Where to ski tomorrow, 1/22?

[MattGoose]

Morning Everyone,

I've been here in the background reading as much as I can for the past few weeks, and really like what I see!

I'm taking the day tomorrow and going skiing - somewhere. Where?

Sunday River, Jay, and Smuggs all have tickets available for under $50 so they are probably my best options. I'm driving from Boston for the day, so Jay and Smuggs are do-able, but I'm not really sure what conditions are like up there right now. I heard cover at Stowe had been a little thin this past weekend, but don't know if that is accurate. Sunday River claims 10" in the past few days - but who knows what that really means?

Anyways, I guess I'm looking for the best snow - I'd like to ski some trees. I did Sunday River back in the second week of December (right after the big storm) and lapped a powdery Last Tango all day.

Anyone been to or heard anything legit about those three places? Anywhere else that is really worth going, especially with some sort of discount?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Matt

 

[Smellytele]

Day trip from Boston to those places will be a very long day.

 

[Ballistic]

For a day trip from Boston, I'd rather drive the 3-3.4 hrs it takes to Sunday River than the 4 hours it would take to get to Jay Peak. And Sunday River is better than Smugglers, even if their drives may be comparable.

I have a formula for these kinds of things.

Time skiing/snowboarding must be at least double total time driving.

 

[BackLoafRiver]

I would say Sunday River is a good bet for tomorrow. The drive to Vermont to ski might make it a poor choice. Smuggs and Jay seem to be pushing the 4 hour mark, maybe more. I would pass out on the way back. Plus, with all the new snow, SR is going to be good skiing. I am tempted to take tomorrow off since I have no exams to give and head up there.

 

[Mildcat]

Sunday River opened up Flying Monkey and Hardball yesterday. Some friends skied Monday and they said there was about 6" of fresh so I believe the 10" claim for the week. The fact that Flying Monkey opened up tells me things are looking good.

 

[MattGoose]

Thanks for all the responses!

I love the day trips - the driving and seeing something new is a huge part of the fun. I've been to Sunday River many times, and Jay once. I've never been to Smuggs.

I also forgot to mention that I'll be staying in Concord, NH tomorrow night (I'm training to be a volunteer ski coach at Pat's Peak Sat/Sun), so I can cut about an hour off the drive home.

I'm strongly leaning towards Sunday River because of the distance and the new snow. Flying Monkey and Hardball mean there is some pretty serious snow on the ground

So I don't mind driving anywhere, but it sounds like the snow is in Maine right now. Can't really argue with that!

I'm pretty sure Saddleback is too far... Anyone been up there lately?

 

[BackLoafRiver]

Yeah, Saddleback is almost 5 hours from Boston. A bunch of us have been there this past week and the skiing is fantastic!!!! I bet with the new snow they got yesterday it is unreal. Check the trip report forum for a lot of great reports and pics. XWhaler and Salsgang write up some great ones.

 

[salsgang]

Thanks for all the responses!

So I don't mind driving anywhere, but it sounds like the snow is in Maine right now. Can't really argue with that!

I'm pretty sure Saddleback is too far... Anyone been up there lately?

There are a bunch of trip reports from Saddleback over the last few days. Check out the trip reports forum. The skiing is as good as it gets right now. You would absolutely love it if you could pull off the drive. You will have the mountain to yourself and the snow will be spectacular.

 

[Riverskier]

I doubt Saddleback is any further than Jay. Like BackLoafRiver said, check the trip report forum for some great Saddleback reports. I was there last Saturday and the skiing was great. Excellent cover in the woods, and mid week the place would be empty. I would recomend Sunday River based on proximity and what will likely be stellar conditions. I would say the 10 inches is accurate based on actual snow totals from around the state. I have seen some pretty nice pics too of the skiing there this week, and they are pretty much 100% open.

 

[frozencorn]

Used to do day-trips to SR all the time. Wasn't all that bad.

