Post by superbman on Dec 20, 2013 14:21:39 GMT -7
Well, I started skiing again this week, and man, in the four days I have skied have I run the gamut of New England variability:
1. Day 1: Saturday-cold, firm but thoroughly acceptable opening day groomers. My legs weren't ready, and I am in good shape (but there is no true substitute for sliding on frozen water other than sliding on frozen water).
2. Day 2: Sunday…Powder Day?? Hardest day in a While! So, we picked up close to 14 inches of outrageously (for us) dry, light snow (average temp during the storm was about 9 degrees), but, at 6am in the morning, a New England 'anomaly' occurred, even though it was a balmy 18 degrees out, it started raining (!!!); true freezing rain and not ice pellets, but rain and it made a serious stiff crust on 14 inches of the lightest snow….Let me tell you something, Fat skis, thin skis, no skis, it didn't matter, Everyone broke through, and sank because the snow was so light you still needed speed to float up (and the crust was thick enough to prevent resurfacing even with speed and would easily stop most people dead in their tracks). Craziest conditions I have ever skied (and yes, I have skied breakable crust a plenty (east and west) in the past, but this was truly unique!). Lot's of work, lots of 'athletic compensation'-but, by around 1pm much of the crust was broken up, we were 100% open (!!!) and skiing was pretty excellent (though, still not for the feint of heart or the weak of skill).
3. Day 3 Thursday! Tuesday/wednesday dropped another 6-7 inches of cold smoke on the hill (with no icing!) and it sat drying until thursday's reopening on a cold december morning. The skiing was DIVINE! Unbroken lines for much of the day, tree run and rock free off-piste runs again again (and this is mid december in Massachusetts!). Might end up being the best day of the season. Liam do you have video of this..well, yes I do! Thanks to my handy dandy iPhone 4 . This is a short video of me, a few other patrollers and some friends skiing a well traveled Berkshire East Glade, and one of their best off-piste pitches. I appear first, then my friend Matty G (in the Black), then his brother Jeffrey (another Patroller) with some quick shots of a few other Patrollers skiing and boarding along. This was the first time this season I felt like I had my 'feet under me', if you know what I mean.
Day 4: Today, Friday-Still a good day, but we temps in the low 40's and then started getting…RAIN (!!!), snow got heavy and slushy, but still enjoyable. I don't know how long the off piste will stay on line, but should still be good tomorrow, not sure after that, however. But that's the point of being a New England skier, you have to motivate to get it when it's there, you have to be willing to slog through the good and the 'challenging.' The video above is a quick snap shot of a very early season treat…I'll gobble those up every time they are available!
Merry Christmas, bring the snow.
1. Day 1: Saturday-cold, firm but thoroughly acceptable opening day groomers. My legs weren't ready, and I am in good shape (but there is no true substitute for sliding on frozen water other than sliding on frozen water).
2. Day 2: Sunday…Powder Day?? Hardest day in a While! So, we picked up close to 14 inches of outrageously (for us) dry, light snow (average temp during the storm was about 9 degrees), but, at 6am in the morning, a New England 'anomaly' occurred, even though it was a balmy 18 degrees out, it started raining (!!!); true freezing rain and not ice pellets, but rain and it made a serious stiff crust on 14 inches of the lightest snow….Let me tell you something, Fat skis, thin skis, no skis, it didn't matter, Everyone broke through, and sank because the snow was so light you still needed speed to float up (and the crust was thick enough to prevent resurfacing even with speed and would easily stop most people dead in their tracks). Craziest conditions I have ever skied (and yes, I have skied breakable crust a plenty (east and west) in the past, but this was truly unique!). Lot's of work, lots of 'athletic compensation'-but, by around 1pm much of the crust was broken up, we were 100% open (!!!) and skiing was pretty excellent (though, still not for the feint of heart or the weak of skill).
3. Day 3 Thursday! Tuesday/wednesday dropped another 6-7 inches of cold smoke on the hill (with no icing!) and it sat drying until thursday's reopening on a cold december morning. The skiing was DIVINE! Unbroken lines for much of the day, tree run and rock free off-piste runs again again (and this is mid december in Massachusetts!). Might end up being the best day of the season. Liam do you have video of this..well, yes I do! Thanks to my handy dandy iPhone 4 . This is a short video of me, a few other patrollers and some friends skiing a well traveled Berkshire East Glade, and one of their best off-piste pitches. I appear first, then my friend Matty G (in the Black), then his brother Jeffrey (another Patroller) with some quick shots of a few other Patrollers skiing and boarding along. This was the first time this season I felt like I had my 'feet under me', if you know what I mean.
Day 4: Today, Friday-Still a good day, but we temps in the low 40's and then started getting…RAIN (!!!), snow got heavy and slushy, but still enjoyable. I don't know how long the off piste will stay on line, but should still be good tomorrow, not sure after that, however. But that's the point of being a New England skier, you have to motivate to get it when it's there, you have to be willing to slog through the good and the 'challenging.' The video above is a quick snap shot of a very early season treat…I'll gobble those up every time they are available!
Merry Christmas, bring the snow.