Mt Snow Trip Reports 2019-2020

jaytrem

Mount Snow is weird, they ran the GSE even after there was no line at all for the Bluebird. Think they would take down the fence that blocked off the one side and save some electricity. Was still running just before 4.

ski_it

Today was a nice blue bird but cold day. I heard ski school was down to just 70. Much calmer experience. Middle Exhibition was fun with the blown in powder. North face was empty yet they ran both chairs. BearTrap was surprisingly skiable all over. Good day brrr

TomWhite

Sunday it seems everyone wanted to ski. Adding Mount Snow to the list of areas that sold-out on Sunday. The list to date includes Wachusett, Crotched, Gunstock, Pat's and Sunapee. Others?

They were parking on the access road at Mt. Abram. The lodge was elbow to elbow. The summit double, maxed at 7-8 min. The T-bar (near to summit) ran all day. Because there was so much open, no trails were crowded. Rocky's, a true double black was good. It's a natural. It's actually Lower Rocky's that's real steep. The first pitch was good. The second steep pitch was, well rocky! I bought HalfPriceOnline the night before, 2 for $39. I declare Mt. A was sold out.

rickbolger

survived the weekend at Mount Sneaux, here's my take FWIW

Saturday, arrived 8:30ish, mid lot at Sundance. Enjoyed a couple flights down Chute, then a couple equally pleasurable runs on Little Dipper, heard some people bickering in the very short line on bear trap, went to Carinthia for some crazy reason, back to the summit for a final run down South Bowl back to Sundance Lodge and then we hit the bricks around 11:30. Terrific morning, very good conditions overall.

Saturday night I went to the Snow Republic "brewery" and my ears still hurt. In their marketing Venn diagram they must have a target audience circle. I'm not in it.

Sunday arrived 8:30 ish, got in 2nd to last row at Sundance. Conditions were fantastic, thoroughly enjoyed skiing through the chop and soft powder bumps. What a great day. First run was Uncles, my family quickly moved into the trees and all I could hear was whooping and hollering. Hop was more pucker bush and schist than snow but still pleasurable.

Skier's right on Snowdance was my favorite. Did it a few times. Never really skied that part as it's usually glare ice. It was all soft chop and pow with some sticks to help gauge the terrain. Loved it. The groomed portion was mobbed, but it didn't affect us. The right side was empty. The only thing more fun was Overbrook, but that took a toll on my legs. It was just off-the-charts fun. Couldn't stop smiling!

Spent a bit of the afternoon using Ego Alley to lap the chop on skier's right on Exhibition. Also incredible fun.

One of my all time favorite ski days. It helped that I was skiing with family, made the lines go quicker. We only did the Bluebird once, it was long but not dreadful. Mostly used Canyon, Sundance and Ego Alley. Only regret? I wish they had dropped the ropes on Big Dipper (I don't duck)

It was unbelievably crowded as mentioned above. Heard the same thing about people being turned away. Regardless of all that, I think it was a good day for the sport. I saw a lot of people who were terrible skiers having fun anyway, and a lot of people pushing their skill level to the max. It was fantastic. Long lines at times, but it's a holiday. All in all a great day for skiing.

Stopped skiing at 3:45 and left Sundance around 4:30. Saw cars parked along roadways where I've never seen them before.

Monday Martin Luther King Day arrived 8:30ish, it was cold, parked very close to the front at Sundance. Conditions were pretty darn good, did a couple runs here and there but my body felt like it was hit by a bus from the previous day's efforts. Snowdance was not as soft as Sunday but again fun. Overbrook was great, South Bowl had Colorado conditions below the top part. Standard was also good -- super fast.

I did the bluebird once, and then I was one of the brave souls using the Grand Summit.

Left around 11.

ski_it

Great synopsis. Me thinks, my eyes are too jaded now to give an impartial good report like you guys do.
Would have loved to done a lap with you if I knew you were around. We also were at the brewery Sat. around 5:30 but I didn't see ya. Sorry we missed you. Of course, I'd probably only had made out half of what you would have said anyway. Did you see the guy out of CT marketing his custom shotskis & snowboards while taking marketing pics? We were next to them. They thought we'd make good models... not so sure about that. Their website isn't done so we aren't internet sensations yet. shootersllc.net/creating They have little light up ski boots for glasses and click in bindings. I've seen these boots somewhere else..maybe Cuzzins? It was snowing hard when we left & we saw two luxury SUVs in the ditch on the way back.
Note to Dr J. - to my eyes our condo complex was filled until Sunday morning. I saw several cars with violation stickers on them for days. Now if they would really tow a few of these & some others parked in bad spots around the resort, that would be doing something.

