Resort: Ski Butternut
Date Skied: 12/23/2005 (1:30 to 4:00)
Conditions: 40 degrees with sun and clouds.
Trip Report:
Knowing that I will not be skiing today (Saturday), I decided to go for a few hours after work on Friday. I was in downtown Hartford and the logical choice to get to Butternut would of been Main St / Rt 44 through West Hartford, Avon and Canton. Last season I did Ski Sundown and hit tons of shopping traffic on Rt 44. To avoid this traffic I went on 84W to Rt 4 (Farmington) to 179 (through Collinsville) to Rt 44 (Canton) to Winstead and I eventually picked up Rt 183. I followed that for a while and saw signs for 181, 182 and at one point thought I took a wrong turn somewhere. I crossed the CT/MA line and eventually hit Rt57 and then Rt 23 and I was at Butternut. This "route" I took today might of been faster than the directions posted on Butternut’s site, but I hit major stop & go traffic on Rt 4 in Farmington which took about 20 minutes to get through, which normally is less than 5 minutes.
Well enough of the driving adventures. The parking lots looked full but many people must of skied and left around the time I got there as there were many spots in between. I parked in the front row by the lower lifts. Once on the slopes I was treated to non-existent lift lines on both the Highline / Top Flight Quads. I did several runs from the TF, Apple Jack, Lucifer’s Leap, Pied Piper, Hob Nob, Twist, Westway. For the last four runs I took the Highline lift and did Main St.
Overall the snow as soft but on the center of the trails which were skied off it was down to that slick hard pack stuff. I think the best trail of the day was Main Street. It seemed to have the softest snow on it, maybe because of being in full sun for most of the day.
When I was at Butternut on December 11th, the chairs for the new Cruiser Quad were on the ground covered in snow. I thought the lift building was done for the season. Yesterday the chairs were all on the rope! They were doing some work on the sheaves at the base. Looks like it will be online soon.
After I left I hit the Lee outlets. I was expecting crowds, but at 4:30pm last night the place was like it is in March. No parking problems and no crowds in the four stores I shopped in. Amazing! All of my Christmas shopping is done. I
I also heard the weather for Christmas, and it looks like the Grinch will be delivering NCP to the area.
Date Skied: 12/23/2005 (1:30 to 4:00)
Conditions: 40 degrees with sun and clouds.
Trip Report:
Knowing that I will not be skiing today (Saturday), I decided to go for a few hours after work on Friday. I was in downtown Hartford and the logical choice to get to Butternut would of been Main St / Rt 44 through West Hartford, Avon and Canton. Last season I did Ski Sundown and hit tons of shopping traffic on Rt 44. To avoid this traffic I went on 84W to Rt 4 (Farmington) to 179 (through Collinsville) to Rt 44 (Canton) to Winstead and I eventually picked up Rt 183. I followed that for a while and saw signs for 181, 182 and at one point thought I took a wrong turn somewhere. I crossed the CT/MA line and eventually hit Rt57 and then Rt 23 and I was at Butternut. This "route" I took today might of been faster than the directions posted on Butternut’s site, but I hit major stop & go traffic on Rt 4 in Farmington which took about 20 minutes to get through, which normally is less than 5 minutes.
Well enough of the driving adventures. The parking lots looked full but many people must of skied and left around the time I got there as there were many spots in between. I parked in the front row by the lower lifts. Once on the slopes I was treated to non-existent lift lines on both the Highline / Top Flight Quads. I did several runs from the TF, Apple Jack, Lucifer’s Leap, Pied Piper, Hob Nob, Twist, Westway. For the last four runs I took the Highline lift and did Main St.
Overall the snow as soft but on the center of the trails which were skied off it was down to that slick hard pack stuff. I think the best trail of the day was Main Street. It seemed to have the softest snow on it, maybe because of being in full sun for most of the day.
When I was at Butternut on December 11th, the chairs for the new Cruiser Quad were on the ground covered in snow. I thought the lift building was done for the season. Yesterday the chairs were all on the rope! They were doing some work on the sheaves at the base. Looks like it will be online soon.
After I left I hit the Lee outlets. I was expecting crowds, but at 4:30pm last night the place was like it is in March. No parking problems and no crowds in the four stores I shopped in. Amazing! All of my Christmas shopping is done. I
I also heard the weather for Christmas, and it looks like the Grinch will be delivering NCP to the area.
