Stowe, 12/16 storm..

[JD]

Today was great. Only got 2 top to bottom runs, but they were both really great and I had a blast skinning around on the Mtn. Tried to get to the chin at about 11:00, when the snow stopped for a couple hours. The entire skin up was mellow, then about 200 feet from the end of the climb, about 4000 feet, it was like someone flipped a switch. Blased by SE wind coming up hill SO hard. Steady 40-50 with higher gusts. I fet my skin freeze and ducked behind a forzen spruce tree and covered my face to let the ice melt off. I hung out for about 5 minutes to see if it was gonna ease and it built, so I deskinned and skiied back down the boot pack which was a very pleasent, well filled in chute for about 300 vert. Then I reskinned and started accross and instantly noticed very unstable snow. Whumps evey 10 steps and a crack about 20 feet uphill of me and slightly ahead for pretty much the entire traverse. After I crossed over P chute I saw several small slabs breaking off and cascading off the Ice flows and steeps just above the ledge band. I descended half way and climbed back up then decended to the road. Lots of cracking of snow and small slab slides a foot or less deep on steeps and slough in the gullies was tearing snow free pretty easily. Really just fun today, but with another foot on top, tomorrow could be a little dicey. We'll see how it settles overnight. More to come...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

JD do you have a season pass at Stowe?

 

[JD]

No pass, just tour.

 

[billski]

Now that's an adventure. A day to remember for sure, though not what you hoped for.

 

[JD]

Tomorrow....

 

[bigbog]

...similar @ Sugarloaf...

Same windspeed gusts up in mid-central to northern Maine JD!...direction the same, but a little bit of light but stinging sleet thrown in..and as I've been demoing, am taking the lifts..YUCK!...
The skinning by the trees = by far, the right idea! Thank Ullr for Turtle Fur's thin head/face mask! Wish I had taken camera...a thick storm up here as well....
...but the powder was unbelievable....so nice for mid-December up here....for the past several winters it's been just so dry pre-February..

 

[JD]

Picked up a good dose of snow on the reach around last night. 7-9 inches.
Late night assembly at the staging area near the boot pack. Our skin up at 9 was mellow. Right between the wicked southeaster of yesterday and with wicked Northwester that kicked in for today. Last stragglers made it in by 2 a.m. For them, brutal climb in heavy blowing wind and snow. Up at 6.sucked down some still warm maple chai from the thermous with some raisins and peanuts and a few snickers bites. Actually, almost the whole bag.
Skinning to the chin at 7. Made it to within a few feet of where I made it yesterday and was turned around by a strong wind, from 180 degrees in the other direction just 18 hours earlier.
Profanity was not to be this time around. Maybe tomorrow...
Anyway, down the boot pack, low road for a real popular run that really has to be hit early after a huge dump to be SICK. Nice and calm for the skin under, wind lashed at us one more time in Eagle Pass, then we slipped over the lip and into a great leapfrog 4 way. Same instability as yesterday and Brad did actually get burried up to his neck in the bottom of the gully, but only because he kind of wanted too. One and done today. It was cold and we were up there for a while before we got to the road. I need a beer and a nap. Here are some pics from yesterday and today. Some light slide activity, a few looking up the boot pack and a few pics of virgin snow about to be deflowered. Enjoy.
Great month.
Praise Ullr.

 

[Ski Diva]

Skied yesterday (the 17th) at Stowe, and yes, the wind was brutal. They put a hold on the lifts and only managed to open the triple -- about 45 minutes late. Still, conditions were sweet -- soft, fresh snow and enough terrain open to have a good time.

 

[billski]

Simply awesome.

Picked up a good dose of snow on the reach around last night. 7-9 inches.
Late night assembly at the staging area near the boot pack. Our skin up at 9 was mellow. Right between the wicked southeaster of yesterday and with wicked Northwester that kicked in for today. Last stragglers made it in by 2 a.m. For them, brutal climb in heavy blowing wind and snow. Up at 6.sucked down some still warm maple chai from the thermous with some raisins and peanuts and a few snickers bites. Actually, almost the whole bag.
Skinning to the chin at 7. Made it to within a few feet of where I made it yesterday and was turned around by a strong wind, from 180 degrees in the other direction just 18 hours earlier.
Profanity was not to be this time around. Maybe tomorrow...
Anyway, down the boot pack, low road for a real popular run that really has to be hit early after a huge dump to be SICK. Nice and calm for the skin under, wind lashed at us one more time in Eagle Pass, then we slipped over the lip and into a great leapfrog 4 way. Same instability as yesterday and Brad did actually get burried up to his neck in the bottom of the gully, but only because he kind of wanted too. One and done today. It was cold and we were up there for a while before we got to the road. I need a beer and a nap. Here are some pics from yesterday and today. Some light slide activity, a few looking up the boot pack and a few pics of virgin snow about to be deflowered. Enjoy.
Great month.
Praise Ullr.

JD,
Simply awesome. Isn't fall great? I can't wait for winter to come!
The best part, is that we still have 3-4 solid months ahead of this. February in December. Beautiful pics. I'm envious, but you deserved the best, and got it. Thanks!

 

[JD]

February in December could mean December in February. Let's hope not, but all the more reason to git it while the gittin's good.


PS
Got profanity today. Packed pow.
And all is right with the universe.