Mrs Ski_it lost a ski on the icy headwall on the Hop late Sunday and it rocketed by me where I was waiting into a tree. The heel part holding the brake had broken off but the binding still worked good enough to get home. Now I wouldn't be suspicious in the least if she hadn't just happen to ask me about my life insurance on Thursday. Hmmmm

rickbolger

Did you see the guy out of CT marketing his custom shotskis & snowboards while taking marketing pics? We were next to them. They thought we'd make good models... not so sure about that. Their website isn't done so we aren't internet sensations yet.

I saw some light up shotskis come in and then were passed overhead by somebody, I'm sure that was it. I can't say for sure if they were light up because with all the video screens and swirling lights and music and general cacophony it was overstimulating.

Probably didn't see you because my sons-in-law did the short beer line at the bar while I waited out of the way.

Was about to ask the owner if he would consider a lower volume, but then I figured, what would be the point? He obviously has some kind of plan and knows what his target audience wants, and I'm too cheap to return with any regularity even if the experience were less mind-numbing.

An editorial if I may...I counted two babies and one toddler in there!! What kind of extreme special stupid does it take to do that? Unbelievable.

Chuckstah

Pretty average punch the clock day today. Firm and fast on most groomers, and equipment damaging thin on the naturals. Saw a few people remove skis to negotiate some spots . Trails listed as open were closed ( Narrow Gauge), and closed open. Only snow making was on niche areas, the race trail and parks. Claiming 70 percent open, much of it natural. I'm not sure what more they can cover to get to their claimed 83 percent snow making? Skiing on the naturals was a lot of fun, but you better not like your skis😀

DrJeff

Pretty average punch the clock day today. Firm and fast on most groomers, and equipment damaging thin on the naturals. Saw a few people remove skis to negotiate some spots . Trails listed as open were closed ( Narrow Gauge), and closed open. Only snow making was on niche areas, the race trail and parks. Claiming 70 percent open, much of it natural. I'm not sure what more they can cover to get to their claimed 83 percent snow making? Skiing on the naturals was a lot of fun, but you better not like your skis😀

But remember, it's 83% of available acreage, not 83% of total trails ;)

If they're making snow on Yard sale, (and not just pointing the tower mounted fan gun at the bottom and a few portable HKD's at the top as they did earlier this season - although it looked to my eyes while riding Ego Alley this past weekend, that the pipe between Exhibition and Yardsale that they used to set the guns for Yardsale off of may no longer be there...)

Then pretty much just the section of Upper Exhibition from the top of the Ego Alley lift on up to where Lodge splits off near the Summit is the only trail with pipes on it that they haven't made snow on yet, and even that section they haven't made snow on in 2 seasons and took out the tower mounted HKD's prior to last season.

They're entering Spring base building mode intermixed with needed resurfacing, and maybe pulling some hoses and power lines from Ridge on through the trees and over to the pitch on Hop to put some snow down there as they have done for a few years now

That and probably make some more piles at Carinthia for rebuilds of the park and a likely mini pipe at some point...

Chuckstah

Pretty average punch the clock day today. Firm and fast on most groomers, and equipment damaging thin on the naturals. Saw a few people remove skis to negotiate some spots . Trails listed as open were closed ( Narrow Gauge), and closed open. Only snow making was on niche areas, the race trail and parks. Claiming 70 percent open, much of it natural. I'm not sure what more they can cover to get to their claimed 83 percent snow making? Skiing on the naturals was a lot of fun, but you better not like your skis😀
But remember, it's 83% of available acreage, not 83% of total trails ;)

If they're making snow on Yard sale, (and not just pointing the tower mounted fan gun at the bottom and a few portable HKD's at the top as they did earlier this season - although it looked to my eyes while riding Ego Alley this past weekend, that the pipe between Exhibition and Yardsale that they used to set the guns for Yardsale off of may no longer be there...)

