Each year, we look forward to Opening Day with hopeful anticipation. We hope it will come early in the season, we hope the snow conditions will be good, we hope the weather will be pleasant, and above all, we hope that our opening day visitors will be happy.

Today, we enjoyed all of that and more. A surprisingly robust snowstorm dropped 13″ of fresh snow on the mountain in the 36 hours before the lifts opened. While it wasn’t enough snow to allow us to prep all of the slopes we normally groom, we were able to provide some soft, velvety corduroy on several runs.

What’s more? The ungroomed slopes were an unexpected treat for powderhounds. We have early season conditions in the form of brush and other below-the-surface lurkers, but most expert skiers I talked to today agreed the snow quality more than made up for it. The powder was soft and plentiful, and dry enough that, in most places, it was still enjoyable after it was tracked.

For me, this Opening Day exceeded expectations in a few other ways. After eight months without skiing, I was re-enchanted by some of the small pleasures that we tend to take for granted by the middle of the ski season.

The gentle grace of a solitary line through the powder.

The beauty of a sunlit slope bearing the marks of satisfied travelers.

 

The perfect symmetry of neatly pressed corduroy.

The sparkle of the sun beaming through snow-kissed trees.

The warm fulfillment of a jovial chairlift ride with like-minded friends.

Witnessing special moments where one generation shares their passions with the next.

Smiles and greetings flashed from the chairlift.

And above all, the knowledge that we have a whole season still waiting to unfold in front of us.

Hope to see you soon!

• April