twinplanx
Active member
Dates:3/17-19/11
AreasMt. Ellen, MRG & Okemo
ConditionsFirm AMs to Spring Bumps/Mashed Potatoes
Report Wanting to take advantage of a guided day at Mt.Ellen(for 17$), I used two mental health days and made plans for a long St.Patrick's weekend. I was able to get in touch w/ a friend in Ludlow and crash there Wednesday night. Packed the car and went to work till 4:30pm on Wednesday, just in time for rush hour traffic:evil: Arrived in Ludlow just after 10pm and started an early St. Pattys celebration w/ my buddy Bruce and his wife.
Well that early celebrating caused a late start for the 1.5 hour drive to ]Mt Ellen. By the time I had booted up and got my ticket it was after 11am. I was still lucky enough to get in touch w/ WWF-VT, a friend of his and rocojerry & his Fiancée(Congrats Jerry) at the top of GMX. We got right down to business and hit the Mt. just about as hard as we could till our legs could stand no more. I did not pay much attention to trail names but the standouts were FIS, Black Diamond and a basically unskied run down a mushy wet Brambles. We also did the obligatory run down Lower FIS but after the brutal traverse at the bottom we avoided repeating that. As mentioned we hit the place hard and w/ the warming temps resulting in sweet mashed potatoes everywhere we were ready willing and able to make an appearance on the deck for some(more) St. Pattys day celebrations. The sun was shinning and it seemed warm enough for for t-shirts(until the sun got blocked). It was a great day on the hill, to say the least. To get a tour was an awesome bonus and for that I must thank WWF-VT who also made a fine recommendation for cheap lodging in the MRV . Thanx again man:wink:
When I first pulled up to the Hostel Tevere, I thought I had made a mistake because the place(even from the outside) seemed just a little to fancy. I was pretty much going on instinct at this point because my phone/lifeline had no internet service. I decided to head up towards MRG and picked up a signal near German Flats Rd. where I confirmed that the fancy looking place near the access road was in fact the place recommended. It was still plenty light out so instead of heading right back to my accommodations I drove another mile or two up the hill to see what was going on at MRG. I had never been there before and was instantly smitten w/ the low-key base/parking area. I knew then that no matter what weather was foretasted that I had made the right choice in pre-purchasing my ticket on Liftopia saving nearly half the cost of the weekday walk up rate.
Rolled back down the hill and checked into the Hostel Tevere. I never knew what to expect when when walking into a Hostel, but if there all like this...sign me up!!! Plunked down my 35$ for the night and was shown my bunk, there were about five time as many beds as people staying there so there was plenty to choose from. Showered up, got dresses and put on a pair of slippers to head downstairs past all the funky artwork and bookshelves to the bar/dinning area complete w/ live music. Got some substance in my belly and began round three of St. Pattys day celebrating
Got to talking to one of the other guests who turned out to be mattchuck(formerly of ADKzone). There was about 6-10 people hanging out in the bar area, some guests some locals. Dinner and a few PBRs cost me 15$. Rounds including an Irish Car Bomb were purchased for me by other happy patrons Retired to my comfy bed around midnight to catch some rest before the next days introduction to MRG.
Woke up the morning of 3/18 to a big soggy looking cloud hovering over the mountain Took my time getting dressed and packed up then headed to the hill. Grabbed some coffee and a pastry on the way, booted up in the parking area and got my ticket. Walked right on to the single-chair and as if some one had heard our prayers the skies parted and we were treated to a spectacular bluebird day:-o Eased into it w/ a cruiser down Lynx into Catamount. When they said a blue trail at MRG is like a black just about anywhere else, they weren't lying. If you enjoy skiing bumps/trees you must check this place out!! Not only do there blues ski like blacks, there marked trails rival most glades I have skied. Once again I took little notice of trail names, opting to let there rating point the way. Since this was a solo adventure I took my time and showed myself around. I have heard good things about Paradise, made a point to ski it and was not disappointed. I can only imagine what this place would be like on a real powder day. But fantastic spring conditions are next best and once again the warm temps set up soft, mushy snow through out the place. Took a break for a beer and some fries around 2pm and got back to it. By this time the kids must have been getting home from school creating a line at the single, so I boarded the double and checked out the Birdland area I have also heard about. All in all it was a great introduction to MRG and I was finally able to earn the bumper sticker. In the parking lot I meet one of the other guests from the hostel and we had a beer at his tailgate. (Thanx Bryan from Ohio)
