Sports

Spring Skiing 2013 - Superb Conditions at Catamount

The snow was like mid-winter.

Conditions were just stellar at Catamount last weekend.

I mean there was no excuse not to get out there. The temperature was 29ºF, which meant the snow was essentially packed powder. We know March is hit or miss, but the day was a home run.

Here's the way to look at March: You can't do yard work because everything is way too soggy. The greens are not going to be open for a while, so golf is out. The hiking trails are either muddy or icy.

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So we all may as well just ski.

There were several great routes down the hill for a group that included two advanced skiers, an intermediate and a beginner making the transition to novice:

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• The Summit Quad chairlift to Ridge Run (a blue traverse across the top), to Upper Promenade to the skier cross course. The high bankings on several turns throughout the course were packed with good snow, which made it reasonably fast, but rendering a nice grip at the same time.

• The Summit Quad to Upper and Lower Alley Cat. It was time for a 7-year-old to get her hardest test yet on the black cruisers. The snow was simply fantastic - a nice run down the steeps up top and an opportunity to comfortably work on turning on the second half of the trail.

• The Meadows Triple to Mountain View to Colonel's Caper to the base. The snow was so good that it became a total confidence builder for the 7-year-old.

Catamount, located in the Berkshire Mountains on the Massachusetts-New York line, should be in good shape heading into next week. It's a ride of less than 90 minutes from Hartford, and considering the conditions it's worth consideration.

Catamount packs a good punch in 1,000 feet of vertical. It features more than 30 trails in a layout that includes great beginner terrain like The Meadows, a nice steep black - Catapult - and signature blue cruisers.

The mountain will be open Sunday and into next week with 28 trails.  Weekend "March Madness" lift tickets are reduced to $35 and are available online or at the mountain.

Want to know another cool thing? You can ski or ride in two states.


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