Zand
Well-known member
Date(s) Skied: 1/10/04
Resort or Ski Area: Wachusett Mountain, MA
Conditions: Packed Powder
Trip Report:
Today was a very good day. The weather was nice with fairly warm temps and dry except for a few flurries around 5. The conditions were excellent and ice was almost non-existant. The crowds, while crowded, weren't that bad on the mountain. The lodge was a different story, but how is 20 minutes in a crowded lodge affect the skiing? Not much today.
Conifer: Trail was great the whole way. There was some powder to the sides and nice fast groomed pack powder in the middle. It was nice making some great big turns without having to worry about ice.
10th: Although the wind was really whipping up the steep, there wasn't any ice except for under the lift at the very top because that section just opened over the weekend. There were a TON of mounds to get air off of up there and once you were out of there, it was a fast run to the bottom. There's a whale on the runout of the trail that you can get huge air off of. I have never been crazy about jumps, but I did my first tail-grab ever off it. :lol:
Smith: I think it's about the best I've ever seen it. There was pretty much no ice the whole way and it was fast and fun. The starting hill from the race over the weekend was still there and you could get great air off of it even though it's really not supposed to be skiied over. Shhh.
Piece of Cake: There were a few mounds to the sides to get air off of, but the rest was just like the rest of the mountain.Very fun to race down.
Vickery Liftline: It's not on the trail map, but there wasn't a ribbon across it, but there were people, instructors, and even ski patrollers doing down it, so I tried it. There were a lot of stumps, rocks, and twigs to get snatched on. It would be more fun if there was more snow because it would be a nice narrow trail with lift towers to act as trees. It's as close to a glade trail as we'll ever get at Wachusett.
Frannie's Folly: The jumps were basically the same as Friday, but there was some better air to be had because the snow skiied faster. I didn't really get that much air as I am still kind of frightened from Friday's incident, but I'm slwly gaining back confidence on the jumps.
Hitchcock: It was the first time this year for me. It's its old usual self with a classic twisty New England feeling. It was a bit icy because it just came online Saturday, but some snow will got it going good.
Look Mom: Powder mounds all over the place to get air off of, but boring other than that. This trail needs the park badly because there isn't much more to it. It's basically a straight version of Hitchcock.
Ralph's Run: I used to love this run, but I have moved on and it is now nothing more than a good trail for beginners. The last part is nice with some steepness, but I'd rather be up on 10th or Smith.
That's all for now. I'll be back up here Friday and might hit Sunapee Monday. Think snow! Wenesday morning looks a bit good, but Thursday and Friday's forecasts are complete yuck. There is hope with 20s next weekend.
Resort or Ski Area: Wachusett Mountain, MA
Conditions: Packed Powder
Trip Report:
Today was a very good day. The weather was nice with fairly warm temps and dry except for a few flurries around 5. The conditions were excellent and ice was almost non-existant. The crowds, while crowded, weren't that bad on the mountain. The lodge was a different story, but how is 20 minutes in a crowded lodge affect the skiing? Not much today.
Conifer: Trail was great the whole way. There was some powder to the sides and nice fast groomed pack powder in the middle. It was nice making some great big turns without having to worry about ice.
10th: Although the wind was really whipping up the steep, there wasn't any ice except for under the lift at the very top because that section just opened over the weekend. There were a TON of mounds to get air off of up there and once you were out of there, it was a fast run to the bottom. There's a whale on the runout of the trail that you can get huge air off of. I have never been crazy about jumps, but I did my first tail-grab ever off it. :lol:
Smith: I think it's about the best I've ever seen it. There was pretty much no ice the whole way and it was fast and fun. The starting hill from the race over the weekend was still there and you could get great air off of it even though it's really not supposed to be skiied over. Shhh.
Piece of Cake: There were a few mounds to the sides to get air off of, but the rest was just like the rest of the mountain.Very fun to race down.
Vickery Liftline: It's not on the trail map, but there wasn't a ribbon across it, but there were people, instructors, and even ski patrollers doing down it, so I tried it. There were a lot of stumps, rocks, and twigs to get snatched on. It would be more fun if there was more snow because it would be a nice narrow trail with lift towers to act as trees. It's as close to a glade trail as we'll ever get at Wachusett.
Frannie's Folly: The jumps were basically the same as Friday, but there was some better air to be had because the snow skiied faster. I didn't really get that much air as I am still kind of frightened from Friday's incident, but I'm slwly gaining back confidence on the jumps.
Hitchcock: It was the first time this year for me. It's its old usual self with a classic twisty New England feeling. It was a bit icy because it just came online Saturday, but some snow will got it going good.
Look Mom: Powder mounds all over the place to get air off of, but boring other than that. This trail needs the park badly because there isn't much more to it. It's basically a straight version of Hitchcock.
Ralph's Run: I used to love this run, but I have moved on and it is now nothing more than a good trail for beginners. The last part is nice with some steepness, but I'd rather be up on 10th or Smith.
That's all for now. I'll be back up here Friday and might hit Sunapee Monday. Think snow! Wenesday morning looks a bit good, but Thursday and Friday's forecasts are complete yuck. There is hope with 20s next weekend.
