CASA Tours Switchboard

East Side

Posted on March 17th, 2007 by abearc.
Categories: Recent Posts, From the Guides.

This is the year. I’m going back. An against the grain and against all senses of sanity ski trip back to the east coast. I’ve had it with skier’s boasts of their trips “out west”. Why don’t we hear tales of epic “back east” journeys? Okay..I know I know. But still, skiing in the east conjures up memories of skiing at its purest and simplest in a time where the big mountain free-riding scene is sometimes just “too much”. My imagined itinerary begins with sharp edges on a pair of skis that aren’t too fat to fit in the old ski rack..aah perfect! Cold air bites the skin as I rip corduroy down the historic Wildcat trail with the majestic Mount Washington vista looming. Off to bang VW sized bumps at the Loaf on Bubblecuffer. Mad River Glenn. I’ll ski it if I can. Are there any more in-your-face trails than the front four of Stowe? Outer Limits and Devil’s Fiddle at Killington perhaps. The oxymoronic eastern powder day, cue-ball mountain, toboggan chutes, death cookies, glades and crust. An early morning hike to HoJo’s where its time to change shirts and begin the boot up the left claw of Hillman’s. The first turns drop me into Dodge’s, steep and winding. Then it’s a trek across the Highway and another boot up and into the Duchess. Feeling good. Up and over the scree to the top of the ravine. Past Left Gully. This turn always gets it pumpin’. Just before the cliff-out there’s a goat path back into the Chute. Old familiar faces at the tavern talking rope-ducking and bush whacking. It’s pure, its simple, its skiing. So, as the snow continues to pound the Tetons here in Jackson, I’ll continue to plan my return trip to the hardpack. Maybe next year.

Aaron Bilotta - CASA Guide

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