Ski the East

Duty Calls

Sorry, but I really have to head out to the 'snowy shores of Lake Tahoe' for a week of business. Business will be done on my Mojo 94s but I'll tell you more about that later. The ride to the Albany International (I don't know if you can even get a flight to Canada!) Airport was a bummer - 53 degrees and brown road sprayed snow is all you could see.

Waiting for Southwest business class call, right after wheelchair and pregnant moms. Not bad for $100 more. Check in was  snap and no charge for my skis.

Hope it gets colder and snows here during the week - if not I'll bring some with me! 

Up East At Sunday River and Sugarloaf

Here's more on my blitz trip to Maine a few weeks back. Five hours drive to Sunday River and two more to Sugarloaf. Mother Nature cheated me a little but good people and good skiing make for good trips. Check out skiing at the River and then at the 'Loaf.

I put together a photo gallery for each that at the time back in early December was the most skiable terrain in the northeast. Sunday River was better than half open and it snowed all day long. However, a warm front came through the next day while at Sugarloaf and we got rained on but as I told our Sugarloaf host, Ethan Austin, "you got snow on the ground and gravity so let's ski." 

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas!

What It's All About

Last Friday, I drove up to Killington. I left Saratoga late morning under a grey, but quiet sky hoping the weatherman was both right and wrong. The word was a good storm was on the way and was predicted to be coming down hot and heavy by mid-morning.

Well, as it turned out the storm was licking at my bumper all the way to Vermont. It finally caught up in Rutland, when I stopped to see Peter and JoAnn K at Mountain Travelers it rolled right over me and on up the hill to Pico and The Big K.

When I made it to the Access Road it had put down a good inch, but you could tell this was going to put down a lot more. The sky had that greyish brown look that meant it needed to empty a kidney and go for a while. I just hung out and watched until I went to sleep with visions of a powder day skiing dancing in my head.

And what a rare powder day it was. The snow laid down a good 12-14 inches and took all day Saturday to taper off. I skied the whole day alone, or rather by myself, because I wasn't alone on the mountain but just going where I wanted to. I was skiing the brand new pair of head Mojo 94 that I had mounted with the Marker Griffon and they were awesome.

Passing trails where the Ski Patrol was just dropping ropes to the public like Ovation and Old Superstar, I could just drop in, no questions asked to any partners. I skied the mountain end to end and did what I wanted a couple of times at least. Royal Flush, North Star, Great Bear all powder bumps. One of the best days I had skiing at Killington in many years.

I hope you were skiing there, or anywhere last Saturday. What a neat early Christmas present it was.

Photo copyright Mike Doyle 

Killington and Sugarbush Turn 50

I'm not really big on anniversary celebrations but Killington and Sugarbush are both having their bashes this weekend. You'd think they could have given us a little break and maybe spread out the events and the goodies. Maybe, yell up the road "Hey, we'll do this week you do next," but there seems a failure to communicate, so take your pick.

Both areas are letting the good times roll - good old times, that is. I hope to get close to some of the parties. I do have to admit Ihave a special affinity for Killington. I was a graduate of the 2nd annual Killington ski Instructor clinic and a former liftee on the old Rams Head chair - when it went to the top.

I was also a winner of several Banjo races and a resident of the killington Staff House. The Staff House, now the RSN building, is just up the road from the Wobbly. Must be climate change, but I definitely remember a lot more whiteouts back then, on the nightly walk back up the hill from the Barn.

Theoretically speaking, if you do the math, my grandfather could have skied them and also my grandkids. So, the last word is - God bless The Big K, and God bless The Bush, and God bless everybody that ever skied them - or will ski them.

Killington 12/2/08 Copyright Mike Doyle

Stay East, Young Man

I was supposed to go to a resort in the northwest this week to do a piece on family friendly ski areas. However, I was forced to postpone that trip and as it turns out that didn't work out bad after all. The northwest has little snow and few areas open or barely making snow. 

So instead of flying 9 hours to not see snow I'm pretty much at the opposite end of the country, sitting in Maine watching snow guns cover Sunday River in 2 degree weather. A five hour drive up through Vermont where plows were out at Killington to clean up a last night snowfall and across New Hampshire to ski and visit at Sunday River and Sugarloaf.

Hey, my best advise so far this year is stay right here and ski some good natural snow and excellent man made stuff. Last week, I skied at Killington and Mount Snow both with pretty extensive mid-week terrain open and nicely groomed. 

I'm looking forward to skiing up the River tomorrow and the Loaf on Wednesday. So I'mmm back - deep in the east and loving ever blessed snowflake. 

Killington's new Skye Peak Express Copyright Mike Doyle

 

Killington's Birthday Weekend

Killington has a full slate of activities scheduled to celebrate the resort's 50th birthday. Activities include the the Ski Sweater Soirée at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel, a 50th Birthday Poker Run throughout the resort, and historical mountain tours.

On, Saturday evening, Killington will hold its 50th Birthday Party at the Snowshed Lodge with a torchlight parade, a snowcat parade, live après entertainment, and kid’s activities and entertainment.

There are also special deals at local ski shops, restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs.  Check out all the birthday celebration activities here.

More: Killington Ski Resort | Skiing