Ascutney 12/22/07

[ckofer]

Date(s) Skied: Saturday 12/22/07
Resort or Ski Area: Ascutney, VT
Conditions: PP, Powder though not much base under some of it

Trip Report:

The Warren Miller enticement was on, so we went up as a family. None of us had been there before and it wasn't a bad drive from the NH Seacoast area (just over 2 hours).

This is an interesting area. A quick glance at the trail map makes it look relatively uninteresting. From the main lodge are two parallel lifts that service the peak. Actually, the one running stops a few hundred yards before the peak and has a midpoint stop for those not willing to deal the more challenging terrain at the top.

This has to be one of the least groomed mountains that I had skied on for quite a while. It seems that they had gained about 6 inches of snow from the last storm and some was yet basically untouched. The weather was overcast and the temperature seemed to be in the low 30's.

At first I was thrilled to find all this fluff and otherwise ungroomed material. This mountain is all attitude! Don't expect cruisers. It is the opposite of Okemo.

On the downside, they don't have much of a base under many trails yet-there are many hidden rocks. My son and I explored the diamonds around the peak and some of the glades. After a bunch of scraping noises, I became fairly cautious in my approach. The snow was getting a little denser with the temps and you had to keep your eyes open for obstacles like brooks, rocks and plants. It seemed somewhat like spring skiing but more deceptive.

At about 1:30 my base and edges were hurting-so I called it quits. I like the mountain (think Upper Hardscrabble at Cannon) but it really needs more snow. I'll be back then.

 

[bobbutts]

I thought about going there yesterday but it appears their quad chair is still closed. Any idea why?
I agree with your review, nice natural terrain at that place, just just need a deep snowpack to cover it,

 

[billski]

I'm surprised. I thought A. would have more base than that. Were they in a natural snowfall dead zone? The only other thing I can think of is that their trails aren't very "flat", which requires deeper snowpack than most. Even skiing in the Berkshires had a ton of base.

 

[ckofer]

I thought about going there yesterday but it appears their quad chair is still closed. Any idea why?
I agree with your review, nice natural terrain at that place, just just need a deep snowpack to cover it,

I think the quad was closed for a few reasons

A) The triple has the midpoint exit and the shorter lift wasn't running till later today
B) The quad doesn't open up much more terrain
C) The lift lines were very short today, other than lift speed, no improved capacity

 

[ckofer]

I'm surprised. I thought A. would have more base than that. Were they in a natural snowfall dead zone? The only other thing I can think of is that their trails aren't very "flat", which requires deeper snowpack than most. Even skiing in the Berkshires had a ton of base.

They seem to have plenty of snow but some trails seem to have lots of big rocks under them. Everything is fluffy so it the snow washes away easily. In some areas it seemed that you could stand in one place sink your pole 2 feet on one side of you and hit a rock on the other. A big wet snowfall with a cold period after would make a difference.