You can read this...or not. It's pretty self-serving but I figured this was as good a place as any to try to document the upcoming season. I'm old and have never portrayed myself on here as anything but.
After serving in the US Army for 20 years and then doing another 20 for the US Government, I finally was able to retire in late September. I have several goals for this ski season: 100 days which seems easy for someone that doesn't have to work and has a house that is walking distance to a ski lift; break the current record for Indy Pass days (31 according to Doug Fish); stay married.
There's lots of obstacles to all 3 goals:
- Despite being able to walk to the lifts at Magic Mountain in Londonderry, VT, that place is only open about 60 days per year; some of those days really aren't worth skiing. But when it's on, it's pretty damn great.
- Because Magic is an Indy Pass area, my days there won't count toward the record (I have to use my pass). In the east, there are only 14 other areas in the Northeast that I may get to. This means I'll have to travel...and travel I will. Goniff and I have rented a condo in Driggs, ID for a month (late February to late March). Definitely going to use the Indy pass at Snow King and any of the Idaho resorts that are within striking distance of Driggs (I need to visit friends in Boise...)
- This will test the last goal to be sure since Mrs. MNIAW has to stay home with her dog. To placate her, I'm taking her to Maui for 10 days in early January. This may help with goal #3 but it will have an impact on goals 1 & 2 for sure.
Soooo....
Day 1: Met Vt-Freeheel at Killington on 11/8/2021. 'Twas cold in the valleys but the air was definitely inverted and by the time we linked up in the parking lot it was nearly 50 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky and not a breath of wind. We've had some really shitty opening days at Killington, this wasn't one of those.
We were able to ski down to North Ridge but had to walk back up to the K-1 Terminus...Pretty easy when the weather was this nice.
We got in a ton of runs. After the KMS kids had to go back to class, it was ski on to the lift every run.
Legs were a bit stiff but no major complaints. Day 2 upcoming when Killington offers free skiing to Vets on 11/11.
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