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Sweet Irony - Sugarbush Stoke Exchange

Thursday, April 12, 2012

NOAA recently declared that we just experienced the hottest March on record for the US, while April has been decidely winter-like. In fact, the day after we "closed" for the season, it started snowing. Hard. By Tuesday, there was two+ feet of dense accumulation at the top of the ridge.

Oh, sweet irony.

Mad River Glen - April 11, 2012
Former Bush Pilot Fred on Paradise at Mad River Glen yesterday.

The storm was very elevation-dependent, and the snow line comes very close, but not all the way, to the base area. The difference between the Valley floor and the summits has been dramatic this week. Flurries continued through Wednesday, while it was sunny and warm in Moretown, only a few miles away.

A lot of people have been asking about the potential for reopening this weekend, and the official word is that we will not be spinning the lifts. Saturday and Sunday could have been Win's 99th and 100th days of the season, so he was certainly enthusiastic, but the realities of the situation dictate we stay closed.

Ski the East!
Two feet of snow at the top, nothing at the bottom.

Lincoln Peak undercover. Tuesday afternoon.

The mountains still look great though and the turns this week, especially at our neighbor MRG, were really tasty. Last weekend was also special, with many of the usual suspects returning for final spins on Valley House.

Last weekend on Stein's
Last Saturday on Stein's. Go Rich!

While Stein's was nice, many of us took advantage of the dry bike trails and open golf course to bring the fun level even higher. For the math wizards, if you do three fun things in a day, is it three times the fun or is your fun cubed?

Part of a Triple Play Day.
Coach Brandon riding in Eden on Saturday, part of the Sugarbush Triple Play.

Speaking of fun times three (or cubed), the newly evolved Mad Triathlon (formerly the Sugarbush Adventure Games) is planned for May 12th, 2012. The race starts Lincoln Peak at 1PM, with a run to the Lareau Swimhole, a paddle on the Mad River to the traditional Turner's Field exit, a bike ride back to the mountain, and finishes with a short fun run.

The popular Kid's Triathlon will start at 4PM and features run, bike and obstacle course sections. This is an event for ages 4 and up. The youngest kids will have an ability-appropriate route, and the older kids should expect a fun challenging course.

The final leg of the Triple Play.
Sawyer working on his golf swing at the Sugarbush Golf Club on Saturday.