Because I grew up in the snow belt of upstate NY, there’s something weird about not having a white Christmas. There’s something even more weird about riding up a chairlift, snowboard strapped on, with grass, dirt, and rocks beneath. With such a warm winter, any opportunity to ride on some freshly groomed snow is a good one.
Despite only half the trails being open at a mountain in eastern Pennsylvania four days after Christmas, conditions were good throughout the morning on machine snow and the weather was unreal. Upper 40s and sunny in late December? I’ll take it. It felt like spring riding, without the mud.
But how does one layer for a temperate day on the slopes?
I opted to start warm when the lifts opened at 8am and take off layers as the day went on.
Base Layers
My base layer consisted of Magalloway Women's Lightweight Wool Bottom and a Chocorua Men's Midweight Wool Crew.
Accessories
I also wore Minus33 Day Hiker Socks, Merino Wool Glove Liners under my mittens, and a Midweight Wool Reversible Headband.
Mid-Layers
Over the base layer I wore my regular board pants and jacket.
As the day went on and the sun heated up, I lost the jacket, glove liners and headband, replacing the jacket with a midweight sweater. I was comfortable on the lift and felt a nice breeze as I rode down the mountain.
An awesome thing about Minus33 products is the versatility. With a selection of weights, Minus33 base layers are great for winter sports in any condition. It’s all about layering!
