Sharon
New member
After driving 5 1/2 hrs to get to Kton by 12:30 on thurs, and then skiing
bumps all afternoon, I decided to head over Okemo thurs night to set up
camp. I was curled up in bed by 8pm with my dog next to me. Since I went to bed so early, I got up around 6, made coffee, walked the dog. Took her out to the snow and she rolled around and enjoyed its coolness. That gave me an idea...I've got 2 hours until the lifts run...
Went back to 'camp' and geared up. Good thing I brought my pack that holds skis on the sides. I slapped my Super Stinx on the pack and began the climb in a borrowed pair of Garmont Syner-Gs.
As I passed by the Northstar lift, the liftie was friendly and chatted with
me, but said the lift won't be running for another hour. I said that's
okay, I'm going to hike up. He wished me well and off I went.
I hiked under the lift for a while, then out on Chief where the creek turns
into a ravine under the lift. The ski patrol passed overhead and cheered me on. One of them called down to me "that's the spirit!". With that encouragement, I kept on trudging up. Turned left on a service road which took me to World Cup. It was much easier climbing on the snow than on the grass.
By 8:45, I stopped and covered my sweaty polypro with fleece and a shell
and began the first descent of the day on World Cup. Good thing no one else was out there, as it took a few turns to get back my tele-legs, but by the time I got half-way down I had it back and carved up the firm corduroy.
Got to the lift by 8:55. They were ready to load...first one of the day,
and up I went getting "first tracks" one more time, this time on Defiance,
which was pretty much boiler plate frozen corduroy. I chattered down this
run and decided to stick to World Cup for the next 3 runs. I don't think I
left any 'tracks' on that run.
People who start from the bottom were required to take the poma lift to the Sachem lift, which only brings them up half-way to Lower World Cup. Once I got to this point, there was a sudden surge of traffic...but still nary a lift line...the small increase in flow from none to a few was noticeable after my peaceful morning on the mountain alone.
After 5 runs it was 10am and I went up to the Summit Lodge for coffee and a snack and to dry off my wet clammy clothes. Silly me forgot a few important things...a fresh dry polypro and fleece and a spare pair of gloves, and a camera! Doh! But I toughed it out for the morning. Sorry no pics. Pics of frozen corduroy and a gray landscape are not too exciting anyway. The Summit has minimal provisions, but 2 cups of coffee and a pastry warmed me up while my clothes dried on the heat register.
By 11:30 I came down from the summit with tired legs feeling like I had
skied the best part of the day, even though it was just 6 runs. After
bashing bumps thursday at Kton, 6 long telemark cruisers were just enough, and it didn't seem worthwhile to purchase a lift ticket with the deteriorating conditions and increasing crowd.
Crowds were typical for early at Okemo. Not heavy, but steady flow of
people on World Cup and a few brave or ignorant souls on Defiance.
They are making snow over by the Glades Peak chair and Solitude and may expand terrain by tmrw. Everyone should be looking good by Txgiving.
I soaked my chilled aching body at the health spa at the Jackson Gore Inn. There were only a couple of people there. I had a 12' round 104 degree hot tub to myself as well as the 85 degree swimming pool where I did a dozen laps to get the blood moving. They have memberships at the health spa and you can visit for a day. That was a worthwhile side trip after my first 2 days to open the 2004/5 season and may account for not being sore the next day.
bumps all afternoon, I decided to head over Okemo thurs night to set up
camp. I was curled up in bed by 8pm with my dog next to me. Since I went to bed so early, I got up around 6, made coffee, walked the dog. Took her out to the snow and she rolled around and enjoyed its coolness. That gave me an idea...I've got 2 hours until the lifts run...
Went back to 'camp' and geared up. Good thing I brought my pack that holds skis on the sides. I slapped my Super Stinx on the pack and began the climb in a borrowed pair of Garmont Syner-Gs.
As I passed by the Northstar lift, the liftie was friendly and chatted with
me, but said the lift won't be running for another hour. I said that's
okay, I'm going to hike up. He wished me well and off I went.
I hiked under the lift for a while, then out on Chief where the creek turns
into a ravine under the lift. The ski patrol passed overhead and cheered me on. One of them called down to me "that's the spirit!". With that encouragement, I kept on trudging up. Turned left on a service road which took me to World Cup. It was much easier climbing on the snow than on the grass.
By 8:45, I stopped and covered my sweaty polypro with fleece and a shell
and began the first descent of the day on World Cup. Good thing no one else was out there, as it took a few turns to get back my tele-legs, but by the time I got half-way down I had it back and carved up the firm corduroy.
Got to the lift by 8:55. They were ready to load...first one of the day,
and up I went getting "first tracks" one more time, this time on Defiance,
which was pretty much boiler plate frozen corduroy. I chattered down this
run and decided to stick to World Cup for the next 3 runs. I don't think I
left any 'tracks' on that run.
People who start from the bottom were required to take the poma lift to the Sachem lift, which only brings them up half-way to Lower World Cup. Once I got to this point, there was a sudden surge of traffic...but still nary a lift line...the small increase in flow from none to a few was noticeable after my peaceful morning on the mountain alone.
After 5 runs it was 10am and I went up to the Summit Lodge for coffee and a snack and to dry off my wet clammy clothes. Silly me forgot a few important things...a fresh dry polypro and fleece and a spare pair of gloves, and a camera! Doh! But I toughed it out for the morning. Sorry no pics. Pics of frozen corduroy and a gray landscape are not too exciting anyway. The Summit has minimal provisions, but 2 cups of coffee and a pastry warmed me up while my clothes dried on the heat register.
By 11:30 I came down from the summit with tired legs feeling like I had
skied the best part of the day, even though it was just 6 runs. After
bashing bumps thursday at Kton, 6 long telemark cruisers were just enough, and it didn't seem worthwhile to purchase a lift ticket with the deteriorating conditions and increasing crowd.
Crowds were typical for early at Okemo. Not heavy, but steady flow of
people on World Cup and a few brave or ignorant souls on Defiance.
They are making snow over by the Glades Peak chair and Solitude and may expand terrain by tmrw. Everyone should be looking good by Txgiving.
I soaked my chilled aching body at the health spa at the Jackson Gore Inn. There were only a couple of people there. I had a 12' round 104 degree hot tub to myself as well as the 85 degree swimming pool where I did a dozen laps to get the blood moving. They have memberships at the health spa and you can visit for a day. That was a worthwhile side trip after my first 2 days to open the 2004/5 season and may account for not being sore the next day.