Yes, that is one - zero - two. 102 inches at the stake on Mansfield. Check out the graph: www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/
That's all. Just wanted you to know.[Read more]
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Mt. Mansfield
This storm has dropped about two feet of snow on many Vermont ski resorts thus far — some are reporting more. The weather is affecting lift operations here and there today, so check my Vermont ski resorts snow conditions page. It has direct links to the resorts' ski report pages.
This stuff is really helping to beef up our base. So happy!
I'm planning on skiing on Friday, so I'll let you know where I end up and you can be sure I'll post some photos and a recap.
Meanwhile, this weekend also...[Read more]
Thursday, February 25, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Burke, Cross-country skiing
Well the winter storm warning has delivered. Several Vermont ski resorts from Okemo to Jay Peak are reporting a foot or more of new snow this morning. And it continues to snow today. Yippee!
Visit the snow report links on my Vermont Ski Resort page for the latest conditions.
And here's a link to National Weather Service snow reports from towns across the state. Note that these are often in-town measurements — not mountain-top...[Read more]
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 2 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
I'd say it was about 5 degrees (F) on Saturday when we clicked into our skis in the Sterling Valley area of Stowe, Vermont. Needless to say, it was not a day for dallying about. We selected a backcountry ski tour so that we'd keep moving and generate our own heat on this clear but cold day.
I had been eyeing a section of the Catamount Trail in Stowe ever since our summer hike up in the Upper Sterling Valley. The Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowshoe Waterproof Trail Map (you can buy it at the...[Read more]
Sunday, January 31, 2010 2 Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Stowe
I absolutely hate it when it rains in the middle of winter. It feels like we took two steps forward to only take one step back. Aargh!
It is indeed raining in Vermont today. The temperatures will drop through the week, however, and will be accompanied by some snow. In fact, the lows will be in the single digits in many places by Thursday evening. Go figure.
We'll see what Mother Nature has to offer over the next few days. Let's hope for a strong rebound in the snow department.[Read more]
Monday, January 25, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
Are you BC-curious?
Two upcoming events in northern Vermont will get skiers out into the backcountry to introduce them to backcountry skiing or improve the skills they already have. The venue for both of these events is the terrific Bolton Valley nordic and backcountry trail network. And both events have limited enrollment, so check 'em out now.
"Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival"Sunday, January 24 at Bolton Valley
This event is put on by the Catamount Trail Association — the keepers of...[Read more]
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
Judging by the "groomed" nature of the Overland Ski Trail this afternoon, I'd say it was a busy weekend on the west side of Mt. Mansfield!
This backcountry trail is accessed from Stevensville Road in Underhill. You start up as if you were hiking the Nebraska Notch Trail, but then at the first fork in the trail you go left. It was evident that many backcountry snowshoers, dogs and skiers had been on the trail, and in fact we met several people on the trail.
The trail was very packed for the...[Read more]
Sunday, January 10, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Mt. Mansfield
How many ways do you know how to say "snow"?
Perhaps la neige (French)?
la neve (Italian)
śnieg (Polish)
der Schnee (German)
снег (Russian)
sněhu (Czech)
la nieve (Spanish & Portuguese)
雪 名 (Japanese)
muruaneq (Yup'ik Eskimo - Specifically soft, deep fallen snow on the ground)
Or how about pow-pow (American skier dialect)?
Any way you say it, we are currently getting slammed with it in Vermont this weekend! Here's what the NWS had to...[Read more]
Saturday, January 2, 2010 1 Comment Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
Several Vermont ski resorts are reporting about 10 inches or so of new snow over the last 24 hours. Yee-ha!
But with all this snow has come quite a bit of wind, so check with your favorite resort to see what lifts are open; many of the high lifts were on wind hold this morning. Visit my Vermont Ski Resorts page for links to snow and lift reports.
Here's a recap of snowfall from the National Weather Service/NOAA. Keep in mind that many of these observations are taken in towns, not in the...[Read more]
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 2 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
Geez, I go away for a couple of days and things go to hell in a handbasket.
OK, it isn't that bad, but we did see warm temperatures in Vermont on Sunday that brought some rain with them. Argh. So the stake atop Mt. Mansfield is now reporting three fewer inches of the white stuff. It now reads 27 inches.
