http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/mgl.jpg We were looking for some good skiing and we found a gold mine. At the base of London Mountain are the remains of London Mine. http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmlmlm.jpg Found a bit interesting history on it- from 1874 to 1940 it was the leading producer of gold in the country. It also produced silver. The remains of London Mill still stand on the valley floor, where ore was shipped down from the mine via a cable car system. Some of the towers are still there. Interesting, but not what brought us there. We'd scoped that looker's right line and had to ski it. The run faces east, which caused the alarm to go off at an unfriendly hour. We were parked at the mill when the sun creeped over an adjacent mountain. http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmlmb2.jpg Challenge #1 was to find a way across a stream without soaking our feet in below freezing tempereatures. A fun little puzzle. http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmsc1.jpg http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmsc2.jpg http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmsc3.jpg http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmsc4.jpg Skinned from there up the steep pitches behind the mill. From there it was a mile or so of flats toward the northwest end of the mountain(far right in pic#3). It's a gradual ridge from this end that rises to the peak. Sat up there for a while, signed a guestbook in a jar, then began skiing our descent. http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmmd1.jpg Below the initial rock chute, the fall line changes direction. On the upper skiers left side the snow forms a wall with a cornice lining the top. Below it was a couple inches of smooth warm butter ont top of frim corn. Gorgeous. http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmmd5.jpg http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmmd2.jpg http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmmg2.jpg http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmmg1.jpg Found this little gem just above treeline: http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmslot.jpg Skied it, then went all the way back down. http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/image_upload/World/lmmd6.jpg Wound up with nearly 1,900 feet of honest vertical. A good 1,600 of that was such perfect snow that it hardly seemed fair. The final ~300 feet was an excersise in floundering through bottomless, formless slop. We'll take that ratio any time. Walked back up a dirt road to the car, drove back down and picked upo Mir and our gear. Another day, another mountain. mpd - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L is brought to you by the University of Vermont. To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html
