it is the other driver’s that I worry about. The Pike had been plowed but the snow just kept coming down. The speed limit was reduced to 40MPH. Passing was tricky as the snow was slick. From the Pike entrance in Lee (exit 2) to Exit 4 (I91), it took me 1 hour, traffic was heavy and people, the one’s with common sense, were obeying the 40MPH limit.

I wish I was going to Butternut on Sunday!

I only counted two vehicles in minor accidents on my way back.