First Backcountry of the season - Northern VT 12/7/08

[David Metsky]

After the NET Telemark Festival at Jay on Saturday, we attempted a trip to some backcountry glades we knew of. We hoped there would be enough snow; there is essentially none on the ground in Troy so elevation is key. The group was Brenda (Seeker), Rider.Steve, Mike, Michelle, Peter, Anne, Jeff, and yours truly. We got to the parking area around 10:30, skinned up and headed into the woods.

The skin up the trail was fairly quick, then Jeff set a skin track up to the glade in question. The snow looked pretty good, with a bit of a breakable crust but otherwise better then we expected. We had arrived in two groups, 15 minutes apart, so our group got up top first and grabbed first tracks.

The first run was pretty good, but we expected the second to be better once we cut up the crud a bit. The other 4 skied a good run as well; we quickly skinned up again. The second run was even better, as we expected. There were a few good falls, but the turns more then made up for it. After the second run we headed out since we still had a 4+ hour drive back to Boston. We could use a bit more snow, but the season is starting off pretty well.

Some video is HERE.

The rest of the photos are HERE.

 

[mookie]

Dave,
you guys should have headed over to Big Jay, there was plenty of snow there as well and the herd path was broken out thanks to FerrisJ!

 

[AMF]

A'int life grand when you get your first bc days in? Hope there's plenty more to come!

 

[skiguy]

right on...I know that spot but I'm not telling. Gotta love the one plankers to break it up a bit for ya love the Surfer Boy music in the background on the Video.

 

[David Metsky]

That's the original surfer boy music - Dick Dale and his Del-tones!

 

[MindlessMariachi]

those are some nice photos ... i'm pretty psyched to find this site has ski people on it too! if anyone's ever looking for someone to ski with, please let me know!

 

[Gillian]

Nice pics Dave! We were kicking ourselves that we didn't have skies to come down Jay - now that would have been cool, even for a clumsy skiier like myself - the slopes were sans ice....ah well another time!

 

[Darl58]

NIce pics Dave!!

Looks like a fun day and a good group to play in the snow with....

 

[cbcbd]

Very nice... pics don't convey breakable crust too well so I'll just keep picturing them as without

That's the original surfer boy music - Dick Dale and the Dell-tones!

I was going to say... he has toured in the NE some and I saw him once in CT and a friend of mine saw him two years in a row... he is quite the showman and a great show to see. Plus, he plays at smaller venues like Toad's (where I saw him) and at the Middle East in Cambridge... which makes it even better.
Unfortunately, I just went to his website to check out what his touring schedule was this year and saw this message:
http://www.dickdale.com/dates.html

 

[DougPaul]

Unfortunately, I just went to his website to check out what his touring schedule was this year and saw this message:
http://www.dickdale.com/dates.html

http://www.dickdale.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dale are a little more optomistic.

Doug

 

[cbcbd]

http://www.dickdale.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dale are a little more optomistic.

Doug

Thanks! Good to see.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I am watching the rain pour down here in Waltham, so sweet audio-video clip to take me back to reality.

 

[ferrisjrf]

That's the original surfer boy music - Dick Dale and his Del-tones!

Nice stuff!...and if you're gonna use surfing music for your videos, I humbly request that you use Surfin' Bird for your next production.

Jason

 

[skiguy]

Nice stuff!...and if you're gonna use surfing music for your videos, I humbly request that you use Surfin' Bird for your next production.

Jason

That one sounds like a bumper's competition too me

 

[freedan]

Looks like fun Dave. I recognize those woods, typically pretty good conditions up there.

 

[mookie]

Dave,
who is the guy on the split board? does he post on here?
thanks

 

[Seeker]

Dave,
who is the guy on the split board? does he post on here?
thanks

He has, maybe once or twice. Rider.Steve is his name.

 

[forestgnome]

Looks like fun! Thanks for posting the excellent pics.

happy trails

 

[Trainwreck]

Really nice pictures, Dave. I have been wanting to learn telemark for some years now. Do You know of any clinics? rentals?
Thanks, Sandy

 

[David Metsky]

Funny you should mention that.

The AMC Boston Chapter Ski committee is running a novice telemark workshop at Wachusett on Jan 10.

Saturday, January 10, 2009. Novice Telemark Ski Clinic at Mt. Wachusett Ski Area. 8:30 AM-4 PM (rain day Sunday, January 11)
Expand your X-C and backcountry skiing skills at this workshop. Learn how to descend a steep grade using snowplow and basic telemark turns on backcountry or telemark skis. This workshop is offered at Wachusett ski resort, starting on the beginner slope and moving to steeper slopes for those that need more challenge. Metal-edged skis and stiff boots are highly recommended. We will split into small groups depending on ability and equipment. Pre-registration is required. Reg. with Jessica Ross([email protected]). Cost is $55 - includes lift ticket.