Apr 19 2018
We will not be opening again for the weekend.
Prospect Mountain, in Woodford, VT, east of Bennington on Rt 9 is still open. They had double the snow that we did during each storm in March. Ian, Heather and Graham skied at Prospect on Wednesday and had a great time and a great ski. They said the snow is great.
Season pass holders can ski here at WWXC…no grooming, and sticks and debris and bare spots exist but the skiing is pretty nice. ...
Apr 19 2018
That was a fun, quick week. Flew to Bozeman on the 11th and flew back on the 18th. Snow in Montana on Tuesday before I left, and snow here on Thursday as I step back into the reality of Vermont.
We saw the buffalo at the Minerva Terraces in Mammoth, WY. We went to Mammoth this time, instead of West Yellowstone, because the road was not open yet from West to Old Faithful. The elk look like they have had a hard winter. The were scrawny and their winter coat shaggy. The buffalo look the same as other years. Calving season is just starting and we saw some big mamas. The first buffalo calf sighting was two days after we were at Mammoth. Just north of Gardner we also saw a herd of about 15 mountain sheep. It was a good day. ...
Apr 11 2018
Middle Blue Jay, the first mess.
Closed for the season. A couple of updates.
Chuck and I took a leisurely snow mobile tour around the Middle Blue Jay. WOW! I continue to be amazed at the damage from the April 4th wind storm. Six or seven trees in the trail requiring the chain saw. Four trees on the Upper Blue Jay. We lost part of an old grandfather maple on the Goshawk and another huge!!! sugar maple uprooted and tipped over. ...
Apr 10 2018
Trail Map
Closed for the season, 24º and cloudy. Forecast, 39ª and snow flurries.
No rest for the weary. Ian started his non-ski season job yesterday and after that went for a ski with a couple friends, and then out on the trails with neighbor Bill to work on laying out the new racing loop. What I know right now is, up around in the area of the Lower Blue Jay and Goshawk. And we could see some changes to the down hill part of our skiing. This is going to be a fun summer, filled with more changes!! ...
Apr 09 2018
Closed, 15º at 7 am and sunny. A blue beautiful sky. Forecast 35º and partly sunny.
Alec sent this photo of his granddaughter to me yesterday. He said, “Second time on cross country skis. Had to hustle to keep up.”
Every skiing grandparent wants to be able to bring the grandkids skiing! And everybody both admires and is a little sad when the older person can’t keep up anymore. Ian was in second grade when he could ski faster than me. But even to this day, he slows down and just skis with me as we chat. When he was 8 we probably talked about how much he wanted a Nintendo. Now we talk about which trees should stay and which tree, when removed, would improve the skiing. ...
Apr 08 2018
Perfect tracks. April 7th, 2018.
Open, 25º at 8:30 am and sunny. Forecast high today. 33º. Nice spring skiing. Lower trails open, Turkey, Woodcock, Snow Goose, Grouse, Lower Blue Jay groomed last night. Goshawk open, not groomed, there are some wet spots at the top of Goshawk you can ski around, but the groomer can’t get around.
It has been quite a season. From snow and really cold, to the spell in January, rain, warm, freeze, really cold, snow, repeat. A great start to February and the right back into the repetitive pattern of January. All turning around at the end of February and March to end with some of the best skiing in decades. And to think that it is now April 8th and we have great spring skiing. ...
Apr 07 2018
Perfect tracks. April 7th, 2018.
Open, 25º at 7:30am. Forecast high 34º and party sunny. The skiing is perfect and soft and wonderful. Because the high will be around 34º, you will need Maxiglide on no-wax skis. The photo above is from this morning about 6:00am. How does Ian get from the groomer to the photo taking spot without leaving boot prints?
Seven inches of new snow. Yesterday afternoon, before the snow was serious, I told Ian we didn’t have to be open for the weekend if we didn’t get enough snow to have good skiing. He told me we would be fine and the skiing would be good. Holy cow, he was right! ...
I’ve been skiing here since before I can remember. As a kid I took this place for granted, but am now becoming (more) grateful. So much work gets put into these trails and it shows. It’s the end of March and the skiing is still… Read more “I’ve been skiing here since”
I love that run on Upper Jay! The tracks are in the perfect place. Thank you Ian! I was once a groomer and I want to point out that setting track with the Tidd Tech is a very deliberate affair. If you want to stop… Read more “Groomer to Groomer”
