backcountry Stowe this weekend

[swordy]

Trying to decide if I should make the trip to Stowe this weekend to ski the Mt Mansfield backcountry. Has anybody been in the woods in Northern VT the last few days? I assume coverage is good, but what about surface conditions?

 

[ssusca]

I was up at Burke last weekend and the coverage in the trees was pretty thin. In fact most of their glades were closed. I spoke with a couple of Ski Patrol from Smuggs that were skiing Burke that day and they said that the coverage is a little better over at Smuggs but not much. I don't know how this will translate to Mt. Mansfield BC, but in general, there didn't seem to be much snow on the ground anywhere.

 

[billski]

You can't compare Burke with Stowe. Totally different upslope dynamic.
We skied woods at Stowe and Jay two weeks ago and conditions were great with lots of new fallen to push around. Not epic, but great. In fact, Stowe, Jay and Bolton have all been getting a few to several inches every day. If I was not going up next weekend, I would most definitely be looking at this weekend. Now, the slack country is going to be beat to death IMO, due to President's day crowds, but the BC should be very good. The slack beat up factor will be tempered partially by the newfallen each day.

Last Saturday the 13th, Bolton BC was still harvesting 10-20" pow. The temps have not been above freezing which means other than compression and evap, it should all still be there.

The key is to stay off the groomers, and look to the west face of the hills.

 

[riverc0il]

Check out the Famous Internet Skiers site for an idea of what the Stowe BC is looking like. Probably some of the best and well covered BC areas in the region right now based on reports that I have seen. This new snow can only help as the Bolton/Stowe/Smuggs/Jay line of NoVT is reaping decent new snow.

 

[skimawk]

NE BC Really?

Trying to decide if I should make the trip to Stowe this weekend to ski the Mt Mansfield backcountry. Has anybody been in the woods in Northern VT the last few days? I assume coverage is good, but what about surface conditions?

Is there really true "backcountry" in New England?

 

[billski]

Is there really true "backcountry" in New England?

It's all in the definition. What's yours?

 

[riverc0il]

Is there really true "backcountry" in New England?

Is this a joke, a troll, or a serious inquiry?

 

[psyflyer]

I was up at Burke last weekend and the coverage in the trees was pretty thin. In fact most of their glades were closed. I spoke with a couple of Ski Patrol from Smuggs that were skiing Burke that day and they said that the coverage is a little better over at Smuggs but not much. I don't know how this will translate to Mt. Mansfield BC, but in general, there didn't seem to be much snow on the ground anywhere.

What a difference a week makes! Burke's glades on the left side of mt (sasq, caveman, throb etc.) got around 4-6 inches the night before last and I rode glades all day yesterday . Two days ago we had gotten an inch or two and last night we got another couple of inches on those glades (those glades on the left side of the mt get much mroe snow than the base lodge area, lower mt). Those glades are just roped off to build a good base but I can assure you that they not only ski fine but its powderific.

 

[skimawk]

Back Country Definition

It's all in the definition. What's yours?

Back Country to me is having to hike, cat, or heli to terrain that makes you feel like the only one on the planet ( with friends that know what to do in the back country).

Skiing trees in the east, even when you do some hiking to them just does not say back country to me.

One of the greatest things about skiing is that the definitions are for each individuals, what ever it may be.

SKI TO THE LEVEL OF YOUR SMILE!!!!!!