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After being delayed a bit in Burlington Erin and I finally made it to the Rockpile a bit after noon and started out hike. There was no snow up to the top of the second swithcback, but after that there was a consistent snowpack to walk on. The snow really just ends at that elevation right now, doesnt really fade like it does most years. unfortunately it was a rather cold day and with our late startwe just opted for Hillmans. Turned out that wasnt a good idea either and it froze up on me. I made it to the top though where I found some new snow blown in the skiers right gully, just enough to keep me from blowing turns on my decade-old dynastars. The rest of the run was a real test of my ability -- frozen chopped up corn bumps, ouch. I cut over to Lower Snowfield in hops of finding a smoother surface but found much of the same. At Hojos, Erin said a bunch of drunkards were entertained by my descent (I was the only one up there at the time). The descent to Pinkham was less bone-jarring, but the Sherburne is pretty bumped up and Erin's knees werent too happy. I stretched the run out as far as I could, linking snow and grass spots, but we were forced to quit at the crossover just above the 2nd switchback. Hojos was booked when we got there, with overflow traffic headed up Gulf of Slides. A couple of boarders from UVM we met were planning on spending the night on the Boot Spurr trail just outside the Cutler River no-camping zone. I told em Gulf of Slides woulf probably be a better bet.. more places to camp etc and they changed their plans. It was getting dark as they left, gotta wonder how far up they made it before pitching camp. On the way home we had to stop on Rt 16 to let two moose go by, they were pretty oblivious to the concept of traffic, as I suppose they should be. l8r, Jerm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L is brought to you by the University of Vermont. To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html