Mark Renson
New member
Early Friday morning, I stepped out in the zero to minus 5 temps in eastern Mass and headed for I-89. My legs stayed chilly no matter how high I turned on the heat in my toy truck. On the radio, I listened to meteorlogical readings ..... minus 15 in Hanover NH, a record minus 29 in <BR>Saint Johnsbury VT, minus 17 in Burlington VT. <BR> At the base of Stark Mountain, it was minus 22 !! .... but it was a "dry" cold. I've <BR>felt much colder in downtown Boston with a northeast wind pushing all of that humidity into my face on a cold morning. In the Patrol Shack, the pro patrollers questioned why I was there and I replied with "solidarity, of course". Also, it's Vermont and subzero cold - that's classic! <BR> I bundled up in an extra polypro layer on the bottom and threw on a light down jacket <BR>under my patroller jacket. Also, I pulled on a face mask and neck gaiter as I am very prone to frostbite after a few frostbite incidents in my lifetime. <BR> Up the Single I went. At least there was no wind. Skies were clear, but steam and haze <BR>rising into the air obscured distant views of the Adirondacks and the White Mountains. For a trail check, I drew Catamount Bowl with its sea of bumps. My boots became stiff from the cold as did my entire body even though I was warm enough to keep my core body temperature reasonably above the necessary 86F in order to still have respiration and a pulse. I slipped into the Cantelope Chutes. I expected ironclad bumps stiffened from the cold as I gingerly unweighted for the first of a few hop turns down the chute and into the bowl. The bumps were softer than I had anticipated and there was fluff from Wednesday's storm filling in the troughs which made for some user-friendly moguls. Ditto for Glade, Panther and Fall Line. The skiing was actually very good. <BR> At noontime or thereabouts, I ran into Wes and JJ. To celebrate Valentine's Day, we <BR>huddled together around the PC in the Basebox and watched some XXX-rated Vermont Powder Porn. This only got us "in the mood". Aroused, we headed up The Double. Wes taught us where to go and JJ & I were good pupils in the woods. For extra credit, we headed into an extended old favorite. <BR> Being the good patroller, I needed to locate more of the windblown powder and do it with <BR>assistance. Up The Single we went and I commanded we get to the Midstation, yet granted <BR>freedom of choice regarding how to get there. Wes led us into the flip side of Denis' <BR>playground where we honed our tight turns skills. Next, I made sure I brought the two to <BR>a new little visited favourite place that I suspected JJ and Wes had never been to. The pow was sweet - knee deep and maybe a few shots lapping my thighs. JJ nailed the air option & into a gully project I had worked on and I took on the handicap ramp and made some fun turns. It was extra-dry untracked powder! <BR> Down through the gut of Stark Mountain we continued, pausing to watch a slight breeze <BR>continue filling in a gully with feather-light in the sunlight streaming through the <BR>forest. <BR> Later in the day, I stopped in the Stark's Nest to apply some Bag Balm on my lips like a REAL Vermonter as opposed to some Flatlander Masshole touron whose 
ho-ho-ho! I also did some personal "clinicing" on my edging, snowplowing and transitioning which put pain and strain into my legs, but pain is good when you work on these skills. <BR> Sweep was down Fall Line for me and it took a while, much to the distress of others. I <BR>neglected to check the temperature, but it was getting very cold in the shadow of the <BR>mountain - dry cold or not. <BR> That night, I successfully started my truck which rebelled by making odd noises as it <BR>tried to push around the molasses in the crankcase. <BR> It was certainly one of the better ski days I had ever had!
ho-ho-ho! I also did some personal "clinicing" on my edging, snowplowing and transitioning which put pain and strain into my legs, but pain is good when you work on these skills. <BR> Sweep was down Fall Line for me and it took a while, much to the distress of others. I <BR>neglected to check the temperature, but it was getting very cold in the shadow of the <BR>mountain - dry cold or not. <BR> That night, I successfully started my truck which rebelled by making odd noises as it <BR>tried to push around the molasses in the crankcase. <BR> It was certainly one of the better ski days I had ever had!