Basin Brook Conditions Report

[Andy Mathey]

I've had some pretty racy runs in the local backcountry during the last few weeks and so I went hunting for some better snow today. The good news is that I found some.  The bad is that with the rain event approaching, this particular quality probably wont hold.  But as you can see in the pictures below, the snow pack is 3'+, so its not going anywhere too fast yet.

I'm not going to make a big reveal here----its got to be a 'if you know, you know'.  I'll leave it to someone else to post directions or more info, since it isn't completely my find.  Tad took me there 4-5 years ago in very deep snow, though it was already on my radar because the topo lines are so compelling...

The snow is wicked deep with a consolidating crust layer and several inches of sugar on top.  I've tried to ski at Snow Basin and in Hawley (with nearly suicidal intentions), scraping down icy crust.  This isn't that.  I skied several lines in the north facing bowl with linking turns and good spacing between trees.  There is shwack, but it isn't overwhelming like Monroe.

Anyways...Tad if you're reading this you should check it out if things don't freeze up too much after the rain.

[Andy Mathey]

[William Blackmore]

Wow. Talk about timing. My wife and I are in the area. We tried to go there today and approach from Stamford, basin road. Utility trucks were occupying the parking there. We will try tomorrow, hoping the rain will hold off or at least be light tomorrow morning. How is the approach from west hill rd in readsboro? I'm afraid the bushwack for the last half mile may be too much for my wife who is on snowshoes

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hoosac range skiing" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to hoosac-range-sk...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hoosac-range-skiing/21607016-814f-40dd-958a-a28619e14559n%40googlegroups.com.

[Phil]

Thanks Andy. Great to know. 

[Andy Mathey]

I replied direct to Tad with a bit more specific info, but I checked out the dead-end at West Hill for snowpack quality and accessability a few days prior, and then circled around to Smith Drive and found much better access.  Great parking and a groomed snowmobile trail leading directly to 'the saddle'. 

For those into touring, one fork in the trail heads toward the wind turbines at Bakke/Blackpoll and another fork leads to Dutch Hill.  I see possibilities for connecting Dutch Hill to Basin Brook to Monroe for a long/multi-day tour...

[William Blackmore]

Im posting a trip report for the whole group, but I don't know if this will  show up as its own separate post or as a reply to the Basin Brook post. Anyway, my wife Monika and I went there yesterday, approaching from the end of West Hill Rd in Readsboro. We attempted the day before from Basin Rd way down in Stamford, but there were utility trucks in the tiny parking area and went to Monroe SF instead. Yesterdays conditions were a little different from what Andy encountered on Tuesday. The snow had become heavier and turns were slow, but it was still skiable. We just had time for me to do one line, but I saw other potential lines everywhere. We followed his tracks from the snowmobile trail up to the saddle but then contoured rather than go up and over the un named 3000 foot peak. I saw a really nice line on the approach. It came down from the left as we were going from West Hill toward the saddle on the snowmobile trail.  It has been awhile since Ive been there, but I'm excited to go back and really spend time there before this season ends. I am off Monday thru Wednesday and am also interested in doing the bigger ones like Glastenbury or Tad River Glen. Always looking for partners. Next Tuesday and Wednesday look warm but not sure if it will be decent corn snow by then. There is plenty of snow in all these places and I don't see much of it being lost soon so hopefully theres still time. Ill say one more thing about the approach to Basin Brook from Stamford. Monika and I did it two years ago in April. It is more work. About 1700 feet of climbing, but it is spectacular. Lots of potential terrain and open woods along the way. It is a logging road that goes up a narrow ravine. Steep in parts. At one point its carved in to the canyon wall with a 50 ft drop into the stream below. Makes for an exciting descent the right conditions. Ive only successfully done that maybe twice in all the years Ive gone there. Anyway, hoping for more fun and games the Hoosacs in the next few weeks.