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Wachusett Quickie! 4-1-2017

Bostonian

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
1,252
Points
48
Location
Acton, Massachusetts, United States
Date: April 1, 2017

Resort: Wachusett

Conditions: Soft Packed Powder, powder stashes

Report: Wanted to get out today, but couldn't make it further north. So I settled for the 2-5pm Wachusett special. 3 solid hours of wet packed snow, and snow falling through out the day. Lapped Connifer, Smith and 10th. Ultimately since I am battling a cold and I was getting soaking wet, I called it at 5 sharp. Great few hours of just skiing on a midwinter's April Day. I say screw summer, let it be like this all year round! Here are some photos:

Tons of Snow!
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Is it February or is it April?
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Lower-Lower Smith looks good!
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More Smith Walton
17553520_10154466303667963_6694278022090073127_n.jpg


Upper Smith
17757619_10154466303682963_4971769938153249826_n.jpg


Decisions, decisions:
17626360_10154466303697963_2482560907560792442_n.jpg


Need I say more?
17498973_10154466303747963_5578422577584957509_n.jpg
 

dlague

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Location
CS, Colorado
Conditions look pretty decent but one question do the trails pictured below get steeper or bumped? does not look very Black Diamond like.

wawa.jpg
 

Vaughn

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Feb 26, 2017
Messages
146
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Yeah, I was there all day and it was surprisingly good. Everything was open including Ropers Road and the glades between Balance Rock and Ropers. Sure, there were a few sticks that had to be skied over but for April 1st, pretty great.

Upper Smith-Walton is the only real black there IMO. Of course, today everything skied slow due to the sticky snow.
 

Vaughn

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Have to add the Wunderground forecast which was 8-12" was way off for last night and the local news stations were a lot closer at maybe 3-6". It did snow all day so if they groom tonight, tomorrow morning should be about as good as Wachusett gets outside of a fresh powder day.
 

Glenn

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Oct 1, 2008
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Location
CT & VT
Amen! I'll take this weather year round. Great pics.


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Bostonian

Well-known member
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Feb 1, 2007
Messages
1,252
Points
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Location
Acton, Massachusetts, United States
Conditions look pretty decent but one question do the trails pictured below get steeper or bumped? does not look very Black Diamond like.

View attachment 22328

Smith Walton does get a little steeper up at the top, and they seed bumps on Skier's left on 10th Mountain... Not truly a black, but it is their most challenging terrain there.
 

Vaughn

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Feb 26, 2017
Messages
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Smith Walton does get a little steeper up at the top, and they seed bumps on Skier's left on 10th Mountain... Not truly a black, but it is their most challenging terrain there.

I've never been into the glades below Roper's Road - that looks to be long and steep if it comes out on top of the beginner slope.

Anyone been in there? That's my guess as to the hardest 'trail' at Wachusett.
 

yeggous

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Oct 8, 2012
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Eagle, CO
I didn't realize that Wachusett had any glades.


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Vaughn

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Feb 26, 2017
Messages
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I didn't realize that Wachusett had any glades.


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They are pretty minor and maybe not official. Off the right side of Upper Balance Rock and also some gentle ones all along the right side of Ralph's. Not exactly Kinsman Glade up there.
 

doublediamond

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Dec 22, 2013
Messages
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You will get your ticket pulled without a warning if you venture off trail from the summit pod due to the old growth forests. There's signs all over the mountain and on the map.
 

Vaughn

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
146
Points
18
You will get your ticket pulled without a warning if you venture off trail from the summit pod due to the old growth forests. There's signs all over the mountain and on the map.

I guess so but they could easily run a single piece of orange tape across the entrance to the woods if they meant that. Moot point now as those trails will be shot today if they weren't yesterday already.
 
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