Yesterday's sunny skies and brisk temps seemed to beckon me to Mount Cranmore, the landmark ski hill of North Conway, New Hampshire.

My companion was Judy "Black Diamond" George, the skiing realtor who lives in Windham and works in Portland. Judy's a transplant from deep in the heart of Dixie; she the Ski Bum have been schussing together for about five years.

Judy's a member of the Diamond Society, a recognition of her prowess as a realtor. She got the nickname "Judy Black Diamond" for her prowess in skiing.

Judy "Black Diamond" George, a skiing Scarlett O'Hara who hails from Memphis, TN, poses yesterday near the Meister Hut at the summit of Mount Cranmore
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

We often ski at Cranmore, which is closer than several of the most prominent Maine mountains and boasts a friendly, low-key ambience. Of all the trails at Cranmore, Judy likes Kandahar, Rattlesnake and Skimeister the best -- three narrow, twisty runs that reflect the traditional gestalt of New England skiing. Her ever-present lipstick reflects the gestalt of the traditional Southern Belle.

Of all the trails at Cranmore, Judy likes Kandahar, Rattlesnake and Skimeister the best -- three narrow, twisty runs that reflect the traditional gestalt of New England skiing
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

We also like the Meister Hut, an old-fashioned log cabin-cum-sundeck located at the summit. There's always a real wood fire going in the Meister Hut and we usually stop by for a bowl -- or boule -- of chili for lunch.

Chili in a bread boule at the Meister Hut at Mount Cranmore
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Judy chases her chili with chocolate at the Meister Hut
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

While at Cranmore, we met general manager Ben Wilcox, and we commended him on the great job his snowmakers and groomers have been doing. About 80 percent of the mountain is open and in excellent shape. The Darkside terrain park looked super. Snowguns were blasting all the time we were there, and Ben said that two more trails, North Conway and Arlberg, would be ready for the weekend.

Tom Eastman, snowsports-editor-at-large of the Mountain Ear, a free weekly newspaper that gives great coverage to skiing
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

We also met Tom Eastman, the snowsports-editor-at-large of the Mountain Ear, which just might be the world's best free weekly paper.

Judy deals with a lot of skiers in her business. Today she's closing on a condo, representing seller/developer Jay York, Portland's prominent skiing photographer. Their business relationship grew out of another skiing foray a few years ago, hosted by yours truly, The Ski Bum.

E-mail this entry to a friend