Sparky
New member
January 11, 2005
Graylock / Thunderbolt
Fresh Powder/Variable
This report is a little late, but I think this time of year we need all the ski oriented stuff we can get just to ease the withdrawal.
This trip was the first backcountry experience for me. I was invited to go along by my daughter who was going with several of her friends who were either current or former subordinates from Jiminy Peak’s Skiwee program. It should be noted here that my daughter is 24 and her friends/subordinates on this trip were all 17 year old guys. I think she invited me so that I would be the slow one holding everybody else up. Oh well, I was just glad to be out there.
The plan was to snowshoe up and to ski down on alpine skis. This meant that we were carrying our boots and skies. The last time I did that it amounted to about a 36 lb. pack. We had a prefect day. Clear skies, a fresh foot or so of snow, no wind and, as long as you were walking, it wasn’t to cold. We drove right to the trailhead without any trouble.
The trail we were going to do was the Thunderbolt trail. It was cut by the CCC in the early 1930’s, and races were held on it up until the mid 1950’s. The whole story of this Trail can be found on www.nelsap.org under Massachusetts lost ski areas. It is an interesting read. Not only can you checkout this trail, you can also read about the ski resort that was being built here that never opened. There are unused lift towers and a partially constructed base lodge that you can see from the Graylock trail.
The hike up was listed as a mile and a half. There was only one fallen tree to navigate around, and most of it was not very steep. If this had been a groomed trail at a ski area most of it would be a blue. That’s not to say it wasn’t an effort to ski. Well it wasn’t an effort for the 17 years olds, but for the 55 year old it presented some challenges. This trail was probably never very wide, but now a lot of it was about the size of a work road and sometimes just a hiking trail. The upper portion was the steepest. I did not go to the very top (a.k.a. the steepest) my excuse being to get into a good position to video the boys descent. However, despite keeping the cam corder in my coat most of the time, the battery gave out due to the cold at the most inappropriate time, and I did not get what would have been the best footage of the day, (I guess Warren Miller’s career is safe for another year).
Anyway it was now time for us all to start down. Let me tell you putting on ice cold ski boots while sitting in a foot or so of snow is no easy matter. It is also rather painful but with that accomplished I donned my now much lighter pack and was eager to make some well earned turns. Much to my surprise however I discovered that I was having difficultly communicating with my legs. They seemed to think that since they hauled my butt up the hill that they were just along for the ride on the way down the hill. It wasn’t pretty. I begged and pleaded with the legs to respond to my commands requests. It certainly was in their best interest, as well as that of the rest of my carcass, that they make at least some effort to resemble a skier. After all there were trees and logs and rocks to contend with, all of which should not have presented a problem had my simple request for a few hop turns been complied with. I have taught skiing for eight years and never have I seen a student flail in such desperate attempt to avoid semi certain injury. At got to the point I was not above using the well known braking wedge. Mean while the boys were way down the hill looking up at the old guy struggling down the hill wondering just how much of an effort it would be to drag my mangled carcass out to the truck, should one of my near misses become a direct hit.
Wonder of wonders I managed to survive all the way to the bottom without injuring myself, any trees or any of the rest of the party. While I was standing (barely) at the bottom feeling a sense of accomplishment for having made it up and down ( even though it wasn’t pretty ) this historic 70+year old trail, the boys had tied a rope to the back of the truck and were busy being towed up and down the access road. Oh to be 17 again or maybe just have 17 year old legs again.
Despite all of the above this was one of the best days I’ve had skiing, and I hope to be able to do it again. It may be difficult to find someone to go with me based on my previous performance, but as lone as they stay far enough down the hill from me they should be safe. It might be helpful if they brought a tow rope or a comealong , a wheelbarrow , had some training in trauma medicine , capable of dragging 200+lbs (++lbs) of dead weight over irregular surfaces … :beer:
Graylock / Thunderbolt
Fresh Powder/Variable
This report is a little late, but I think this time of year we need all the ski oriented stuff we can get just to ease the withdrawal.
This trip was the first backcountry experience for me. I was invited to go along by my daughter who was going with several of her friends who were either current or former subordinates from Jiminy Peak’s Skiwee program. It should be noted here that my daughter is 24 and her friends/subordinates on this trip were all 17 year old guys. I think she invited me so that I would be the slow one holding everybody else up. Oh well, I was just glad to be out there.
The plan was to snowshoe up and to ski down on alpine skis. This meant that we were carrying our boots and skies. The last time I did that it amounted to about a 36 lb. pack. We had a prefect day. Clear skies, a fresh foot or so of snow, no wind and, as long as you were walking, it wasn’t to cold. We drove right to the trailhead without any trouble.
The trail we were going to do was the Thunderbolt trail. It was cut by the CCC in the early 1930’s, and races were held on it up until the mid 1950’s. The whole story of this Trail can be found on www.nelsap.org under Massachusetts lost ski areas. It is an interesting read. Not only can you checkout this trail, you can also read about the ski resort that was being built here that never opened. There are unused lift towers and a partially constructed base lodge that you can see from the Graylock trail.
The hike up was listed as a mile and a half. There was only one fallen tree to navigate around, and most of it was not very steep. If this had been a groomed trail at a ski area most of it would be a blue. That’s not to say it wasn’t an effort to ski. Well it wasn’t an effort for the 17 years olds, but for the 55 year old it presented some challenges. This trail was probably never very wide, but now a lot of it was about the size of a work road and sometimes just a hiking trail. The upper portion was the steepest. I did not go to the very top (a.k.a. the steepest) my excuse being to get into a good position to video the boys descent. However, despite keeping the cam corder in my coat most of the time, the battery gave out due to the cold at the most inappropriate time, and I did not get what would have been the best footage of the day, (I guess Warren Miller’s career is safe for another year).
Anyway it was now time for us all to start down. Let me tell you putting on ice cold ski boots while sitting in a foot or so of snow is no easy matter. It is also rather painful but with that accomplished I donned my now much lighter pack and was eager to make some well earned turns. Much to my surprise however I discovered that I was having difficultly communicating with my legs. They seemed to think that since they hauled my butt up the hill that they were just along for the ride on the way down the hill. It wasn’t pretty. I begged and pleaded with the legs to respond to my commands requests. It certainly was in their best interest, as well as that of the rest of my carcass, that they make at least some effort to resemble a skier. After all there were trees and logs and rocks to contend with, all of which should not have presented a problem had my simple request for a few hop turns been complied with. I have taught skiing for eight years and never have I seen a student flail in such desperate attempt to avoid semi certain injury. At got to the point I was not above using the well known braking wedge. Mean while the boys were way down the hill looking up at the old guy struggling down the hill wondering just how much of an effort it would be to drag my mangled carcass out to the truck, should one of my near misses become a direct hit.
Wonder of wonders I managed to survive all the way to the bottom without injuring myself, any trees or any of the rest of the party. While I was standing (barely) at the bottom feeling a sense of accomplishment for having made it up and down ( even though it wasn’t pretty ) this historic 70+year old trail, the boys had tied a rope to the back of the truck and were busy being towed up and down the access road. Oh to be 17 again or maybe just have 17 year old legs again.
Despite all of the above this was one of the best days I’ve had skiing, and I hope to be able to do it again. It may be difficult to find someone to go with me based on my previous performance, but as lone as they stay far enough down the hill from me they should be safe. It might be helpful if they brought a tow rope or a comealong , a wheelbarrow , had some training in trauma medicine , capable of dragging 200+lbs (++lbs) of dead weight over irregular surfaces … :beer:
