It is a hill unlike any other. There is no snow making here, no groomer (with an asterisk), no chairlift (although this too requires clarification). The lower mountain, top to bottom, can be conquered in approximately 7 seconds (by a 5 year old, taking her time and enjoying the terrain). The upper portion, with 3 or 4 seconds of significant pitch, then a runout of 25 seconds or more, leads into the lower section. Though not exactly the equal of Vail or Aspen, I can report with certainty that the lines here are markedly shorter.
About that groomer. With about a 4 inch base of natural snow, it took the 70 plus year old volunteer but a few minutes, utilizing the back of a shovel, to create several exquisitely groomed trails. Not that the only skier on this mountain needed such assistance. She demonstrated remarkable proficiency at carving turns through the semi-freshies.
But with no rope tow or any other form of lift service, this resort had a major problem: how to deliver a tiny human from the base to the top, so that another run was possible.
It turns out that this little being not only has demonstrated remarkable skills on navigating this couloir but has also learned to create a facsimile of a whistle equal to that of any doorman in NYC hailing a cab.
And with that wondrous sound evidencing a combination plea/request, a human chairlift shortly appeared. First, the skier wrapped her legs, skis protruding from the sides, around a person suspiciously resembling her father, who several times transported her to the summit until he found reason to enter the house, I mean main lodge, leaving the only remaining employee to take over this task. She, clever as they come, used a ski pole as a form of rope tow mechanism to pull her ward to her intended destination at the top of the slope.
The brochure states this establishment will remain open as long as mother nature permits.
I am informed the cost of the season pass here is most reasonable. Payment made in hugs and smiles. Admission is extremely limited.
The skier and the rope tow relaxing between runs
A wonderful afternoon!