Be Happy, Ski Mad!

This season Mad River Glen is getting a lot of attention. It should be because the skiing up there right now is absolutely World Class. Everything is open!

As of Saturday, the mountain had already received 5 feet of natural snow (w/ a foot of that on Thurs).

Open trails/terrain for all abilities

• green circles groomed to perfection View image
• blue squares with untracked edges and small soft bumps in the center
• black diamonds with packed pow and large bumps
• virgin powder and bumped lines galore in the trees

what is this?

The S.G. made it up there for some turns.
What is New: The Mountain’s #1 lift got a complete overhaul this summer. It was some serious plastic surgery. If you had never been there before nothing really to see. Nevertheless, the new Single Chair is about as good as a lift ride gets. Some things never change. It still takes a dozen minutes or so to get to the top. You ski a run down and you will need all of those minutes to rest.
Why the single is cool = you do not have to share your seat with anyone.
the new ride – notice the cushion and wooden seat, nice

Note: This refurbishment project actually ended up costing the Co-Op more then it would have to put in a “normal” lift like say a brand new double chair. (For more on the Single check out the mid section of this entry – LINK)
Saturday morning there was a recreation of the original opening day. It drew a large crowd, including long time friends, a ton of media, famous people at least by Vermont standards, and a contingent of snowboarders.
The current Miss Vermont, the Miss VT from the original ribbon cutting (seated) and General Stark are all in the house. handout photo from Mad River Glen

Snowboarders?
The real shocker was completely unexpected. Word is that around 6:00 in the morning a bus pulled into the parking lot along route 17. Around 30 snowboarders stumbled out as if it were a clown car. They were dressed in white suits similar to what one would expect of the 10th mountain division. They took their boards and began the hike to the top.
the proof – handout photo from Mad River Glen

Then it happened. Right as the ceremony was getting under way. These riders came charging down Chute in a form of peaceful protest. Totally unprecedented!
Obviously, this did not sit well with some on site, especially the old timers and patrol.
Eventually the snowboarders reached the base area. They came bearing gifts of coffee and donuts. To those who had been standing in the cold this was enough to be a sign of peace. They were not disrespectful. They even had picket signs that mostly read follow Taos’s lead, which was one of the other Skier Only areas in the USA.
Fact: Taos, NM lifted the ban on snowboarding this season, well the end of it at least. Gotta give the locals time to let this sink in…
This monster poach was all the news and chatter in the Valley, all weekend. Props to all the snowboarders involved for doing things the right way! They succeeded in making a point, but I do not think the area will be welcoming them on the lifts anytime soon.
The response, well skiers are witty…
yup, that would be a table saw next to this sign placed in the base area by the MRG Ski Patrol

The Conditions: There was more snow up there then I have seen in years. Saturday very well may have been the best day I have ever had weather and condition wise visiting Mad River Glen.
There was an unlimited ceiling of deep blue skies until about noon. No real wind to speak of, and temperatures in the teens made for comfortable skiing.
The one groomer the area has had been out working overtime and the packed powder/corduroy was perfect. Small soft bumps everywhere. Tons of untracked, waist deep powder in the woods!
a view looking north from mid-mountain of Camel’s Hump

Hint: This guy Fox runs a very solid weather blog for the mountain, check this LINK
Then another huge storm (Sunday) ended up depositing another 16-20 inches of powder on top of already fantastic conditions.
It is time to Ski Mad! It really was spectacular, and is only getting better with more snow and cold air locked into the forecast for the next few weeks.

Think Snow,
pics without credits are S.G.
this photo is a Mad River Glen handout