The forecast suggested new snow at higher elevations in Northern Vermont. I had a voucher to burn so I set my alarm extra early and made the drive to Stowe looking forward to a few inches (which would be a top five day of the year for my season). With modest expectations, I boarded the Forerunner and prepared for disappointment.

What I found was startling…

Elevation and aspect dependant snowfall was surprisingly deep in many areas. Some elevations (especially lower) and aspects were skunked while others were well drifted and deep. My best turns were down Hayride from the Lord cutin where I found more than a half a foot of untracked. Some of that untracked fell on top of grass and dirt but I found myself in a minor powder frenzy despite only half a foot of thin coverage powder.

Line up for the gondola was not really worth the effort as the gondola aspects didn’t seem favored by the snow. So I made my way back to the Forerunner and picked off the least chopped and cut up powder I could find. I kept coming back to Hayride since most skiers were not hitting the thin coverage (i.e. snow on grass) areas on skier’s right.

When my second powder day of the year comes in April and feels more like a first powder day of the year… it says something about the season. But if this is as bad as it gets, it is a good reminder that we almost always have it pretty darn good in the Northeast. Sometimes the absence of what you want makes you appreciate it that much more.