Date(s) Skied: January 28, 2008
Resort or Ski Area: Stowe Mountain Resort
Conditions: MG, P/FG (some ice)
Weather: Bluebird Skies
2007-2008 Report # : 30!!!
Trip Report: It took a while, but here is my report from Monday. Some of you have been enjoying the pictures already. I took quite a few.
Drove up to find a beautiful morning and great conditions. Still the only lodge that has classical music playing in the bathrooms. Interesting.
Got my free ticket compliments of Utix...would have been $79.00 retail
Game plan was to start on Forerunner, hit the good stuff and then move over to Gondi and in the afternoon try out Spruce Peak. I was starting at about 8:30, so I had the whole day to cruise. It was a good plan.
First run was down an immaculately groomed Liftline:
Wow, that was nice. The groomers had done a great job softening it up and the snow held up well through the morning. It was the RUN that everyone was taking.
Next spin was down Hayride...where I discovered that UVM was training. A nice run, but a bit scratchy in places.
From here I did Liftline again and cut onto Lower National to sample the bumps. Not bad, but some white ice and ice in the troughs.
I did a run down Nosedive and then another spin Liftline before following the advice of the Mountain's Sales Director (who I shared a liftride with) and following the sun to the Gondi side. Good choice.
In my previous visits, I had not really spent much time on the Gondola side, and admittedly, my legs today were ready to do some nice, fast long cruisers. I had peered down Upper National, but it looked a bit slick and I didn't want to kill myself. So the Gondola side delivered some great snow, great sun, and nice long runs with no real lines.
First spin was down Upper Gondolier/Chin Clip:
Wow. Great stuff on the upper part. I found the bumps to be a bit icy in between and not so much fun, but I enjoyed this trail...real fun.
Next was a spin down Perry Merrill. That was a fun run to let the skis rip...nice contours and a nice long run to let the skis rip on.
I then repeated Upper Gondolier to Gondolier for more high speed cruising in the sun:
Good stuff. Was loving the Gondola today...it was hitting the spot. And to mix it up and satisfy my need for some bumps and expert stuff, I decided to hit Upper Waterfall:
The first few turns were a bit hairy...because I found windswept ice or ice under snow, but once I slid into the drifted pow, it was all good.
By now it was getting to be about 11 or 11:30, so I headed back to Forerunner to hit some of those runs. I got the brainwave to try Bypass. It was interesting...narrow and nice at the top, but a couple nasty, icy, rocky chutes to choose from. I chose one that was nasty and required some sidestepping at one point.
But I made it. They have some great terrain up there...great stuff. I did jump into Rimrock trees and found some great snow and good lines, but not knowing the woods, I was a bit wary to do too much barkeating.
I finally got the umph to ski Upper National, having made two passes and peered down it a couple times while others took it on. Overall, very similar to Upper FIS. Steep, icy in spots, and knee wobbling at the top. I spoke with an old timer before I entered on far skier's left. He followed me into it. The upper part was very slick and I picked a line on the far right. It was icy in many spots, but made for some interesting skiing.
Liftline was getting scratched off by now...but still a nice run.
Lunch was very short...too much terrain to hit and not enough time :wink:
I swapped skis and made the plan to hit Goat and Goat Woods, Starr, and maybe Lookout.
Goat was in good shape and offered some good snow:
Still love this trail. Goat Woods was also nice as well:
So a nice run...but Lower Goat was just plan nasty in many spots..thin cover and rocks as well as ice. I picked my way down it.
Resort or Ski Area: Stowe Mountain Resort
Conditions: MG, P/FG (some ice)
Weather: Bluebird Skies
2007-2008 Report # : 30!!!
Trip Report: It took a while, but here is my report from Monday. Some of you have been enjoying the pictures already. I took quite a few.
Drove up to find a beautiful morning and great conditions. Still the only lodge that has classical music playing in the bathrooms. Interesting.
Got my free ticket compliments of Utix...would have been $79.00 retail
Game plan was to start on Forerunner, hit the good stuff and then move over to Gondi and in the afternoon try out Spruce Peak. I was starting at about 8:30, so I had the whole day to cruise. It was a good plan.
First run was down an immaculately groomed Liftline:
Wow, that was nice. The groomers had done a great job softening it up and the snow held up well through the morning. It was the RUN that everyone was taking.
Next spin was down Hayride...where I discovered that UVM was training. A nice run, but a bit scratchy in places.
From here I did Liftline again and cut onto Lower National to sample the bumps. Not bad, but some white ice and ice in the troughs.
I did a run down Nosedive and then another spin Liftline before following the advice of the Mountain's Sales Director (who I shared a liftride with) and following the sun to the Gondi side. Good choice.
In my previous visits, I had not really spent much time on the Gondola side, and admittedly, my legs today were ready to do some nice, fast long cruisers. I had peered down Upper National, but it looked a bit slick and I didn't want to kill myself. So the Gondola side delivered some great snow, great sun, and nice long runs with no real lines.
First spin was down Upper Gondolier/Chin Clip:
Wow. Great stuff on the upper part. I found the bumps to be a bit icy in between and not so much fun, but I enjoyed this trail...real fun.
Next was a spin down Perry Merrill. That was a fun run to let the skis rip...nice contours and a nice long run to let the skis rip on.
I then repeated Upper Gondolier to Gondolier for more high speed cruising in the sun:
Good stuff. Was loving the Gondola today...it was hitting the spot. And to mix it up and satisfy my need for some bumps and expert stuff, I decided to hit Upper Waterfall:
The first few turns were a bit hairy...because I found windswept ice or ice under snow, but once I slid into the drifted pow, it was all good.
By now it was getting to be about 11 or 11:30, so I headed back to Forerunner to hit some of those runs. I got the brainwave to try Bypass. It was interesting...narrow and nice at the top, but a couple nasty, icy, rocky chutes to choose from. I chose one that was nasty and required some sidestepping at one point.
But I made it. They have some great terrain up there...great stuff. I did jump into Rimrock trees and found some great snow and good lines, but not knowing the woods, I was a bit wary to do too much barkeating.
I finally got the umph to ski Upper National, having made two passes and peered down it a couple times while others took it on. Overall, very similar to Upper FIS. Steep, icy in spots, and knee wobbling at the top. I spoke with an old timer before I entered on far skier's left. He followed me into it. The upper part was very slick and I picked a line on the far right. It was icy in many spots, but made for some interesting skiing.
Liftline was getting scratched off by now...but still a nice run.
Lunch was very short...too much terrain to hit and not enough time :wink:
I swapped skis and made the plan to hit Goat and Goat Woods, Starr, and maybe Lookout.
Goat was in good shape and offered some good snow:
Still love this trail. Goat Woods was also nice as well:
So a nice run...but Lower Goat was just plan nasty in many spots..thin cover and rocks as well as ice. I picked my way down it.
