Surprise Pow!! in Stowe VT

With little snow forecast, Tuesdays Powder was a motivator for sure

                                                        Surprise Powder Day

     April Fools Day greeted riders with rain clouds and soggy weather on the mountain. Once most people had been tricked by Mother Nature, she turned on her snow guns. By Tuesday morning, a layer of boot deep dry powder covered the slopes of Mount Mansfield. With no warning of the storm, the usual powder-hungry crowds were non-existent, giving the day a relaxed vibe. This opposite of what a normal powder day feels like, with all the area powder hounds racing from one stash to the next. 
     Boot deep tracks lay fresh underneath the Forerunner quad through the noon hour. Woods that were normally tracked out by 10 am were offering up wind loaded knee deep pockets. It was one of those powder days where every turn was pure magic.
     With high winds Tuesday night, the snow seemed to have all but disappeared by Wednesday morning. Snowdrifts here and there told the tale of the snow that had been. There were a few pockets of powder left in the trees, if you knew where to go.

     Over all, the mountain is in amazing shape. With warmer temps in the forecast, ski bums will be trading memories of powder days for sunny spring corn.

     

Mount Mansfield Ski Patrolers open up Liftline, trail checking it for any unseen objects ;)

Aaron Lavallee floating through the trees

Along with seeing no crowds, boots seemed to have disappeared also

Adam and Aaron, double teaming the lookout chair lift

So much snow, you didn't even have to look were you were going

Adam loves winddrifts

Sun and pow in the Birthday Bowls

Dylan and Adam find the goods the day after the storm