If you live very far from Titus, as I do, you want to make the trip count. I look for those times when Titus has been spared rain, when everyone to the south got wet.
The last few weeks have presented a parade of storms and almost all of them delivered some kind of mix to someone. In at least three of those storms Titus got more snow and less rain than other hills in Eastern NY.
Bruce Monette told me that the hill is over 80 inches for the year. We both agreed that the difference between Gore (63") and Titus this year was the 20 additional inches of snow, that Gore got as rain.
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Late start on Saturday for the Adk
I'd seen the recent pattern favor Titus, and considered it all week. While other mountains "within striking distance" were looking like rain, or a chance of flurries Titus was forecast as 2-4" for Sunday. I put 'striking distance' in quotes because, at this point in my life, Titus and Jay, are at the limit of what I will drive to ski. (To the west the limit is Peak'n Peak.)
After catching up on some leftover work on Saturday, I set our for the Adk in the afternoon. I got in just after dark, and did what I had to do to get up for a 4:30 Titus alarm.
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Somewhere in NY
That drive from our cabin to Titus isn't easy. 110 miles of twisty windy road that takes over two hours. The thing is that when I'm on these kinds of roads, I'm usually chasing snow, which makes it likely that you'll be driving in it. Whatever. Leave enough time and take it.
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The Road to Titus
Eventually you come to the outskirts of Malone, then you head three miles down Fayette Road, and you're pulling in to the Upper Mountain.
Bruce recommended starting on Upper, apparently yesterday everyone raved about "the flat spot." What? How often do you hear that, in skiing? "Everyone loved the flat spot!" After skiing the day, I have a theory about what he meant , but truthfully I'm just not sure.
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Bottom of the Upper
I got to the Upper Mountain at 8am, an hour before lifts. I was the first car in the lot, and I parked upfront. At 8:40 Skylar opened up the lodge and at 9am I was loading first chair. Just me and the liftie.
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First at Lift Eight
I like Lift 8. But I like Lift Six more.
Big Al's is cool, but something about those Middle Mountain trees.
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Dreamy Trail
The Dreamy Trail (aka Sundance) starts right at the top of Lift 8. It was corduroy made from natural snow, with two inches of new snow on top. I got into a trance turning in it. While others were jumping into Big Al's, I did four laps on piste first.
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Big Al's
Big Al's and all the trees were in good shape. I never hit anything really, and everything was quiet. A firm and deep enough base with at least a foot of soft snow on the top, no crust busting required.
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BIG PARTY HOUSE
At the top of Lift 7 there is big new building that is going to be used for Events.
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Three Trees
I'd heard tell of a new namesake tree run and I was on the look out for it. Via a text from Bruce, I knew generally "it was on the middle mountain next to those other tree runs you told me you liked." I checked out Three Trees and Sweet Sugar Lou but didn't see it.
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It snowed.
It snowed the whole day, sometimes pretty hard. I'd say 4 or 5 inches fell during the day.
The snow started to get a bit grabby at midday, so I took a break for lunch.
I ran into Bruce. He snagged my skis off the rack and dropped them at the ski shop for a quick wax. That was the key to the rest of my day. My skis were waxed by EJ Johnson. His father was one of the ski area's founding fathers.
Bruce also introduced me to a couple of Canadian guys, who agreed to show me Harvey's. I felt a bit foolish as it's practically right under Chair 6. In my defense the sign was covered in snow, which I brushed away for a photo op.
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Found it.
I guess it's natural that I would like the run, but I actually did like it. I love liftlines and trees and it's almost a combo of both.
I'd intended to finish the day on Upper as my car was parked over there, but I couldn't pull myself away. Maybe 10-12 laps on that new trail and then down to ski the tunnel.
Bruce and Skylar and Lucien and Laura and I closed the bar at Upper, talking about the season, the ski business and the Moon Valley maple syrup business that is part of the Titus empire.
The drive back to the cabin was tough, as I was beat, and temps were right around freezing which made me cautious. It was 17 on the hill at Titus when I left, and within 5 miles drive it was 32 and wet, everywhere. All the way to Gore. Titus is cold and it has played to their advantage this year, no doubt.
Great day.
