The first signs of spring appeared last weekend and the doomers were out in full force. The winter is over! The rain is coming! If you internalized the social media discourse then you might as well pack your gear and call it a season.
The rest of us will be enjoying the warmer weather and soft turns.
Way up North in Old Forge the locals had missed the news that winter was over. The Olympic snowfort built the previous weekend stood tall while kids played in the snow below. At the top of the mountain conditions were supreme with soft snow and excellent coverage everywhere.
Farah and I made a late arrival to McCauley, taking our first chair lift up a little before 12. Our chairlift partner let us know things had been a little crunchy but were just getting good. Our timing was impeccable.
We started on the main groomed runs like Skyride and Sidewinder. It was a carvers paradise as I laid deep trenches in the snow and let my legs get warmed up.
All the while I was scoping the trees out. The coverage looked amazing but God’s Land and Lost Trail were a little too bumped up for this snowboarder’s taste. The Rambler Glades were just right though, providing the perfect access to the flow state. I cruised through the trees carving through banked turns, popping off the bumps and slashing the occasional patch of “fresh” mashed potatoes.
The trees were so good that Farah could not resist their allure. She dipped into the Rambler with me and her smile on the other side told the whole story. We explored some of the other lower angle glades surrounding Hanks Hollow and the bottoms of Racer and Lost Trail.
I was able to find a few more patches of untouched snow as Farah navigated the stumps and bumps around me. The snow was playful and plentiful, turning the whole mountain into a playground. Back on the groomer I bombed Rambler and found it to be more akin to a boarder cross course at those speeds than a meandering green trail.
Before we knew it the final bell rang and we had skied for 4 hours straight without a break. We grabbed one last sunny run down Sidewinder to the lodge. The mountain was closing down but the lodge was just heating up.
The bar and couches around the fireplaces were bustling. Outside a full on snowball fight was occurring around the snow fort as parents watched and occasionally caught strays from the deck.
Farah and I pulled up a set of Adirondack chairs to the fire pit and soaked in the sun. It was one of the days that required reflection, you want to imprint in your memory.
I’m sure there’ll be more sunny spring days, but if the doomers are right that memory will sustain me through the summer.
Down with the doomers
Great little read
Cool castles
Thanks for the reminder that I need to get myself up there to check this place out. It looks like a cool place
Woah, would love to see a time-lapse of the castles being made.
Love going to McCauley!
Looks like McCauley has trails and slopes for every level of skier and boarder. Thanks for the post and pics.
I was there on Sunday where it was firm and FAST! Sounds like your day was more fun.
Gotta love Big Mac!
Super article. Sounds like you had a great day!
Nice post. When the knees are done, I need to get back there to ski the nordic trails.
Old Forge will always be special to me, not for the skiing but snowmobiling. Town of Webb stickers on our ‘71-‘73 skidoo trips from NJ are etched in the memory. Howard Johnson’s , Hank’s hardware and Thendara and riding by the amusement park.
Is the tbar history? How’s the “new” chair?
Tbar going up the side of Olympic is still there though rarely used. McCauley used it for a few weeks last season while they were still getting the new lift up and running. Let’s just say it was quite challenging for many, myself included lol.
Nice report. Adding this to my list!
Awesome. Too bad they don’t spin the lift a tad later on days like that.