Midseason 2012 / 13 Reflections

[Cannonball]

As a straight up ski season...not great.

But as a winter season in general I'm digging it big time. Bought a house in NH this year that needed a lot of work. So if snow is good I'm right there and ready to take advantage. When it's not good, I've got a ton of work to get done that I enjoy doing. If I'm tired of that, I have a place to hang out in the mountains and chill with wife, dog, and friends. Pretty hard to beat overall.

 

[ALLSKIING]

For me it been a B+ this year...More time to go so an A might happen.

 

[tomcat]

Not bad despite the rough January. I already have more days in this year thanks to that Fox44 discount card and have at least 5 days planned although the mid march one may be bumped off if we have any weather too nasty and warm. Got too a few new areas already this year. Not relevant to this post but I managed to get in a lot of XC in January, the Maine backcountry stayed in pretty good shape up until the second hard thaw.

 

[Edd]

I'm going with average. But average is good.

Skied at least 8 different areas this year. The Loaf is booked in a few weeks, definitely going to hit No Vermont at some point, and I'm hoping to sneak to the west in April. Not complaining.

 

[riverc0il]

Not impressed with this weekend. We are officially in the second half of February. Better see something big from these next few storms lined up... or at least a big multiple storm accumulation. Last season had a terrible ending but was MUCH more consistent than this season. I think I'd almost rather half less "great" days and not be toyed with than have epic thaws and mediocre thaw recoveries.

Many ski areas will close in 6 weeks. That isn't much time to turn this thing around. I'm still rating below average on my personal expectation meter.

 

[Cheese]

Last season had a terrible ending

Pushed my Mammoth trip from February to March and nailed a big dump week out there. Unfortunately while I was there the 2012 March meltdown occurred in New England. Luckily the Loaf turned on the snow guns in March (can't recall that ever happening before) and saved the 2012 Summit. Season ended WAY too fast.

Only a few powder days here this year but was lucky enough to catch the spring weekend in January. Caught an incredibly snowy week in France and a blue bird week in Switzerland skiing older powder off piste so no complaints yet. I've got 3 day weekends booked for Sunday River and Sugar Loaf in March for corn, bumps and crud but only time will tell how that works out. I think 2011 was better and my tired memory doesn't recall much further back than that. An epic spring could still make this a memorable year.

 

[xwhaler]

My season has been different than in yrs past. With the birth of my son I've done day trips close to home in December/Jan leading up to his arrival. I've mostly been solo this yr which has its benefits in some ways...I can ski a bunch of runs that I want to w/o waiting around...singles line and not stopping for breaks means I can get a lot of vertical bagged quickly.
The pros so far: I've 'discovered' the good runs at Whaleback for the 1st time and realized what a nice little sleeper gem that place is when the snow is right. Had a nice time out at Hunter Mtn visiting a friend in December and realized the Belt Parkway is not a safe place to ski on a busy Saturday in early season conditions!
Finally got to ski Slide of Hans and Sorcerer at Magic which were not open during my previous visits.

Coming up: Corporate Fun Race at Loon in March (ticket, breakfast, lunch, swag all free!) and will check out South Peak for the 1st time.
Trip to Sugarbush and MRG for Late March. Really look forward to skiing MRG----besides Stowe is the only mtn above 2k' vert in New England I haven't yet skied.

The cons: Only 1 powder day so far, skiing solo has its drawbacks as I like the chairlift conversations and apres with my friends, doesn;t look like Saddleback will happen this yr which will be the 1st time since 2008 I haven't skied the Back.

Still plenty of season to go and I'm looking forward to it!

 

[snoseek]

Super good December out here, tons of snow, every day was a powder day. Then nothing, a small storm in January a little half foot event in February. Most of January skied ok becasue it was cold and I've had some good spring skiing this month.

If this next cycle doesn't drop a decent amount of snow I'm outta here and maybe will hit Utah on the way home.In the end I don't have the patience to spend winters in Tahoe. Bust or boom. The terrain is awesome but this is winter number two where we have gone 6+ weeks in the dead of winter with no snow and last winter it didn't snow at all till February. Fuck that!

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

I've been having a decent season. Stowe and Jay have had more snow than anywhere as far as I can tell and I've been lucky enough to have gotten out there for most of it. When places to the south have had no base in the trees Jay/Stowe have at least been skiable.

December was powder every time I went out. January sucked but I was still skinning around on some sort of cover. Feb has been good so far. The last 2 weekends I've been skiing untracked in many places even this weekend when it was crowded....just gotta push out away from the trails.

Northern VT is the best bet for acceptable conditions in a poor season.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

Not impressed with this weekend.

Where did you go?

 

[riverc0il]

Where did you go?

I cross Black Mountain in Maine off my list on Sunday. I was dead tired on Saturday. Looks like it would have been a good day to earn some turns in the Jay area but my mind and body were not in good shape for such an excursion.

 

[goldsbar]

Well above average for me. The season itself is only OK, but my timing has been great. I hit the Thursday before New Year's storm at Belleayre and actually got some real deal powder float. Went to Gore for the next two days - first was a 10/10, second maybe 8/10. Sugarbush could have been better on MLK weekend if not for wind holds. Made the most of it on Saturday by lapping a lift where the staff were telling people not to go up (it was a bit of an ice shelf up top but the bumps were soft and the 2nd half of the run was windblown powder) while it was packed everywhere else. Stein's was prime but I could only handle the long lift line a few times. Next day was borderline absurd lines and snow wasn't as good.

Toss in a few other pretty good days a Belleayre and one at Hunter, Utah coming up. I'm happy.

 

[emmaurice2]

skied three mountains i'd never been to (including one in a state I'd never skied in). I am about to surpass the number of days I had on the snow all last season. I've skied two days on fresh snow, but yet to hit a powder day. Happy with this season even though I probably won't get to northern VT this season.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

I cross Black Mountain in Maine off my list on Sunday. I was dead tired on Saturday. Looks like it would have been a good day to earn some turns in the Jay area but my mind and body were not in good shape for such an excursion.

Very cool! I've never heard of Black before now. I'll have to look into it, thanks!

 

[bdfreetuna]

Was off to a good start... thought I was going to hit a record # of days on the slope this season before the Jan thaw. And then the thaw right after that. And a flu in between the thaws.

So I have had some great days and great conditions in the woods.. even locally at Berkshire East and semi-locally at Magic. What's been missing for the most part are the big trips up to North VT with 100% open terrain to play in.

Just hoping for a normal spring skiing season and not being cut short or having no base.. there is still time to make this season one to remember.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

What's been missing for the most part are the big trips up to North VT with 100% open terrain to play in.

Things are pretty good @ Stowe and Jay right now....most terrain is open. You should try to get up in the next 2 weeks!

 

[kingslug]

Just saw the weather report for Hunter... you will prolly see your reflection there this weekend...

 

[ScottySkis]

Just saw the weather report for Hunter... you will prolly see your reflection there this weekend...

I though it was supposed to snow this weekend in the catskills?

 

[Cheese]

Just saw the weather report for Hunter... you will prolly see your reflection there this weekend...

Oh man, that's harsh! I mean I lol'd, but it's still pretty harsh.

 

[dmc]

Just saw the weather report for Hunter... you will prolly see your reflection there this weekend...

been snowing for a couple hours... More up top...

And remember...
if there aint fish under it... It aint ice...