https://vimeo.com/119025351
Here's the full update:
After my shenanigans at Sundown earlier in the week and completion of work obligations, I drove up to Killington, VT on Friday afternoon to ski all day Saturday. Killington is truly an awesome mountain. The base is definitely similar to any Colorado resort, but the mountain itself has a cool vibe and the terrain feels endless.
Connecticut is not all that bad looking
On the way up, I opted for highways through little towns rather than the interstate. Nothing but time to kill.
Drove past Okemo
Very scenic
This gondola up to Killington seemed to be in the middle of nowhere
Checked into a cheap little place not far from the base, picked up my skis. Found a restaurant, made a local friend at the bar who gave me some tips on parking/runs.
I skiied the Faction Prodigy 2015 ski of the year. I loved it. 98mm underfoot. It was this or the Rossi Sin 7. I still want to try that ski.
Dinner specials on a dry pasta noodle
Saturday morning I was up and at em early, ready to make first chair. Unfortunately it took me 45 minutes to get my Mazda rental up the snow covered hotel access hill. Here is the chair I did eventually end up on.
Selfie for good measure
I lived in the trees Saturday
REALLY enjoyed that mountain. Drank some local beers. Skiied some fun lines. Bought a sticker. Not likely I'll ever plan a trip to the northeast solely for skiing, but if I were, I'd go back to Killington.
When all was said and done Saturday, I packed up the Mazda and set navigation for Gore Mountain, NY. Arrived at my Super 8 around 8pm Saturday night. The day caught up to me, I ordered a pizza and fell asleep by 10:30. Awoke to ANOTHER 4 or 5 inches in this town called Warrensburg. Plow guy told me if I was heading to Gore to wait about 30 minutes as there was a bad wreck on the road in. My confidence in getting the Mazda up there plummeted, but I hit the road anyway.
I was stoked that it had snowed so much, and was still snowing as I left. However, as I climbed in elevation, I noticed the snow turning wet. And eventually it turned to freezing rain up the mountain. Very odd weather system, since all the weather folk were calling for 8 to 12 inches over the course of Sunday/Monday.
I didn't take many pictures at Gore, because after 1 or two runs this is what I looked like.... ice:
The freezing rain nearly ruined my day. Until a local got on the chair with me. This gentleman was 47, and had been skiing at Gore since he was 10 years old. Obviously he knew every tree run, cut through, secret stash there was to be skiied. And he also knew that staying in the trees meant staying out of the rain. He showed me around the mountain all day, and all day he kicked my ass skiing. This guy was good. A million times in better shape than me. Truly made my day. Gore is a tough mountain to navigate. The trail map does not do it justice. It is HUGE. Ton's of skiiable acreage. There were multiple times I thought this guy had lead me into another state through some trees, but every time we popped out by the lift he said we were headed to.
Here are the only real pictures I took of Gore. The one of the lift is one of the older lifts in America or something like that.
I had a great time touring the northeast. Although I was solo, it was a heck of an experience, and some of the best snow I've ever skiied.
