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Mount Snow 12/24/08

Zand

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Dec 30, 2003
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Location
Spencer, MA
Date(s) Skied: Wednesday 12/24/08

Resort or Ski Area: Mount Snow, VT

Conditions: Wet sticky, 4" of new snow, rain/snow, 30s

Trip Report:

Left home around 7:45 and even with the awful road conditions the entire way up (especially on 91 and 9), I made it there by 10:15. The weathermen were calling for snow changing to rain around 1 PM, however, I was disappointed to find them terribly wrong. It was already rain at Carinthia base by then. I decided since I drove the 2.5 hours I'd at least ski for the free hour and evaluate the rest of the day then.

So I hopped on the Carinthia Quad in the rain, which had a snow line about halfway up. The snow was so wet though, it turned to slush right when it hit the seat and made for very wet and cold asses (I should've brought a trashbag to ski in... probably would've saved my day). I headed for the Main Base on Deer Run, which was so sticky in the flat spots you'd stop dead.

My main goal today was to get in the woods for the first time this year, so I took the quad to the top (complete with new useless loading carpet which makes it stop more than it used to) and headed straight for the Trials. They were in excellent shape with 4" of new making snow for fresh tracks everywhere. Olympic was decent on the steep parts with the new snow but again, so sticky on the flats that you had to paddle along.

Hopped on the triple which was the coldest, wettest, slushiest ride of the day and right then I decided to stop after an hour. I only had 20 minutes left so I headed down Long John to Carinthia. The snow was alright but if you tried setting an edge the snow would grab it and attempt to take you down. Took a run through Claim Jumper which was decent but much lower on cover than the Trials. Finished up on Lower Nitro which took about 3 minutes to pole out of the flat part. The steep was nice to turn on, but if you got any speed you'd lose your control to the sticky paper.

My hour was about up then so I clipped the ticket and got the future visit voucher, which I plan on using Dew Tour weekend. Kinda sad I couldn't stay for the day and enjoy the woods but it wasn't worth freezing my ass off and getting all wet. I might have a Wachusett report tomorrow night and I'm planning on Sunapee next Monday.
 

Zand

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Dec 30, 2003
Messages
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Location
Spencer, MA
I wish I could've got up there over the weekend for the powder days, but oh well. It's only December, plenty of time to do that. Not to mention this is my last winter in MA so next year I'll be 2-3 hours closer to the action and will be able to go just about when I want to.
 

Zand

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Location
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I found the loading conveyor thing helped the herbs actually get on the lift...

There was one group of 4 in front of me before I boarded and they ended up going 1-1-2 because they couldn't figure out how to get on the carpet. One almost got taken out when they went THROUGH the gate and somehow managed to sit on the turning chair. I don't know if it'll help or not, but honestly, if someone can't board a chair with normal loading, they should not be going to the summit.
 

hardline

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i deffinatly thought the loading thingy was a problem for some people because of the way the center gate was. they need to put another divider in there. the person in the center would take up to much room. also the singles line merges way to early with the rest of the line. they also needed to have someone directing like they did on the canyon express.
 

Zand

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Messages
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Bummer that it was wet. I hate that!

It was wetter than anything I've ever skied... it was almost a bad thing that it snowed 4" the night before. Anything that was steep had great turns and the upper mountain glades were good too, but damn, if you hit any ungroomed flat you'd immediately stop dead. Like I said, if I was better dressed for the rain I would've stayed just for the Trails and the other North Face steeps... the quirky conditions, while annoying, were sort of fun because it's not something you see everyday.

The worst part is all this melting is gonna freeze solid next week. New Years might not be too pretty.
 

hardline

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Somewhere Between the Toeside and the Hellside
It was wetter than anything I've ever skied... it was almost a bad thing that it snowed 4" the night before. Anything that was steep had great turns and the upper mountain glades were good too, but damn, if you hit any ungroomed flat you'd immediately stop dead. Like I said, if I was better dressed for the rain I would've stayed just for the Trails and the other North Face steeps... the quirky conditions, while annoying, were sort of fun because it's not something you see everyday.

The worst part is all this melting is gonna freeze solid next week. New Years might not be too pretty.

ya new years is going to be the suck and i have a few friends that want to back up north right after new years. not sure what im going to do.
 
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