snowmonster
New member
Date(s) Skied: Jan. 16 and 17, 2010
Resort or Ski Area: Saddleback
Conditions: Packed Powder (some powder in the glades); Cloudy - visibility in upper mountain was terrible. You needed to be in the glades to get a definition of the terrain.; Cold and windy.
Trip Report: I finally made the trip to Saddleback because, like Mildcat and other silver NE passholders, I was blacked out. I never saw the whole mountain because it was covered halfway up with clouds. The T bar was down on Saturday which contributed to the long lines on the double chair. However, once you got past that and rode the quad to the upper mountain, it was virtually ski-on. My general impression of the place is that it's got great glades and, if you're a fan of narrow New England style trails, this would be a great place to visit. You have to pay attention when you ski. Some of their blues (lower part of Professor) have mandatory jumps. Also, lots of blind corners when trails merge so be on your toes.
This TR will focus on the new Casablanca glade and I'll let the pics do most of the talking:
Casablanca is marked by orange signs -- 1,2,3,4. You can drop in on any of the entrances and ski down one or traverse to the others. This is right at the entrance of 2, midway down it, and 3 as I traversed:
4 had the most room as it opened up in a lot of places (I know it looks tight in these shots but I could't stop long enough when it was spacious.):
1 can get pretty tight especially if you angle towards the left. This is the entrance to 1 and the exit:
Portions of 3 can get really tight:
Overall, 1 and 3 seem the most tight while 2 and 4 have more room. There are lots of lines in there and these are just my first impressions. I'm pretty sure that someone can come up with the definitive scouting report. Late Sunday afternoon, there was a patrolman in there with a powersaw cutting stuff. I guess this glade is still in the process. There are also lots of cliff section (in 4, in particular) and downed trees for rails.
Be careful in there, however. Lots of stumps just below the surface to trip you up. I met one on my end of the day run and my helmet saved me. That said, Saddleback is definitely worth the drive and Casablanca should put this place on the map for New England glade runners.
Resort or Ski Area: Saddleback
Conditions: Packed Powder (some powder in the glades); Cloudy - visibility in upper mountain was terrible. You needed to be in the glades to get a definition of the terrain.; Cold and windy.
Trip Report: I finally made the trip to Saddleback because, like Mildcat and other silver NE passholders, I was blacked out. I never saw the whole mountain because it was covered halfway up with clouds. The T bar was down on Saturday which contributed to the long lines on the double chair. However, once you got past that and rode the quad to the upper mountain, it was virtually ski-on. My general impression of the place is that it's got great glades and, if you're a fan of narrow New England style trails, this would be a great place to visit. You have to pay attention when you ski. Some of their blues (lower part of Professor) have mandatory jumps. Also, lots of blind corners when trails merge so be on your toes.
This TR will focus on the new Casablanca glade and I'll let the pics do most of the talking:
Casablanca is marked by orange signs -- 1,2,3,4. You can drop in on any of the entrances and ski down one or traverse to the others. This is right at the entrance of 2, midway down it, and 3 as I traversed:



4 had the most room as it opened up in a lot of places (I know it looks tight in these shots but I could't stop long enough when it was spacious.):



1 can get pretty tight especially if you angle towards the left. This is the entrance to 1 and the exit:


Portions of 3 can get really tight:


Overall, 1 and 3 seem the most tight while 2 and 4 have more room. There are lots of lines in there and these are just my first impressions. I'm pretty sure that someone can come up with the definitive scouting report. Late Sunday afternoon, there was a patrolman in there with a powersaw cutting stuff. I guess this glade is still in the process. There are also lots of cliff section (in 4, in particular) and downed trees for rails.
Be careful in there, however. Lots of stumps just below the surface to trip you up. I met one on my end of the day run and my helmet saved me. That said, Saddleback is definitely worth the drive and Casablanca should put this place on the map for New England glade runners.