Winter continues

This was another good week. Skied at Stowe wed and thu and then back country trails in Underhill Sat. No big storms this week but a few small ones. Thu at Stowe had 3 inches of new snow and I was skiing untracked powder in Underhill Sat.
On Saturday I started at Stevensville road and went up to the Devils Dishpan. Then Underhill trail->Burt->Skytop. Then lunch at the Trapps cabin and back on Underhill trail. A nice sunny day with great snow. On the way out no one had skied the other side of Devils Dishpan since the last storm. Nice downhill and then breaking trail on the Underhill trail cross over.
On my way back at about 3PM I ran into some trouble. I was back to the uphill that goes back to the Devils Dishpan which is a saddle in the ridge. Instead of just my tracks there were many tracks in this section. People skiing the downhill and then going back up. Somehow I lost the trail and started following some tracks to skiers right of the trail. I was tired at this point and this area kept going up and up. I knew I was too far right but going left was thicker woods and I was already up pretty high. I decided to keep following the tracks. I was getting concerned at this point since there was only 2 more hours of light and I really didn't know where I was. After a lot of climbing I skied down the other side in what was very tight woods for a little while. Where I came out on the ridge was a lot higher than the Dish Pan and probably near the long trail although I didn't see it. It then opened up into some nice glades. I knew I was going West which was the right direction. Follow the sun. Finally at about 4PM I ran back into the trail pretty far down and it was an easy ski back to the car at that point. A great day but a very long one! I could have done without the last big unplanned uphill. Although I had a light I was happy to not use it.

Devils Dishpan

Great snow!

Side of Mansfield from Underhill Trail

Looking out to lake from top of Skytop

Skytop trail

Near Trapps cabin

A few Stowe pictures. Both days were cloudy and light snow. Good for skiing but not so great for pictures.

Mid Feb

On 2/16 I went to Millstone trails in Barre. The snow wasn't as good there as Bolton but pretty reasonable. Part of it is that the trail system there is for walking, snow shoes, skis, bikes so the surface can be inconsistent. Interesting area though with large piles of stones and old quarries every where you turn. Looks like a good place to go biking in the summer. The drive was 1 hour so reasonable to get there.
2/17 found me back at Bolton with more great mid-winter conditions. Even skied some fresh tracks 4 days after the last storm. Skied with Holly, Ben, Stephanie.

Old wood crane-type structure

Steam boiler used to drive drills and other tools

Back to Bolton:

Last run of the weekend - fresh tracks white rabbit

Bryant Camp

I have skied by the Bryant camp many times. This time we got to actually stay there. We hit a great stretch of weather with nice new snow and warm but below freezing temperatures. Thanks to Hope and Kevin for getting the cabin and setting up this trip!
Thu started out at Stowe at 8:30. Great snow almost everywhere. If you got on some steeper trails there was some ice in some areas. I was pretty happy in the lower angle woods and on the regular trails. I met Holly at Bolton at 1:00 and we brought are stuff up to the cabin and then skied Georges Gorge-> Cliff Hanger-> Telemark. We were the first people down this route that day and there was plenty of nice powder. We met Kevin after that and headed up into the woods and skied Alchemist. Nice sunset run.
We met Hope at the Tavern and then we all went up to Bryant camp. It was night but clear skies and the half moon lit up the trail enough that you didn't need a head lamp. After dropping our gear we decided to go around Birch Loop. We didn't need the lights for some of this ski also. I haven't done any night skiing in a while so this was fun and different.
The next day we were off to more skiing. Up Heavenly Highway->Moose Glen-> Paradise Pass-> Devils drop. Later in the day I did another run down Georges Gorge but headed down the Prayer Flags area. All nice snow and our tracks from the day before had filled in a fair amount from snow from the trees. Someone had fixed up the Prayer Flags since we had been there the day before.
Great couple of days in the woods. Nice to be up there at night and also early AM. Lots of pictures of woods and powder. Very lucky to be there taking them!


Stowe AM:

Bolton Thu:

Bryant Camp

First floor with stair case going to sleeping loft.

And we are skiing

The sun going down but not the last run of the day as it turned out

Bolton Fri:

Early morning. Camera does not do it justice

Holly attempts to ski n the cabin

Kevin going down upper "Happy Valley"