 

[MattGoose]

Riverskier - I think the ride to Saddleback is an hour more than it is to Jay. Both trips are 222 miles, but Saddleback has 100 miles of the highway, and Jay only has 20. But, I'm not sure how fast google maps has you going once you are off the highway...

BLR and Salsgang, I took a look at the TR for Saddlback and they look amazing. They've gotten some great new snow, and I doubt anyone has touched it.

Couple of Saddleback questions:
1. What is RT 4 like through Maine? Is it one of those 50mph roads that everyone does 70 on? How long does that 100 miles take?
2. Thoughts on skiing Casablanca alone? When you are in the woods at Sunday River, you can only end up so far from an open trail and other people. I feel like you could go into Casablanca and never be seen again. I consider it more slackcountry than anything else.
3. I know there is great variation, but how hard is Casablanca? Are we talking Blind Ambition, Last Tango, or Flying Monkey?
4. To get there from Boston, it looks like you get off 95 at pretty much the same exit as Sunday River (and go up 4 instead of over on 26). So I could make the call there about where to go?

So, I think we can cross VT off the list.

Now its just down to SR and Saddleback. The fact that I've never been there before and the new snow is a huge plus. But the Boston - Saddleback - Concord, NH trip is 420 miles and listed as 9.5 hours. Boston - SR - Concord is 315 miles and 6.5 hours.

Hell, if I did Saddleback I could swing through Waterville and get some Pad Thai before going back to NH....

 

[MattGoose]

Don't know if this will work...

The Waterville detour adds about 30 minutes, if I didn't do that and did this what's the drive through northern NH like? Anything to see?

Either way, it's a long, long day. Need to be out the door, in the car and driving by 5am to make it work I think.....

 

[salsgang]

Riverskier - I think the ride to Saddleback is an hour more than it is to Jay. Both trips are 222 miles, but Saddleback has 100 miles of the highway, and Jay only has 20. But, I'm not sure how fast google maps has you going once you are off the highway...

BLR and Salsgang, I took a look at the TR for Saddlback and they look amazing. They've gotten some great new snow, and I doubt anyone has touched it.

Couple of Saddleback questions:
1. What is RT 4 like through Maine? Is it one of those 50mph roads that everyone does 70 on? How long does that 100 miles take?
2. Thoughts on skiing Casablanca alone? When you are in the woods at Sunday River, you can only end up so far from an open trail and other people. I feel like you could go into Casablanca and never be seen again. I consider it more slackcountry than anything else.
3. I know there is great variation, but how hard is Casablanca? Are we talking Blind Ambition, Last Tango, or Flying Monkey?
4. To get there from Boston, it looks like you get off 95 at pretty much the same exit as Sunday River (and go up 4 instead of over on 26). So I could make the call there about where to go?

So, I think we can cross VT off the list.

Now its just down to SR and Saddleback. The fact that I've never been there before and the new snow is a huge plus. But the Boston - Saddleback - Concord, NH trip is 420 miles and listed as 9.5 hours. Boston - SR - Concord is 315 miles and 6.5 hours.

Hell, if I did Saddleback I could swing through Waterville and get some Pad Thai before going back to NH....

1. Xwhaler said in another thread about getting to his seasonal rental in Rangeley. "We come up each wknd....3 hours door to door (Portsmouth-Oquossoc) if roads are clear and no major slow ups through Portland or Auburn". Route 4 is much improved this year past Farmington. I can do 60ish comfortably except for a couple of short sections.

2. Casablanca is out there for sure. Best with a partner probably. Ski it in the morning and then they will have the rest of the day to find you. ;-) Seriously it is something to consider

3. Its a pretty hard glade...? Not enough glade experience at SR to compare. But if the snow is good (which is should be) it will be exceptional.

4. I would hang on the interstate until the Auburn exit and get on 4 there. You could also consider staying on the interstate until Augusta and taking 27 to Farmington to Route 4. They both are about the same time-wise in the end.

