MRVexpat

Huge staffing issues in lift maintenance and general lift issues are pushing slidebrook to the end of the priority queue unfortunately. There was a blog post on their website about it somewhat recently. Re: Castlerock, they usually keep it hike-to for a bit to preserve the conditions early season since those are super boney and narrow trails that get scraped down pretty quick. I agree though, there is definitely more than enough snow now to open it for MLK so if that doesn't happen, you'd have to think there is another maintenance issue we don't know about. Personally I hope they keep it hike-to only. It's a quick fun trek and the snow stays soooo nice even on busy weekends.

I should start wishing for snow more often. You're welcome!

Yeah the fact that you can see that thing from a webcam mounted on the single chair mid station makes me think that it isn't super wind protected lol.

MLK once again shaping up to be the winner of the ski holidays.

User name checks out.

Mad River was a tale of two aspects today. The woods off of the double housed about a foot of blower while the single was wind hammered to hell, though still skied fairly well. Super fun day overall!

These are basically the new version of the Soul 7, which in the mid 2010s was probably the most popular ski out there and maybe Rossi's best selling model in North America ever? The sender series is slightly more robust from what I hear, while still retaining that approachability that made the original Soul so popular. 102 under foot is about where you want to be for a one ski quiver in northern VT.

Looking at radar returns and the flow still looks quite blocked. Will be at MRG tomorrow to sample whatever blew into the woods.

Also, how accurate are the NWS snowfall analyses? There's an image being passed around social media that seems to indicate another local jack of 24"+ in the Brandon Gap area. Hard to substantiate via cocorahs but there's a Randolph report of 15" in that timeframe so perhaps it's possible? Jw how they came to that conclusion...

Haha Domeys Dome. Always loved that name. For what it's worth I have a friend who skied Little Jay today and reported that "No it was at least 24". Great skiing. Actually a somewhat reasonable report for Jay". Depending on the aspect both reports could be true? Domeys faces WNW and could have been a bit more subject to wind scouring too. Hard to say.

Honest to Cthulhu moderate snow at times is Cambridgeport. Nice to see! Now get it up to ski country where it belongs

And just like that, Sugarbush goes from severely lagging behind to the most open trails in the East. Mountain operations is a funny thing.

Wtf Phin?!? Ruining it for everyone. Jk. I do know someone who lives very close to that trailhead and they have only on a few occasions all winter seen cars parking in the road. Yes, the lot isn't huge but certainly enough space for first responders to get through even when full. I haven't skied there in a few years but last time was on a powder Saturday and it wasn't any different from what any other trailhead in New England would look like. My guess is NIMBYism but you never know the whole story. Shame. Fun skiing and a sweet little snow belt. Hopefully it opens again soon!

Go Canucks Go!

Last few years have been mostly normal starts, but definitely slower out of the gates this year. Multiple factors at play. Part of this is simply down to luck/snowfall. Didn't cash in on either the synoptic or backside snowfalls this past storm like places further south (synoptic) or north (upslope). Kind of stuck in the middle. Otherwise it hasn't been a terrible natural snow start as several non-snowmaking trails are open, including hike-to on North Lynx. MRG right next door has been hosting powder mornings for over a week now, just not as prolific as nearby areas. I'm guessing the bigger issue is likely the Heavens Gate lift install taking mtn ops focus away from terrain expansion. There's a fairly limited window to get a huge capital project like that done, especially given the restrictive Bicknell thrush habitat regulations and that lift is typically one they like to get online early. Staffing also might be an issue? Hard to say. Having said that, word on the street is that Valley House is set to debut this weekend so trail count should grow quickly.