Sunday River – Sat 2/16
It was a sunny day. It was a day that had a cold start. Not brutal, but with temperatures in the teens one had to dress warm. There was no wind. It snowed earlier in the week. Sunday River picked up around 10 inches. As I got off the Maine Turnpike the snow banks on Route 26 Friday night did not lie.
Maine had a ton of snow on the ground last weekend!
The S.G. messing around in the soft bumps on Downdraft
Skiing wise, the snow surfaces were surprisingly good, especially the groomed runs.
Where things were not gone over by the machines surfaces were still feeling the impact of a tad bit of freezing rain on the tail end of the late week’s weather event. This was fine though. As more people hit the trails, the crust got chopped up into a sugary substance giving way to the powder below. I would like to believe the sunshine also helped, but it was pretty cold…
I really was not after a lot, just looking for a run or two so I could make fun turns until the legs started burning. I was skiing alone in the morning, which means I did not stop very often to take breaks. Right off the bat, I found what I was after.
Riding up the Barker Quad the slope underneath (Agony) looked and sounded good. Only a few people were braving it in front of the packed chairs above. The audience does not bother me in the least. So I made Agony and the Barker Quad the morning plan. It was a great run to stick to for several laps.
a look down Agony (filled with snow and sun soaked) Saturday morning
After hammering out four quick runs over there I made my way to the South Ridge Lodge to catch up with an old friend who works at the resort. More on this later…
Skiing Angry: When the conditions warrant, you need to get angry to proceed down the mountain and find success. This would be the case if there is a crust from freezing rain and a skier/rider needs to break it up. Being aggressive with that type of a snow surface is the only way to get things done.
Fast Forward to the next lift ride…
Sitting on the Perfect Turn Express (#6) on North Peak eyeballing the trail below (Northern Exposure). For there it was all up and down. I will be honest that I do not know Sunday River well enough to figure out a run like the one that we were poised to consume for the rest of the day. Next time I go back I will run laps on this circuit again.
It was a one-lift ride package deal that covered about a thousand feet of the best vertical available on the Sunday River property this past Saturday. The lift pressed into service was the Spruce Peak triple chair (#8) and it was a two trail connect.
The attack plan: First – Downdraft of the top, it covered with soft bumps and chopped up powder. Next was a short transition through a flat section the required speed. Carry yourself past the top of the Perfect Turn Express quad (#6) on North Peak. This brings you to the point were we entered Northern Exposure through the trees, a trail of all natural snow covering quirky, fun terrain. From the end of the steep pitch you had to cut back across to reconnect with the Spruce Peak triple.
By around noon the “run” was broken in and skiing well. Each time down allowed the folks in my group to find a rhythm and explore the terrain and snow. Each run down got better. It was a day at a big resort where I only needed a few runs to call home. It was truly great skiing, small ball style…
Tip: Sticking to good runs when you find them for a few laps will allow several things.
1. You will become more familiar and confident on the terrain
2. You will know where you are going and not spend time trying to “get somewhere” when you could be ripping turns off.
3. You may not find a better run that suits your tastes.
Point is, if you find what you like, even at a huge mountain, I would recommend sticking with that slope for a while before moving onto something new.
Lunch after skiing: Drove off the reservation toward Bethel and ended up at BBQ Bob’s “Real Pit” BBQ. What I ate was a fantastic sandwich of Pulled Pork! Could be the best I ever have had. Well worth a visit the next time, you are at Sunday River.
$$$ quote, “You don’t need teeth to eat our beef!”
Here is a little interesting background on my friend A.K. who snapped a few pictures with my camera. This is how you make a career for yourself in the ski industry. LINK
By the afternoon I was pretty much whipped, no thanks in part to my monster fall of the season so far. My left ski was snagged in the pow on Northern Exposure after catching a little air. I did a nice face plant that was good enough to send my goggles, snow filled, around my neck and into disrepair for the rest of the day. I tried to save it, and from the accounts of those lucky enough to see it from the lift above or on the trail, I was told it was one of those slow motion, man struggling to remain standing on his skis affairs. Good laughs!
The fallout, I got a fat lip and was spitting up a little blood afterwards which explains why my mouth looks like Rocky Balboa’s in the aftermath photo below of me retrieving the culprit of my fall, the ski…
All in, a perfect ski day this past Saturday at Sunday River, ME.
Think Snow ~ more on the way Friday!
Photos, S.G.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com