But, just as quickly as the spring-like weather hit, we will plunge back down into a deep freeze by Tuesday, with snow on Monday. Weather forecasters are saying we might get 6 inches or so in...[Read more]
Sunday, December 27, 2009 3 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Mt. Mansfield
The two largest cross-country centers in Stowe, Vermont, are in the midst of a tiff over a forest trail that connects the nordic centers.
Because of the falling out between the Trapp Family Lodge and neighboring Stowe Mountain Resort, the Ranch Camp trail will not be groomed for at least part of its length — causing skinny-skiers to think twice about moving between the two resorts.
And the Catamount Trail Association is now saying that those who want to ski the Catamount Trail, which follows...[Read more]
Monday, December 21, 2009 3 Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
A bluebird day. Darn cold, but blue!
The trees on the ridges around Bolton Valley looked like they were frosting decorations on a cake. We went for an end-of-the-afternoon ski on the backcountry trails at Bolton. Blue sky, squeaky snow, and white trees; it was gorgeous.
There were a few more inches of snow since this past weekend, so waterbars were better covered and more frozen, as well, with the recent cold snap. I think we only had to step over one of them this time. The base is...[Read more]
Friday, December 18, 2009 2 Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
As if trying to make up for the tropical weather we experienced in November, Old Man Winter is really putting the chill on this week. It will be cold again tomorrow but I'm hoping to get out in the snow for a bit. I'll do some kind of nordic to keep the blood flowing; probably backcountry skiing.
The cold temperatures have made for light, fluffy overnight snowfalls. The kind of snow that you can blow off your car with sheer lung power. This morning Vermont ski areas were reporting between one...[Read more]
Thursday, December 17, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Okemo
If it's not wintry in your neck of the woods, then you have to head to higher ground. It was down-right snowy up at Bolton Valley's backcountry trails today in Vermont.
The Skimeister and I went for an afternoon tour — our first of the season. We noticed more snow the higher we went. Boy, I was feeling it as I slogged up the Bryant trail! But the Birch Loop trail brought welcome ups and downs through about 11 inches of fresh snow.
The trees had snow on them and we came across moose tracks...[Read more]
Saturday, December 12, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
Been in your basement or barn lately? Trying to figure out what to do with all that old ski equipment?
Two small companies in Vermont can help you turn some of your skis into some very cool furniture, like this Adirondack style chair made out of nordic skis. It's beautiful!
Based in Morrisville and Waterbury, Vermont — towns that bookend Stowe — these companies will take your old gear and suggest ways to create a ski chair, table, CD rack, coffeetable, or whatever the...[Read more]
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Ski gear
In Vermont, fall brings cool mornings, apple picking, colorful foliage and trail work!
Over the next couple of months, skiers will meet up in small work crews to prepare Vermont's cross-country and backcountry ski trail, the Catamount Trail. Section by section they'll clear fallen trees, make sure trail markers are visible and generally clear the way for skiers this winter. This 300-mile-long trail is a treasure for freeheeled skiers who like to get out in the woods when...[Read more]
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Fall & Early season
It may be springtime, but they're still churning out skiing news on the Internet.
In late April, the nefarious Big Jay trail cutters were sentenced.
According to the Burlington Free Press:
"Paul Poulin, 48, of Derby Line, and Alan Ritter, 47, of Jay pleaded no contest in Vermont District Court in Newport to felony charges of unlawful mischief.
The two received suspended terms of 18 to 36 months. They will serve 60 days with a pre-approved furlough community restitution program, to begin...[Read more]
Friday, May 8, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Jay Peak
Believe it or not, many Vermont resorts picked up a few inches of snow early this week. I skied in it a bit late Thursday afternoon in the Bolton Valley backcountry trails.
With the warm temperatures and sunshine we have been having it was like skiing through sticky mashed potatoes. But there continues to be a lot of snow in the woods at this higher elevation and we had fun making the most of it. Although, we had to cross a stream to finish our descent on Gardner's Lane. There's a lot of...[Read more]
Friday, April 3, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Ascutney, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Killington, Mt. Snow, Okemo, Smugglers' Notch, Spring skiing
The Skimeister and I went to Bolton Valley Resort on Friday afternoon for an afternoon spring ski on the backcountry trails. I wasn't completely sure what to expect back there, but the snow was very soft and there was still a lot of it.
