Ski Snowboard 2020-2021

[SwiftTone]

Hitting Smuggler's Notch this Friday-Sunday. Never been. Any insider tips?

Just picked up a pair of used 2021 Elan Ripsticks 96. Supposed to be fun playful skis. Gonna put my 6 ski-day old Atomic Vantage 97Cs up for sale

[bassomatic]

Hitting Smuggler's Notch this Friday-Sunday. Never been. Any insider tips?

LOVE Smuggs..My first few years on skis were spent there (as well as earning my first cast there), and worked there during winter break in 1980-81, but haven't skied there in probably 20 years. Snowmaking everywhere except at Morse Mt. was always weak, but I'm sure they've upped their game. The old school vibe on the Sterling and Madonna chairs is great. Doc Dempseys Run is awesome if they have the snow and you like glades. FIS is right next to it and has the steeps to rip if it's groomed. Both of these are off the Madonna chair. Apres ski at Brewster River Pub And Brewery (it had the comedic name of Brewster River Yacht Club back in the day) was always good (downstairs). Enjoy the new skis! post up a report when you get back.

[snwbrdr435]

Ive had a lot of solid days on the peak to the left. February produced, looking like a few days of high pressure before the next cycle starts.



Put this up in October. 12' Pole with about 4' showing now

[maxim_X]

Hitting Smuggler's Notch this Friday-Sunday. Never been. Any insider tips?

Just picked up a pair of used 2021 Elan Ripsticks 96. Supposed to be fun playful skis. Gonna put my 6 ski-day old Atomic Vantage 97Cs up for sale

I'm a little late, so I hope you had some fun times. It's hard to give too many recommendations without a hint of your ability. There is some serious skiing there.

I generally avoid Morse Mountain, it's more for beginners and family's. As mentioned Doc Dempseys is great. It starts steep and open and turns into tight trees. But, there is a lot of tree skiing there, and it seems like more all the time, so Doc's might not be so special anymore. Madonna liftline run was always a favorite when the snow is soft, and energy was high. Upper/lower Chilcoot is a great trail to tip the skis down on and rip top to bottom. Off of sterling there are trails that land you in the notch for a small hike back if you're into that. There is a pond on top of sterling that connects smuggs to stowe. Stowe use to give you one courtesy ride back to the top if you went over.

Let us know how it went and how the ripsticks are.

[Rambunctous]

Ive had a lot of solid days on the peak to the left. February produced, looking like a few days of high pressure before the next cycle starts.



Put this up in October. 12' Pole with about 4' showing now

I love this pic. Just beautiful.

[number9]

I love this pic. Just beautiful.

Agreed

[scubasteveRR]

Got a great day first day of the season in at Sunday River today. snow conditions were good, woods were good too!

[feralchimp]

GF and I picked up snowboarding a few years ago, but would only actually go as part of a "real vacation" / destination thing (Okemo, Sunapee, etc), which ultimately translated to "not much" for all the reasons you'd expect.

A few weeks ago, I tried the night session at Wachusett. $36 for 7-930pm, or $31 if you're reloading their plastic pass card.

It's been fun as hell, and pretty spot-on for my skill/fitness level. I'm still just doing blues on the board, but I doubled down and replaced my skis from highschool, got a rack for the car, etc.. I've probably been 10 times so far, including last night in the slush. At this price point and level of time commitment, suspect conditions are just another learning tool. Two thumbs up.

[SwiftTone]

GF and I picked up snowboarding a few years ago, but would only actually go as part of a "real vacation" / destination thing (Okemo, Sunapee, etc), which ultimately translated to "not much" for all the reasons you'd expect.

A few weeks ago, I tried the night session at Wachusett. $36 for 7-930pm, or $31 if you're reloading their plastic pass card.

It's been fun as hell, and pretty spot-on for my skill/fitness level. I'm still just doing blues on the board, but I doubled down and replaced my skis from highschool, got a rack for the car, etc.. I've probably been 10 times so far, including last night in the slush. At this price point and level of time commitment, suspect conditions are just another learning tool. Two thumbs up.

For somewhere local and more variety I recommend Crotched mountain if you want to go longer than a couple hours. $40 for 4pm-9pm.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[Garandman]

Long ago had a night season pass at Crotched. Never went once on weekends!

[feralchimp]

Thanks for the suggestion Swift; similar drive time and a heck of a lot more skiing/riding per dollar.

[SwiftTone]

Thanks for the suggestion Swift; similar drive time and a heck of a lot more skiing/riding per dollar.

Either my memory is gone or they changed the pricing. It's $55 nor from 3-9PM

[snwbrdr435]

This year has been extra insane with the amount of mega pass tourists visiting. I may sound like a jaded local but this past Saturday the ridge had about 80 people out there either shoulder or suitcase carrying their skis. Multiple people where overheard complaining about how the terrain shouldnt be open etc... You idiots walked through a gate that had plenty of warnings and advisories, photo maps of the different terrain and a beacon checker... Also no one on the hill sunday but a two hour tramline which mostly consisted of half scenic rides, which is bullshit. Wait till 230 when it closes to skiing and then go take a scenic ride not when people are trying to ski.

