Spring Skiing, Summer Plans & Maple Syrup

Skied 10 runs today, weather was great, about 27 degrees and overcast. The sun will be with us tomorrow and 35 degrees.
Talk in the air about maple sap run which all the farmers are getting ready for. They are in their sugar woods making sure the taps and lines did not get damaged during the storms last week. Give us about 3 days of 40 degree weather and it will start running. Could be within the next week but likely will be the middle to end of March.
If you have never visited a syrup making operation you should put it on your list of things to do. If you want suggestions of where to visit give me a shout out.
Its not to early to start to think about summer vacation in Stowe. If you want to rent for a month or two, which many people do, please plan ahead and give us a call or email.
Ken Libby

Suggestions for quick dinner

Today I am going to give you a break from the snow forecast except to tell you that it has been snowing hard since day break and it will probably be 5-7 inches on the mountain before dark.
Last night a group from the office went to the Lucky King Chinese Restaurant which is located in the Baggy Knee's Shopping Center. They feature a great buffet which for the adults was $8.95, all you can eat. Yound kids eat for $.80 per year of age. Our two year old ate enough for most adults for $1.60. If you want a quick dinner give it a try. They also feature a buffet at lunch for $5.95, all you can eat.
The phone is still busy. Getting a significant number of rental bookings for March when the temperatures are generally warmer, snow will be excellent and crowds will be reduced. If you live within 8-10 hrs driving time you should be here the first week of March.
Ken Libby

Saturdays Snow Report

Below is the snow report issued today from the mountain. You notice that they say 5 feet of new snow this week. I can tell you from experience that they are correct. It is wild and fantastic skiing & riding. Went snowshoeing this morning and even with snowshoes the snow was over my knees.
Come and Enjoy!!!
ATTENTION, PLEASE! AVALANCHE WARNING! Stowe Mountain Rescue has issued an advisory that anybody considering travel in the backcountry should be alert to extemely high avalanche danger, due to the recent heavy snowfall. With continued cold temperatures forecast, it is expected these conditions will continue through the weekend into next week. Welcome to the Presidents Day Holiday Week at Stowe Mountain Resort! And we welcome everyone to our two incredible mountains - Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Our slopes have been covered with incredible amounts of snow over the last month, about FIVE FEET of which has fallen just this week! Welcome to the best conditions of the year at the Skiing and Riding Capital of the East - Stowe! Make sure to check out the great base lodge entertainers, and be at Midway Lodge Saturday night at 7pm for Torchlight Parade & Fireworks. The weather looks great for the weekend, with some sun, seasonal temps and a chance for more snow to freshen things up. All of our terrain is open, including all of our glades. In the freestyle terrain realm, we have 3 parks on Mansfield (Tyro Large, Standard Medium and North Slope Medium), a rail park (5th Avenue- off top of Triple) and smaller learning features on Spruce for aspiring freestylers. Lift Times: Over Easy 7am - 5pm, FourRunner Quad 7:30am - 4pm, Gondola 8:30am - 4pm, All Other Lifts 9am - 4pm (Adventure Triple 4:30pm)
Ken Libby

Events for next few weeks on Mt.

Here is a list of some of the upcoming on mountain events for Stowe!
February 17 Torchlight Parade & Fireworks Watch skiers and riders come down Gondolier in a torchlit procession and enjoy fireworks afterwards.February 24 MMSC Mogul Event Junior competition which will take place on the Slalom Hill at Spruce.February 25 Stowe Derby - The legendary Stowe Derby is the nation's oldest downhill X-C race. (802)253-7704.February 27 Stowe Ski Bum Race GS team race this week on the Slalom Hill at Spruce, 11:30am. Info: 253-7704.February 28 Women's Wednesdays Sign up for Stowe's heralded women's only instructional program. (800)253-4754.March 3-5 Women in Motion III The third edition of Stowe's popular program. Women coaching women in skiing & snowboarding under the watchful eye of Kristi Robertson, a veteran NSIA pro. This clinic gives a great opportunity for women to enjoy three days of focussed instruction with peers.March 6 Stowe Ski Bum Race The next ski bum team race is a Super-G starting on lower Smuggler's at Spruce. 11:30am. Info: 253-7704
Ken Libby

Storm of a Life time

Would you believe over 40 inches in 24 hours? The Governor stated this morning that this apparently is the largest snowfall in one 24 hour period in Vermont's history.

Lots of calls today from President Week's vacationers asking if the roads are passable. YES they are and with another 24 hours of work they will be excellent. The only suggestion is be careful on city streets as cars coming out of parking lots can not see around the snowbanks and may surprise you as you drive by.
Stowe Mountain Resort has issue an avalanche warning for the back country which is the first time I have ever seen that. The last time I can recall a storm larger than this is the winter of 1968-69 and again in 1969-70 BUT those storms were over 3-5 days. This all came down from 4AM Wednesday until 1AM today. The walkway at my office in the village is over my waist and I am 6 foot tall.
Skiing, riding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling will be the best in years over the next few weeks AND GUESS WHAT, the long range forecast says we are going to have another Northeaster coming on Friday next week, the 23rd.

Snow Forecasted for Holiday Weekend

THREE FEET IN THE VILLAGE AND FOUR FEET ON THE MOUNTAIN!!!!
That is the forcast this morning for a storm to begin tomorrow, Wednesday about 3AM and finishing about noon on Thursday. The forecaster said he might be off by 6 inches which means we will receive the best snow fall we have received in one storm since 1993.
This will set up the holiday week which begins on Saturday for the most outstanding skiing and riding that we have had in years. The public seems to be aware of it as our rental division had four calls yesterday for rentals beginning Saturday, talk about last minute shopping.
Come to Stowe and have fun this week. All the Stowe Mt. Resort ski shops will be having sales also during the week.

