Zand
Well-known member
Date(s) Skied: Monday 3/9/09
Resort or Ski Area: Burke, VT
Conditions: Variable post-freeze base with 2-3" of wet powder... 30s, light snow ending.
Trip Report:
Well, finally got to ski what will, as of next year, be my new home mountain for the next four years. Very long weekend for me: Sunday I left here at 6:30 AM to go to New York for the day and see the Bruins-Rangers game. After getting back here around 9:30 Sunday night, I left here and pulled into Lyndonville at 1:30 AM. After a short night's sleep, I was at Lyndon State for 10 for a tour and interview. Headed over to Burke for a 3 hour "quick look."
Pulled into the Sherburne parking lot around 12:30 and got on the quad after a quick lunch. Headed right over to the Willoughby Quad which was one of the few things I dislike about the place. Not only is it slow and drags on forever, the back rests are probably the most uncomfortable I've ever used... just a couple metal bars. Anyway, started off with a top to bottom run on East Bowl which was an awesome trail. Didn't really like the flat at the top or the very long runout, but the trail itself was worth it. Narrow, twisty, long, fun drops.
Next up was a run down the Dippers. The first pitch was very carveable and an absolute blast. The middle was scraped off quite a bit, but the last 1/4th was nice and carveable again. One of the best wide cruisers I've ever skied.
Headed over to Willoughby next which was also a fun cruiser. Couldn't see Lake Willoughby or the gap with the fog and clouds out over the valley, so I'll have to wait for next year to see the view. The trail was another fun blue cruiser which are abundant at Burke.
Next was a zip down Shoot onto Bear Den (I think?...I'm talking the one between Willoughby and the liftline... I think that's its name). Shoot was nice, but after that everything was ungroomed and that wasn't too pretty with the breakable crust covered in a light powder which covered hazards. Finished up hitting the jumps under the lift at the bottom.
Decided to go even more natural. Started off on Sasquatch at the top which was actually in good shape. The crust had been broken up with some traffic so just a fun, but short glade. Powderhorn was a bit of a mess but the section of bumps was fun. Hit Throbulator off that which was really tough... no traffic so I just kinda traversed back and forth hoping I wouldn't screw up and catch a ski in the crust. All the glades over there look sick but being the day after a freeze, yesterday just wasn't the day.
Needing a crust free run, I took the full length of Deer Run. Some parts of it were almost Jester-esque with steep switchbacks and a bobsled-like run. Other parts were literally uphill which were a PITA. Good run for a change of pace.
Shot down the Shoot next over to Warrens Way. Scraped quite a bit, but fun and steep on the sides with the loose powder. I was hoping to try the Poma but it was closed so hopefully I can catch it next year. Finished off on the jumps at the bottom again.
An encore of the Dippers was next. They were more skied off then earlier in the day, but still a fun cruise. Tried Little Dipper at the bottom which was ungroomed and crusty.
Last run on the upper mountain was Willoughby to get back down to the bottom. Like the rest of the hill, skied off pretty well at that point but there was good loose snow on the sides. Took Bunker Hill (?...the one skiers left of the HSQ...with the small features park) which had some fun rollers and smaller boxes and features.
Final run of the day was on the trail skiers right of the HSQ (Dashney Mile?). Had some pretty big features on it and lots of rails and boxes. Didn't expect to see parks that good at Burke. Some cool looking condos down that trail too.
So, a fun afternoon at Burke. Should be fun getting to go there almost daily next year. Not to mention I'll also be within 75 minutes of Jay, Sugarbush, MRG, Stowe, Smuggs, Bolton, and Cannon. My only gripe with Lyndon is that I-91 between WRJ and St.J is the most boring stretch of road I think I've ever driven in New England. But hey, I'll be at a nice school studying meteorology and skiing in all my free time, life will be good and that 4 hour ride will be well worth it.
Don't think I'll be getting to Wawa this week with the deluge coming tomorrow, so next up is Stowe this Saturday and Sunday. Hope it doesn't freeze up too bad after the rain tomorrow.
