Skiing McIntyre Ski Area
Friday, January 16th, 2026
Runs: 10
Distance: 2.10 miles
Elevation: 1,650 feet
Max Speed: 25.6 mph
Avg. Speed: 13.0 mph
Moving Time: 11 minutes, 26 seconds
Total Time: 43 minutes, 52 seconds
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend! The plan is to head up to Emma's for a couple nights and ski with Sarah and her mom (and Emma if the day allows). Jay Peak on Saturday and Burke on Sunday! I decided to sneak in a few turns on the drive up at McIntyre Ski Area, too! The drive after work was slow, but it was nice to get a nice hour-long break in Manchester on the way up!
Runs 1-4
Run 1: Mercury-Redstone - Sandler's Trail
[0.20 mi; 1:56: 165 feet; 25.4 mph max; 6.3 mph avg]
Run 2: Mercury-Redstone - Gilman's Race Trail
[0.20 mi; 1:01; 165 feet; 25.5 mph max; 12.0 mph avg]
Run 3: Mercury-Redstone - Weston Trail - Gilman's Race Trail
[0.25 mi; 1:17; 165 feet; 23.7 mph max; 16.0 mph avg]
Run 4: Mercury-Redstone - Weston Trail - Gilman's Race Trail
[0.20 mi; 1:00; 165 feet; 22.6 mph max; 9.4 mph avg]
I parked in the overflow lot, redeemed my Indy Pass inside (small line, but super easy, and their RFID was only $1!), and then booted up at the car before blasting off! I hopped on the Mercury-Redstone double, which runs parallel to the Apollo 14 double, and got to it! Tragically, when putting my goggles on, my lens popped right off partway up. Thankfully, a kind ~12 year old child saw it happen and moved it next to the tower - the kids are alright sometimes!
My first run was down the lift line, Sandler's Trail, mainly to get my lens back. The snow felt good! The mountain was not crowded, and the sun was starting to set! Run #2 was down Gilman's Race Trail, which was wide and fun with more good snow. I didn't encounter any ice the whole hour I was there!
I jumped on Weston Trail for #3 and #4 - the trail was basically split longways with an upper groomed section and a lower groomed section. Many kids were using the split as a way to get some airtime in - I did not :). There was a park too, and I flirted with going in for the bit (and to ski all the open trails), but it was FULL of pre-teens and I was not going to add myself to that mix.
Runs 5-8
Run 5: Mercury-Redstone - The Queen's Trail
[0.22 mi; 1:11; 165 ft; 24.0 mph max; 11.3 mph avg]
Run 6: Mercury-Redstone - Sandler's Trail
[0.23 mi; 1:12; 165 ft; 23.0 mph max; 19.8 mph avg]
Run 7: Apollo 14 - The Queen's Trail - Don's Pass - Sandler's Trail
[0.20 mi; 1:02; 165 ft; 24.8 mph max; 13.0 mph avg]
Run 8: Mercury-Redstone - Sandler's Trail
[0.20 mi; 1:00; 165 ft; 25.6 mph max; 12.0 mph avg]
I was going to hop on the Apollo 14 double for the trails on looker's right side of the hill, but it was full of ski school kids (and stopping much more frequently), so I stuck with Mercury-Redstone. Run #5 was down the green-rated Queen's Trail, which didn't feel that much different than Gilman's Race Trail - basically the whole hill is one big green run, but I guess the blues are technically a little steeper?
I was back to Sandler's Trail for #6, and did a mashup of Queen's and Sandler's via Don's Pass for #7. The sun was down, the hill was getting busy with families, kids, and a few school groups, but lines were still quickly moving and I was having fun!
Runs 9-10
Run 9: Mercury-Redstone - Gilman's Race Trail
[0.20 mi; 1:00; 165 ft; 22.8 mph max; 14.0 mph avg]
Run 10: Mercury-Redstone - Gilman's Race Trail
[0.20 mi; 0:47; 165 ft; 25.6 mph max; 15.8 mph avg]
I told myself the plan was either ski for an hour or 10 runs, whichever came first. To my joy, they came at almsot the same time! Run #9 and #10 were both bonus lap down Gilman's Race Trail - probably my favorite du jour. I had to dodge some kids where the park and Weston's let out, but other than that, it was smooth sailing! I did get VERY cut off by a ski school instructor, though...
Either way, this was just a wonderful pit stop on my way up to Vermont, and I would absolutely do it again. A great way to spend an hour! Dinner followed at whatever gas station I found, and then I slowly made my way up to Emma's (which wasn't really that slow - I-89 was in great shape for once).
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