The Fat Lady is Singing

PHOTO: Sunny afternoon spring skiing is wonderful. Bria is on Waterville Valley’s White Caps Trail under the White Peaks Express high-speed quad chairlift. The slopes are more quiet on weekdays and especially so in the spring. The ski resorts high in the White Mountains hold their snow longer and hopefully we will be skiing well into April. Check out New Hampshire mountains’ snow reports at SkiNH.com.

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

Winter is over.
No April Fooling, winter is over and spring is here big time.
Soon the sap buckets will be taken off the Maple trees since it no longer gets below freezing at night. Charlie has begun pruning the blueberry bushes. We got the mountain bikes out and I am riding my unicycle again on our ice free driveway.
But I haven’t taken my skis out of the back of my car just yet. There is still snow in the White Mountains. My fingers are crossed for a few more good outings.
I love Spring skiing!
Last week a good number of ski resorts stopped spinning their lifts for the season thanks to the rain and the big warm up. The Nordic centers trails have all quit grooming what little snow is left on their trails and most have closed for the season.
Black Mountain’s last day was Saturday, the first full day of Spring. They did a terrific job of grooming and pushing the snow around to open a lot of trails. The East Bowl Triple, the Platter Pull and the rope tow were open. I skied all morning on the soft snow. The snow was soft and there were some bare spots but it was a lot of fun. The uphill skiers were out in force skinning up the mountain to earn their turns too.

After skiing Black all morning. I met my friend Ellen over at the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation. We went out for a good hour of kicking and gliding. No wax skis kick well on soft wet snow. Jackson’s has some trails at higher elevation that hold the snow longer. The sun was bright and it was actually hot cross country skiing. Oh the snow was melting away.

Charlie and I had enjoyed another wonderful Saturday morning at Bretton Woods. We skied early while the groomed snow was still a little firm and made for nice fast turning. I was glad I put sunscreen on my face. Charlie waxed our skis so when the snow got soft they still gilded nicely.
Wednesday I skipped out at lunch time and made five more runs at Pats Peak before they closed on Sunday. It was dreamy sunny and the snow was soft and plentiful on the slopes butwoods were bare.

Thursday four of us met up at Waterville Valley. We had planned this outing the previous week and the forecast had been for sunshine. It was raining as I drove up Interstate 93. We all showed up anyway and skied in the fog and rain. The whole mountain was open though not many trails were freshly groomed. I had some good fun bouncing down the bumps on True Grit and cruising the groomed No Grit to Oblivion was much easier on my legs.
The Schwendi Hutte was open but we elected to try out the new Freestyle Lounge on the third floor of the lodge. I had chili, Bria and Ed had Steak and Cheese with a side of fried pickles and Danielle dined on pizza. As we enjoyed our yummy pub food the sun came out.

Skiing in the afternoon felt like a different day. Sunglasses and goggles were needed and our jackets and ski pants dried out.
We had a great time skiing. Hopefully while you’re reading this we’re skiing someplace together again. Waterville again? Cannon? Bretton Woods? We’ll just have to wait and see and check the mountains’ ski reports.
Don’t forget this is the best time to purchase next year’s season passes. Most of the resorts and Nordic centers offer their very best rates from now until the end of May.
I made many happy memories skiing locally in our wonderful home State of New Hampshire this winter and spring. I am so thankful.
Have Fun.