Resort or Ski Area: Burke, VT
Conditions: Variable post-freeze base with 2-3" of wet powder... 30s, light snow ending.
Trip Report:
Well, finally got to ski what will, as of next year, be my new home mountain for the next four years. Very long weekend for me: Sunday I left here at 6:30 AM to go to New York for the day and see the Bruins-Rangers game. After getting back here around 9:30 Sunday night, I left here and pulled into Lyndonville at 1:30 AM. After a short night's sleep, I was at Lyndon State for 10 for a tour and interview. Headed over to Burke for a 3 hour "quick look."
Pulled into the Sherburne parking lot around 12:30 and got on the quad after a quick lunch. Headed right over to the Willoughby Quad which was one of the few things I dislike about the place. Not only is it slow and drags on forever, the back rests are probably the most uncomfortable I've ever used... just a couple metal bars. Anyway, started off with a top to bottom run on East Bowl which was an awesome trail. Didn't really like the flat at the top or the very long runout, but the trail itself was worth it. Narrow, twisty, long, fun drops.
Next up was a run down the Dippers. The first pitch was very carveable and an absolute blast. The middle was scraped off quite a bit, but the last 1/4th was nice and carveable again. One of the best wide cruisers I've ever skied.
Headed over to Willoughby next which was also a fun cruiser. Couldn't see Lake Willoughby or the gap with the fog and clouds out over the valley, so I'll have to wait for next year to see the view. The trail was another fun blue cruiser which are abundant at Burke.
Next was a zip down Shoot onto Bear Den (I think?...I'm talking the one between Willoughby and the liftline... I think that's its name). Shoot was nice, but after that everything was ungroomed and that wasn't too pretty with the breakable crust covered in a light powder which covered hazards. Finished up hitting the jumps under the lift at the bottom.
Decided to go even more natural. Started off on Sasquatch at the top which was actually in good shape. The crust had been broken up with some traffic so just a fun, but short glade. Powderhorn was a bit of a mess but the section of bumps was fun. Hit Throbulator off that which was really tough... no traffic so I just kinda traversed back and forth hoping I wouldn't screw up and catch a ski in the crust. All the glades over there look sick but being the day after a freeze, yesterday just wasn't the day.
Needing a crust free run, I took the full length of Deer Run. Some parts of it were almost Jester-esque with steep switchbacks and a bobsled-like run. Other parts were literally uphill which were a PITA. Good run for a change of pace.
Shot down the Shoot next over to Warrens Way. Scraped quite a bit, but fun and steep on the sides with the loose powder. I was hoping to try the Poma but it was closed so hopefully I can catch it next year. Finished off on the jumps at the bottom again.
An encore of the Dippers was next. They were more skied off then earlier in the day, but still a fun cruise. Tried Little Dipper at the bottom which was ungroomed and crusty.
Last run on the upper mountain was Willoughby to get back down to the bottom. Like the rest of the hill, skied off pretty well at that point but there was good loose snow on the sides. Took Bunker Hill (?...the one skiers left of the HSQ...with the small features park) which had some fun rollers and smaller boxes and features.
Final run of the day was on the trail skiers right of the HSQ (Dashney Mile?). Had some pretty big features on it and lots of rails and boxes. Didn't expect to see parks that good at Burke. Some cool looking condos down that trail too.
So, a fun afternoon at Burke. Should be fun getting to go there almost daily next year. Not to mention I'll also be within 75 minutes of Jay, Sugarbush, MRG, Stowe, Smuggs, Bolton, and Cannon. My only gripe with Lyndon is that I-91 between WRJ and St.J is the most boring stretch of road I think I've ever driven in New England. But hey, I'll be at a nice school studying meteorology and skiing in all my free time, life will be good and that 4 hour ride will be well worth it.
Don't think I'll be getting to Wawa this week with the deluge coming tomorrow, so next up is Stowe this Saturday and Sunday. Hope it doesn't freeze up too bad after the rain tomorrow.