I noted that trying to make telemark turns on soft snow that hadn't been traveled recently was challenging. It's much easier when you are doing alpine skiing and you are on well-trodden moguls.
Even still, I was able to make a handful of decent telemark turns...[Read more]
Saturday, March 28, 2009 1 Comment Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Spring skiing
I just had a lovely, blustery walk for some Vietnamese pho (a delicious noodle soup). It's snowing again in Vermont!
I discovered another great page on the NOAA/National Weather Service site. It gives estimated snowstorm totals:
www.erh.noaa.gov/btv/html/StormTotalSnow/StormTotalSnow.shtml
They also report:
TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 9 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHERAMOUNTS IS EXPECTED BY TUESDAY MORNING ACROSS CENTRAL ANDNORTHERN VERMONT...INCLUDING THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE...[Read more]
Monday, March 2, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Catamount Trail, Cross-country skiing
The weather highs and lows are affecting my mood. Tuesday I was thrilled with an amazing powder day here in Vermont, but now it's likely to rain tomorrow—even at higher elevations—before it turns back to snow in the mountains.
Argh!
Well at least we have a substantial snowpack. Check out this NOAA page for the latest snow depths, which includes 87 inches at the stake on top of Mt. Mansfield! (Let's see: 87 divided by 12...hey, that's over 7 feet!)
After Friday's rain, the temperatures will...[Read more]
Thursday, February 26, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Mt. Mansfield
-- MONDAY PM UPDATE: Lots of snow. Lots of wind. Mad River Glen says they've received nearly five feet in five days. Their single chair was closed today due to high winds which shut down many lifts around the area. Stowe had its major lifts on wind hold today and Sugarbush actually closed down all the lifts by 10 a.m. because the wind was howling so badly. With not many skiers making it to the higher slopes, Tuesday will offer some amazing fresh tracks. --
The Skimeister and I got out on...[Read more]
Sunday, February 22, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing
Wow—along with some amazing new snow (it kept snowing yesterday in the mountains of Vermont), there are some hot skiing competitions happening here and abroad, as well.
As for the snow, Bolton Valley is reporting an overnight total of just over a foot, on top of the 6 inches from yesterday! Sugarbush is also reporting 17 inches in the last 48 hours. Yeow! I'm going to have to go out for a "business meeting" in the backcountry this afternoon.
Check this NOAA site for details on additional...[Read more]
Friday, February 20, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing, Sugarbush, Trapp Family Lodge
Yay, fresh powder!
Which ski resorts got the most snow in Vermont? It looks like the storm benefited southern and eastern Vermont ski areas the most overnight. It's continuing to snow today at higher elevations, while it will rain or sleet a bit in many towns.
Here's the scoop from the National Weather Service as of 7 this morning. Visit this NWS site to see maps of new snowfall and current snow depths in Vermont. Check my Vermont ski resorts page for direct links to ski area snow...[Read more]
Thursday, February 19, 2009 2 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
Saturday dawned with clear, sunny skies and the Skimeister and I cemented our plans for the day over breakfast. Despite the expected drop in temperatures during the day, we would head over to Stowe, Vt., to tackle the lower Steeple trail. It would my first time on this backcountry skiing terrain to the west of the Stowe Mountain Resort nordic center, and to the south of Mt. Mansfield. It's a historic Vermont trail that I had read about in David Goodman's "Backcountry Skiing Adventures" book,...[Read more]
Sunday, January 25, 2009 1 Comment Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
Friday afternoon update: The Skimeister and I took a longish lunch and did some cross-country skiing at Catamount nordic center in Williston, Vt. The coverage was good. My poles punched through about five inches of snow on the side of the trails. So, the higher elevations should have even better snow conditions!
Bundle up and have fun this weekend. Many Vermont ski resorts are nearly 100 percent open now.
Now onto winter carnivals, which take on two forms in Vermont. The first is a collegiate...[Read more]
Friday, January 23, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Burke, Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après, Okemo, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
The temperatures and snow were perfect for a nordic ski tour today, so after considering a few options, the Skimeister and I decided to explore Little River State Park. This park abuts the Waterbury Reservoir, which is in between Waterbury and Stowe, Vermont. We entered the park from Vermont Route 2 on the edge of Waterbury.
I had printed a map of the park from the Vermont State Parks Web site. They have a historical map of this area because at one time, years ago, it was home to bustling...[Read more]
Sunday, January 18, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
I thought I'd share a few photos with you from Stowe and the Trapp Family Lodge cross-country center. I had a really fun and informative day of nordic skiing on Saturday as part of the first-ever Catamount Trail Association's Ladies Expo. More than 100 women descended on the center to get coaching in classic and skate cross-country skiing and backcountry ski techniques.
Everyone I spoke with had a terrific day. The sun was out most of the day and we were doing all sorts of drills so we...[Read more]
Sunday, January 11, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
The Skimeister and I started work early this morning with the goal of ending early. I'm happy to say we were able to squeeze in some late-afternoon turns on the western side of Mt. Mansfield. We climbed the CCC Road (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps) from Underhill State Park.
Things were looking a little snowy at the bottom, but they got better about half way up the road. I'd say down below there was four inches of powder, while about 7 inches of snow carpeted the dirt road and coated...[Read more]
Friday, January 9, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Mt. Mansfield
OK folks, while our economic recession is still trying to find its bottom, here in Vermont we're in a rebound of sorts. After a warm-up around Christmas time, we've cooled off and enjoyed some significant snowfall. The base is growing and that makes me forget about the year-end retirement account report I received in the mail today. Well, mostly anyways.The word on the street points toward a bullish recovery:
51 inches of snow at the stake near the top of Mt. MansfieldAt Killington: 12 inches...[Read more]
Thursday, January 8, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Killington, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe
Freebies don't come along every day, so this is one to take advantage of this weekend.
Several Vermont nordic centers are offering free or discounted trail passes, cross-country skiing lessons and ski or snowshoe rentals on Saturday, January 10. Check out the Winter Trails site for a list of participating resorts, which include places like Ole's, Woodstock, Blueberry Hill and Sleepy Hollow cross-country centers.
You may want to call first to confirm the details, and download the release...[Read more]
Monday, January 5, 2009 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Catamount Trail, Cross-country skiing
Check out this weather forecast for Stowe, Vermont. It's a thing of beauty. Flakes, flakes and more flakes!
Yes, snow is on its way again after a weird week where we lost a bunch of snow on one day (we were looking at the grass again here in the Burlington area), and we woke up to a couple of inches of snow the next day.
Jeffersonville, Vt., near Smuggler's Notch, picked up 7 inches and Waitsfield, near Sugarbush, picked up 6 inches from that storm. Up at the mountain at Sugarbush, they are...[Read more]
Thursday, December 18, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Mt. Mansfield, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe
Ingredients for a lovely winter afternoon:
white snowblue skiesbackcountry gear.
I had my first backcountry outing of the season this afternoon and it was so nice to be back at it. The storm this week left about 8 inches of snow or so on the western flanks of Mt. Mansfield, where I skied today. The Skimeister and I parked at the Stevensville trailhead parking area and started up. And up. I think my arms are going to tell me tomorrow how they felt about today's ski trip!
There were plenty...[Read more]
Saturday, December 13, 2008 2 Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Mt. Mansfield, Ski gear
What a combination: a snowy Mt. Mansfield and the glow of a setting sun. The mountain was pink this afternoon as the sun set. The photo is from a Web cam that is positioned at Burlington International Airport, looking east.
All this snow and cold weather gets me in the mood for skiing. Going to the Warren Miller film last night doesn't hurt, either! They had some fun skiing sequences from Iceland (wow, what a unique place!), Crested Butte, Japan, Alaska and even a little bit of Vermont. They...[Read more]
Sunday, November 23, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Fall & Early season, Mt. Mansfield, Ski movies
Looks like it will be a cool but rather sunny weekend here in northern Vermont. October is a nice month to get out onto the trails and hey, while you are at it, perhaps you'd consider working a bit on your favorite section of the Catamount Trail?
