billski
Active member
Packed up around noon and took the gorgeously scenic and snow-covered backroads from Pomfret (see Suicide Six report), arrived at a very different world at this academic resort.
Skiway too has a lot of history, but the love was not to be found here today. I was used to the cold, it had warmed to about 10F, the parking and lodge were sparsely filled and only one of two hills was operating. As a result, don't consider my report to be a comprehensive review. I left feeling I've only experience a fraction of the resort.
Lesson I - Skiway is hard to find. DON'T use Mapquest directions. Use the directions from the skiway if you're coming from I-91.
The lodge is nice, fairly new, but architecturally speaking it looks like it was designed by a firm that ordinarily builds academic structures. Inside, large walls are formed by cast in place concrete, much like the cold utilitarian structures of my undergrad years. That said, it's a nice looking structure and blends well.
Snow conditions were much like those at Suicide, but the resort hadn't put much effort into getting things put back in shape. First, they only had the Winslow side operating. I found only one trail from the top, a green, marked for slow skiing. It was OK, but not groomed near as well as it should have been. Death cookies could be readily found.
Yep, this is real-deal ice. See yourself in it. Watch the frozen fishies beneath it. Skate on it.
After a few ones of that, I did manage to find one other trail, with a serpentine entry from what appeared to be a gated entry, marked "ungroomed terrain". It was the only other open trail, with active snowmaking top to bottom.
It was "interesting", but being so narrow, you really couldn't do much with it, as you spent most of the time avoiding the guns.
There was a beginner area with a J-bar which seemed groomed out fine. Unfortunately, that was about it.
The more interesting terrain seem to be over on Holt's Ledge on the other side, but it was closed. Skiway skis on two mountains, across the road from each other. Check out the following pics of Holt's:
Road in foreground.
shine, baby shine.
Take a look at the pitch on these babies. Freaking steep. These are designated BLUE trails. I'm told these are the original cuts. I would love to go back and try these. As with most photos I take, you really can't get a good representation of the pitch. There is only one problem. They end AT the road. There is no runout. I think you need a James Bond drag chute to stop.
I was dragging by 4pm, and my fingers were getting pretty achy from the single digit temps.
As with most operations, the place seemed to be run by college slave labor, which is OK. They had a pretty good food service and rental operation, the lodge was spacious warm, bright and clean.
I was really surprised that they had not done more work making snow in the days prior. I would go back after they have 12-18" or more snow.
This is another place that must be great on a powder day.
A 10 minute rest in the lodge and on the road to Whaleback to complete the world tour.
Skiway too has a lot of history, but the love was not to be found here today. I was used to the cold, it had warmed to about 10F, the parking and lodge were sparsely filled and only one of two hills was operating. As a result, don't consider my report to be a comprehensive review. I left feeling I've only experience a fraction of the resort.
Lesson I - Skiway is hard to find. DON'T use Mapquest directions. Use the directions from the skiway if you're coming from I-91.
The lodge is nice, fairly new, but architecturally speaking it looks like it was designed by a firm that ordinarily builds academic structures. Inside, large walls are formed by cast in place concrete, much like the cold utilitarian structures of my undergrad years. That said, it's a nice looking structure and blends well.
Snow conditions were much like those at Suicide, but the resort hadn't put much effort into getting things put back in shape. First, they only had the Winslow side operating. I found only one trail from the top, a green, marked for slow skiing. It was OK, but not groomed near as well as it should have been. Death cookies could be readily found.
Yep, this is real-deal ice. See yourself in it. Watch the frozen fishies beneath it. Skate on it.
After a few ones of that, I did manage to find one other trail, with a serpentine entry from what appeared to be a gated entry, marked "ungroomed terrain". It was the only other open trail, with active snowmaking top to bottom.
It was "interesting", but being so narrow, you really couldn't do much with it, as you spent most of the time avoiding the guns.
There was a beginner area with a J-bar which seemed groomed out fine. Unfortunately, that was about it.
The more interesting terrain seem to be over on Holt's Ledge on the other side, but it was closed. Skiway skis on two mountains, across the road from each other. Check out the following pics of Holt's:
Road in foreground.
shine, baby shine.
Take a look at the pitch on these babies. Freaking steep. These are designated BLUE trails. I'm told these are the original cuts. I would love to go back and try these. As with most photos I take, you really can't get a good representation of the pitch. There is only one problem. They end AT the road. There is no runout. I think you need a James Bond drag chute to stop.
I was dragging by 4pm, and my fingers were getting pretty achy from the single digit temps.
As with most operations, the place seemed to be run by college slave labor, which is OK. They had a pretty good food service and rental operation, the lodge was spacious warm, bright and clean.
I was really surprised that they had not done more work making snow in the days prior. I would go back after they have 12-18" or more snow.
This is another place that must be great on a powder day.
A 10 minute rest in the lodge and on the road to Whaleback to complete the world tour.
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