After driving up Rt. 100 north I decided to take 17 west over to Rt. 7 through Rutland and back to Ludlow Friday night. In hindsight I think the Rt. 100 route was quicker... Pulled in to Ludlow just after 7pm and hung out w/ Bruce and his sister for sometime before getting into some leftover Corned Beef Hash :wink: then bed. Bruce's wife works for Okemo and she was kind enough to get me a free ticket for Saturday. I was solo again for this day, my 6th day on skis this season. I spent two entire seasons at Okemo so I know the mountain well. I stared my morning on the South Face until that started to get crowded. The trails were setting up nicely but Forest Bump was a little firm and full of bare spots. I worked my over to the Solitude are via the Narrows/Whistler and found a sweet little skier-cross set up on one of those trails at the bottom end of Whistler. Had a liquid lunch on the deck at Epic(formerly known as Gables) and got back to it heading towards the Jackson Gore side. After two days up north my legs had enough and I was more then ready for a day of hero snow at Okemo. I'm gona go on the record and say it, one of my favorite trails at Okemo is Tuckered Out. I think it used to be a green, but it has so many switch-backs and other areas of skier congestion that it is now a blue. Whatever I find it to be a fun trail. The key to enjoying Okemo is avoiding the lower mountain lifts at all costs. Of course they can not be avoided at the beginning of the day, but otherwise unless you are a beginner you will just be frustrated and wasting time w/ those lifts. Stay high. It has been over five years since I've been back to Okemo and I was having a hard time finding a little place in the woods we would call the "office". I rode up the lift w/ a dude from Park/Pipes and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I had to ask for directions . But I was able to locate this special place and it brought back some fond memories(even if I do not indulge at the current time). After that successful mission I headed to the half-pipe to work on me steeze. I basically ride up as high on the wall as I can and do a little hop turn at the top. I did "pop-out" of the pipe once but I landed on the deck and I do not want to that again I took three runs through the pipe and called it a day. Had a Guinness at the Sitting Bull where I saw an old friend. And just about knocked over the harmonica player in the band on my way out the door on tired legs in ski boots(sorry Jay)
I had grabbed a cup of coffee from my buddy's house in the AM so I returned that and said Good-bye. Headed south, put the car on the ferry in Bridgeport at about 10pm and had just enough cash for one beer on the boat and was home free. These were days 4, 5, and 6 for me this season. My goal is 10, not a lot by AZ standards but pretty good from where I'm sitting. It was great to get up north and make some turns w/ other AZers. Hoping the snow sticks around a bit longer to get closer to my goal this season, maybe days 7/8?
This is a long ass report and if you have read the whole thing let me know what you think. I can not look at the computer any longer...
AreasMt. Ellen, MRG & Okemo
ConditionsFirm AMs to Spring Bumps/Mashed Potatoes
Report Wanting to take advantage of a guided day at Mt.Ellen(for 17$), I used two mental health days and made plans for a long St.Patrick's weekend. I was able to get in touch w/ a friend in Ludlow and crash there Wednesday night. Packed the car and went to work till 4:30pm on Wednesday, just in time for rush hour traffic:evil: Arrived in Ludlow just after 10pm and started an early St. Pattys celebration w/ my buddy Bruce and his wife.
Well that early celebrating caused a late start for the 1.5 hour drive to ]Mt Ellen. By the time I had booted up and got my ticket it was after 11am. I was still lucky enough to get in touch w/ WWF-VT, a friend of his and rocojerry & his Fiancée(Congrats Jerry) at the top of GMX. We got right down to business and hit the Mt. just about as hard as we could till our legs could stand no more. I did not pay much attention to trail names but the standouts were FIS, Black Diamond and a basically unskied run down a mushy wet Brambles. We also did the obligatory run down Lower FIS but after the brutal traverse at the bottom we avoided repeating that. As mentioned we hit the place hard and w/ the warming temps resulting in sweet mashed potatoes everywhere we were ready willing and able to make an appearance on the deck for some(more) St. Pattys day celebrations. The sun was shinning and it seemed warm enough for for t-shirts(until the sun got blocked). It was a great day on the hill, to say the least. To get a tour was an awesome bonus and for that I must thank WWF-VT who also made a fine recommendation for cheap lodging in the MRV . Thanx again man:wink:
When I first pulled up to the Hostel Tevere, I thought I had made a mistake because the place(even from the outside) seemed just a little to fancy. I was pretty much going on instinct at this point because my phone/lifeline had no internet service. I decided to head up towards MRG and picked up a signal near German Flats Rd. where I confirmed that the fancy looking place near the access road was in fact the place recommended. It was still plenty light out so instead of heading right back to my accommodations I drove another mile or two up the hill to see what was going on at MRG. I had never been there before and was instantly smitten w/ the low-key base/parking area. I knew then that no matter what weather was foretasted that I had made the right choice in pre-purchasing my ticket on Liftopia saving nearly half the cost of the weekday walk up rate.
