All season, there have been news media stories of uncommon warmth and low snow, and interviews with frustrated skiers and snowboarders wondering where winter is. Apparently, these reporters are not aware of what's been happening at Sugarbush and in northern Vermont. They certainly have not been talking to anyone who skis or rides here regularly.
Sugar Sherpa Devon at Lincoln Peak this Tuesday. Winter wonderland video here.
While the Wednesday warm-up continued a weekly trend, we've also had flakes falling every day since Sunday. Looking around at the natural snow trails and glades, coverage may be a bit thin, but what's there is coating most of the rocks and understory in a nice consolidated base. We are set up very well for when the usually big storms of February and March start kicking.
After a few days of soft turns, with lots of fresh powder on Monday and Tuesday, ungroomed terrain conditions are a little on the crispy side, while the groomers are still super sweet. Did I mention that we are 100% open?
Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. Yesterday, I wandered out of the Mad River Valley for the first time in a few weeks and it didn't take long to realize that we've had it pretty good this season. While we receive regular deposits of machine-made and mother-made snow, much of the rest of the US has been a lot less wintery.
Last Friday at Sugarbush. Home sweet home.
If you haven't heard already, our next scheduled installment is on the way. A Winter Storm Warning has been posted for tonight and tomorrow. We are expecting ...
Reality: Sugarbush has had snow every week since Halloween and several powder days have coincided with holiday periods. Sure, there have been melting periods in between the colder storms and we could always use more snow.
But we've done pretty well overall, especially compared to many other US ski areas. Our snowmakers are piling up fresh bounty right now, it's supposed to snow tonight and over the weekend too. There may not be snow in your yard, but there is snow here!
North Lynx powder on Sunday.
Myth: As you get older, you naturally slow down.
Reality: Sugarbush and Blueberry Lake XC are hosting the Vermont Senior Games on February 12th, which is open to athletes 50 and up. There are a lot of very fast Sugarbush skiers and riders in this age group, including Egan. Last we checked, nobody is faster down Liftline. It's not the number of years you've been alive, it's the amount of living in your years.
The Winter 2011-2012 pre-holiday storm pattern is still in effect and we are excited for a great MLK Weekend. We are in the middle of a significant snowfall that has already dropped 5" and some forecasters have optimistically called for up to 20".
Egan and the Cabin Cat are ready to go Friday morning, all we need is few powder-starved skiers and riders to join us. I wonder where we might find people like this? Do you know anyone who fits the bill?
Ry Young turning it up on Paradise Extension early this afternoon.
With the combination of natural accumulation and snowmaking efforts, we've already seen new trail openings today and likely more tomorrow. With Heaven's Gate and Summit currently on windhold, these areas will still be pretty fresh for a while longer. The snowfall is supposed to continue into Saturday, so untracked powder may be easy to find this weekend. Better be here!
The big park at Mount Ellen opened this week! With more than 40 features sprinkled throughout the whole resort, Sugarbush has more fun per square acre than just about anywhere in the lower 48.
Despite being easily observed, gravity remains the least understood of the four forces that help govern the universe. It is also the weakest of these forces, but according to Astronomy Cafe, "space and time are qualities of the gravitational field of the cosmos that have no independent existence."
In other words, space, time and gravity are essentially three sides of the same coin. Wait, a coin only has two sides, right? They have an edge too, gravity is the thing that holds it all together.
What does this have to do with skiing and snowboarding? Everything. Gravity is our favorite force, Sugarbush our favorite space and what better time than right now?
An uplifting message from Egan and some carve-elicious turns at Lincoln Peak yesterday.
