BackLoafRiver
New member
Date(s) Skied: January 15 and 16, 2011
Resort or Ski Area: Wildcat, NH
Conditions: Powder, Packed Powder
Trip Report:
The upside to being blacked out is that it gives me a chance to check out some of the areas I have been dying to ski. We decided to head to Gorham and spend 2 nights and ski 2 days.
Arrived at the lodge around 7:45 Saturday morning. Since I was anticipating the crowd, I booted up and headed to the Quad. The lifties dropped the rope at 8:15 (which I guess is quite uncommon since Peak Resorts took over) and I was on the second chair.
First, the scenery. Unreal. Bluebird day and it was absolutely gorgeous. Coming off the quad and turning only to see Mt. Washington and the Presidentials....totally surreal.
Next, the conditions. They were still reeling from the 21" they received Wednesday and Thursday. It helped them open about 80% of the mountain. All the glades were closed as well as a few other trails. (mostly black diamonds that had coverage issues) Blackcat, Wildcat Pitch, Upper Wildcat, Starr Line, and The chutes were all closed. Everything else was pretty well groomed out. Only 3 trials were left au natural.
What really struck me was how interesting everything was to ski. From their beginner stuff all the way through to the advanced, you never felt like it was just a superhighway. Everything was twisty, turny, and super fun.
The crowd didn't show until about 10:30 but, even then, the lines were no more than a minute or two. By 12, it was back to ski on. Unfortunately in that hour and a half, the masses did their damage. Most of the stuff with pitch was scraped off and even the edges were difficult. Rock became exposed and you had to choose your lines pretty carefully.
Met up with some guy who posts on T4T regularly. Made one run with him. That dude rips. I was going all out and couldn't keep up. Real nice guy and easily one of the best skiers I have ever made turns with.
Wrapped up Saturday around 2:00 so we could head to No. Conway for some grub. On the way home, it was snowing like a bastard. Route 16 was a mess. What should have been a 30 minute drive took an hour and 15. Scary stuff.
Today I knew I was in for a treat. Showed up for first chair. The snow report said 4". What was waiting at the top was some of the fluffiest snow I have skied in. There were places where it was boot deep. First tracks all over the place and it was GORGEOUS. Clouds stuck around all morning until approx. 12 when the sun fought to make an appearance.
Everything on skiers right of the mountain held snow very well. ROTD was definitely Upper Pole Cat -> Tom Cat -> Tom Cat Schuss -> Lower Polecat. Tom Cat Schuss was unreal. Super soft bumps and knee deep powder on the edges. Got double ejected on one turn only to get stuck waist deep.
Definitely one of the coolest vibes of any mountain I have skied. Real laid back and classic new england style trails. I will definitely be back.
Some shots from this weekend: (I need to get a better camera for shooting skiing stuff)
From the quad line:
From the top of the quad looking toward Portland:
Some fresh lines:
Resort or Ski Area: Wildcat, NH
Conditions: Powder, Packed Powder
Trip Report:
The upside to being blacked out is that it gives me a chance to check out some of the areas I have been dying to ski. We decided to head to Gorham and spend 2 nights and ski 2 days.
Arrived at the lodge around 7:45 Saturday morning. Since I was anticipating the crowd, I booted up and headed to the Quad. The lifties dropped the rope at 8:15 (which I guess is quite uncommon since Peak Resorts took over) and I was on the second chair.
First, the scenery. Unreal. Bluebird day and it was absolutely gorgeous. Coming off the quad and turning only to see Mt. Washington and the Presidentials....totally surreal.
Next, the conditions. They were still reeling from the 21" they received Wednesday and Thursday. It helped them open about 80% of the mountain. All the glades were closed as well as a few other trails. (mostly black diamonds that had coverage issues) Blackcat, Wildcat Pitch, Upper Wildcat, Starr Line, and The chutes were all closed. Everything else was pretty well groomed out. Only 3 trials were left au natural.
What really struck me was how interesting everything was to ski. From their beginner stuff all the way through to the advanced, you never felt like it was just a superhighway. Everything was twisty, turny, and super fun.
The crowd didn't show until about 10:30 but, even then, the lines were no more than a minute or two. By 12, it was back to ski on. Unfortunately in that hour and a half, the masses did their damage. Most of the stuff with pitch was scraped off and even the edges were difficult. Rock became exposed and you had to choose your lines pretty carefully.
Met up with some guy who posts on T4T regularly. Made one run with him. That dude rips. I was going all out and couldn't keep up. Real nice guy and easily one of the best skiers I have ever made turns with.
Wrapped up Saturday around 2:00 so we could head to No. Conway for some grub. On the way home, it was snowing like a bastard. Route 16 was a mess. What should have been a 30 minute drive took an hour and 15. Scary stuff.
Today I knew I was in for a treat. Showed up for first chair. The snow report said 4". What was waiting at the top was some of the fluffiest snow I have skied in. There were places where it was boot deep. First tracks all over the place and it was GORGEOUS. Clouds stuck around all morning until approx. 12 when the sun fought to make an appearance.
Everything on skiers right of the mountain held snow very well. ROTD was definitely Upper Pole Cat -> Tom Cat -> Tom Cat Schuss -> Lower Polecat. Tom Cat Schuss was unreal. Super soft bumps and knee deep powder on the edges. Got double ejected on one turn only to get stuck waist deep.
Definitely one of the coolest vibes of any mountain I have skied. Real laid back and classic new england style trails. I will definitely be back.
Some shots from this weekend: (I need to get a better camera for shooting skiing stuff)
From the quad line:
From the top of the quad looking toward Portland:
Some fresh lines:
