https://newenglandskiconditions.com/viewreport.php?reportid=3669
My first day of the season is in the books, and it was a good one! I have the Indy Base Pass and New England Silver Pass this season and used the latter yesterday. Sunday River received a few inches of new snow overnight which added to the already good conditions for this early in the season, although no new snow fell while I was skiing. Coming up from Massachusetts went alright despite it snowing for most of the drive, although I didn’t arrive until midmorning.
From the Chondola, Lower American Express was only one way down and was getting a bit scraped, especially on the pitch. There were a few different options from the South Ridge Express, including Mixing Bowl open on natural snow. Tourist Trap was bumped up and had guns running, and it looked like some people were having a rough time on it.
I spent most of the morning on Barker and Locke. The Barker 6 runs super fast like its sister lift on Jordan, although I also liked riding the Locke Mountain Triple as its longer ride gave my legs a better chance to rest between runs. Ecstasy, Jungle Road and Upper Sunday Punch had good packed powder conditions as did Three Mile Trail and Sluice (natural). Lazy River was okay but got a little icy in the afternoon. Cascade was boilerplate down the middle with bumps on the sides, while Lower Sunday Punch had active snowmaking for most of the day and a variable, moguled surface. T2 was closed for racing. The narrow natural trails on the top half of Locke were skiing well and my favorite runs of the day. Right Stuff opened midday; it had thin cover and was a total leg burner!
After lunch I did a run or two on Spruce Peak. Lower Risky Business and Upper American Express had big snowmaking whales, while Upper Risky Business was natural and probably my worst run of the day as I hit a lot of rocks on it. I headed to Jordan next and opted for Lollapalooza as I heard from someone on the lift that Rogue Angel was icy. Lollapalooza was wind-scoured boilerplate at the top but decent afterwards. I noticed that the rope on Blind Ambition had been dropped so I headed in. It was great to be skiing glades this early in the season, although I bailed out halfway down after hitting a lot of stuff just under the snow.
Snowmaking was running all day in the White Cap Quad and North Peak areas as well as Lower Sunday Punch, Monday Mourning and a few other spots. Lift lines were minimal and I never had to wait more than a few chairs. The temperature was comfortable, in the upper 20s or low 30s. The annual Santa Sunday was today, but I didn’t watch it as it was on South Ridge and I was lapping Barker at the time. While my skis took a beating on the thin natural trails, I couldn’t have asked for a better first day of the season!
Riding up the Barker 6
Upper Sunday Punch
Three Mile Trail (above Lazy River split-off)
Riding up the Locke Mountain Triple over the Gould Academy T-Bar
Upper Cut
Right Stuff
Bim's Whim
Wildfire
Three Mile Trail
Locke Line
Riding up the Spruce Peak Triple
Risky Business
Riding up the Jordan 8
View from the top of Lollapalooza
Blind Ambition
