2012-13 ski season wrap-up and highlights

Objective measures like snowfall, temperatures and operating days for the 2012-13 ski season may tally up only to the average mark, but compared to last year’s disappointing ski season 2012-13 was vastly improved. And if timing is everything, this winter really delivered with excellent conditions for the major holiday periods and just about every weekend. It will be interesting to see the official numbers from ORDA when they are released in a few months, but it sure looked like Gore had several days of record-breaking skier visits, particularly around the New Year’s holiday.

What we really missed last year was skiing in the glades, and we were rewarded this year with good tree skiing from late December through the end of the season. Things really got going in the couple of days following Christmas, when two feet of powder fell over a bomber base. And although winter was interrupted by two ugly thaws in January and one in early March, the trees essentially remained in play all winter.

I got in nearly 40 ski days this winter, including my first trip out West in a decade. As a family, we skied just about every weekend from late November to mid-April, including trips up to Whiteface and Jay Peak. Both kids’ skiing advanced tremendously. For our family it was a great ski season, and I think most skiers would agree. About the only downside for me is that 2012-13 was another ski season in which I didn’t get in nearly as much nordic and backcountry skiing as I’d like.

Now that Gore and Whiteface are closed and spring is here, it’s time to move on to other activities like hiking, climbing and mountain biking. But if you really need one final ski fix (or more) before you close out the season, Jay, Killington and Sugarbush (free skiing for Cinco de Mayo at Sugarbush!) are still open. And the skiing in Tuckerman Ravine should easily last into June.


Here are some photo highlights from the season:

Nice early season conditions on the Cloud trail at Gore, December 24:

Skiing High Pines with the snow coming down hard, December 29:

Daniel dropping into the Barkeater Glade at Gore on New Year's Day:

Lies, stellar snow conditions yet absolutely deserted on January 5:

Daniel skiing Skyward at Whiteface, January 21:

Beth climbing Gothics Mountain, February 23. I know, it's not skiing, but it was an awesome snowshoe hike:

Skiing the trees at Big Sky, February 28:

My brother Dave threading a line through the trees in one of Gore's summit glades, March 23. Winter conditions held on late into March this year:

3 days at Jay Peak. This photo is Ullr's Dream on March 30:

Daniel flying down Lies, April 6 at Gore Mountain: