Stowe April 13, 14, 15

[powderfreak]

April 13

The weather wasn't overly promising but I knew there'd be friends on the
mountain. I was bummed I missed Saturday's crowd at the skivt-l party but
on my first ride up the quad I ran into Kulas, Scotty D, and his daughters
Hannah and Hillary. Conditions were firm and variable; moguls and trees
appeared to be a disaster waiting to happen. However, after meeting up with
the Bauman clan, Steve K, Wesley, and William we all got the itch to poach
Chin Clip. I was then schooled by 5 or 6 youngsters as they took off down
the frozen bumps.

Dipping into the woods on the side, I found Wesley had already beaten me to
it. The woods skied nicely enough for me to mention a run to the bench. At
first, I got no takers. What? A crew of plaid and no takers? Then Hillary
said she wanted to go...which brought a smile to Scotty D's face and
instantly he was in. Hannah too. Kulas was swayed, as well. On the way to
the bench, we ran into Aaron L. on the traverse who joined us for the run.
It wasn't an epic run but it was good...much better than it should've been
all things considered.

Kulas deals with the conditions.
http://tinyurl.com/3n3sat
Hannah likes to play Giant Slalom with large trees. It is impressive to say
the least.
http://tinyurl.com/52vcdy
http://tinyurl.com/4s2gom
Hillary just plain rips. It is very humbling to see these girls shredding
variable boilerplate in the woods.
http://tinyurl.com/4htvkr
http://tinyurl.com/3s4kfq

What a fun way to end a great day; it just proves that being in good company
will negate any unfavorable snow conditions because all I saw were smiles
after that last run.

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April 14

I still can't believe they are closing on Sunday with this much coverage.
http://tinyurl.com/3v9zob

As I rode up the quad it became apparent that it had snowed last night. I
honestly didn't think it would be anything worthwhile but Wesley is right,
it only takes a few inches this time of year for the skiing to be good. I
then found myself skinning up the Toll Road, following only two sets of boot
prints in the snow.
http://tinyurl.com/4pdh23

The views from the Mansfield ridgeline at 4,000 feet never get old. There
is a stark contrast between 92" on the ground at the stake and the brown
valley over 3,000ft below.
http://tinyurl.com/4h7ke2
Whiteface still looked nice.
http://tinyurl.com/4pvosg

Upon reaching what I planned to ski, I found those two sets of prints on the
Toll Road led here.
http://tinyurl.com/3ux5z8
One had taken the skiers right line, the other the center line...this meant
I was left with the skiers left line which wasn't too shabby.
http://tinyurl.com/4nk8av

A quick stroll up to the closed Cliff House led to untracked powder turns
down upper Gondolier and upper Chin Clip. This was good stuff, not another
soul around. I dabbled in Angel Food which was great down to the first
traverse, at which point it became almost too manky. This run was so much
fun I went back up the quad but this time used Rim Rock to access the Gondi
side...not as much fun as taking the Rock Garden down to the Gondola trails.
In the end, I was feeling like a relaxed cruiser so I noodled creamy powder
all the way down Switchback to the parking lot.
http://tinyurl.com/3msub2

In the parking lot I ran into Aaron L. and Josh. Turns out they were the
two that beat me to the Rock Garden. I should have known.

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April 15

Scott D. sent me an email earlier in the morning saying he'd be heading up
to the big hill. Cool, someone to ski with. I remembered it was his
birthday so I stashed away a couple of cold ones to be enjoyed somewhere on
the hill.

This spot will do. Can there really be any better way to spend your birthday?
http://tinyurl.com/499ujp

After hanging out on the rocks for a little bit, we headed down into the
Garden which had the best spring conditions I've ever seen in there. It
beat yesterday's powder, even. This stuff was creamy goodness.
http://tinyurl.com/3f5h7h
I even got out from behind the camera as Danis insisted on documenting these
great conditions...an inch or two of pure butter on top of a solid base is
as good as it gets in the spring up here.
http://tinyurl.com/4jvtb2

We ended up skiing untracked butter (with even some still dry powder in the
shade) down upper Gondolier and upper Chin Clip. This was really fun stuff.
Possibly the most enjoyable conditions I've found this year on a stretch
that is usually crowded with people, has near zero visibility, and is pure
ice. It was exactly the opposite yesterday.
http://tinyurl.com/45g35v

We had so much fun skiing an untracked Chin Clip and adjacent woods that
when we reached the quad, we just went back up and did the route again.
Here's Scotty D in the Rock Garden for run #2:
http://tinyurl.com/3uac63
http://tinyurl.com/4qurlk
http://tinyurl.com/4494sf

I honestly cannot think of a better way to spend a birthday, sure beats the
office. Yesterday was the best spring day yet in my books.

-Scott

[kcyanks1]

happy birthday and thanks for the great trip reports!

[from_the_NEK]

When your skiing an area named the "Rock Garden" with conditions like that on April 15th, you know its been a good snow year.

[braciole]

Powderfreak, thanks for a great season of trip reports, I don't post much but reading your reports motivated me to drive that extra hour or two north to Stowe more this season than any other, I've gained a new appreciation for this mountain and even got my kids thier first days ever on snow here this year. And of course thanks to all the Az'ers who left me drooling at my PC when I couldn't be on skis this year.

[powderfreak]

Originally Posted by braciole

Powderfreak, thanks for a great season of trip reports, I don't post much but reading your reports motivated me to drive that extra hour or two north to Stowe more this season than any other, I've gained a new appreciation for this mountain and even got my kids thier first days ever on snow here this year. And of course thanks to all the Az'ers who left me drooling at my PC when I couldn't be on skis this year.

Thanks, man! I hope your kids had fun and hopefully they'll catch the bug, too.

I'd like to thank the other AZ posters as well for the TR's from across the northeast this winter. It was my first winter posting here and I've got to say, I'll be back next winter!

-Scott

[JimG.]

Originally Posted by powderfreak

Thanks, man! I hope your kids had fun and hopefully they'll catch the bug, too.

I'd like to thank the other AZ posters as well for the TR's from across the northeast this winter. It was my first winter posting here and I've got to say, I'll be back next winter!

-Scott

I am very glad to hear this.

You are a true asset.