Good Friday at Stowe

Good does not do this past Friday justice.

In fact I am not sure if there are proper words to put how exceptional the conditions that prevailed across New England actually were.

Lucky enough to get out there equals you know exactly what I am talking about.

The storm that rolled through the region towards the end of last week deposited over two feet of new snow on most of the mountains.

Complete reversal of fortune from what looked to be shaping up like the end of the ski season just a few short weeks ago when 50+ degrees and sunshine was the widespread trend.

Just like that.

A.M. finding a nice line on the top section of Goat

One big snow storm and all the open ski areas are back to pristine mid winter conditions. Last Friday could have easily been sold January or February, not April 6th.
Enjoy it when the occasion presents itself.
The Skiing Option: Presented itself early in the week. A friend was going to Stowe, VT and had a place lined up to crash Thursday night. Ski all day on Good Friday and then head back to Boston. A quick hit powder day on an otherwise busy holiday weekend.
The Dilemma: I wanted to make sure if I was putting in the extra windshield time it was going to be worthwhile skiing. I have had great powder days in New England already this season. Mentally, I may have been looking to mail it in and pack up the gear.
So, I waited and watched the weather, thinking maybe…
Thursday morning Stowe reports 5” of snow overnight. I must have checked several times. That had to be a mistake! Every area around them was in the 10-12 range.
Morning into the afternoon radar loops showed a fierce pounding of blue over all of northern New England.
Time to make the call – Literally.
I chimed the 802 number for general info listed on the Stowe website. Some nice woman answered the phone…
I questioned the snow total they reported last night and she confirmed what I already suspected, that it was a mistake. She also emphasized how much it had been snowing ALL day long.
Decision made, going to Stowe to ski in some powder on Good Friday.
At Stowe the S.G. found plenty of fresh, untracked lines to mark up

On the new snow at Stowe.
I have had so many powder days in New England this season I am pretty much out of things to type.
We talked about banning the word “EPIC” on the messages boards. But Good Friday was right there. One person on a chairlift described the day as “CHOICE.”
You can call it whatever your heart desires, but the Skiing was Stupendous!
First chair – Sat down on the quad a few ticks before 9:00 am Friday morning. We rode up with one random gentleman who neither could, nor would, stop talking about his first 3 runs. Accordingly, each one was better than the prior. I laughed at the time at the persons unbridled childhood enthusiasm.
Fast forward: My forth ride up the quad I acknowledged that he was correct. Each run just Kept Getting Better than the last.
It really all happened on the third take of the morning.
The trail was Goat and we were skiing it from the top (yes – ducked the rope). The run held bounties of excellent snow on the left side of the steep, narrow chute.
Note: The top sections of the trails that make up the front four at Stowe are seldom ever open without a rope.
The line is not wide, but there was plenty of snow to work with.
After Skiing down past the more popular entrance onto the trail from Liftline we stopped to reset. Noticed that a group who had just entered the trail was traversing into the woods.
Glancing in there I could make out some open space.
My friend and I both looked at each other feeling somewhat robbed and agreed our next run was already planned.
Fortunately we did not have to wait that long.
I took the point and stuck to the extreme left of the Goat. I spotted an opening into the evergreens through the saplings that cluttered the edge and adjusted the turns accordingly. A bank into the center of the trail and then a sweeping left into the opening between the trees.
Without slowing or stopping the change was Instantaneous.
I went from skiing cut up powder bumps and untouched stashes on the trail into pristine, untracked fluff in the tranquility of the trees.
Immediately found a wide open line for my next right turn, getting a blast of freshness across the chest and face during execution.
All of a sudden I was howling for my next dozen turns. Perfectly spaced evergreens and as much snow as anyone could wish. I pulled up to wait and absorb what was just stumbled upon.
finding a worm hole in the woods, skier A.M.

This was it. In the woods on April 6th (Good Friday) skiing feet of untracked powder that was as good of quality as anything I had hit in recent memory.
Crowded? NO – There was not a person to be seen or heard. This meant fresh tracks with minimal lift lines. Few people were on the trails never mind in the woods. Hit up the stash of the day at least three more times.
When you find something that good you stick to it. It was fantastic skiing.
We did make other runs all over the mountain. Star, Liftline, Natioanl, Nose Dive, Chin Clip, the Gultch and other stashes in the trees…Everything was a Prime cut. But Goat and the woods accessible from it were by far and away not only the day’s best, but some of the season’s finest runs for the Ski Guru.
It really was grandiose. If I have to pack up the gear until next season I cannot fathom a better way to go out.
I am struggling that more of the same may be on the menu for this Friday…one last vacation day on the snow?
Here is to Spring Skiing in New England!
We have been long overdue for this gift and now is the time to Get Some!
There are still many areas open LINK and the conditions are as good as they have been all year. Make plans to get north, Friday and Saturday will be your best bets this weekend.
Enjoy it,
photos ~ S.G.
a look at the new $500MM project in the works at Stowe