Wachusett Quickie! 4-1-2017

[Bostonian]

Date: April 1, 2017

Resort: Wachusett

Conditions: Soft Packed Powder, powder stashes

Report: Wanted to get out today, but couldn't make it further north. So I settled for the 2-5pm Wachusett special. 3 solid hours of wet packed snow, and snow falling through out the day. Lapped Connifer, Smith and 10th. Ultimately since I am battling a cold and I was getting soaking wet, I called it at 5 sharp. Great few hours of just skiing on a midwinter's April Day. I say screw summer, let it be like this all year round! Here are some photos:

Tons of Snow!

Is it February or is it April?

Lower-Lower Smith looks good!

More Smith Walton

Upper Smith

Decisions, decisions:

Need I say more?

 

[dlague]

Conditions look pretty decent but one question do the trails pictured below get steeper or bumped? does not look very Black Diamond like.

 

[Vaughn]

Yeah, I was there all day and it was surprisingly good. Everything was open including Ropers Road and the glades between Balance Rock and Ropers. Sure, there were a few sticks that had to be skied over but for April 1st, pretty great.

Upper Smith-Walton is the only real black there IMO. Of course, today everything skied slow due to the sticky snow.

 

[Vaughn]

Have to add the Wunderground forecast which was 8-12" was way off for last night and the local news stations were a lot closer at maybe 3-6". It did snow all day so if they groom tonight, tomorrow morning should be about as good as Wachusett gets outside of a fresh powder day.

 

[Glenn]

Amen! I'll take this weather year round. Great pics.


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[Bostonian]

Conditions look pretty decent but one question do the trails pictured below get steeper or bumped? does not look very Black Diamond like.

View attachment 22328

Smith Walton does get a little steeper up at the top, and they seed bumps on Skier's left on 10th Mountain... Not truly a black, but it is their most challenging terrain there.

 

[Vaughn]

Smith Walton does get a little steeper up at the top, and they seed bumps on Skier's left on 10th Mountain... Not truly a black, but it is their most challenging terrain there.

I've never been into the glades below Roper's Road - that looks to be long and steep if it comes out on top of the beginner slope.

Anyone been in there? That's my guess as to the hardest 'trail' at Wachusett.

 

[yeggous]

I didn't realize that Wachusett had any glades.


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[Vaughn]

I didn't realize that Wachusett had any glades.


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They are pretty minor and maybe not official. Off the right side of Upper Balance Rock and also some gentle ones all along the right side of Ralph's. Not exactly Kinsman Glade up there.

 

[doublediamond]

You will get your ticket pulled without a warning if you venture off trail from the summit pod due to the old growth forests. There's signs all over the mountain and on the map.

 

[Vaughn]

You will get your ticket pulled without a warning if you venture off trail from the summit pod due to the old growth forests. There's signs all over the mountain and on the map.

I guess so but they could easily run a single piece of orange tape across the entrance to the woods if they meant that. Moot point now as those trails will be shot today if they weren't yesterday already.