Then pretty much just the section of Upper Exhibition from the top of the Ego Alley lift on up to where Lodge splits off near the Summit is the only trail with pipes on it that they haven't made snow on yet, and even that section they haven't made snow on in 2 seasons and took out the tower mounted HKD's prior to last season.

They're entering Spring base building mode intermixed with needed resurfacing, and maybe pulling some hoses and power lines from Ridge on through the trees and over to the pitch on Hop to put some snow down there as they have done for a few years now

That and probably make some more piles at Carinthia for rebuilds of the park and a likely mini pipe at some point...

Yes. That's what's being reported as open. Currently 71 percent of acres. And lots of it is natural. I think the 83 percent claim is highly suspect. Yard sale was open. Thin cover, but fun,. The only Snow making was above on Ego as of closing.

newpylong

Pretty average punch the clock day today. Firm and fast on most groomers, and equipment damaging thin on the naturals. Saw a few people remove skis to negotiate some spots . Trails listed as open were closed ( Narrow Gauge), and closed open. Only snow making was on niche areas, the race trail and parks. Claiming 70 percent open, much of it natural. I'm not sure what more they can cover to get to their claimed 83 percent snow making? Skiing on the naturals was a lot of fun, but you better not like your skis😀
But remember, it's 83% of available acreage, not 83% of total trails ;)

If they're making snow on Yard sale, (and not just pointing the tower mounted fan gun at the bottom and a few portable HKD's at the top as they did earlier this season - although it looked to my eyes while riding Ego Alley this past weekend, that the pipe between Exhibition and Yardsale that they used to set the guns for Yardsale off of may no longer be there...)

Then pretty much just the section of Upper Exhibition from the top of the Ego Alley lift on up to where Lodge splits off near the Summit is the only trail with pipes on it that they haven't made snow on yet, and even that section they haven't made snow on in 2 seasons and took out the tower mounted HKD's prior to last season.

They're entering Spring base building mode intermixed with needed resurfacing, and maybe pulling some hoses and power lines from Ridge on through the trees and over to the pitch on Hop to put some snow down there as they have done for a few years now

That and probably make some more piles at Carinthia for rebuilds of the park and a likely mini pipe at some point...

I don't understand why they don't cover "Upper" Exhibition anymore imho that's the best part of that trail. Have they made snow on the S curves ie old Standard? That seemed to have stopped in the past few season too. That's a great way to bypass the congestion in the Canyon from the top.

DrJeff

Pretty average punch the clock day today. Firm and fast on most groomers, and equipment damaging thin on the naturals. Saw a few people remove skis to negotiate some spots . Trails listed as open were closed ( Narrow Gauge), and closed open. Only snow making was on niche areas, the race trail and parks. Claiming 70 percent open, much of it natural. I'm not sure what more they can cover to get to their claimed 83 percent snow making? Skiing on the naturals was a lot of fun, but you better not like your skis😀
But remember, it's 83% of available acreage, not 83% of total trails ;)

If they're making snow on Yard sale, (and not just pointing the tower mounted fan gun at the bottom and a few portable HKD's at the top as they did earlier this season - although it looked to my eyes while riding Ego Alley this past weekend, that the pipe between Exhibition and Yardsale that they used to set the guns for Yardsale off of may no longer be there...)

Then pretty much just the section of Upper Exhibition from the top of the Ego Alley lift on up to where Lodge splits off near the Summit is the only trail with pipes on it that they haven't made snow on yet, and even that section they haven't made snow on in 2 seasons and took out the tower mounted HKD's prior to last season.

They're entering Spring base building mode intermixed with needed resurfacing, and maybe pulling some hoses and power lines from Ridge on through the trees and over to the pitch on Hop to put some snow down there as they have done for a few years now

That and probably make some more piles at Carinthia for rebuilds of the park and a likely mini pipe at some point...
I don't understand why they don't cover "Upper" Exhibition anymore imho that's the best part of that trail. Have they made snow on the S curves ie old Standard? That seemed to have stopped in the past few season too. That's a great way to bypass the congestion in the Canyon from the top.

