Marc
New member
Date(s) Skied: 12/6/05
Resort or Ski Area: Wachusett
Conditions: Hard pack, ice, soft on the trail sides
Trip Report:
When I saw that Wachusett had reopened and my skis and Bronze Century Pass were just sitting around, I couldn't resist the temptation to spend my otherwise empty Tuesday afternoon up at my first mountain. Needless to say, Tuesday at work went be very slowly. It had already been a dissapointing day not to see the two inches of snow that had been predicted that night and no snow falling to accumulate the additional two predicted for the day hours.
I left work with all my stuff (and prepacked dinner, amazinly) around 15:30, about when I usually leave. After dealing with early rush hour traffic through Worcester, which has gotten better since they reopened the third lane of the elevated deck, I pulled into the parking lot around 16:40. There was still a coating of snow in the driveway, and I was unable to resist the urge to yank my e-brake lever. I suspect I may have given the wrong impression of the grip conditions on that corner with my little skid turn as the mini van behind me then took the curve barely above her auto tranny's stall speed. Oh well. Not my problem.
I brought my Volkl's (P50) and Rossy's (Cut 10.4) both, as I was unsure of conditions. When I got there and saw the gleaming hard pack and ice, I knew then it was Volkl weather. After racking my skis outside, I plopped down in the bar area, which has nice new furniture, and I ate my dinner, which was nearly exactly the same as my lunch. Efficient? Yes, culinarily satisfying? Not so much... No bother, I didn't let the sweet aromas of grease and saturated fat wafting from the cafeteria distract me. Health food is better, right? Right. I booted up, popped in the ear buds, and headed out around 17:15.
My first run was down the smaller hill, the only trail open was the one where the NASTAR and night league races are held. It was a good warm up, until I begin screwing around (why does that always happen?). I took a little jump next to the start house and in the air realized there was very thin cover and an exposed drainage berm in front of me. I landed, fell in a controlled manner, although managed to lose both skis. I lept up like a cat does when he falls hoping no one noticed (yeah right, who can spell dillusional?). I inspected my bases and the fresh wax had protected them. I clicked back in and cruised down the rest of the hill without incident.
I then spent the rest of the night on the summit lift. There was again only one trail open but it was nice. You have to make your own fun. I mixed up my turn lengths, speeds, styles and enjoyed the cold, crisp air. There was a good looking high school, get thrown in jail, girl working the lift at the bottom with whom I had a good conversation with one sentence at a time. I skied with a man from Lunenburg for a while who was pretty good and later a guy from Newton who was also good. I enjoyed talking to the guy from Newton, he was a software engineer, orginally from India. He started skiing in college (like me) about seven years ago. I spent the night avoiding mostly snowboarders (don't these kids have parents?) and making some nice low, hard carves.
I went in around 20:45 to get me back to my house for ten. Yes, I had my evening planned around the Victoria's Secret fashion show. Well, I have all winter to ski, right??
Resort or Ski Area: Wachusett
Conditions: Hard pack, ice, soft on the trail sides
Trip Report:
When I saw that Wachusett had reopened and my skis and Bronze Century Pass were just sitting around, I couldn't resist the temptation to spend my otherwise empty Tuesday afternoon up at my first mountain. Needless to say, Tuesday at work went be very slowly. It had already been a dissapointing day not to see the two inches of snow that had been predicted that night and no snow falling to accumulate the additional two predicted for the day hours.
I left work with all my stuff (and prepacked dinner, amazinly) around 15:30, about when I usually leave. After dealing with early rush hour traffic through Worcester, which has gotten better since they reopened the third lane of the elevated deck, I pulled into the parking lot around 16:40. There was still a coating of snow in the driveway, and I was unable to resist the urge to yank my e-brake lever. I suspect I may have given the wrong impression of the grip conditions on that corner with my little skid turn as the mini van behind me then took the curve barely above her auto tranny's stall speed. Oh well. Not my problem.
I brought my Volkl's (P50) and Rossy's (Cut 10.4) both, as I was unsure of conditions. When I got there and saw the gleaming hard pack and ice, I knew then it was Volkl weather. After racking my skis outside, I plopped down in the bar area, which has nice new furniture, and I ate my dinner, which was nearly exactly the same as my lunch. Efficient? Yes, culinarily satisfying? Not so much... No bother, I didn't let the sweet aromas of grease and saturated fat wafting from the cafeteria distract me. Health food is better, right? Right. I booted up, popped in the ear buds, and headed out around 17:15.
My first run was down the smaller hill, the only trail open was the one where the NASTAR and night league races are held. It was a good warm up, until I begin screwing around (why does that always happen?). I took a little jump next to the start house and in the air realized there was very thin cover and an exposed drainage berm in front of me. I landed, fell in a controlled manner, although managed to lose both skis. I lept up like a cat does when he falls hoping no one noticed (yeah right, who can spell dillusional?). I inspected my bases and the fresh wax had protected them. I clicked back in and cruised down the rest of the hill without incident.
I then spent the rest of the night on the summit lift. There was again only one trail open but it was nice. You have to make your own fun. I mixed up my turn lengths, speeds, styles and enjoyed the cold, crisp air. There was a good looking high school, get thrown in jail, girl working the lift at the bottom with whom I had a good conversation with one sentence at a time. I skied with a man from Lunenburg for a while who was pretty good and later a guy from Newton who was also good. I enjoyed talking to the guy from Newton, he was a software engineer, orginally from India. He started skiing in college (like me) about seven years ago. I spent the night avoiding mostly snowboarders (don't these kids have parents?) and making some nice low, hard carves.
I went in around 20:45 to get me back to my house for ten. Yes, I had my evening planned around the Victoria's Secret fashion show. Well, I have all winter to ski, right??
