Best Spring skiing trail in the east???

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I was thinking about it and I think Steins run at Sugarbush might be the best spring skiing run in the east. The pitch is consistent and deep manmade base holds up well and drains well to keep the snow fast even on warm days and provides skiing into May some seasons. Superstar will probably be named but I don't think it's as sweet of a run..although fun..just not as sustained..more stairstep..I'll give Barneys bumps at Blue an honorable mention. Since we get spring weather nearly every month of the ski season..it's always nice hero bumps on warm days or after some rain..

 

[skiadikt]

since k hasn't let the bumps build on supe the last few years, i'd agree that stein has been better. however when supe is bumped, i prefer it to stein's. steeper top & bottom and i enjoy the bumps on the flatter middle section. also no runoff. just t-t-b bumps. seems longer.

actually the best spring skiing trail is ol after bear closes. absolutely perfect corn bumps. pitch isn't too shabby either ...

 

[powhunter]

Gotta be Gunbarrel at sundown...Gonna be even better this year when they blow that 10 foot glacier base

steveo

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

left gully at mt washington...steeper than the headwall and twice as long.

 

[snoseek]

The top two-thirds of Sugarloaf!

 

[Madroch]

While Steins may be better due to length-- I have had some great spring days on Bear Trap at mount snow-- although it usually doesn't make it too far into spring due to western exposure and/or lift operation cutbacks- also at snow- many fond memories of chute, fallen timbers and later Freefall in spring when they used to keep em bumped

Any of the front four on a warm day-- had one of the fineist spring days ever there last april (70 degrees and deep snow, nice)

ripcord or paradise also at the bush (I have never skied anything off castlerock in the spring so can't comment)

in the old days when north went late-- exterminator, black diamond (always seemd a bit firm though) and a bunch of others

Only had one true spring day on superstar-- great fun. Outer limits on a wam day was also nice- way back enjoyed cascade or whatever else was open off the double.

Hope to ski sugarloaf and/or Jay this spring-- I hear there are many nice spring options at both

Gunbarrel.... I had to throw that in there...

I'm sure I'm missing a ton...

 

[bobbutts]

I had a better time on Ripcord and Spillsville on the top of LP at the Bush this spring. Reason being the traverse to get to Stein's as well as the runout. I guess when the Valley House chair is open that would change things, but it wasn't when I visited. I'll take any of those runs over Superstar, too much grooming.

visual evidence:
Superstar 4/29/09

Ripcord 4/24/2009

 

[MR. evil]

Gotta be Gunbarrel at sundown...Gonna be even better this year when they blow that 10 foot glacier base

steveo

Ditto!

 

[Philpug]

Outer Limits
Superstar
Bear Trap
Upper FIS

 

[mondeo]

actually the best spring skiing trail is ol after bear closes. absolutely perfect corn bumps. pitch isn't too shabby either ...

They really need to let Bear go another week after BMMC, though, so it can recover from the grooming. The only really good bumps last year were the competition bumps. Everything else was sorta funky.

 

[riverc0il]

I say it varies year to year depending on how the bumps set up. I have had some outstanding spring bump days at a lot of different places and I have had some not so good days. Stein's was not good this past season on my two trips, once in March and once in April. I did not get the best conditions in April but even in good conditions it was not half as good as I have had at the Bush in April. I have seen Ripcord setup really well and really bad. It varies year to year depending on conditions, weather, traffic, lines, etc.

Maybe not for one specific trail, but Stowe owns for spring bump skiing. So many options from one lift. If I had to pick just one mountain for spring bumps, it would probably be Stowe. Wildcat would be up there as well. Bush has really nice options and I dig the LP setup (sorry ME guys ). Surprised by Jay last year as well. Of course, Killington gets a nod as well. But all these mountains are hit or miss on all the trails from year to year.

 

[PomfretPlunge]

UN at Jay was beautiful this year

 

[andyzee]

left gully at mt washington...steeper than the headwall and twice as long.

You beat me to it May 12th, 2007:

 

[riverc0il]

I can't really think of calling anything in Tux to call a trail. But of course, there is no better mountain on the east coast of the USA than Mount Washington for spring skiing. I naturally assumed "trail" implied in bounds skiing. GOS and Sherbie wouldn't tickle my spring skiing jones for the trails on Big George.

Whoa... riverc0il didn't try to derail an on piste thread with a backcountry or earned turn nod? What is the world coming to? And I am defending the integrity of the tread! YIKES!!!

 

[wa-loaf]

The top two-thirds of Sugarloaf!

x2

 

[Terry]

x2

x3!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Of course Stowe is great but they don't typically stay open as late as the spring powerhouses...like the Bush and K-mart...but they still off several weeks of spring skiing. Spring skiing isn't all about the bumps..but rock hard early morning groomers with no people...the mashed tators set up and groomed out makes for some uber fast snow the first hour or so..wow I miss skiing..

 

[Geoff]

I think Devil's Fiddle is the best spring trail in the east. It faces southeast so it's always the first thing to soften up. Before those evil bastards from Utah showed up and before those loser ASC guys got in financial trouble, Fiddle had a big manmade base and would typically have great spring conditions from early March until they stopped spinning lifts at Bear.

If Killington were run properly, Fiddle would once again get a big slice of my March and early April runs most years.

 

[riverc0il]

Of course Stowe is great but they don't typically stay open as late as the spring powerhouses...like the Bush and K-mart...but they still off several weeks of spring skiing. Spring skiing isn't all about the bumps..but rock hard early morning groomers with no people...the mashed tators set up and groomed out makes for some uber fast snow the first hour or so..wow I miss skiing..

Big whoop, Kmart and Bush stay open for one, sometimes two more weeks than Stowe. Time to kill Mount Wash by then any ways. This isn't about the longest to stay open but the "best" and a big part of "best" is quality. 2k vert straight up with minimal run out, that owns.

 

[mountainman]

At Pico

Upper Giant Killer has been one of my favs for years. Old SuperStar a the K before it got abused to the wide open slope. After a big dump both would drift in with some nice pow. I still the narrow steeps that parrell the North West. I know there is more out there and some that have been named already sound like fun. Enjoy what ever you like. Starting to get ready for another season. Come on Snow gods treats us to some nice pow.