What I was told, by someone who certainly would know, why they're not covering that part of Ex anymore has to do with the combo of the exposure to the South causing an earlier melt out, the proximity to the GSE and the de-icing of the chairs/towers in that area after snowmaking operations especially since they're using some type of tower gun vs ground tripods there when they last did make snow on it, and the amount of snow it takes to effectively cover the decent amount of sidehill ledge that comprises a good portion of the ground surface there.

Kind of miss having that as a reliable option for more of the season now vs when they made some snow on it....

As for the Standard S turns, they haven't done a dragging of hoses over there now for many years. And that I will say is one of the trails that I agree with you, and look forward to getting some snowmaking on it, as it will definitely change up how some of the masses that typically go Cascade-Canyon (or even just Canyon) will get to the bottom, kind of like this season in Sunbrook, the adding of snowmaking to the route they're now calling just Little Dipper, has changed for the better IMHO how folks ski the Sunbrook area

ski_it

Standard S turns? Where is this of which you two speak?
Well the thin cover probably helped make Middle Exhibition my powder run last Sunday. I haven't been doing my skis any favors on there, Hop, Shootout, Uncles, Ledge, Drifter, lower Lodge or the condo run is probably the worst. Did I miss any? I've only gone into the glades once but I'm not that good to be in them anyways.

DrJeff

Standard S turns? Where is this of which you two speak?
Well the thin cover probably helped make Middle Exhibition my powder run last Sunday. I haven't been doing my skis any favors on there, Hop, Shootout, Uncles, Ledge, Drifter, lower Lodge or the condo run is probably the worst. Did I miss any? I've only gone into the glades once but I'm not that good to be in them anyways.

The Standard "S turns" are a section of the Standard trail (natural snow, runs basically parallel to Canyon from where Cascade meets it down to where Somerset Road crosses. It's a fun, flowing trail that makes some loose S turns in it's path down the mountain.

Many years ago, they used to on occasion drag some snowmaking hoses over from adjacent trails and make some snow there. It's been all about the natural snow on that trail now for a bunch of years

rickbolger

Isn't that hodge podge of turns identified as Choke and Ledge these days?

DrJeff

Isn't that hodge podge of turns identified as Choke and Ledge these days?

Which back in the day was, or atleast some of those curves, known as Standard...

newpylong

Jeff there is no need to drag to that trail there is pipe, it's the return line for something to the south I haven't seen the mechanical map in a long time so I do not remember which, could be Ego. The pipe goes down Choke then skips to Ledge and back to Choke, or vice versa forgot which, but it's there.

Perhaps you're thinking of Illusion, they always used to drag to there but I think they finally yanked the air line off Canyon so not possible, not that they would anyway.

That is pretty lame about Exhibition. All valid reasons but not insurmountable.

ski_it

Back in the day 2008 trail map...
Hmm not too legible try
https://skimap.org/data/210/260/1283967503.jpg

Chuckstah

Today was much better than yesterday. The snow on most runs was soft and grippy, with the exception of some of the North Face runs. Several of the extra thin naturals from yesterday were thankfully closed. Fun runs on One More Time, Overbrook, Uncles,Pats Pitch, and more, but still very thin rock ski only terrain. Guns were still running on Ego and the half pipe with newly added guns on Fallen Timbers and Yard Sale which had the fan pointed at it plus a couple ground guns. Skied til last chair, real nice day. Forgot to take any pictures.

ski_it

Oh you midweek peeps are killing me. ;)
Wait they opened Pats Pitch?? It looked doable Sunday Monday but no rope drop. I did the bottom of Lodge next door, late Sunday. That was fun for me maybe not for my skis. First time this season I saw it opened.
Speaking of doable. On Crazy Sunday I was real surprised that no one poached upper Exhibition until real late. On the other hand in the afternoon everyone & their mother was poaching under the BB at the summit. I think the area is nicknamed MOW? tRode with some patrollers Saturday as some guys jumped the rope on Drifter. Nothing they could do. They said in Colorado that was a $500 fine, loss of pass and subject to arrest. Is that true?

rickbolger

Which back in the day was, or at least some of those curves, known as Standard...

Interesting! Did not know that. I started skiing at Mount Snow during the "Un Blanco Gulch" era and I always thought the entire length of the big open trail next to the Canyon lift was called Standard. Now the re-name to Canyon makes more sense to me.

Have only been in those s-turns a handful of times, agree it is a fun route

« Previous Page Next Page »