Words: Donny Pelletier | Illustrations: Shane McFalls
WITH EVIDENCE PILIN’ UP from New York to New Hampshah, it’s widely believed that the best skiahs come from the East Coast. Names like Bode Millah, Donna Weinbrecht, The Dumont n Hannah Kearney support this theory. It’s been a highly debated topic until just recently, when it became an inarguable truth. What changed, ya might ask? Welp, a new name burst onta the scene from Maine, the easternmost state of all. Just like that, Donny Pelletier, the world’s greatest skiah, solidified the primacy of East Coast skiahs. With that settled, who betta ta write a guide bout skiin the East then the most talented man on snow, yours truly?
The first thing ta know bout skiin in the East is you’re gonna be dealin’ with variety. Unlike the mundane climate out west, where all ya see is sun or powdah, we in the East r blessed with uh broad spectrum uh condishins. Blowin on monday, snowin Tuesday, rainin Wednesday, freezin Thursday, thawin Friday, mistin Saturday n uh wintery mixin to wrap it up Sunday. The best way ta deal with all that variability is consistency with your gear. Western folks’ll manufactcha variety by changin somethin just about every othah run—switchin skis, addin uh layer, swappin lenses, sheddin uh layer, so on n so forth. None uh that in the East. I wear the same thing every day: Buffalo plaid cap with ear cap optionality. Pit Viper glasses to fight fog n maximize speed. 100% L.L.Bean cotton from torso ta pinky toe, for optimal warmth, breathability n waterproofn. 200cm+ Fischer RC4’s ta give ya stability on the hardpack n optimal sink in the powdah. Whethah it’s 55 degrees n slushy er -20 n bulletproof, this setup’ll getcha through.
Now when ya arrive at an Eastern mountain, heres a few tips for conductin yaself propah in the base area. First thing, the pahkin lot attendints r there more for show then anything else. They’re gonna try’n redirect ya ta some row out back where ya gotta hike a mile n uh half to get ta the lift. Frig that. I generally bury my truck in the closest snowbankin n waltz right inta the base lodge. Out west folks are nervous ta even step foot in the lodge cuz they think some guys gonna charge um fifty bucks ta valet their skis n poles. Not in the East bub. We walk in there like we own the place, take ovah the nearest seatin’ area, boot up n then leave behind a pile uh backpacks n totebags taller than Mt. Washington. When we pop back in for lunch, we ain’t goin to the cafeteria. We’re tunnelin through that same bag pile n digging out our brown bag—typiclly uh moxie soda, whoopie pie n a couple raw red snappah hot dogs. And remembah, they got free ketchup n relish there so be sure ta dress them things up.
First things first when it comes to getting out on the hill. Whethah you got uh group uh 2 or uh group uh 6, its always fastah to use the singles line. Before gettin off the chair, be sure everyone n their mother knows which way you’re planning on goin. Don’t want no collisions in the unloadin area. Once that’s settled, I suggest b-linin it ta the steepest, mogliest run you can find n don’t stop till ya get at least a third o’ the way down the head wall. That way the rest uh the group can’t intahject n try to steer ya towards uh blue run. Now that you’re all in the thick of it, it’s important ta establish ya’self amoungst the group. I generally accomplish this by leanin into the front of the boots n pointin em straight toward the most technical featchah, whethah that’s a big jump, a patch uh gravel, blue ice or uh thick patch uh puckahbrush. Let ‘em know you ain’t scared uh nothin. Aftah that, don’t wait for the group. It’s best ta get down ta the bottom as quick as ya can (in control I should say, for legal purposes), so you can be the first one back in the singles line n steer the group back to the very same run.
You’ll proceed in this fashin for the remaindah of the day. Same lift, same run, no surprises. If the middle starts ta get scratchy, you can usually find some soft stuff on the side, by the woods. Just make sure ta dodge the snowguns. Most important thing to remembah is this, none of this counts unless ya start at 8am n don’t stop till 4pm.
This story originally appeared in FREESKIER Magazine Volume 27 Issue 2. Click here to subscribe to FREESKIER and have print copies (yes, real print magazines!) delivered right to your door.
