It’s starting to feel like we’re living out Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day. I’ve been writing these blogs pretty much weekly since early December, and for the last month and a half, the intro has become more and more repetitive as time has gone on. The skiing was good last week. It’s even better this week. The snow is incredible. Woods are deep. Snow, ski, rinse, repeat. So boring right?
I wish I could change it up. Really I do (not). But alas. It’s just another week where it snowed more (22″), the conditions have been stellar (pow/packed pow every day), and there’s yet another storm on the horizon (Saturday night into all day Sunday, could be a foot or more). I’ll keep the broken record broken and just say get up here. Please. We’ll look back on this stretch as historic some day. If you haven’t made it up in the last month, I’m out of ideas to get you here. Whether or not you have a significant other for Valentine’s Day, I think we can all share in our love for this snow.
President’s Week is coming at the perfect time, and for those of you who haven’t made the visit yet, we can’t wait to welcome you all back to the mountain. Maybe it’s your first time up this season, maybe you’re on day 50. Either way, you’re going to have a great time, and I hope you will help us in our Descent To Rise Above initiative. Our goal is still to hit a billion vert this year, and we’re rapidly approaching 300 million feet. That means we have a good ways to go and need all of your help to make it happen. Don’t forget to track your vertical in the Ikon or Sugarbush apps. And as a bonus you can use #beoneofabillion on your social posts for the chance to win cool prizes every week. We’ve already given out great swag from our partners at GoPro, Dakine, Darn Tough, and more.
The upcoming holiday week is packed (pow) full of events for when your legs finally beg for a break. Corinne did a nice write-up on some of the highlights. All I would say is that we have at least a couple of events happening every single day from tomorrow through the following Saturday including plenty of live music, kids entertainment, and cabin cat opportunities. Both Saturdays in particular are packed full of good times.
In other mountain news, the team continues to work on Slide Brook, with a hopeful open sometime over the holiday week. They’re finishing up with electrical work and have an inspection scheduled. Grooming will be out in full force tonight, including a rare groom of both Lower FIS and Lower Domino. When’s the last time both of those happened on the same day? The Parks team has a whopping 143 features spread across its four parks. Mind boggling. We got the rare Walt’s Trail groom a couple of days ago. Maybe the coolest green trail in the northeast. And sushi has come to Sugarbush. It’s delicious.
Don’t forget to check your pass restrictions for the upcoming week. Ikon Base Passes are restricted this weekend. Local Passes are restricted to Mt. Ellen only 2/15-2/23. Boomer passes are restricted through the same period.
I look forward to seeing you on the trails over the next week. Or more likely you’ll find me in the trees. And if not, there’s always the bar.
See you on the mountain.