CONDTIONS REPORT

Not that it will remain relevant after the warm up this week (and rain), but I am happy to say that I successfully skied Snow Basin last Saturday.

On the drive over, I wasn't expecting much, since we had already experienced earlier rain and consistently warm temps during the previous week. At the base, remnants of snow plowed in February remained marking the parking area. Looking through the trees, though, it appeared that a uniform covering of snow climbed up Sugar Run, beyond the bare ground below. I booted up the first pitch, threw my skins on and climbed the length near to the top. With just a couple of pinch points where the ground water overwhelmed the old culverts, the entire lenght of Sugar Run remained skiable! We had put in a couple of make-shift bridge crossings last season that spanned those streams, and proved effective enough.

With just…

I've heard first-hand reports that Beartown is skiing pretty great right now.

Base is about 18" and crust layers are consolidating, moreso the higher up one goes. I suspect with the rain and warm-up, the lower trails are following suit right now.

If you get at-it, please take a few pics and post them here.

Thanks,

Andy

Alright. Here is the skinny on our long-anticipated trip to Canada's Gaspé pennisula to ski the Chic Chocs.

First question: Did the reality live up to the hype? Absolutely.

Next question: Was the commute brutal? 11+hours each way, but we compensated with overnights for dinner and spa in Quebec City.

Last question: Poutine? Bien sur.

Our band of ruffians departed WMass in two vehicles in the middle of our own local snowstorm on Sunday Feb 9th, hoping for more of the same out in the Gaspé. We had a farily uneventful drive across the Canadian border and arrived in Q.C in the early afternoon with plenty of time to check-in at our hotel (Hotel Clarendon), walk the old city and make reservations for dinner (L'Entrecote St. Jean). Coffee and pastries the next morning, and we hit the road early for a long drive through numerous small villages along the froz…

Neal Chamberlain <nealchamberlain@gmail.com>

The conditions are wonderful. I'm skiing tomorrow, Thursday and next Sunday  as noted below but am available most days as I am a full time ski bum.

Right now the roads are groomed. I'd like to say they are packed powder but it's more packed ice so they are flat but there's no snow on top to smooth turning. It would be delightful skate skiing but this is not my skill, equipment or interest. Burgoyne, Sedgwick and the Open slopes have 8" base. This covers most of the debris. With our clearing in the fall and the fact that they are not congested with mountain laurel, beech stump sprout thickets or hobble bush makes numerous glades available. The double black diamond Kodiak, Grizzly, and Polar are icy at the bottom with more powder the higher you go. They may have spring skiing conditions as the temperature rises and…