A
Anonymous
Guest
FIS @ North is not yet history. Was running some errands on Friday morning and was surprised to still see what appeared to be great coverage on Upper FIS and Elbow. T'is true. After quaking up to my 3rd rattle and roll experience, I made my way over and up to SB North. Hadn't been there yet this year. Seems to show a sign or two of inherited neglect or at least a fast shut-down. Still trash around the base lodge and again up at the lodge at the bottom of the Summit quad. Looks like they've got the 10% of chairs off Inverness. North Ridge was idle except for the male woodpeckers playing their mating tune on the towers. I cannot comprehend how those things don't get a headache after all that head banging. <BR> <BR>On to the snow. FIS had great cover wall to wall with the exception of 2 or 3 usual high spots which were small and easily avoidable. Reminded me a bit of Hillman's highway. I'd estimate an average base of 2 feet. Mostly cloudy gave way to blue sunny sky around noon, and then the corn was ready to be harvested. A hearty crew of 12-15 of us (and 3 dogs) did laps, lunch, and generally enjoyed a great day of earned turns and great views. One thin stripe of snow appeared on Whiteface - that was it. Only snow we could see. <BR> <BR>A short hike from the bottom of upper FIS up to North Ridge found a very wide and skiable Elbow - pretty much good cover all the way down to the junction that splits left to cruiser or right to the Summit quad. I give Elbow the rest of the month and FIS a week or two into May if this cold weather sticks for next week. (Cruiser had cover that was mostly skiable with some short breaks.) <BR> <BR>A great day. Spring has certainly sprung - managed to freak an unsuspecting and out of place snow hare on the way down and watched 5 turkeys rustle around in the leaves behind out deck out back just before sunset. <BR> <BR>Tucks in a week or two - it ain't over til the last flake melts.