East Coast Roll Call #??? 20-21 Covid closures and hard core touring! Be Fit or Sit

[HankScorpio]

I'm a rookie when it come to Bolton uphill access.....looks like they have an uphill route opened for the weekend but only a few lower trails opened. Anyone been up top? They say 8-10 inches but the inch of snow in my yard makes me think a bike ride is a better idea.

[dangur]

One of the nice things about this pandemic, is that working from home frees up enough time for me to do a lap at WaWa in the morning. Yeah, it's wachusett... but it's also skiing... on a weekday... without taking PTO! Not bad.

[Wookiee]

How busy is it on a weekday morning? Was thinking of trying to do a couple Tuesday/Thursday mornings come January.

[Gman]

One of the nice things about this pandemic, is that working from home frees up enough time for me to do a lap at WaWa in the morning. Yeah, it's wachusett... but it's also skiing... on a weekday... without taking PTO! Not bad.

I remember going to wawa after they got 18inches only to find out they groomed all of it down. Never been more disappointed.

[dangur]

Welp, they kick all of the skinners off the hill once the lifts start spinning. So the only crowd to worry about are the other tourists out there with you. That said, there were quite a few today. 30-40 is my best guess. about 10 of them were sledding... different, but it looked fun.

Edit... I'm having trouble with the "reply with quote" button today... This message is in response to Wookie.

[dangur]

I remember going to wawa after they got 18inches only to find out they groomed all of it down. Never been more disappointed.

Yeah. Definitely not the place to be to ski powder.

When the snow is that deep, there are a coupla spots to the north (visible from Wachusett's summit, in fact), that are much better. Some of them are more secret than others... that's all I'll say ;-)

[365wp]

I'm a rookie when it come to Bolton uphill access.....looks like they have an uphill route opened for the weekend but only a few lower trails opened. Anyone been up top? They say 8-10 inches but the inch of snow in my yard makes me think a bike ride is a better idea.

You can skin up Wilderness for free today (see the link below). A co-worker skinned up Wednesday night, said the top was scratchy but overall not bad. Going up to ski Mid Mountain in a couple hours.

https://www.boltonvalley.com/winter/...c-snow-report/

[buckethead]

I remember going to wawa after they got 18inches only to find out they groomed all of it down. Never been more disappointed.

yea, luckily i learned about their groom everything who's *before* i headed to WaWa a few years back when they were in the bullseye.

has a traumatic enough time many years ago when a big crew of pow hungry mags converged on bellyeare. not only did they mow down 18" of untouched goods under our very noses as we rode up, but it was to create a jr NASTAR course!
once on the hill we learned that patrol, not content to actually *evaluate* the cover on the natural trails, chose instead to close them all and station lift clipping patrollers at ropes above and below. i guess that's what you do when your patrollers can't SKI. powder. never went back except to ski the last good snow in the area long after they closed. [/rant out]

more from yesterday...sorry for the rotation on two

[Self Jupiter]

Yeah. Definitely not the place to be to ski powder.

When the snow is that deep, there are a coupla spots to the north (visible from Wachusett's summit, in fact), that are much better. Some of them are more secret than others... that's all I'll say ;-)

[dangur]

Remember the most important rule of the East Coast back country: Show don't tell!

I'm very happy to do the former.

@buckethead - so many twigs in that second pic. Well done. I hope your skis are ok

[buckethead]

^^ i crossed through some thwacky woods a couple of times but didn't hit anything til that bottom 150ft...

as for the skis, they hadn't seen action since a mud-crossing closing day at K several years back. so they were in beater mode. skinning was a gametime decision so they didn't even get a fresh wax. some TLC to follow as they'll be receiving dynafits before next skin.

[Peruvian]

Klear in the natch

[buckethead]

^^looks superb!

[Core Shot]

One of the nice things about this pandemic, is that working from home frees up enough time for me to do a lap at WaWa in the morning. Yeah, it's wachusett... but it's also skiing... on a weekday... without taking PTO! Not bad.

Killer sunrise over the city. Must have been better than the turns!

Years ago, remember loading Jet and the patrol had a sign “politely asking” you not ski the woods since it was bare ground two days earlier.

We all dove in. Stumps were hit.

[Flounder]

Nice day at the bush today. Felt good to get out after 9 months. No action shots, too many people on the one route down to stop. Just a find your groove and move through. Lower lifts had no lines, heavens gate had a line but well spaced out.

My first experience with Ikon was my pass scanning as some woman who didn't sign her attestation and was on the "hot list". Quick trip to the ticket office and a new pass worked fine the rest of the day.



Parking lot was pretty full. Got the after 10am.

[rightcoast]

Welp, they kick all of the skinners off the hill once the lifts start spinning. So the only crowd to worry about are the other tourists out there with you. That said, there were quite a few today. 30-40 is my best guess. about 10 of them were sledding... different, but it looked fun.

Edit... I'm having trouble with the "reply with quote" button today... This message is in response to Wookie.

You can also park, not at the ski area lot, and skin up, then make a lap or 2 down. You only have to be off the groomers when the lifts turn.

[Wookiee]

Welp, they kick all of the skinners off the hill once the lifts start spinning. So the only crowd to worry about are the other tourists out there with you. That said, there were quite a few today. 30-40 is my best guess. about 10 of them were sledding... different, but it looked fun.

Edit... I'm having trouble with the "reply with quote" button today... This message is in response to Wookie.

Thanks, will maybe see some of you gents there come January.

[singlecross]

Black Mountain of Maine partners with LLBean to offer $15 Fridays.

[Benny Profane]

Tis the season to ski Jay.

https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/st...632066560?s=20

Btw, note the date.

[The Tortoise]

Oh yeah. Jay should be a ghost town most days.

It'll lack a certain joie du vivre this year.

[ticketchecker]

Black Mountain of Maine partners with LLBean to offer $15 Fridays.

That’s awesome


Sent from the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

[Vt-Freeheel]

Meh

[singlecross]

^^^ 'Zachary.

[Peruvian]

Run what you brung, even if it’s 3x more expensive than other options.



Thrifty families look for bulk discounts on skis.



Nice to have Smugglers Alley open this morning. Most traffic stayed on the blues so I had it to myself for a few laps. I headed out as the crowds picked up.

[iriponsnow]

Stratton was uncharacteristically mellow. They really phoned it in on snowmaking- have not seen such a WROD December.