I figured it would be good karma to go up north and ski the solstice, so I headed to Stratton to do my part in helping to ensure a great ski season ahead. If it turns out to be great, please make note of the contribution and selfless giving by Avie’s humble staff on behalf of all New England skiers and riders. If not, hey, at least we tried.
I have to report that snow cover at Stratton was sparse, to say the least, though the mountain was dressed in white, and from a distance that got the pulse racing on the drive up the access road. Unfortunately, once you got close enough, there was grass, rock, and other ground cover showing through all the trails where snow-making had not been ongoing.
That said, I must report that the trails that had seen snow-making were in really good shape with no bare spots. Black Bear and Polar Bear were the only two upper mountain trails open, and the lower mountain had only the connector trail from the Ursa lift back to the base open. But all were well groomed and the skiing was phenomenal until about 11AM when, because there were so few trails open, things were already getting thin in spots with the glacier ice base peeking through.
Predictions are for another return of that nasty warm weather, and even some of that nastier melted snow most people refer to as rain. I figured a sacrifice was in order, given the tradition of pagan rituals on the solstice, so I sent my wife, who had never clicked into a pair of skis before, onto the bunny slope. She returned sore, but triumphant in getting to the bottom.
At Avie’s we all do our part to help ensure that everyone has a great ski season.
AlanD