Photo: IStock.comFebruary 15, 2010
Mount Snow, VT
Ski Watch Reporter Todd

Ski Watch Reporter Todd skied at Mount Snow in Vermont on Presidents Day, Monday, February 15. Here's what Todd had to say about his ski day:

Snow conditions were good today (2/15) considering there has not been any snow recently although there is supposed to be some snow in northern Mass tonight and it might hit here also. Having never been here I dropped the skis at the Main Base Lodge and got lucky finding a parking space in Lot C, not very far away if you walk through the bus pickup area.
 
I had heard that the North Face area was the place to go so I headed over there on the Grand Summit Express and cut over to River Run to the Outpost Chair (the Challenger Chair was not open but there was no lift line anyway for the North Face area).

Of all the runs off the North Face the Free Fall had the best snow cover early and late in the day. The snow was hard packed with softening chunks here and there allowing you to make turns anywhere you wanted because the train was somewhat steep for an intermediate skier but not that steep for an expert even though it was an expert train. Challenge was the next best run over here but with slightly less cover, a few slippery solid areas. Chute, under the Outpost Chair had even more hard unyielding snow.

Fallen Timbers had some nice moguls in the 2-3 foot range near the top third and they had good snow around and on the moguls. I made my way off the North Face by going straight of the chair lift and ended up just below the Sunbrook Chair, skiing down Cloud Nine which was the only top to bottom trail open off this chair, the two Dippers (Big and Little) were not open. Cloud Nine was pretty good but it had too many skiers on it. The snow cover was extensive with a few bumps and small moguls and No hard or slippery spots.

The Beartrap lift gave me a good view of Beartrap which no one was skiing because it had big moguls and not loose snow, all solid ossified snow or ice. Off the Beartrap area I was able to drop right in to the Carinthia area which consists of all kinds parks for riders and skiers, all the kids gravitate over here and their parents can ski down the sides of the trails avoiding the features if they want.

There were nine park trails open today and they all either had of looked to have pretty good snow. There are about 6 trails, top to bottom from the Summit Lodge accessible from either the Grand Summit Express or the Summit Local. All of these trails are intermediate trails and relatively easy for even beginning intermediate skiers (the upper Ledge is one exception as a marked black diamond). The snow cover on these trails remained fairly good, at least through 2:30, with sufficient malleable snow lying in 1-2 inch piles here and there. These trails were very crowded though. It is President’s day and week. There did seem to be more skiers than snowboarders on these trails (the snowboarders like the park trails), so the snow lasted longer and was not scrapped off.
 

All lifts were in operation except the Challenger Triple, which was not really needed on that part of the mountain. The three lifts in front of the Base Lodge got very crowded around 1:30 and lasted till 3:00, about a 10-20 minute wait, but once again it is President’s Week.
 
Newsworthy or pertinent lift information: The North Face and Sunbrook lifts had no lines today whatsoever. 

There are lots of events going on for the holiday week.

Current and upcoming events or ticket deals: On Feb. 16th, Fat’s Tuesday there will be a Torchlight Parade and Fireworks at 6pm, followed by a family dinner and after party at the Timber House featuring magician Jack McMahon starting at 6:30, and Family Movie at 8:00 pm at the Grand Summit Hotel. Wednesday, Feb 17th at 4 and 7 pm there will be a live animal show at the Grand Summit Hotel (bring the kids). Thursday, Feb 18th there will be a snow sculpture contest with guest and staff entries, contact events@mountsnow.com if you want to make one. At 4 and 7 pm there will be a Mad Science Show at the Grand Summit Hotel. Friday Feb 19th at 7 pm there will be a Warren Miller movie premiere at Sundance Base Lodge was well as the Great Dennito Illusionist at the Grand Summit Hotel followed by a family movie at 8pm. Finally, on Saturday Feb 20th there will be a Bud Light Mardi Gras Celebration featuring skiing jesters; lift line giveaways, 10,000 + beads, après parties at Cuzzins and a huge Bud Light Concert at the Snow Barn. At 4 and 7pm Tevor the Game Man will be at the Grand Summit. A marshmellow roast will take place slopeside from 8:30-9:30 pm.  The event hotline is 802-464-4191.

 

Driving conditions if bad only (and tomorrow): No problem today.

Mountain amenities optional: the pizza for $5 a slice, with all different kinds of choices is fresh and good.

Ski tips: Stay at the North Face when it is crowed, there is only one real steep hill over there so any level intermediate or advanced beginner can ski there.

An overall subjective opinion: Considering it was President’s day and it was crowded I did get some “crowd-less” skiing in over at the North Face area and the snow cover remained pretty good up until 2:00 pm. The depth here is pretty good, but they will need some more snow to keep going late into the spring. The mountains have several feet of snow on the ground but when you get into the valleys outside of the mountains, there is practically no snow at all.

 

-Ski Watch Reporter Todd