Category: Burke

2006-2007 Season, Burke, Dawn Patrol, Earned Turns, January

Dawn Patrol at Burke

With the second busiest week of the year under way at work and a sizable snow storm barreling into Vermont, I had few options for mid-week powder pursuit. A day off from work was strictly off the table and post work festivities could not begin until well past dark. My desire for turn earning and adventure dictated drastic action in the form of my first ever Dawn Patrol. Unfortunately, there was no powder to be found due to mixed precip and a poor setup the day before. But turn earning is more about the adventure than finding perfect snow and my first ever skin into the darkness was a reward in and of itself.

My position requires strict timeliness to open my place of employment at exactly 7:45 A.M. This sad fact combined with a need for a shower and complete change of clothes made logistics rather difficult. Fortunately, I work at a College where access to a shower at the Gym is available at seven in the morning. I set my alarm for 3:30 A.M. to be safe but later learned the hard way that 4:00 A.M. not only would have been fine, but would have been better. After gathering my gear and getting the wheels rolling, I stopped by the local Cumbies for a quick breakfast snack. The employee ringing the register inquired “What are we up to this morning?” To which I replied that I was heading up to Burke to earn a ski run before work. I got a rather blank and dumb founded look in response.

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2005-2006 Season, April, Burke, Earned Turns, Powder Day

Thick Powder Earned Turns at Burke

Burke!

In hind sight, I should have Dawn Patrolled this tour. But the storm went by faster than I had anticipated which resulted in no snow during the morning or afternoon. My timing was all out of whack. I left work early to go earn some turns down the road at closed Burke Mountain. I arrived to find a snow covered Burke Mountain begging for turns to be made on any untracked line I desired.

The untracked was not exactly powdery due to a warm afternoon baking under the sun. I was in a race against the time of consolidation when I first began skinning. But I slowly shook off my haste as untracked is untracked regardless of consistency. The snow was moist but not completely wet and packed down, but rather wet with a little fluff which is an odd combination. It looked like fun as it proved to be.

I tracked up Lower Warren’s Way to Bear Den to Willoughby on the skin up. As I approached mid-mountain, I noticed the wet snow was slightly slabbed on the surface of open slopes with a more powdery and lighter consistency on skier’s left under the trees. Duly noted for the descent! Four inches of the thick consistency stuff was the rule with deeper pockets occasionally. I suspect Burke picked up six inches at mid-mountain before the snow began consolidating.

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2005-2006 Season, Burke, March

Burke, VT

East Bowl at Burke

I arrived at Burke with a 50% off Big Burke Day coupon in hand at 8:30 A.M. to boot up. As per my dining experience at the Tamarack Grill during my recovery period, two enthusiastic employees greeted me as I ascended the new stairs to the recently renovated Sherburne Base Lodge. Those employees were en route to the drop off area to help lug equipment for families, kids, and parents with way too much gear and too few hands. Nice touch.

Entering the lodge, I was amazed at the amount of employees working hard to ensure guest comfort and satisfaction. My initial impression with the Ginn Resort Burke Mountain is that no expense is to be spared in ensuring a first class experience of the highest quality for all skiers; with most especially the family with stressed out parents in mind. I still can’t believe the bag check is complimentary. I headed over to “The Igloo,” which is their brown bag area doubling as a kids play pen, booted up, left my bag in the corner, and headed over to the new quad.

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2005-2006 Season, Burke, Earned Turns, November

Early Season Earned Turns at Burke

Willoughby Quad Under Construction

A legendary early season in New England continued on the week of Thanksgiving as two back to back storms slammed into the mountains. Waking up Wednesday morning to a mere dusting barely an inch deep at home in Saint Johnsbury, I knew better things awaited me at higher elevations. I opted for Burke as it was the closest drive and where I suspected had the most snow in the area. I was not disappointed with my decision. Upon reaching the mountain, I opened my car door and stepped out into half a foot of powder.

Burke was alive with action preparing for their opening just two weeks away. Pairs of men were working on various structures including a new stairway in the parking lot, the Mid-Burke Lodge, the Summit Quad, and the new High Speed Sherburne Quad. The new Sherburne Quad recently had its unload station installed, all of the towers flown in and mounted, and the haul rope hung. The newest High Speed Quad in Vermont is nearly ready to beckon a new age at Burke Mountain.

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2004-2005 Season, AlpineZone Meet Up, Burke, March

AlpineZone.com Meet Up at Burke, VT

Steve at Burke

I have been long overdue on hitting up Burke this year. A combination of being drawn to Cannon and noticing the Northeast Kingdom did not receive a lot of snow this year kept me away. Meeting up with fellow skiers for an AlpineZone.com Meet Up was the perfect excuse to sample the charm and character of Burke Mountain.

Burke was amazing today and with excellent views and superb conditions. Visibility was great with Sugarbush, Mansfield, and Jay Peak all visible. Weather started cold but warmed up good by noon time. We began the morning skiing impeccable groomers including top to bottom on the Dippers and Willoughby. Burke’s perfect groomed conditions would rival even Sunday River’s legendary grooming. Seriously folks, Burke is THE BEST ski area in New England if you like cruisers with character at any speed. I am one to normally head for the trees and the bumps. But even I was lapping up the perfect groomed laying down railroad tracks in the morning.

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