[<link post warm-weather-and-easter-sunrise-services-at-vermont-ski-resorts external-link-new-window sunrise>For Easter 2010 sunrise service information, follow this link.]
We did it. We were out the door on Easter Sunday by 5:15 a.m.
The Skimeister and I wanted to attend our first-ever Easter Sunrise Service, and it would be atop Sterling Mountain at Smugglers' Notch.
At 6-ish, we loaded the lift with about 70 other people. The light was faint, but it wasn't dark at this hour. People had skis, snowshoes and plain old boots. The lift crept along because they had to extract the non-skiers from their chairs at the top of the lift.
I dressed for winter conditions and I'm glad I did. It was very cold. Most everyone stayed warm in the Top of the Notch hut before heading outside for the service. The nice pastor actually tried to play guitar to accompany our songs! It was the world's fastest service, clocking in at under 15 minutes, I'd say.
The sun was straining to shine through the clouds as it poked up over Madonna Mountain. An early morning on top of a mountain has the potential for some spectacular color and views. Not spectacular today, but it was a neat way to spend Easter morning.
After having such great spring skiing recently, we only took one run down the mountain. The snow had frozen up overnight and it wasn't budging. It made for what I call "noisy skiing."
Families were walking or sledding down the ski slope, or just sliding on their snowpants. Not something that you see everyday on the ski hill!
We saw a mix of snow showers, shadows and brighter sun later in the morning as we warmed up over hot coffee and a yummy breakfast at 158 Main in Jeffersonville.
