Stowe Style
Super Bowl weekend – Without the Patriots involved who really cared about the game?
Plus – It snowed!
It took a little bit longer than I would have liked to get to the Cathedral of skiing in New England. Stowe, VT. When I write a little longer I mean 2+ hours on top of the usual three and change. Last Friday night was sketchy driving. The highways 93/89 were a disaster zone. It was snowing and the roads were incredibly greasy.
I threw it in 4X4 high and took my time. The iPod was rolling and so was I, albeit very slowly, north bound. The best part of the drive was seeing a BMW cruise past at a clip of 65 mph and then seeing that same car in the ditch five miles later. Learn to drive!
Liftline – loaded with snow!
The kicker was that I knew the skiing was going to be good. Not only good, but the best we have seen thus far in New England. I am not going to kid you. I chase good conditions. That is what I must do… It is part of the S.G. job description.
The Feel: You know how the more risqué ski publications tend to be a little bit looser? Often from which you can read the debate of what is better – A night of debauchery or a day of powder skiing?
If you can get away with both even better, but I prefer the rest to the wicked and the skiing is the prize.
whoops – could be worse
Stowe was in incredible shape last weekend. It was without a doubt the best skiing of the season in New England. Packed powder was abundant on the groomed trails. Powder filled the woods in nicely. The ability level of skiers and riders on the slopes was top notch. There was a snowboarding competition as well as a college race. There were also the crazed folks like myself that braved the drive to relish in the new snow.
Saturday I managed to pull myself from the sheets and hit the lift early (8:15 am). Skied hard until one o’clock, my muscles have just recovered in time for more skiing this weekend. When I ski alone I tend not to stop mid trail. Top to bottom runs at a mountain like Stowe will take a toll on anyone.
Sunday the snow held up well. But it got pretty cold around noon when the wind picked up. It worked out perfectly. Three hours of skiing. A nice lunch at Mr. Pickwick’s (hundreds of beer options) in the Ye Olde English Tavern. Then to a friends house for the Super Bowl.
getting to Goat…
Trail: Liftline.
Around half past noon on Saturday I nailed a run down the skier’s left of the trail. Weaving in and out of snowmaking equipment that was mostly buried by wind blow drifts I felt, heard and saw something I have been waiting quite some time for.
Pow Pow!
As I made my turns down the fall line the snow was hitting me in the chest and soaring over my head. The brief moments of white out reminded me of the last leg of my journey on route 100 north after exiting 89. The sun was shinning and I was turning with perfection. If there were gapers on the quad I did not notice. I had found Zen. Skiing a fast, tight, technical line that really needed a video crew to document.
untracked powder in the trees between Star and Lookout
It is moments like these when the skier becomes one with the mountain, their equipment and the conditions. A true experience of skiing nirvana. I was on my own, so I only really opened it up on this run. I knew that the spectators on the quad would phone in the SOS if something were to happen. It was grand!
Weekends like these are why we ski!
The skiing and riding in New England is really exceptional right now. We have had good cold air since mid January and the conditions are proving it. Get out and make some turns!
Head to Stowe, VT.
Think Snow – we got a storm on the way next week, finally!
photos ~ S.G.
Mount Mansfield
