Pat's Peak - 1/24/10

[mikestaple]

Date(s) Skied: 1/24/2010

Resort or Ski Area: Pat's Peak

Conditions: Packed powder to loose inch to inch and a half on less skiied trails

Trip Report:

Wanted to get out and enjoy the great conditions one more time before the rain kills it all. Pulled into the parking lot at 8:05 and got into the 8th row. They were racing there today and the place was really filling up - 25 minutes before first chair. Plus - it was MASCOT DAY!!! Yes - you missed it. Your chance to have your photo taken with random ski hill mascots, some Maine Dairy's stuffed acorn, Elmo, Spongebob and Bob the Builder.

Me and the kids trudged up the hill to the Vortex (I think) double and made the quick lift to the summit. Where upon the spoiled skiier squad looked at the trail map and said "wait - is this already the top?" (Note to self - more Blue Hill and less Sugarloaf for the pre-teen crew).

We headed off the side down East Wind and found nicely groomed corduroy. The next run was off the other blue Duster and that wasn't tracked out either. Apparently, most folks were over at the ski races and we had the blues and blacks to ourselves. Which was nice. Most of the traffic was on the greens and blues. The blacks were great all day.

Then it was over to the blacks. These were, not surprisingly, untouched. Cyclone was soft and easy. Tornado Glade was nicely bumped up and Tornado skiied soft all day. The 10 year hit Hurricane and its half a Volkswagon sized bumps. He loved it and it is really Pat's only black (the shorter Vortex too I guess). It's too bad these will be destroyed in tomorrow's rain storm.

In general, the blacks at Pat's occasionally touch the steepness of Okemo's steepest blue - Screamin' Demon - and with only 750 feet of vert you're not getting a whole lot of thigh burn. (Blues Ramdown or Candyside at the 'Loaf or Moat at Attitash would be triple diamonds here.)

But, the whole place is set for snow making, is 100% open and for a few hours of family fun. some simple glades and one great bump run (we didn't hit the other short bump run Vortex) it was well worth it. And the great soft snow on the blacks will hopefully be back soon.

 

[deadheadskier]

I need to get back there some day to hit Hurricane when it's prime. Looks like a great pitch, even if it is a short.

 

[roark]

In general, the blacks at Pat's occasionally touch the steepness of Okemo's steepest blue

Not to say Pat's the is the gnarliest thing around, but I think upper FIS is so much steeper than anything at Okemo it's laughable to compare - granted, it's only sustained for about 50-100 vert and Okemos total acreage is sensationally greater... but in terms of steepest absolute singular pitch, Pat's destorys pokemon.

 

[roark]

I need to get back there some day to hit Hurricane when it's prime. Looks like a great pitch, even if it is a short.

I really wish more smaller areas would keep a bump trail (cough, cough, *Crotched* on the "2" trails ufo/equinox...). I haven't been to Pats this year, but nightskiing + available bumps was certainly a draw for me skiing with the AZ team the last couple years. Racing at the crotch this year has been a bit of a disappointment compared to the the Pats operation (nothing breaks so regularly at Pats, closed trail to public, total race time, time til results, general efficiency of operations and POPCORN + variety of terrain... that is, there IS a bump run at Pats).

Pat's does perhaps the best job of any small NE area of catering to the appropriate markets it serves.

 

[speden]

But, the whole place is set for snow making, is 100% open and for a few hours of family fun. some simple glades and one great bump run (we didn't hit the other short bump run Vortex) it was well worth it. And the great soft snow on the blacks will hopefully be back soon.

I suspect with their snowmaking firepower per acre, Pat's will bounce back from today's rain quickly. They seem to have a pretty up to date system, with lots of fixed guns they can just turn on when needed.

 

[thetrailboss]

Pat's does perhaps the best job of any small NE area of catering to the appropriate markets it serves.

+1. I also agree with the sentiment regarding the steepness. It is decent. Just too bad it is not a bit longer...but it does the job and passes are reasonably priced.