Pine Ridge Snow Park, Barre MA

In February 2006 we got a 2 foot dumping of snow on a Sunday. By the following weekend it was practically gone, but they still had a 30 foot wide swath at Pine Ridge which consists of a rope tow and t-bar. The snow was crunchy, hard, pitted, rutted and rattled my teeth, but I was on a mission. I actually rode the t-bar for 2 hours - a good 20 times. Under these conditions, my skiing comrades were mostly kids, but I imagine that its mostly kids all the time.

The tow took about 5 minutes which gave me the opportunity to admire the sky which went from bright blue to threatening gray, windy and then snowy all within an hour.

On one ascent, the t-bar operator stormed out of his hut and actually yelled at me when I reached the top of the hill, "don't just stand there, MOVE!!" Since there was no one behind me on the t-bar, I would often pause at the top and enjoy the scenery. I extended my dilly-dally a bit longer than usual and then tossed him a little wave which rocked his little hut, teetering on the crusty snow while he fumed inside.

Had a cheeseburger at the lodge and watched the Olympics. Talked with an older couple who worked there. The little hill had been there since 1947. Well, actually the hill has probably been there for a longer time, but the ski area opened in 1947. Unfortunately, the lodge had a sports bar upstairs which probably generates most of the profits.

I just checked the Internet and it looks like I may have skied on the last day this place was open. That's sad.