Burke 3/22/11

[Zand]

Date(s) Skied: Tuesday 3/22/11

Resort or Ski Area: Burke, VT

Conditions: 3-4" of powder on top of slick stuff underfoot, cloudy with snow showers, 30

Trip Report:

Got up around 1:30 and headed down Shoot over to Birches. The new snow made the natural stuff skiable, just have to be careful to not try to stop or turn too fast or your feet will slide out from under you. Very light crowd so still lots of untouched freshies to eat up, boot deep in spots. Did Warren's to lower Fox's just to see how the groomers were... even those were slick feeling underneath. The new snow definitely made a huge difference. Also hit Doug's Woods and Warren's Woods which were a bit less slick underneath. Marshland and Little Chief were more slick... seemed the upper mountain was in better shape because there were a few more inches up there. Also hit Jungle which is iffy... pretty slick plus lots of hazards barely buried by the new powder. Took a couple runs through the park which is still in great shape. Still 100% open (although mid-Foxes looked nasty) and looking real good weather-wise for the next week. Awesome spring up here in the NEK so far. A few spring-like days, but the rest still very winter-like, none of that in-between crap.

I didn't report on them, but I was up there Thurs 3/10 plus last Tuesday and Thursday. St. Patty's was great spring conditions for the second year in a row, though in the 50s instead of last year's 70s. I'll be back there Thursday, then Cannon Saturday and Wildcat Sunday.

 

[Cannonball]

How was the viz at Burke? Cannon had basically the same conditions you describe, except that it was socked in to the point that you couldn't tell up from down.

Also, how long do you think Burke's season will go? I have a handful of vouchers and limited time to use them.

 

[Zand]

Visability was good while I was there till about 3:30 when the summit started going under. Was able to see all the way to the Gap most of the time. As for closing, they typically close the first Sunday of April (and usually they barely make it there). Whether they extend it with all of this snow remains to be seen. It would be really nice.

 

[from_the_NEK]

(and usually they barely make it there).

You just have too short of a history with the mtn to qualify for making this statement. As everyone already knows, the last two Marches have seen little to no snowfall and Burke was still open to their targeted closing dates (granted a lot of trails were closed). I have seen the mountain close at 100% open multiple times in my 10 years of skiing there.

The first weekend in April is typically the end and the mtn has never extended that date. Burke already struggles enough for skier visits when the southern NE populous is thinking about winter and skiing. When spring rolls around in the flatlands it is even harder. Burke knows it is not a spring skiing destination and doesn't bother staying open because they know they might as well be just burning their money.

 

[Cannonball]

You just have too short of a history with the mtn to qualify for making this statement. As everyone already knows, the last two Marches have seen little to no snowfall and Burke was still open to their targeted closing dates (granted a lot of trails were closed). I have seen the mountain close at 100% open multiple times in my 10 years of skiing there.

The first weekend in April is typically the end and the mtn has never extended that date. Burke already struggles enough for skier visits when the southern NE populous is thinking about winter and skiing. When spring rolls around in the flatlands it is even harder. Burke knows it is not a spring skiing destination and doesn't bother staying open because they know they might as well be just burning their money.

So in other words...I have until 4/3 to get through these 4 vouchers. Guess I know where I'm spending that weekend.

Thanks.