Open, 10º and partly cloudy. The expected high today is 26º, with clouds and sun all day. Tonight a messy weather system moves in, starting as snow but forecast to be raining by Friday morning, and rain Friday. We won’t know about skiing tomorrow, until tomorrow. Then we are back to a wait and see how it all plays out.

Gretchen and Ian skiing on the Woodcock, 12/26/18.

The skiing is firmly packed powder snow. A dusting of snow overnight.  Quick snow, but skiable. We had a lot of happy beginners yesterday skiing around the Woodcock and Snow Goose. Dick skied the Peregrine in just under 20 minutes yesterday and is challenging anyone 75 or older to beat his time (he thinks this is a hoot!). Bill’s friend Bob then came in and skied it faster, he’s 79.

If you are planning on skiing, get out there today. We just don’t know about the weather.

Ian on skis, 12/26/18.

Open, 10º at 7am, and crystal clear. The stars, planets, moon, sunrise all putting on a show!

Moon set 12/26/18

Expecting sun this morning, clouding up this afternoon with a few flurries possible. We are happy for every flake that falls.

The Woodcock, Snow Goose, Turkey, and Grouse open. And the Peregrine. With yesterdays 3 inches of snow the conditions were packed powder. Today it is hard pack, so the skiing is faster. Yesterday it finally happened on the Peregrine, a few people skied up there that shouldn’t have. To ski up there you have to be able to ski down hill. Especially in the conditions we have now. Hard and fast. That trail was probably skied 200 times. (Because some of the really good skiers skied it 4 or 5 times each.)

One of the downhills on the Peregrine. Photo 12/20/18.

There were 3 people who had trouble on their trip around. It really is important to be able to ski down it you go up there. It is not fun it you can’t ski it. We never want anyone to get hurt, so please use your best judgment about going up there. Chuck’s mom wants everyone to pass the “Grouse Test”. Ski the Grouse, if it is fun and easy the other harder trails would be ok too. And you can always ask us. We can talk to you about your ability and the trails. You can ski laps around the Woodcock, Snow Goose each time you will see something you missed the time before. When Dick skies for distance, he sometimes does 10 to 15 laps around the Snow Gooses before he comes back in.

Open, 17º at 7am. AND 3.5 inches of new snow.

Kindness is like snow, it beautifies everything it covers. Kahlil Gibran

New tracks set 12/25/18

Wow!!! Ian had planned on grooming this morning, but 3.5 inches of new snow is such a gift for all of us. He loves it when he can groom and the skiing is wonderful. And today, the skiing is great! Yesterday I was hearing about how great it was. And now 3.5 inches of snow. What a great day today!

That being said, we are still skiing on a minimal amount of snow. Which means it takes a lot of work to get to today. Shoveling, laying boughs on wet spots and shoveling, picking up sticks and twigs, ditching so the water goes downhill. There was some more shoveling done yesterday. Thank you little elves. And now with new snow. What a gift of great skiing.

Andy just doing a little shoveling 12/24/18.

And with all the rain and water around and then the cold temperatures. Be sure to slow down and meander down by the brook. The ice changes daily and when it puts on a show. The show is spectacular.

Part of the ice show from 12/24/18.

Open, 22º at 7:30am and cloudy. Snowflakes were falling, so a dusting of new snow. But right this minute no snow is falling. Snow flurries are expected again this afternoon. And we will be open December 25th, from 10 to 4.

Skiing on 12/23/18

The ground up snow is sugary, loose granular. The skiing is good, but fast. (Catie told me is was slow, she is 7 and skied the Woodcock and it didn’t take long.) And Ian said to tell you there were a few patches of dirty snow. Today Ian groomed, again, the Woodcock, Snow Goose, Turkey, Grouse, and the Peregrine. After the 2 inches of rain on Friday, December 21 and, Saturday, the 22, we are surprised, grateful and very, very fortunate to have any snow left for you to play on.

Be sure to look along the brook down on the Woodcock!