Ski Resort: Burke Mountain
Date: December 29, 2007
Conditions: WS changing to crud (4 more inches of new snow)
Weather: WS, fog, and mild temps.
2007-2008 Report # : 18
Trip Report: Two powder days in a row? Well, sort of. Anticipating the next round of snow, I got up early and drove up to secure my parking spot and an early chair. I rendezvoused with the usual suspects…the original trailboss and the “Dawn Patrol.” We’re a pretty wild bunch, as RE could attest this morning. At one point, there were about ten of us storming down the trails.
The original trailboss pointed us down a smooth and incredible Upper Willoughby to Lower Bear Den. Danny and I stormed down the lower section…not “shy” about taking up that fresh snow. I did jump onto Upper Bear Den with David…my legs were a bit too tired I guess because I found the snow to be more like cement than pow. Danny said he found the goods on Camper’s Carry.
Hearing this, the original trailboss led us down Powderhorn. Danny and I charged ahead and I almost biffed it going from Dippers to Powderhorn because of the heavy snow and my skis deciding they wanted to go two different directions. Dumb skis :wink: They probably had too many glasses of wine last night :wink: Anyone, after getting thrown into the back seat, I recovered and drove down the rest of the trail. Matt bailed onto Dippers as did Mary. Powderhorn had a variable base underneath with this four inches of wet snow on top…an interesting combination.
Discouraged by that, we decided to head back to Willoughby where the original trailboss and I zipped down the Upper part and then carved down the buttery Lower Half. I’d have to give Lower Willoughby ROTD status…freshly groomed right before opening and soft and so smooth. We all gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up.
So it was off to the East Side again before a break. We decided that Carriage Road was the choice. I hit the right side of the knoll to find some soft bumps and crud. Danny said that left side was the right pick and I agreed. By now it was getting very busy and the snow was clumping up into balls and crud was forming. It was heavy and tough to ski, even with my skis.
After a break, which some thought was too abbreviated, we headed back out. We hit a very chewed up Upper Willoughby and then cut down Lower Bear Den. Danny and Dave hit the Meadows and said it was heavy and wet, but otherwise decent. The snow was really getting hammered by the traffic and was really getting bumpy.
So we did one more spin down Dippers, which was getting rough as well (rutty, bumpy, crud in places, and some thin spots and ice in other places). Almost everyone’s beer light had come on, so we pointed it to the Lodge at 11:30 for the day.
I did go out to do four or five “cool down” runs on the Lower Mountain to find it packed. Those runs skied well…and were all flat. Dick Andross spotted me and asked if I was lost since I am at home on the Upper Mountain. I even got a chair ride up with Burkie Bear, and I imagine that my mug may soon appear on the Burke Website compliments of the mountain paparazzi at the bottom of the HSQ who snapped some shots. A good crowd though, but folks, please learn to ride a chairlift (it stopped A LOT) and also please note that ski trails are for skiing and not hiking, sledding parties, or just taking an afternoon stroll with the family. I came upon several people sledding and hiking in the middle of High Meadow’s Pass on my last run…and had a hard time dodging them.
All in all, a good day. I left at 2:30 and it was still packed. As I was saying, saving my legs for tomorrow, which is forecast to be a bluebird day.
Date: December 29, 2007
Conditions: WS changing to crud (4 more inches of new snow)
Weather: WS, fog, and mild temps.
2007-2008 Report # : 18
Trip Report: Two powder days in a row? Well, sort of. Anticipating the next round of snow, I got up early and drove up to secure my parking spot and an early chair. I rendezvoused with the usual suspects…the original trailboss and the “Dawn Patrol.” We’re a pretty wild bunch, as RE could attest this morning. At one point, there were about ten of us storming down the trails.
The original trailboss pointed us down a smooth and incredible Upper Willoughby to Lower Bear Den. Danny and I stormed down the lower section…not “shy” about taking up that fresh snow. I did jump onto Upper Bear Den with David…my legs were a bit too tired I guess because I found the snow to be more like cement than pow. Danny said he found the goods on Camper’s Carry.
Hearing this, the original trailboss led us down Powderhorn. Danny and I charged ahead and I almost biffed it going from Dippers to Powderhorn because of the heavy snow and my skis deciding they wanted to go two different directions. Dumb skis :wink: They probably had too many glasses of wine last night :wink: Anyone, after getting thrown into the back seat, I recovered and drove down the rest of the trail. Matt bailed onto Dippers as did Mary. Powderhorn had a variable base underneath with this four inches of wet snow on top…an interesting combination.
Discouraged by that, we decided to head back to Willoughby where the original trailboss and I zipped down the Upper part and then carved down the buttery Lower Half. I’d have to give Lower Willoughby ROTD status…freshly groomed right before opening and soft and so smooth. We all gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up.
So it was off to the East Side again before a break. We decided that Carriage Road was the choice. I hit the right side of the knoll to find some soft bumps and crud. Danny said that left side was the right pick and I agreed. By now it was getting very busy and the snow was clumping up into balls and crud was forming. It was heavy and tough to ski, even with my skis.
After a break, which some thought was too abbreviated, we headed back out. We hit a very chewed up Upper Willoughby and then cut down Lower Bear Den. Danny and Dave hit the Meadows and said it was heavy and wet, but otherwise decent. The snow was really getting hammered by the traffic and was really getting bumpy.
So we did one more spin down Dippers, which was getting rough as well (rutty, bumpy, crud in places, and some thin spots and ice in other places). Almost everyone’s beer light had come on, so we pointed it to the Lodge at 11:30 for the day.
I did go out to do four or five “cool down” runs on the Lower Mountain to find it packed. Those runs skied well…and were all flat. Dick Andross spotted me and asked if I was lost since I am at home on the Upper Mountain. I even got a chair ride up with Burkie Bear, and I imagine that my mug may soon appear on the Burke Website compliments of the mountain paparazzi at the bottom of the HSQ who snapped some shots. A good crowd though, but folks, please learn to ride a chairlift (it stopped A LOT) and also please note that ski trails are for skiing and not hiking, sledding parties, or just taking an afternoon stroll with the family. I came upon several people sledding and hiking in the middle of High Meadow’s Pass on my last run…and had a hard time dodging them.
All in all, a good day. I left at 2:30 and it was still packed. As I was saying, saving my legs for tomorrow, which is forecast to be a bluebird day.
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