 

[Smellytele]

From Concord, NH Saddleback is furthur than Jay.

 

[tipsdown]

Riverskier - I think the ride to Saddleback is an hour more than it is to Jay. Both trips are 222 miles, but Saddleback has 100 miles of the highway, and Jay only has 20. But, I'm not sure how fast google maps has you going once you are off the highway...

BLR and Salsgang, I took a look at the TR for Saddlback and they look amazing. They've gotten some great new snow, and I doubt anyone has touched it.

Couple of Saddleback questions:
1. What is RT 4 like through Maine? Is it one of those 50mph roads that everyone does 70 on? How long does that 100 miles take?
2. Thoughts on skiing Casablanca alone? When you are in the woods at Sunday River, you can only end up so far from an open trail and other people. I feel like you could go into Casablanca and never be seen again. I consider it more slackcountry than anything else.
3. I know there is great variation, but how hard is Casablanca? Are we talking Blind Ambition, Last Tango, or Flying Monkey?
4. To get there from Boston, it looks like you get off 95 at pretty much the same exit as Sunday River (and go up 4 instead of over on 26). So I could make the call there about where to go?

So, I think we can cross VT off the list.

Now its just down to SR and Saddleback. The fact that I've never been there before and the new snow is a huge plus. But the Boston - Saddleback - Concord, NH trip is 420 miles and listed as 9.5 hours. Boston - SR - Concord is 315 miles and 6.5 hours.

Hell, if I did Saddleback I could swing through Waterville and get some Pad Thai before going back to NH....

I'll jump in here to..
1. Rt 4 is a 50MPH rd and I normally go 60 most of the way. I make the commute from Boston quite often and if you're not leaving at rush hour, it's not 5 hours, it's actually more like 4…A lot of people seem surprised by that but it's true. You can get there in 4 or under with no stops…
2. Casablanca…The TR's probably speak for themselves…It's so expansive that there will be no one NEAR you…especially mid-week
3. Again, see above. A lot of people that have skiied it have claimed that it's arugaubley the best on map stuff in the East. It's very difficult. Parts are tight, parts are open. It has it all, terrain features included.
4. Take 95 to Auburn Exit 75 and then Rt. 4 to Rangeley. About 1.45-2 hrs from Auburn.

reasons you should to go to S-Back
You haven't been
You like Glades
You like short/no liftlines
And it's probably the best conditions anywhere right now.

I guarantee you will be happy you made the trip

 

[Riverskier]

Riverskier - I think the ride to Saddleback is an hour more than it is to Jay. Both trips are 222 miles, but Saddleback has 100 miles of the highway, and Jay only has 20. But, I'm not sure how fast google maps has you going once you are off the highway...

BLR and Salsgang, I took a look at the TR for Saddlback and they look amazing. They've gotten some great new snow, and I doubt anyone has touched it.

Couple of Saddleback questions:
1. What is RT 4 like through Maine? Is it one of those 50mph roads that everyone does 70 on? How long does that 100 miles take?
2. Thoughts on skiing Casablanca alone? When you are in the woods at Sunday River, you can only end up so far from an open trail and other people. I feel like you could go into Casablanca and never be seen again. I consider it more slackcountry than anything else.
3. I know there is great variation, but how hard is Casablanca? Are we talking Blind Ambition, Last Tango, or Flying Monkey?
4. To get there from Boston, it looks like you get off 95 at pretty much the same exit as Sunday River (and go up 4 instead of over on 26). So I could make the call there about where to go?

So, I think we can cross VT off the list.

Now its just down to SR and Saddleback. The fact that I've never been there before and the new snow is a huge plus. But the Boston - Saddleback - Concord, NH trip is 420 miles and listed as 9.5 hours. Boston - SR - Concord is 315 miles and 6.5 hours.

Hell, if I did Saddleback I could swing through Waterville and get some Pad Thai before going back to NH....

