Stowe 2/2/2010

[polski]

Excellent skiing surfaces & weather, great price ($39) and no crowds made Stowe a winner today. N VT Greens have been in the sweet spot for recovery snowfall the past week so when I learned of the "Woodchuck Day" special with lift tickets less than half price, I was there.

Higher up there was probably 2-3" new snow from overnight, dwindling to not much more than a dusting at the base. This on top of 4-7" Sunday and more than a foot the previous four or so days and it made for plenty of soft snow, often boot-deep, in woods and on trail edges. (Thanks to those who provided me glades info - feel free to jump in here and say "you're welcome" ...). I also tried lifts that were closed or I missed in my one previous visit to Stowe - from the quads on Spruce and the Gondi to the Toll House Double. Too beat to get into detail but I feel I've got a much better sense of the place now.

Just a few pics.

Rimrock


Mansfield from Bypass


Spruce

[billski]

You're welcome!
That first pic is poster materiál.
How were the temps?
Id rather ríde the double or triple than the TH double. THD is the perfect
place for never Evers to spend the day practicing;

[WJenness]

Very nice.

Wish I could have joined you.

Would have been there if not for this damned head cold I came down with on Friday.

-w

[polski]

Originally Posted by billski

You're welcome!
That first pic is poster materiál.
How were the temps?

Downright tropical compared to what you had over the weekend, apparently. Low positive single digits to start, got a little north of 20 at the base at midday. Little wind. Brisk but I never got cold, skiing nonstop from ~9a to 130p before a break.

Id rather ríde the double or triple than the TH double. THD is the perfect
place for never Evers to spend the day practicing;

I kinda ended up there by accident on my first run, stayed in the woods below the chapel too long. No prob, it was something new for me, and on a snowy day I could see kicking back for one run with a top-to-bottom Toll Road tour.

[TheBEast]

I was there as well Monday/Tuesday. Awesome conditions (although a bit slick on the usual high traffic spots). Spent most of the time exploring the woods and was still finding fresh lines late in the day on Tuesday. Only waited in line at the quad maybe two or three times, but really only for 2-3 minutes, with all other times essentially ski right on. OUTSTANDING trip. This trip makes we want to add Stowe to my yearly trip planner......love that place!

[polski]

Originally Posted by TheBEast

I was there as well Monday/Tuesday. Awesome conditions (although a bit slick on the usual high traffic spots). Spent most of the time exploring the woods and was still finding fresh lines late in the day on Tuesday. Only waited in line at the quad maybe two or three times, but really only for 2-3 minutes, with all other times essentially ski right on. OUTSTANDING trip. This trip makes we want to add Stowe to my yearly trip planner......love that place!

Yes, some slickness later in they day where narrow and high-traffic. Steepest part of Bypass was badly scraped my last run of the day. Also, very occasionally in woods or on edges I bottomed out on crust. Those are the only negatives I can come up with and they are mild. Oh, and a lot of snowmaking to avoid on Spruce, though Whirlaway (natural/ungroomed) was phenomenal and very lightly trafficked - hit that twice. Regret not trying Upper Smugglers but it seemed most of the lower part of that side of Spruce had the snow guns going, so I avoided.

My first trip to Stowe was first week of Dec '07, too early in the season for woods and although there was some new snow I was a little bummed that they'd groomed out pretty much everything that was open. Got a much greater appreciation for the place this time. I will be back, though I really can't spring for >$80/ticket ...


p.s. personal stats: As I entered my fifth calendar month of skiing I realized I haven't yet been to the same place twice. It hasn't been an epic winter for snowfall (yet!) but a very enjoyable season thus far, including several first-ever hits (Burke being a big one) and my first earned turns.

[4aprice]

That picture of Spruce looks sweet.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

[SKIQUATTRO]

SWEET!! headin up this week skiing fri/sat/sun

[polski]

Originally Posted by 4aprice

That picture of Spruce looks sweet.

To be clear, whoever did that had to duck a rope. Actually they continued down the entire liftline, ducking probably four or five ropes in the process. Maybe someone who climbed up on dawn patrol?

Very purdy, no doubt.

[billski]

Originally Posted by polski

To be clear, whoever did that had to duck a rope. .

Nobody ever does that!