slatham
Well-known member
- Resort or Ski Area
- Windham Mountain
- Date
- Jan 21, 2022
- Snow Conditions
-
- Packed Powder
First time skiing Windham (technically skied once years ago, night skiing 2 trails as warm up to the next days very successful Plattekill powder day).
TBH, only skiing Windham because a family medical situation is keeping me home and day tripping, and I have an Ikon pass (mostly for a trip to Taos that will now not happen).
Beautiful blue bird, cold (below zero start) no wind. 2 HSQ and a six pack on a cold Friday meant ski on. Didn’t even ride with anyone (though part of this was my avoidance due to said health issue). RIFD gates and Ikon being “ski on” made a contactless day.
Conditions were good with groomers very sweet and well covered. Monday’s 12” helped a lot, but the recent cold was the real difference maker as I had watched a rapid terrain expansion. All but 3 real trails, and only I would call “core”, are open (and the later is set up and ready). 1 of the doubles, and 1/2 of another, were ungroomed with monster whales. But recent snowmaking made these carvable, styrofoam type snow. Challenging but very doable.
They were blowing cold dust in several places - basically the best that man made can be. Looked like they were working to build depth and go edge to edge on some core trails, and part of terrain park. All were open except one beginner trail. They have a a loop up/down the main 6 pack area with automated HKD Kliks and “vaults” over buried pipes. That was in use. They also have some in the lookers right HSQ pod. They also have a trail in that area with tower pole cats that ran in the am. The beginner trail they were working on was also lined with tower pole cats. Elsewhere was a smattering of snowmaking technology dating back generations. But let there be no mistake, these guys can make snow, and the have been. I would argue they are out doing the “snowmaking capital of the world”.
Windham is a solid mountain but I can see how weekend crowds could cause issues in certain choke spots, especially with a 6 pack. Advertised 1,600’ vertical includes lower magic carpet area, so real vert is the 6 pack which is just under 1,400 (ironically basically same as my “home” mountain, Bromley). Definitely some pitch on West side main peak, though only top 1/3. But that pitch is real, and all 4 stretches were well covered. 2 winch cats mean at least 1/2 that terrain is groomed, and all of it if conditions warrant. Mogul run was Wedel. Steep groomed cruiser was Upper Wolverine.
East peak is nice, 1,000 vert. Some pitch but not the “double black” of west peak. It’s a really nice pod and has more consistent TTB pitch. It also has a nice variety for families, with a green, 2 “high” intermediate and 2 black. The one not open I suspect is left as a mogul run. Cruiser run of the day was “Why not” (favorite trail all in). Wold Cup reminded me of Tick at Magic.
Always fun skiing a new area, something I have not here in the East for a very long time. I would definitely go back, but wold avoid a Saturday unless real cold and /or later in season. An empty weekday with good snow and ski on, 25k in 4 1/2 hours, no brainer.
Edit: I spied several areas of potential tree skiing. More than I expected. Need another 12" though......
TBH, only skiing Windham because a family medical situation is keeping me home and day tripping, and I have an Ikon pass (mostly for a trip to Taos that will now not happen).
Beautiful blue bird, cold (below zero start) no wind. 2 HSQ and a six pack on a cold Friday meant ski on. Didn’t even ride with anyone (though part of this was my avoidance due to said health issue). RIFD gates and Ikon being “ski on” made a contactless day.
Conditions were good with groomers very sweet and well covered. Monday’s 12” helped a lot, but the recent cold was the real difference maker as I had watched a rapid terrain expansion. All but 3 real trails, and only I would call “core”, are open (and the later is set up and ready). 1 of the doubles, and 1/2 of another, were ungroomed with monster whales. But recent snowmaking made these carvable, styrofoam type snow. Challenging but very doable.
They were blowing cold dust in several places - basically the best that man made can be. Looked like they were working to build depth and go edge to edge on some core trails, and part of terrain park. All were open except one beginner trail. They have a a loop up/down the main 6 pack area with automated HKD Kliks and “vaults” over buried pipes. That was in use. They also have some in the lookers right HSQ pod. They also have a trail in that area with tower pole cats that ran in the am. The beginner trail they were working on was also lined with tower pole cats. Elsewhere was a smattering of snowmaking technology dating back generations. But let there be no mistake, these guys can make snow, and the have been. I would argue they are out doing the “snowmaking capital of the world”.
Windham is a solid mountain but I can see how weekend crowds could cause issues in certain choke spots, especially with a 6 pack. Advertised 1,600’ vertical includes lower magic carpet area, so real vert is the 6 pack which is just under 1,400 (ironically basically same as my “home” mountain, Bromley). Definitely some pitch on West side main peak, though only top 1/3. But that pitch is real, and all 4 stretches were well covered. 2 winch cats mean at least 1/2 that terrain is groomed, and all of it if conditions warrant. Mogul run was Wedel. Steep groomed cruiser was Upper Wolverine.
East peak is nice, 1,000 vert. Some pitch but not the “double black” of west peak. It’s a really nice pod and has more consistent TTB pitch. It also has a nice variety for families, with a green, 2 “high” intermediate and 2 black. The one not open I suspect is left as a mogul run. Cruiser run of the day was “Why not” (favorite trail all in). Wold Cup reminded me of Tick at Magic.
Always fun skiing a new area, something I have not here in the East for a very long time. I would definitely go back, but wold avoid a Saturday unless real cold and /or later in season. An empty weekday with good snow and ski on, 25k in 4 1/2 hours, no brainer.
Edit: I spied several areas of potential tree skiing. More than I expected. Need another 12" though......
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