Rolled back down the hill and checked into the Hostel Tevere. I never knew what to expect when when walking into a Hostel, but if there all like this...sign me up!!! Plunked down my 35$ for the night and was shown my bunk, there were about five time as many beds as people staying there so there was plenty to choose from. Showered up, got dresses and put on a pair of slippers to head downstairs past all the funky artwork and bookshelves to the bar/dinning area complete w/ live music. Got some substance in my belly and began round three of St. Pattys day celebrating
Got to talking to one of the other guests who turned out to be mattchuck(formerly of ADKzone). There was about 6-10 people hanging out in the bar area, some guests some locals. Dinner and a few PBRs cost me 15$. Rounds including an Irish Car Bomb were purchased for me by other happy patrons Retired to my comfy bed around midnight to catch some rest before the next days introduction to MRG.Woke up the morning of 3/18 to a big soggy looking cloud hovering over the mountain
Took my time getting dressed and packed up then headed to the hill. Grabbed some coffee and a pastry on the way, booted up in the parking area and got my ticket. Walked right on to the single-chair and as if some one had heard our prayers the skies parted and we were treated to a spectacular bluebird day:-o Eased into it w/ a cruiser down Lynx into Catamount. When they said a blue trail at MRG is like a black just about anywhere else, they weren't lying. If you enjoy skiing bumps/trees you must check this place out!! Not only do there blues ski like blacks, there marked trails rival most glades I have skied. Once again I took little notice of trail names, opting to let there rating point the way. Since this was a solo adventure I took my time and showed myself around. I have heard good things about Paradise, made a point to ski it and was not disappointed. I can only imagine what this place would be like on a real powder day. But fantastic spring conditions are next best and once again the warm temps set up soft, mushy snow through out the place. Took a break for a beer and some fries around 2pm and got back to it. By this time the kids must have been getting home from school creating a line at the single, so I boarded the double and checked out the Birdland area I have also heard about. All in all it was a great introduction to MRG and I was finally able to earn the bumper sticker. In the parking lot I meet one of the other guests from the hostel and we had a beer at his tailgate. (Thanx Bryan from Ohio)After driving up Rt. 100 north I decided to take 17 west over to Rt. 7 through Rutland and back to Ludlow Friday night. In hindsight I think the Rt. 100 route was quicker... Pulled in to Ludlow just after 7pm and hung out w/ Bruce and his sister for sometime before getting into some leftover Corned Beef Hash :wink: then bed. Bruce's wife works for Okemo and she was kind enough to get me a free ticket for Saturday. I was solo again for this day, my 6th day on skis this season. I spent two entire seasons at Okemo so I know the mountain well. I stared my morning on the South Face until that started to get crowded. The trails were setting up nicely but Forest Bump was a little firm and full of bare spots. I worked my over to the Solitude are via the Narrows/Whistler and found a sweet little skier-cross set up on one of those trails at the bottom end of Whistler. Had a liquid lunch on the deck at Epic(formerly known as Gables) and got back to it heading towards the Jackson Gore side. After two days up north my legs had enough and I was more then ready for a day of hero snow at Okemo. I'm gona go on the record and say it, one of my favorite trails at Okemo is Tuckered Out. I think it used to be a green, but it has so many switch-backs and other areas of skier congestion that it is now a blue. Whatever I find it to be a fun trail. The key to enjoying Okemo is avoiding the lower mountain lifts at all costs. Of course they can not be avoided at the beginning of the day, but otherwise unless you are a beginner you will just be frustrated and wasting time w/ those lifts. Stay high. It has been over five years since I've been back to Okemo and I was having a hard time finding a little place in the woods we would call the "office". I rode up the lift w/ a dude from Park/Pipes and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I had to ask for directions
. But I was able to locate this special place and it brought back some fond memories(even if I do not indulge at the current time). After that successful mission I headed to the half-pipe to work on me steeze. I basically ride up as high on the wall as I can and do a little hop turn at the top. I did "pop-out" of the pipe once but I landed on the deck and I do not want to that again I took three runs through the pipe and called it a day. Had a Guinness at the Sitting Bull where I saw an old friend. And just about knocked over the harmonica player in the band on my way out the door on tired legs in ski boots(sorry Jay)I had grabbed a cup of coffee from my buddy's house in the AM so I returned that and said Good-bye. Headed south, put the car on the ferry in Bridgeport at about 10pm and had just enough cash for one beer on the boat and was home free. These were days 4, 5, and 6 for me this season. My goal is 10, not a lot by AZ standards but pretty good from where I'm sitting. It was great to get up north and make some turns w/ other AZers. Hoping the snow sticks around a bit longer to get closer to my goal this season, maybe days 7/8?
This is a long ass report and if you have read the whole thing let me know what you think. I can not look at the computer any longer...