[obsolete]

This year has been extra insane with the amount of mega pass tourists visiting. I may sound like a jaded local but this past Saturday the ridge had about 80 people out there either shoulder or suitcase carrying their skis. Multiple people where overheard complaining about how the terrain shouldnt be open etc... You idiots walked through a gate that had plenty of warnings and advisories, photo maps of the different terrain and a beacon checker... Also no one on the hill sunday but a two hour tramline which mostly consisted of half scenic rides, which is bullshit. Wait till 230 when it closes to skiing and then go take a scenic ride not when people are trying to ski.

Don't you have to sign in at the box to access that terrain?

[snwbrdr435]

Don't you have to sign in at the box to access that terrain?

No, you have to sign out to access the Big and North Summit Snowfield, you need to "check in" with patrol to hit a few other spots but that is not advertised and only those in the know know.

[obsolete]

Oh so where those people headed in the direction of like the dictator chutes?

[snwbrdr435]

Oh so where those people headed in the direction of like the dictator chutes?

Negative A-Zs/Headwaters Ridge

[obsolete]

Negative A-Zs/Headwaters Ridge

Ohhhh ok, sorry. I was confused.

[wiggeywackyo]

This year has been extra insane with the amount of mega pass tourists visiting. I may sound like a jaded local but this past Saturday the ridge had about 80 people out there either shoulder or suitcase carrying their skis. Multiple people where overheard complaining about how the terrain shouldnt be open etc... You idiots walked through a gate that had plenty of warnings and advisories, photo maps of the different terrain and a beacon checker... Also no one on the hill sunday but a two hour tramline which mostly consisted of half scenic rides, which is bullshit. Wait till 230 when it closes to skiing and then go take a scenic ride not when people are trying to ski.

I gotta ask. What's the right way to carry your gear if not that? Pack?

This is the first year we haven't made it out there in like 5 or 6. Really missing it, especially all of the goodies off of that lift. Personally, it's irritating that they're trying to make terrain access easier across the resort. Ruining all the good stuff for those who are willing to work for it.

[snwbrdr435]

I gotta ask. What's the right way to carry your gear if not that? Pack?.

Yes a pack is the correct way to do it.


A guy died here yesterday, it was horrific. Ended up somewhere he shouldnt have then decided to try and hike down fell and hit rocks.

[snwbrdr435]

Finally got to show Jay around the place. Snow was mediocre until a few inches on his last day. Pretty stoked to finally be able to show him the backyard

[JettaJayGLS]

Yup. It was sick. I dunno how much I would have skiied without a "guide." Its an intimidating place. Rode Big Sky on Tuesday, crushed it to Tahoe that night and had a powder day yesterday at Alpine from 1-4. Hitting up Squaw today for the leftovers and bigger lines.

Some shots from Big Sky

The Mountain



Hike into Beehive Basin






The Dogs




The Lines

[OreoGaborio]

fuhhhhh keeeeeng hell, man.


On a related topic, Sylwia just sent me this link to an online event/presentation/discussion thingie. Think some of you guys might be interested. I may join in as well.

https://mappyhour.org/events/2021/03...jx-68tMKxqwW2U

I've been saying for years now that I wanna do Tucks... or at least SOME sorta backcountry stuff... I'm really liking the winter hiking and would love to incorporate some skiing into it but I can't afford to sink a ton of money into it for all this special equipment... Tucks is tough, but at least the trail is accessible and doesn't require skins and special backcountry skis n shit.

I dunno, maybe I'm wrong... But I'd love to do some local stuff like that without spending a bunch of money. If anyone's got any recs, I'm all ears.

[JettaJayGLS]

fuhhhhh keeeeeng hell, man.


On a related topic, Sylwia just sent me this link to an online event/presentation/discussion thingie. Think some of you guys might be interested. I may join in as well.

https://mappyhour.org/events/2021/03...jx-68tMKxqwW2U

I've been saying for years now that I wanna do Tucks... or at least SOME sorta backcountry stuff... I'm really liking the winter hiking and would love to incorporate some skiing into it but I can't afford to sink a ton of money into it for all this special equipment... Tucks is tough, but at least the trail is accessible and doesn't require skins and special backcountry skis n shit.

I dunno, maybe I'm wrong... But I'd love to do some local stuff like that without spending a bunch of money. If anyone's got any recs, I'm all ears.

With Skis, its very easy to have one set that does both backcountry and resort to keep the costs down. I just sent out a feeler to my friends, they're your size. Will text you if they have anything. Whitney probably has something that Sylwia could use.

[JettaJayGLS]

Moosilauke Carriage road, Sherburne trail, Tuckerbook, Teardrop trail, Mt Cardigan, and uphill resort laps are all great starting points, to name a few. You can do all of them solo with little risk.

If Tucks is your goal, check out the Sherb. You can take a quick jaunt to the bottom of the ravine and check it out and see what you think. If you decide to do it, left gully, right fully, and lobster claw are good starters.