Maintaining 300 miles of trail is not an easy task. If you enjoy working in the woods and have some time to spare, please join CTA volunteers in their annual effort to clear the Catamount Trail of blow-downs, branches and brush.The CTA says: "Bring a...[Read more]
Friday, October 3, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Catamount Trail
This is an interesting development. Vermont's Burlington Free Press reports that Sugarbush has purchased a 12-passenger snowcat so that it can sell snowcat skiing tickets this winter.
Apparently the cat would take skiers into the Slide Brook section of their resort area—an undeveloped section that lies between Castlerock and Mount Ellen peaks.
Off-piste skiers and riders have been making use of this area, and now the snowcat service will open that terrain up to those who want a guided...[Read more]
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Sugarbush
This news just came into my inbox...
The Catamount Trail Association (CTA) is one of five finalists for a $50,000 grant that could help secure some 90 miles of unprotected sections of the 300-mile-long ski trail.
Catamount Trail officials are asking skiers to visit their home page for a link to where they can vote for CTA. And you can add a vote every day! So, go on and use a disposable e-mail address from Yahoo or Hotmail and log in to vote!
These funds would be a huge boost to CTA's...[Read more]
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 1 Comment Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Catamount Trail, Cochran's, Cross-country skiing
I got an e-mail from the Catamount Trail Association, the caretakers of the 300-mile-long ski trail that covers the length of the state of Vermont. They are asking people to fill out their online survey so that they can prioritize their activities for the coming season.
Members and non-members alike are invited to respond. It took me about five minutes to fill it out.
I've enjoyed skiing sections of the Catamount Trail and I've made good use of my membership discount booklet at Vermont...[Read more]
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Catamount Trail, Cross-country skiing
A short list of things that are 30 feet tall or long:
1. A 30-foot-tall scale model of the Sears Tower built with Jenga blocks at Northern Michigan University: faculty.nmu.edu/ims/sears1.htm
2. The meat-eating dinosaur called Torvosaurus cf. tanneri, a "Savage Lizard" found in western Colorado; 30 feet long, standing 8.5 feet tall at the hips, and tipping the scale at about 5,000 pounds:...[Read more]
Monday, April 14, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Jay Peak, Spring skiing, Stowe, Ticket discounts
The sun was deceiving on Saturday morning. If you looked at the calendar and the blue skies, you would have sworn it was going to be a spring skiing day. You would have also been wrong.
It was windy and downright cold in the mountains. At Bolton Valley ski resort, someone said it was zero degrees at the top of the lift early in the morning. Brrr.
While the Skimeister took to the lifts, I headed for Bolton's lower backcountry trails. I was intent on generating my own heat on this chilly day....[Read more]
Sunday, March 30, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
On the day before Easter, I wanted to try a new backcountry route. I convinced the Skimeister to drive to Montpelier, Vermont, and head north a bit to ski on the Middlesex Trail toward the summit of Mt. Hunger.
Saturday was a beautiful day: blue skies with mountains that were frosty-white on the top. It was windy, but it didn't bother me as I marched my way up the mountain through the snow. No one had been on the trail for some time, so we were breaking trail. In some places the wind packed...[Read more]
Monday, March 24, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Food, coffee & après, Mt. Hunger
Weird. That's the best way to describe today's ski tour on the backcountry trails at Bolton Valley today. Other words that come to mind are frozen, crusty and otherworldly.
While the high trails picked up some snow over the last week, they also got the deep-freeze treatment. Ice was everywhere. It coated trees at nearly an inch in thickness.
During our ski on Heavenly Highway, Birch Loop and Gardiner's Lane, the Skimeister and I navigated around many limbs and trees that were downed by the...[Read more]
Sunday, March 16, 2008 3 Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
I love checklists. It gives me great satisfaction to tick things off as I complete them. Yesterday I had the pleasure of checking off the Bolton-Trapp Trail on my skiing to-do list for this season. It was the first time I had done this backcountry excursion and it was tiring, but extra snowy and fun!
