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Anonymous
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I had planned one of my vacation days for Fri, Feb 23 to go to Stowe. Maybe a previous fall did it, but I had forgotten that my kids would not be in school that week. That's how I ended up at Brodie Mountain on the 23rd. It snowed lightly most of the day on Friday with a few clear sky breaks in between. The snow was so light it was easy for the kids to attempt to ski. (It was only their 2nd time, and they're 4 and 7 years old.) I was salivating, looking up the mountain from the learners area, and there was 4 - 6" of powder all around. I remembered some of the good days I've had this year and thought of the great times to come when my girls are more able skiers. This was a powder day I would not get to play in. I did get to play with my kids and that made it a really fun day. I told them I'd plug the fact that they were really cool kids with their good manners and attitudes. Gotta love 'em!!! <BR> <BR>I returned to Brodie on Saturday catching my first <BR>chair around 11:45AM. (I usually feel the slopes have had it by this time, but this was as early as I could make it today.) My first lift line wait was less than five minutes even though I had to park in the outer parking lot. <BR> <BR>I figured there was no chance of any of Thursday's <BR>snow left in powder form. But, surprise! Powder! A good two - three feet in width on either side of most trails about 4" deep! The snow gods were being kind to me for the day before. Ahhhhh. . .life is great! <BR> <BR>I make my first run down Jamie's Trail onto Mickie's Chute. Some very mild bumps on Mickie's, which were fun because I could ski them. I didn't know it would get even better at this time. I decide to try Andy's Chair and see the line has about four couples ahead of me. (This is Saturday. Where's the mob?) I find this amazing for a Saturday. Onto some powder I saw on the ride up on Danny Boy's Trail and then I ski Killarney Trail. (My anal retentiveness is really liking the trail name theme. Haha Seems to me that most areas are totally random.) <BR> <BR>I now take Dot's chair that had no line at all! The run under this chair (Clover Trail) is sweet for blues men! I notice a portion of Clover Trail on the ride up the chair that has some powder with only three tracks. My heart starts racing as the excitement builds only to be dampened by the rope beginning this section. #%&*@! (I later learn from a Ski Patroller that there is a line down there.) Above, and below this section was still terrific in the powdery sides. I am so surprised to find this much left! I see a lot of <BR>potential for the woods at Brodie. However, I don't know if any of that potential will ever be made available. I don't yet know what their policy is. I took a quick duck in, remembered I was alone and went back to the groomed. <BR> <BR>I finally start to head back to Andy's Chair area and decide to try Gilhooly's Glade that leads onto Kelly's Run. "Dang! Another closed run, well I'll do all of Kelly's then." As I ski down Kelly's Run I notice an entrance to Gilhooly's. . .and I slip into 6" of absolutely gorgeous powder! The entire glade was covered and the open lower half of the glade had only about a half-dozen tracks. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day playing on this run! There were nooks and cranny's here and there, full of powder on most of the trails. I haven't had this much fun since my MRG trip this year! <BR> <BR>For its size, and the fact that its in the Berkshire Mountains I am impressed with Brodie. It's not hard to ski, and the Blacks seem more like steeper Blues, but for me it is close to home at a 45 minute drive. Gone is the schmaltzy leprechaun, and the "Kelly's Irish Alps" slogan from years past. This is OK by me and I'm of Celtic decent. As long as The Blarney Room doesn't change they might do well losing the heavy Irish image anyway. I found most of the people friendly, down to earth and willing to have a conversation on the chair ride. The three double chairs remind one that they have not done much to "modernize" the area. This is fine with me because it helps maintain the New England feel of the area, and Jiminy Peak provides more of a resort atmosphere only a few miles away. I'm hoping Brodie maintains its charm. At $249. for an Day/Night season pass I think I've found myself a new home area!