Mad Bush Loon Easter Weekend
Heading for the Green Mountains
I’ve been heading to Mad River Valley on the first Saturday of April for the last 10 years; skiing hasn’t never been an issue. This year was somewhat different, while skiing at Mad River Glen was in prime Spring skiing mode last year, this wasn’t even an option this year.
On Easter weekend…wait at the US Border
Getting closer
I can see snow at Sugarbush
Not much at Mad River Glen
The Winter pathetic attempted made MRG close on March 18 while its neighbour, Sugarbush, wasn’t even sure to be able to open for Easter. The heatwave that passed after the single stopped spinning left few visible patches at the bottom.
Sugarbush VT : April 7
Plan B
Plan B came through when Sugarbush announced on Thursday that they would open on Saturday. They weren’t even sure for Sunday as they were going to make the call on Saturday afternoon.
You know its been a bad year when Sugarbush isn’t sure it going to be open for April 7th, Easter weekend. The return of seasonal temps made it possible for them to survive a bit longer.
Sugarbush had one lift and one run: Stein served by the old Valley Double. Lift tix were $30 for all ages for Stein. Stein is generally the Spring bump run, but they got the groomer to even out a thin cover on hard snow on this steep run. Enough to cover the whole trail top-to-bottom. There were a few rock close underneath, but snow was hard so it didn’t degrade much. Some bumps were left on the left entrance, but it was pretty much limited. Bluebird, windy, +5c and firm was the order of the day. The snow was more carveable and springish lower down. By the afternoon, some rocks were peeking through on narrow cover spots. The off-piste had been covered with a couple of inches of fresh, but the ground was very close when it wasn’t on the few surviving patches.
After 10 runs, I called it a day. Heading East across the state border tonight. 10 pictures while skiing for 10 runs.
Traverse back from Stein
Riding up the double
Stein is it
Stein, Steep and smooth
Small part of upper Stein had bumps
Getting softer
Thin layer
Bottom of Stein
Not Stein
Day’s Log
MadPat Gallery:
Sugarbush – April 2012