The Skimeister, his step-mom and I dropped a car on Nebraska Valley Road in Moscow (a section of Stowe), Vermont, before driving to our starting point at the Bolton Valley nordic center. The car...[Read more]
Sunday, March 2, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Catamount Trail, Trapp Family Lodge
Come and get it! Vermont just enjoyed a nice snowstorm this week with up to 16 inches of powder (so far) covering our cars, homes and mountains. Yeah!
I admit I love to sweep off my car after a snowstorm. Hey, I'm a skier!
I persuaded the Skimeister to take an hour break from his Web development work this afternoon to do a nordic tour at Red Rocks Park here in Burlington. It's a wooded park that is situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Champlain.
It's pretty amazing that you can be within...[Read more]
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1 Comment Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
The Catamount Trail Association (CTA), the group that cares for the 300-mile trail that runs the length of Vermont, got some good press a couple of days ago in the Burlington Free Press.
The article is not online (sorry, the Free Press site is extremely lame) but it reported that the organization is hosting the most ski trips and events this winter than ever before. About 30 individuals are leading nearly 60 ski tours.
The tours are rated for different abilities and you must sign up in...[Read more]
Friday, February 22, 2008 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Catamount Trail, Trapp Family Lodge
I recently found a little treasure in my mailbox. The Skimeister and I received our Catamount Trail Association membership cards and the discount booklets that come with them.
The Catamount Trail is a 300-mile cross-country and backcountry ski trail that crosses the state of Vermont from head to toe. Many private land owners and ski resorts allow the trail to pass through their properties. What a terrific gift to all of us skiers.
Our membership money helps to maintain this trail. As an added...[Read more]
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 1 Comment Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Catamount Trail, Cross-country skiing, Ticket discounts
I've been wanting to ski Honey Hollow from Huntington for a couple of years. It's located near Camel's Hump—partially in Huntington and Bolton, Vermont. I've snowshoed and even skied up a ways from the Duxbury Road parking lot a few times, but I've wanted to do a car shuttle to allow me to check out what backcountry skiing lies above. Today was the day to do it.
After dropping the car in the appropriate spot on Duxbury Road in Bolton, near the Winooski River, the Skimeister and I headed...[Read more]
Saturday, January 5, 2008 1 Comment Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Catamount Trail
It's days like today that I praise the snowgods, and my parents for buying me my favorite pair of mittens. We had a lovely backcountry tour today, but it was darn cold.
Fortunately, I'm someone who layers up and I know when to take out the big guns (the sheepskin mittens) when I need to.
Despite temps in the single digits, it didn't take much uphill shlogging to start generating some heat and a couple of times I had to take the mittens off to cool off my hands.
Let me tell you that I've...[Read more]
Saturday, December 15, 2007 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Ski gear
What a way to start the ski season. The Skimeister and I went up to Bolton Valley's backcountry trails today and found more than a foot of fluffy snow on the trails and weighing down the tree branches all around us. Gorgeous!
This is what skiing is all about. I love gliding quietly through the woods surrounded by snow. Skiing to a viewpoint is even better, but today the "Stowe View" was non-existent because of a snow squall. Not a problem, we said, before schussing on.
I'm still not great at...[Read more]
Saturday, December 8, 2007 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
This just in: I earned my first turns of the season today!
There were about 12 inches of fluffy powder to sample on the CCC road on the western slopes of Mt. Mansfield. That dirt road is accessed via the Underhill State Park access road in Underhill, Vermont.
The trees were laden with snow — some of the lightest powder we every get here in the East, really — and the sky was mostly blue. What more could you ask for on the first ski run of the year?
My husband (the Skimeister)...[Read more]
Sunday, November 25, 2007 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Mt. Mansfield, Ski gear
I'm hot under the collar. I'm perturbed. I'm just plain miffed.
It's like when you were a kid riding the bus to a cool field trip and there were a couple of misbehaved classmates on the bus. Most of us were behaving fine, but those couple of bad apples would make the bus driver stop the bus on the side of the road and we'd all sit and have to wait until they straightened up their act. We all looked bad because of the two twits.
Such is the case with the two twits who unleashed their...[Read more]
Friday, November 23, 2007 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing
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