Saddleback 1/2/10

[xwhaler]

Date: 1/2/10
Location: Saddleback, Rangeley ME
Day 3 of 4 on my New Yrs wknd up here...legs are getting in a good groove after another full day today, 11 days in so far this season. Clicked in at 9 and was off the hill at 3. Nice fluffy snow could be had generally all over the mtn but I felt sticking to the double was the best bet.
I went up top 3 different times during the day and felt it was just too crusty to really enjoy it a lot. Pic # 1 is Dark Wizard Glade which I ducked into after realizing Family Secret wasn't worth it due to the thick crust layer right underneath the fresh.
DK Wizard Glade was decent but really needs a firmer (non-crust) base to be real nice.
Patrol opened up Artula late in the day but I didn't ski it....they should have much more open tomorrow AM all over the mtn.

Best Trails Today: Parmachenee Belle, Golden Smelt, Upper Professor, Lower Professor, and the Sides of Grey Ghost and Royal Coachman.
Peachy's Peril is still pretty icy....I ran down that about 2pm today and was pretty wind blown as the wind was picking up. Ghost has some nasty glare ice in spots that are nearly impossible to see until you hit them I found.
Tomorrow should be pretty sweet with another foot coming in.
Pic # 2 is looking down Upper Professor

 

[BackLoafRiver]

Nice Report. I debated heading there instead of Sugarloaf today. Was it crowded? SL was a $h!t show until about 11:30.

The glades look awesome!

 

[xwhaler]

It was 'crowded' by Saddleback's standards which is to say I waited no more than 10 mins for the double and skied right onto the Kennebago Quad.
They are supposedly opening the T-Bar tomorrow which should further alleviate congestion on the double.
Saw quite a few folks with New England passes or SL passes...likely bronze passes with blackout days. Since Saddleback will sell a lift ticket for $35 to anyone with a pass from another mtn, I wonder how many folks just get the Bronze SL pass and then just head to the back when they are blacked out at the Loaf. Havent run the numbers but you could probably get both mtns for basically the price of most mtn season passes.

 

[salsgang]

Ditto on the trails on the day xwhaler. I too found the crust in the glades tough. Looking forward to tommorrow! Hope the winds allow the lifts to turn. Hoot to post pics tomorrow. Only have Internet access with the itouch for now.