Day 1, November 7, 2010

Fabulous day! We woke up to overcast and 28 degrees, but skied in sunny 32. The neck warmer was a bad idea. My boots were tight, my pants were tight, and my helmet was loose.

The snow coverage on the three open trails was 100%. The quality of the snow was high. They were blowing it on lower East Glade and West Glade. It was a fine, dry snow that didn't stick to your goggles. Skiing down the West Glade was a silky experience.

The lines for the Glades lift was long. When we first got there it was about 13 minutes, but that became close to 20 when we left. Leaving is another story. We hiked the Stairway to Heaven. Six minutes, my butt. Steve counted 237 stairs. I wouldn't want to do it several times a day. The stairs go right across the top of Downdraft with metal railings. I didn't see an opening. I don't see how you can ski the face from the gondola any longer. The trail map indicates the upper part is still a trail. Maybe there's a way around I didn't see.

Killington brought their grilling operation up to the Glades. You could smell BBQ burgers while you wait. It mixed well with the cigarette smoke of the NY boarders. They also brought up a big sound system. Neil Young, the Dead, James Brown.

The insides of the gondolas got paint. There is a vista deck off Great Eastern near Needles Eye. We saw it on the map, but not in person. Ana's Empanadas must have been a big hit. They're back.

The grumpy woman who runs the food service is back. Our big-pour bartender, Sean, from Santa Fe moved to Charity's. Linda from the Outback now runs Santa Fe. Breezy left Ramuntos and has more hours at the Garlic. It's an incestuous little world up here.