And I'll even use Greg's TR format. :wink:
Date(s) Skied: 1/27/11
Resort or Ski Area: Sugarbush Mt. Ellen
Conditions: Packed Powder, a few spots of residual untracked
Trip Report: I've been inadequate in my trip reporting this season, so my apologies are in order. Nonetheless, here is my first Ellen report of the season. I've been a bit more picky this year about what conditions I choose to ski in. I think I'm only up to around 20 or so days this year. But they've been good days. Today was no exception. Sun was shining on much of the mountain (all, at times). Conditions were generally packed powder. I did find some untracked in the woods, and on the sides of a few lesser-traveled trails. The groomers were skiing very very nicely today. Some of them were set up and fast, but not icy or slick at all. Elbow was particularly enjoyable. I groomed skiers' right last night, which turned out particularly nice, but, of course, I really only wanted to ski the bumped up skier's left, which (aside from two patches of ice between bumps) was really fantastic. Nice bumps with just enough fresh in the past week to keep them soft.
Tumbler was probably the run of the day. Great, soft bumps. As is normal this time of year, the usual rocks were still showing through. But if you're willing to do a hop turn here and a little jump there, it was some of the best skiing you could ask for. I zipped through the Ballroom woods, and found it a little tight for my tastes, with lots of untracked, but somewhat heavy/slabby snow.
Bravo had nice snow on soft bumps, same with Exterminator, though Exterm was a little thinner it seemed (likely due to wind and exposure). Hammerhead was quite thin on the steepest headwall, but otherwise beautiful. Which Way was groomed (and fast, but not at all icy) on skiers' right, with soft bumps in pockets on skiers' left.
Semi-Tough was in good shape, and Semi-Tough woods were sweeeeet. A little tracked out, but still untracked lines to be found, and even the tracked stuff was soft and really nice. Walt's is a bit thin, but soft and flat from its last grooming last week. Wayback woods were well covered and skiing very nicely.
Lower FIS had some slabby, but skiable untracked. Some nice bump lines forming on the lower pitches. The runout is fast and you can make it about halfway before having to skate at all.
Well... that presentation may have been a bit incoherent, so I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. Overall, great day. I do love calling this place home!
Mt. Ellen in the famous Bragg Hill shot on my drive in today. A little hazy, but not too bad:
Elbow, bumps on skiers' left, groomed on skiers' right:
Bravo sporting some nice, soft bumps:
FIS runout (a pain to skate sometimes, but really a beautiful little jaunt):
Exterminator, with irregular but soft bumps:
FIS, imposing as ever:
Looking Good, lookin' good:
Rim Run, groomed nicely by our new midnight shift groomer:
More pix in a minute.........
Date(s) Skied: 1/27/11
Resort or Ski Area: Sugarbush Mt. Ellen
Conditions: Packed Powder, a few spots of residual untracked
Trip Report: I've been inadequate in my trip reporting this season, so my apologies are in order. Nonetheless, here is my first Ellen report of the season. I've been a bit more picky this year about what conditions I choose to ski in. I think I'm only up to around 20 or so days this year. But they've been good days. Today was no exception. Sun was shining on much of the mountain (all, at times). Conditions were generally packed powder. I did find some untracked in the woods, and on the sides of a few lesser-traveled trails. The groomers were skiing very very nicely today. Some of them were set up and fast, but not icy or slick at all. Elbow was particularly enjoyable. I groomed skiers' right last night, which turned out particularly nice, but, of course, I really only wanted to ski the bumped up skier's left, which (aside from two patches of ice between bumps) was really fantastic. Nice bumps with just enough fresh in the past week to keep them soft.
Tumbler was probably the run of the day. Great, soft bumps. As is normal this time of year, the usual rocks were still showing through. But if you're willing to do a hop turn here and a little jump there, it was some of the best skiing you could ask for. I zipped through the Ballroom woods, and found it a little tight for my tastes, with lots of untracked, but somewhat heavy/slabby snow.
Bravo had nice snow on soft bumps, same with Exterminator, though Exterm was a little thinner it seemed (likely due to wind and exposure). Hammerhead was quite thin on the steepest headwall, but otherwise beautiful. Which Way was groomed (and fast, but not at all icy) on skiers' right, with soft bumps in pockets on skiers' left.
Semi-Tough was in good shape, and Semi-Tough woods were sweeeeet. A little tracked out, but still untracked lines to be found, and even the tracked stuff was soft and really nice. Walt's is a bit thin, but soft and flat from its last grooming last week. Wayback woods were well covered and skiing very nicely.
Lower FIS had some slabby, but skiable untracked. Some nice bump lines forming on the lower pitches. The runout is fast and you can make it about halfway before having to skate at all.
Well... that presentation may have been a bit incoherent, so I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. Overall, great day. I do love calling this place home!
Mt. Ellen in the famous Bragg Hill shot on my drive in today. A little hazy, but not too bad:
Elbow, bumps on skiers' left, groomed on skiers' right:
Bravo sporting some nice, soft bumps:
FIS runout (a pain to skate sometimes, but really a beautiful little jaunt):
Exterminator, with irregular but soft bumps:
FIS, imposing as ever:
Looking Good, lookin' good:
Rim Run, groomed nicely by our new midnight shift groomer:
More pix in a minute.........