I live about 20 minutes south of Auburn off Route 4 and it took me 2:15 both ways to Saddleback including a 10 minute stop each way. Admittedly, I have no idea how long it takes to get to Jay, but I will say that some people can do Saddleback from Boston in 4 hours, depending on traffic and how you drive.

1) Route 4 is one of those 50 mph roads where people do 70. I would say you can do the 100 miles in 2 hours, but again it depends on traffic, road conditions, and how you drive.

2) I am not a backcountry skier, and had never been to Saddleback before last weekend, but I felt comfortable exploring Casablanca alone. While the glade is huge, all of the routes are numbered and feed right down to the run out. The entire glade is bound by trails. If you were to get hurt, it could take a while for someone to find you, but I don't see getting lost being an issue.

3) The difficulty does vary, but I would compare it to Celestial and flying Monkey at sunday River. Fairly steep and tight, but nothing crazy, that I found anyway. Again, this was my first time there.

4) If you are decided on Saddleback, I would take the Auburn exit. You can take the Gray exit, the same as Sunday River, but you would end up with approximately 15 more miles of Route 4, as opposed to highway.

If you don't mind the drive, I would highly recomend Saddleback! Sunday river will be great too though, so you really can't lose.

 

[Smellytele]

From Concord from which you will be coming from you say
4:22 to Saddleback
2:43 to Jay
Of course you could drive faster to either place - more highway to Jay - 93 to 91

 

[justjen]

I'm taking a day trip from Winchester to SR tomorrow primarily because I have a 2-for-1 and I want to get a day in before the rain hits next week. I would like to get up to Saddleback (never been), Jay, or the Loaf, but it's too far for me. We do day trips to SR a lot because it's dependable and we've always got some type of discount.

Wherever you end up, HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

 

[angry swede]

I hear wildcat has $9 lift tickets tomorrow. Otherwise I would hit Sunday River. Appear to have the most recent semi-significant snow accumulations, while still debatably in the day trip range (for me at least).

 

[BackLoafRiver]

Riverskier - I think the ride to Saddleback is an hour more than it is to Jay. Both trips are 222 miles, but Saddleback has 100 miles of the highway, and Jay only has 20. But, I'm not sure how fast google maps has you going once you are off the highway...

BLR and Salsgang, I took a look at the TR for Saddlback and they look amazing. They've gotten some great new snow, and I doubt anyone has touched it.

Couple of Saddleback questions:
1. What is RT 4 like through Maine? Is it one of those 50mph roads that everyone does 70 on? How long does that 100 miles take?
2. Thoughts on skiing Casablanca alone? When you are in the woods at Sunday River, you can only end up so far from an open trail and other people. I feel like you could go into Casablanca and never be seen again. I consider it more slackcountry than anything else.
3. I know there is great variation, but how hard is Casablanca? Are we talking Blind Ambition, Last Tango, or Flying Monkey?
4. To get there from Boston, it looks like you get off 95 at pretty much the same exit as Sunday River (and go up 4 instead of over on 26). So I could make the call there about where to go?

So, I think we can cross VT off the list.

Now its just down to SR and Saddleback. The fact that I've never been there before and the new snow is a huge plus. But the Boston - Saddleback - Concord, NH trip is 420 miles and listed as 9.5 hours. Boston - SR - Concord is 315 miles and 6.5 hours.

Hell, if I did Saddleback I could swing through Waterville and get some Pad Thai before going back to NH....

Would you be heading to Pad Thai 2 by chance? Good place. Great food.

I think the rest of the guys have summed it up pretty well. Rt. 4 is MUCH improved and you can really haul during the day. I never see anyone on it. Just be careful if you are going through Farmington as there have been a ton of police pulling people over lately. (saw 2 cars pulled over yesterday on my way back from Sugarloaf)

If you are up for the drive, do Saddleback. It will be beyond empty and the skiing should be fabulous. (especially if the weather is similar to today)