| Author |
Message |
|
Written on: Wed Mar 4, '09 5:28 pm
|
|
sambartlett
Topic creator
registered since: 11.11.2007
Posts: 68
|
Nineteen of us skied Section 1 today March 4; Day 0 of the awkwardly named "Six Day Tour plus One". We had a few inches of new snow on top of crust, great for kick and glide, not so great for tele-turns, as several folks demonstrated. This being a very flat trail, it didn't really matter. Great group, great weather, great day!
|
|
Written on: Thu Mar 5, '09 5:44 pm
|
|
sambartlett
Topic creator
registered since: 11.11.2007
Posts: 68
|
We had nineteen and six halves skiers today, more beautiful weather, a bit more challenging, some sticky snow. Several skiers stopped at the eight mile mark, and some others did other variations. Nice breakfast the the Vermont House to start the day, everyone out by dark!
|
|
Written on: Fri Mar 6, '09 10:34 pm
|
|
sambartlett
Topic creator
registered since: 11.11.2007
Posts: 68
|
[size=3]Another great day of skiing for 26 skiers. [/size:efd02041fa][LEFT] [FONT=Verdana][size=3]Snow is still holding up well, the stream crossings will be tricky after the next big rain. Everyone managed most of the stream crossings and wet spots with agility and grace. Thanks to Tim Marr for keeping the trail open and leading today's trip.[/size:efd02041fa][/FONT] [/LEFT]
[LEFT] [FONT=Verdana][size=3]What a great party the Bennington folks put on for us![/size:efd02041fa][/FONT][/LEFT]
|
|
Written on: Sat Mar 7, '09 7:34 pm
|
|
sambartlett
Topic creator
registered since: 11.11.2007
Posts: 68
|
We had another great ski today, along Somerset Reservoir, Section 4.
Snowbridges and sunblock and shorts, oh my!
It was mushy, but we had fun, except for the powder-spoiled northerners. Even got to go water skiing.
It was pretty warm but the streams haven't opened up any more than they were. The Somerset Dam Road was a challenge to drive out on, it seems, but everyone (10 northbounders, 14 southbounders, 2 from Sec 3) made it out OK and we didn't leave any cars behind in the key swap either.
Thanks to the Briggs' for their leadership today.
|
|
Written on: Sun Mar 8, '09 3:12 pm
|
|
donna d
registered since: 07.01.2008
Posts: 5
|
Thanks Sam for all your help putting this together. We had a great day, even the mud road couldn't get our smiles off.......great friendships made and amazing snowbridges.. thanks snowbridges!! Donna
|
|
Written on: Sun Mar 8, '09 10:23 pm
|
|
sambartlett
Topic creator
registered since: 11.11.2007
Posts: 68
|
"Central Vermont dispatch, please state your emergency"
Day 4 didn't end as planned, but because of good planning and preparation, it ended well. We had 20 skiers on a slightly dreary morning, on Section 5, but by the time we got to Stratton Pond the sun (and the sunblock) was out. We had a nice lunch out of the wind in the Stratton Pond Shelter, repaired one broken pole (copper pipe and duct tape and a stick) and headed north. The reroute to Little Pond was beautiful, much better than the old route over the "IP Road" aka VAST Rt 7. We had another rest stop at Little Pond, where we picked up three more late arrivals.
Where things fell apart was on Pony Hill. Last I skied this, in deep powder, it was marvelous. Today it was mashed potatoes and corn (shepards pie? why do all my descriptions relate to food?) with a collapsing base and rotten snow bridges. One of our stalwart crew had a twisting fall that left him unable to put weight on his leg. We fashioned a sled from an ensolite pad, rope and straps and a backpack, wrapped him up in extra jackets, used snow shoes to break out a path and brute force to haul him UP the hill to the IP Road, where the rescue snowmachines and sled were just arriving, having been summoned by cell phone, pinpointed by GPS.
Ever wonder why the CTA (and all other outdoor organizations) suggests you bring things like a cell phone, duct tape, map, compass (and know how to use them), repair items, snow shoes, etc on a "simple day ski trip"? That's why. It is also why it isn't a good idea to ski alone and why you should know where you are; they can't track old cell phones on 911 very well. It also helps to have a bunch of smart, experienced, prepared folks along, this would have been tough with a party of three. The injured skier was not over his head, it is just one of those things that can happen to anyone. He is expected to make quick recovery.
Thanks to our leader and trail chief Andrew, and to all the other folks who helped in one way or another.
On to fresh snow (?) on Section 11.
|
|
Written on: Mon Mar 9, '09 10:44 am
|
|
WaldenRun
registered since: 12.01.2009
Posts: 5
|
Sorry to hear about the needed rescue. I well remember Sam's discussion from the previous day on why he has snowshoes strapped to his pack. It is that type of leadership that allows folks like Patty and myself to casually enjoy what is still a serious endeavor. A heartfelt thanks to everyone that made my 50% of the six-day so much fun. The fresh snow falling today is a just reward for those skiers that are STILL out there. -Geoff
|
|
Written on: Mon Mar 9, '09 9:53 pm
|
|
sambartlett
Topic creator
registered since: 11.11.2007
Posts: 68
|
Day 5, Section 11 (in entirety) was worth the miserable drive. Bill Michels and Paul Burgess managed to salvage a 9:30 meeting time that was missed by four out of fourteen skiers due to poor road conditions. They got the cars spotted while the others waited for the stragglers and we hit the trail at Tin Shanty by 10:50. Kind of late for a 10.9 mi tour over two mountains, but the leaders cracked the whip and got us going. We had 2"-4" of fresh snow (1"-2" of slop if your usual haunt is Bolton-Trapps) on untracked snowmobile trails for the start, then used skins, brute strength, skill or herringboning to get up Burnt Mtn to our lunch stop. The views mentioned in the guidebook were absent but no one complained as the still-falling snow promised an exciting descent. Again, various techniques were used to get down through the glade at the top, some with more evident joy than others. Except for a few days-old ruts the base was firm enough to (usually) hold and the snow was deep enough to provide a good tele-turn foundation, and not too deep to hold up the snowplowers and sideslippers.
The trip up and over Round Top was similar, more herringboning, fewer skins (for whatever reason) and less brute strength (because it was used up on Burnt Mtn). The small stream crossings were tricky in places, the big ones were easy due to the CTA bridge building program, although the way the snow crowned on the deck made even that a bit challenging.
We were out by 4:00 or so, a very quick trip over two mountains. We finished with a picture-taking session to commemorate Rich and Sheri's new status as End-To-Enders!
Thanks to leaders Bill and Paul, and to trail maintainers Lynn, Lynda and Bill!
|
|
Written on: Tue Mar 10, '09 5:30 am
|
|
Lynn Fisher
registered since: 14.11.2007
Posts: 67
|
jealous jealous jealous jealous.
Mostly though I'm pleased that beautiful glade was enjoyable.
No, mostly I'm jealous.
|
