How Many Perfect Spring Days Would You Like?

[highpeaksdrifter]

Let me set this up. This past Saturday at Whiteface was one of those perfect spring days. Temps in the 70’s, sunshine and blue skys, great cover, big soft hero bumps, corn, no crowds, skiing in shorts and tee shirt, the ladies who’ve got it are flaunting it, pond skimming contest, party atmosphere on the decks, tailgate party in the parking lot when the lifts stop. It is a ski heaven on earth day.

So I ask a friend if you could pick your ski days to be anyway you want them how many would you pick like this? He says all of them. I ask another friend and he says this is great and all, but I like winter conditions best with 3 days like this at the end. I ask some more people and get responses in between, but more then I thought in the low range.

I like winter conditions too, but out of the 50-60 days I average a season I’d take 10 like Saturday. How about you and please tell us why.

BTW, I know it has to be cold to snow, this is just fantasy.

 

[Greg]

A powder day is the only thing better than a bluebird, warm spring day. Also spring skiing does make me a bit melancholy, whlie powder days get me psyched for more season. A couple great spring days is all I need.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I had 4 days in a row...I really can't walk well, so I am done!

 

[deadheadskier]

To me, spring days are priceless. Powder days are king, but I do want to experience many nice corn bump days. I've only been fortunate enough to have one true spring skiing day, this past Saturday. The rest this spring have been loose granular tweener type days, which I don't particularly enjoy; reminds me of November skiing.

I don't ski nearly as often as I would like to, 19 days so far. 1 out of 19 doesn't cut it for me. I'm hopeful to have two more. Ideally in a season that I ski 20 days, 4 or 5 would be bluebird spring skiing days.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I had 4 days in a row...I really can't walk well, so I am done!

Yes that is a factor to consider. Heavy spring corn is alot of work. On the flip side the more we ski it the better shape we get in.

 

[loafer89]

I got in five in a row this past week with sweet corn and hot weather on the backside at Sugarloaf and at my own private ski area, Saddleback (well I had to share it with 50 other skiers):-D

Winter's Way from the summit on friday was the run of the year for me. The annual April migration to Sugarloaf/Saddleback is becoming a rite of passage to enjoy sweet corn snow and not have to endure -10F air and -30F windchills like last January.

The spring snow is also soft and forgiving and the steeps can be skied with ease. Warren now considers the backside flat and boring:blink:

 

[awf170]

Out of season like this (70 days for me). I would say about 3-5 lift served and 8-10 on Washington. But ideally if you could have good winter conditions like this December I would never choice spring skiing. After about 6 days of spring skiing in the past few of weeks I would say that I am pretty sick of it and really want winter conditions back.

 

[2knees]

I'd like over half my days to be "perfect spring days" I prefer mashed bumps over any other condition, including powder.

 

[bvibert]

I'm happy with a couple at the end of the season. The warmness is nice and all, but it makes me too sad that winter is gone...

 

[SIKSKIER]

The best part of skiing in 70 degree weather like this past weekend was that if I don't go again,what a way to finish.Grillin and chillin and a few frosties in the parking lot with just shorts on after skiing was fantastic.Got a great start on the summer tan and some fun corn snow with hardly a person in sight.What a weekend!

 

[Geoff]

I'll take 365 days per year of spring conditions, please.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'll take 365 days per year of spring conditions, please.

Ya know, as much as I love powder, if I found a place that served up conditions 365 days a year like this past Saturday, bluebird sky, 65-70, soft corn and somehow the chemistry of snow changed such that it would corn up and not melt.....I'd be all over it to.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I like powder and fast snow..when it's really cold the snow is squeeky and slow which isn't as much fun..fast spring snow is great..the difference between manmade spring snow and natural spring snow is night and day..if it's cold I'll take natural snow..if it's warm..manmade..

 

[frozencorn]

As much as I love powder days, these days (like this past weekend at Stowe) are my absolute favorite. There's just a feeling in the air, everyone has a permanent smile on their faces whether it's on the lift, ripping corn bumps, or sitting on the deck with a brew, soaking in the sun.

That being said, perhaps they are so special because they're limited. You're not going to get too many of them in a season, and you're lucky to ski in a handful of them. Powder days can be more frequent, of course, and they come mid-season when there's plenty more to come, or at least hoped for.

On these spring days though, they're short, glorious, and bittersweet, in that the end is near, which is probably a good part of the reason I relish them so. You know the next time skiing is going to be in months, not days, so you soak it all in all the more.

 

[kingslug]

I like spring as its a great time to hit the trails that where just too icy to really enjoy, like lower K-27 and Clairs at Hunter. But this year I think I found the perfect conditions at Panorama BC. The temps never varied too much, around 28 degrees, and it snowed around 3 to 6 inches every night. The conditions never really changed, the runs where pretty much as we left them each day, just covered up with very light powder. Of course deep powder is king but unless you practice with it a lot it can be a lot of work.
I only got 2 spring condition days in this year as temps never warmed up until now. This was the coldest spring I can remember.

 

[mondeo]

40 days/year perfect spring and 145 days/year the day after a 10" powder day.

Oh, and 95 days/year hardpack, 85 days/year without any snow whatsoever.

Spring skiing is really cool about a month, month and a half per year, but I love powder bumps. Soft as corn, but cleaner and without the added hassle of high effort to and from the bump runs.

 

[kcyanks1]

Last couple days it's a lot of fun, though also depressing, because it's a sign the season is ending. I prefer midwinter conditions though. Powder for sure, but doesn't even have to be real powder, as long as the woods are good and it's reasonably soft.