No regrets though. Our ski season spanned six calendar months, from mid-November into April. We had powder days, spring days, cross-country skiing, lots of tree skiing, the slides at Whiteface and our first family trip out west.
We didn’t get the huge coastal storms that buried coastal New England in 6 feet of snow, but the snow that fell stuck around, thanks to the record-breaking stretch of sub-freezing temperatures that lasted from mid-January to early March.
Unlike last year, when we were shut out of the glades until late in the season, the trees were in play for nearly the entire season. In fact, one of the best days of the season came in mid-December when Daniel and I got stuck up top when the gondi went down, with a foot and a half of powder to ourselves. As a rule I avoid the word “epic,” so let's just call it “memorable” instead.
As a family, we logged nearly 2 dozen days at Gore, a few more up at Whiteface, a couple in Vermont, a day at Hickory and 5 in Steamboat, CO. I managed to squeeze in a few more days here and there, including a 3-day trip to Telluride. If I add in my out-the-back-door nordic tours I think I skied my age (52) this winter.
Here are some photo highlights from the winter:
The "stuck up top" day at Gore, December 13, 2014:
A nice early-season stash at Gore, January 11, 2015:
View of Moxham Mountain and the High Peaks from the Twister trail at Gore, January 17, 2015:
Daniel and Sylvie cross country skiing at Lapland Lake, January 19, 2015:
Rumor opens, January 24, 2015:
Three amazing days at Telluride, January 29-31, 2015. This shot is my buddy Dennis in Dihedral Chute, part of Telluride's hike-to terrain:
My brother Dave telemarking on Chatiemac, February 14, 2015:
2 feet of new snow for our 5-day trip to Steamboat, CO February 19-23, 2015:
First time in the Whiteface slides, March 21, 2015:
Perfect spring conditions at Sugarbush, April 3, 2015. This is Daniel skiing Rumble:
Closing out our season at Whiteface, April 12, 2015. The skier is my buddy Jim on Hoyt's High:
Till next year... Beth and the kids at Steamboat:
I certainly didn't ski my age this season. I don't think I did a single day of mid-week skiing and I ended up just short of 40 days. I think that all but 3 or 4 days included at least some work - either training or teaching. If KMart makes it until June, we will probably ski one more day.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you consider the "work" to be fun, that's the important thing.
DeleteI was "stuck at the top" that day in December. Not sure I saw 18" of snow, but it was cool, even a bit surreal. We had already been up there for an hour or so before we noticed the traffic dwindle, unaware that both AEII and the gondy were down. But it didn't last that long....maybe 90 minutes, but I wasn't counting.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, as far as powder skiing goes, it never got that good again. March, usually a great month for big storms, produced nothing. And the brutal cold in February was a big blow to the mountains....Gore had one of their worst Prez Weeks ever.
Overall, I'd give it a solid B. I didn't quite get to my age (50), but came close. But I judge by vert...for me, just shy of 700k for the season. Not bad. Thanks for the blog. Check out the Whiteface VK 2.5 miler or, if you enjoy torturing yourself, the SkyMarathon the last weekend in June.
Yeah, for me that "stuck" day was probably my best Gore day of the year. The foot and a half came from the cumulative snowfall in the days leading up, when the summit was closed. Gore's official measurement was 14" for wherever on the mountain they measure but it sure felt like more!
DeleteBy the way, congrats on 700K of vert. I heard about those two races you mentioned, the SkyMarathon is beyond what I could train for in two months, but the 2.5 miler looks "fun."
DeleteNice post Jeff, and great fotos! Sadly I didn't ski my age this year,
ReplyDelete