Stowe Weekend of Hope

May 4-6, 2007 is the Stowe Weekend of Hope which is a celebration of life & learning for cancer survivors and those who love them.
This is year seven(7) that Stowe has hosted this outstanding event. The weekend provides of 30 medical talks & workshops on the latest research in the field, wellness sessions, intensive workshop by cancer type, an inspirational candlelight servce, opening & closing ceremonies featuring will known cancer advocates and the beautiful surroundings of Stowe for shopping, recreation and sightseeing. Stowe provides somplimentary acommodations for first time attendees & discounted accomdations for returning participants. Last year it attracted over 1000 visitors.
If you subscribe to Vermont Life you will find a great article on Page 16 of the new Spring 2007 edition which arrived in my mail box today.
You can learn more at www.StoweHope.org or by calling 802-253-7321.

Snow & more snow

I had to travel to Brandon, Vermont this morning to show an Inn & Restaurant to a client. Left Stowe with about 5-6 inches of fresh snow overnight and drove in sunshine for the first hour but the last 45 minutes was in snow flurries. Trip back was on snow covered back roads over the mountain into the Sugarbush Valley area of Vermont and than back North to Stowe. Once back here I had to wash the car and get ready for more snow tonight and tomorrow morning, than turning cold for two days. End of the week should be outstanding.
I will ski tomorrow, Sunday, morning and will post conditions but if you look at the comments of SkiSheba attached to my post about the special pricing at the mountain yesterday you will see that she (I assume it is a female by the name although I don't know who it is) took advantage of the ticket pricing and had a grand time with outstanding conditions and temperatures in the high 20's.
Ken Libby

Wow, what a week!!!

It started snowing Wed. night & has barely stopped since, total of 13-16"! Breaks down like this: 4-6" by early yesterday morning, 3-4" during the day yesterday, at least 6" more overnight! Powder Day! Come and get it!
That was the ski report this morning on the website of Stowe Mountain Resort. It was windy and temperatures were only 8 degrees BUT on a day with over a foot of new powder you got to go and I did. Wow, what wonderful skiing and what great conditions for the upcoming vacation week.
If you are wondering if you should come to ski during vacation week by all means set asdie whatever you think can wait and come on up, It is as good as it gets right now.
Not able to update the last couple of days as I was in meetings on the road Wed & Thur but things on the hill have been improving every day with 3-4 inches each day. Yesterday morning I had about 6-7 inches at my house, more during the day and an extra four inches this morning.
For another report on conditions you also can go to http://www.stoweinsideline.com/insideline/index.php and see what this writer feels. He skis everyday and does posts on conditions. In the summer he golfs everyday and writes about that.
Ken Libby

Woodchuck Day

Below is Governor Jim Douglas' thoughts about the forecast for 12 more weeks of winter by the Vermont Woodchuck at this mornings event.
Vermont Governor Vetoes Punxsutawney Phil's Forecast Says Vermont Woodchucks Confirm 12 More Weeks of Winter Wonder
Vermonters Celebrate 'Woodchuck Day'
Montpelier, Vt.-Governor Jim Douglas today said his state is vetoing the findings of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania's most famous resident Punxsutawney Phil, an alleged "groundhog" masquerading as a meteorologist.
Reports from Pennsylvania suggest Phil has forecast an early spring, but Vermont begs to differ.
"First, everyone knows that 'groundhogs' are really woodchucks, so I don't know who Phil's fooling," the Governor said. "But more troubling is his prediction for an early spring.
"Our woodchucks know winter," Douglas continued. "And they've confirmed that it will last well into April. We've received a great deal of snow in the last few weeks, with more in the forecast. Now's the time to come on up and enjoy our legendary skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and the many inns, bed and breakfasts and resorts that make Vermont a winter wonderland."
In an elaborate ceremony hosted by The Radio Vermont Group this morning in Waterbury, Vermont, many of the state's woodchucks assembled to confirm winter, at least in Vermont, would last 12 more, snowy weeks.
Asked to comment on Vermont's celebration of Woodchuck Day, Punxsutawney's official Groundhog Day Coordinator Michelle Neal said, "We thought of it first, so Vermonters can bug off."
In a response typical of the state's well-known acerbic wit, Vermonters have designated an official reply to a "Happy Woodchuck Day" salutation. When wished a "Happy Woodchuck Day" Vermonters answer, "bug off."
Much like the Bill Murray gem 'Groundhog Day,' Vermont will be repeatedly waking up to prime winter weather well into April.
Punxsutawney Phil couldn't be reached for comment. However, several locals speaking on the condition of anonymity said, true to his squirrelly roots, he was last seen heading to the snow-covered mountains of Vermont on his snowmobile-packed with his skis, snowboard and snowshoes.
"Well, maybe he didn't see his shadow on Gobbler's Knob, but he's apparently on his way to Vermont to enjoy an extraordinary winter vacation," Governor Douglas said.

Update from the Mountain

Below is the update directly from the mountain which is published two times a day. I copied this one and pasted it in as I was not able to get to the mountain today. Weather is Sunny, about 27 degrees and I was able to wash the car today for the first time and a couple of weeks.
Two-four inches of snow overnight, & it's snowing lightly this morning with additional light accumulations forecasted. The snowy weather should continue off and on for the next few days, with a chance for snow or flurries each day right through the weekend. Surfaces all over the resort should get a nice freshening up with the new snow, making our already great packed powder surfaces that much better! Snowmaking operations continue as we build bases up for the long haul into spring. We'll make snow again tonight on upper Lord and Ridge View on Mount Mansfield.
Remember if you are interested in knowing more about investment opportunities in and around Stowe please contact a member of our staff at www.StoweRealty.com