Vermonter Mike Hayes Breaks Down Skiing Under The Eclipse In Totality

I know what you're thinking, and yes, my mind was/still is blown.

I've been following Hayes for a few years. His videos scratch my itch as an east coast skier looking for content that proves we are, in fact, better than skiers who come from the west.

I took Hayes' eclipse skiing video as the perfect opportunity to reach out and interview the faceless man behind some of my favorite ski content in recent years.

Read below for my short Q&A with Mike Hayes:

To start, can you provide POWDER readers with a bit of background information about yourself?

"I’m Mike Hayes, a skier based in Stowe, Vermont. I’ve been lucky enough to call Mt. Mansfield my home mountain for the last 15 years and during that time I’ve documented my skiing and shared that on social media and the internet."

Where exactly did you film the eclipse skiing video?

"The video was taken close to the summit of Mt. Mansfield."

What preparation did you take to line it up so perfectly?

"I knew that other people would also be trying to capture the moment and I wanted to do something a bit different, but there were a lot of variables in play: What was the weather going to be? Was the snowpack going to be good enough to still ski in the backcountry? Could you see the moon & sun from the correct angle? How do I handle the crowds? What happens when it gets dark, and do I need a light? Was video the right call or should I try a photo instead?

I scouted the line the previous day to confirm it was possible. The day of the eclipse I arrived at 5:15am to ensure I didn’t run into any issues with parking. It was a super nice day (for Vermont standards ha), the sun was out, and it was quite warm. I went to the line a few hours before totality and waited for the right moment. 

Even when I was waiting, I wasn’t sure what to expect - or if crowds would become an issue. Luckily, the weather cooperated, the crowds weren’t an issue and while the snow was far from ideal – it was possible."

What were you thinking about as you skied under the eclipse?

"As the sky began to go dark, I put on my eclipse glasses to confirm we were in totality - I just remember thinking – it’s go time. It’s now or never. To be honest, I still wasn’t sure how dark it was going to get. I clicked on my headlamp, pulled down my googles and dropped in. 

As I began to ski you could hear the cheers for the eclipse roar across the mountain from the hundreds of people who had gathered across the ridge. It was one of the most surreal experiences. I navigated through the rocks, tress, and less than optimal snow. When I stopped, we were still in totality. 

I could take my googles off and stare perfectly up at the totality. Still in awe of what was happening. After about a minute, the light began to reemerge and was sort of glittering in a way that I’d never seen before."

The clip has gone viral across social media. What has been the best part about sharing it with the world?

"My goal with most of my content is to show how good and special skiing is in Vermont. That’s always the best part of sharing it – making people think differently about Vermont skiing and inspiring others to get on the slopes. 

Not only on the East Coast, but all across the world. It’s always amazing how quickly and far content can be shared and that’s super cool."

Where does this rank in your laundry list of impressive lines on Mansfield?

"While this wasn’t the most aggressive line or the deepest powder day– it was a once in a lifetime moment and only a few other times are as high on that list as this one."

What can POWDER readers look forward to seeing from you in the future? 

"I’m constantly looking for new ways to capture skiing in Vermont and each year I still have things I didn’t check off my list, which is why I keep coming back here each year. While we won’t be having an eclipse anytime soon, I always hope to continue to share some amazing moments from this special place.

Thanks to everyone who continues to support me and share my content. I’m always blown away how awesome this community is and I’m still excited to be a small part of it after all these years."