Stowe, VT 10/11/00

[ShawShank]

I hiked up the old Bear Pond Trail out of Smuggler NOtch on Sunday -- happened to run into two Canadians on top of Mansfield who apparently <BR>didn't really make it down the mountain until Monday evening -- ooops. Didn't have a board with me and regretted in when I toped out to one foot <BR>or more on the top of the Adams Apple. <BR> <BR>So......I decided to hit Stowe today, Wednesday, after looking east for three straight days and seeing nothing but a snowy haze over the mighty <BR>Mansfield. Awoke at 4:00 am, met fellow student Dimmig at the old Ghetto-chopper parking lot before the HWY 89 onramp out of Burlington, had <BR>Dunkin Donuts coffee in hand, and blasted our way down 89 in pitch blackness. Evidence of snow first seen in Richmond. I knew things were promising at that point. More snow in Waterbury. Even more in Stowe. Almost 4-5 inches at the Gondi base lodge. Boards in tow, head-lamps beaming, we postholed up behind some stowe local named Austin. On route we noted a few stars and evidence of clearing skies. We also happened to note that there was over one foot of snow at midmountain. This quickly turned into two feet near the start of Perry Merril (the trail we hiked up) and some 2 1/2 feet and more in drifts at the top of the ghondi. <BR> <BR>Enjoying a Kellogs PopTart, we quietly watched the sun rise to the east (as opposed to the west...) before clicking in and pointing our way down Perry Merril -- a route we chose based on the greatest likelihood of NOT hitting rocks. While the skiing was SICK on the upper half of the mountain, in retrospect we could have skiied something steeper without worrying about hitting bottom. Oh well. It's difficult to complain after skiing two plus feet of natural snow on October 11 in Vermont. <BR> <BR>Made it back to the car by 7:20 with NUMEROUS crusty eyed, red-eyed, cloudy headed locals getting to the mountain just in time to taste the sloppy seconds of our savory delight. <BR> <BR>BTW, based on the lack of evidence of "tracked" snow and reports of 1+ foot of snow from yesterday, I'd say that the upper mountain must have seen over a foot since yesterday -- yes, that's how good it was today. Hopefully this note gets to you in time to allow you to leave work early and get to the mountain before this all goes away over the weekend. <BR> <BR>Now, I made it back to the hospital and saw all my patients before attending rounds at 9:30. Cheers. Oh to be a student......

 

[Jerm]

Skiing today was something else. Stowe got a ton of snow last night, probably on the order or 8 inches more in most places above 2500'. <BR> <BR>Topped out around 12:45 or so.. shoulda went earlier (how many times have I said that) cause the snow was getting sticky. Ascended via National-Liftline. Did quicky on upper liftline, heavy but good. Noticed that Goat was untracked, hiked to top and clicked in. Skied Goat top to bottom -- you know, 'cause Goat doesnt have many rocks on it right? Still no big gouges on my bottoms though. Snow was drier on Goat, the middle sections were best, and top was interesting but skiable. Matt perfected the tele front flip off numerous obstacles then cut over to Nosedive at Midway. I had to be Goat's first idiot of the season and continued down, making it through a labarinth of exposed VW sized boulders. Skied fast grass remainder of way to lower crossover. <BR> <BR> <BR>Tomorrow the skiing on the upper mountain should still be alright, but you're gonna hit bottom a lot below the 3000' level. Everywhere will be very sticky unless things cool down and dry out in the next 24. Actually, a quick rain then freeze followed by a little snow might improve things nicely but I'm sure that isnt in the cards. If anyone does go, upper Nosedive and maybe something like Rimrock or Cliff trail are probably your best bets. From looking at snow on trees it looked like points south of Mansfield may have gotten rain out of this last one, so Mad River may not be as good as it was earlier in the week.. but who knows.. <BR> <BR>It's a great time to hike now even if you dont ski. Looking down on fall from winter is pretty cool.