Smooth midday groomers at Bolton Valley Resort, Vermont

With visions of warmer temps and creamy corn snow turns, I made a PB&J and headed up to Bolton Valley today for some midday runs. What I found was closer to midwinter—lots of snow, packed-powder groomers and a stiff wind that made me put on my balaclava!

I took all my runs off of the Vista Quad, which was the main lift running (Snowflake and Mighty Might were also in action). Unfortunately, the Timberline Quad is out of commission with mechanical issues. Overall, it was a quiet midweek day at the ski area, although there were still quite a few lessons going on, families skiing together and snowboarders jumping in the terrain parks.

The best turns were on the runs that had been groomed overnight: Spillway, Hard Luck, Alta Vista, Sherman’s Pass and the Valley Road terrain park. But it was just warm enough that some other recently-groomed runs were in nice shape too, including Cobrass and Fanny Hill. I avoided going off the beaten path, since those areas were a mix of sun crust, wind slabbed powder and wooded “luge run.” Once the temps get higher and the snowpack consolidates, these areas will be much more fun.

There is certainly plenty of snow in the woods and on the trails. With the ample sunshine that reaches west-facing Bolton Valley, epic spring skiing is on its way! —Skimeister