Tamsin Venn

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Rocking And Rolling For Seniors At Park City

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The Largest Ski Area In The US Has Something For Everyone.

Park City Mountain Resort connects to The Canyons, making the largest ski area in US.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

The choice of skiing at Park City, UT, just got more mind boggling. Last year, Vail Ski Resorts linked Park City and The Canyons via the Quicksilver gondola on Pine Cone Ridge. Voila: a ski area of 7,300 acres with 41 lifts, and 324 runs, currently the largest ski area in the U.S.—six miles across as the raven flies. That means a lot of choice for us seniors on the endless white folds of the Wasatch Range.

Plus, at only 7,000 feet at the base, the altitude is easier to adjust to than some higher Western ski resorts.

Park City is lower in altitude than other Wasatch resorts, making it easier to adapt for low-landers.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

Park City trends toward broad slopes while The Canyons to narrower tree-lined trails. Many trails present drops off into tree skiing at various pitches. Big bowls with double black diamond labels offer fabulous powder skiing. Gulches and gulleys lead to further adventure. Currently Park City is having the snowiest January in about nine years, eight feet and counting.

The new eight-passenger Quicksilver Gondola has changed the game here. Adventurers can start at the Orange Bubble Express at The Canyons, say, ride the Red Pine Gondola to Timberline to Iron Mountain Express to Quicksilver Gondola. By the time they’ve skied over to Park City, they may want to take the free bus back.

By contrast, Park City skiers take the Crescent Express to reach The Canyons, and so have access via one lift to entertaining steep pitches they once had to hike to.

In 2015, Vail Resorts invested $50 million in upgrades at Park City. It transformed the sluggish Motherlode Express (good on a powder day) to a high-speed quad. It turned King Con, popular for rip groomers, into a six-pack. It also created two new trails at the Quicksilver Gondola mid-station, built Miner’s Camp Restaurant there, added seating to on-mountain restaurants, and invested in snowmaking.

In Park City, the sports vibe is strong. Park City and Deer Valley hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and the resorts have been drawing the youthful and ambitious ever since. Visit Utah Olympic Park to catch more Olympic fever, and visit the Alf Engen Ski History Museum. Admission is free.

Skiing does get crowded, and some say the best time to ski is during the Sundance Film Festival in January when everyone is indoors watching movies or on Sundays when many are in church. A new app, EpicMix Time, lets you track lift line wait times.  At key lift junctures, an LED board gives you that same traffic information.

The best way to ski Park City is to buy the Epic Pass, which lets you ski all Vail resorts. But the early season savings end in the fall. The best bet is to buy senior (65-plus) tickets online seven days in advance.

The White Pine Touring Nordic Center with 20 km of groomed XC track at the Pro Shop in the Hotel Park City is well worth the visit to stretch your limbs. On community appreciation day, many older fit speed demons constantly lapped us on skate skis. This center truly appreciates their seniors and offers free passes for those 65 and older.

The Facts

7, 300 acres

Base elevation 6,800 feet; summit 10,026 feet

330 trails, 41 lifts

Average annual snowfall: 355 inches

8 percent beginner, 48 percent intermediate, 44 percent expert

Web Cam Click Here

Trail Map Click Here

Night time is for dining, shopping, visiting and relaxing.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

 

 

Karen Lorentz

Book Review: Chris Diamond’s Journey In The Ski Resort Business

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SKI, INC.—Chasing The Dream All Career Long.

For anyone who came up through skiing in the 1960s and 1970s, a new book chronicling the career of Chris Diamond, a ski resort management legend, SKI INC. provides the quintessential insider’s look at what chasing the dream of working in the ski business was really like.

From being an assistant to the president of Killington in 1972, Chris Diamond went on to Mount Snow, which Killington had acquired in 1977, as VP and GM, then president. From 1994 to 1996 he served as the vice president for business development and president of the Vermont resorts for S-K-I Ltd., Killington and Mount Snow’s corporate parent.

He became president of Steamboat under Les Otten’s American Skiing Company (ASC) in 1999, where he continued under owner Intrawest until retiring in June 2015.

Having worked for the first three largest ski conglomerates — S-K-I Ltd, ASC, and Intrawest — it occurred to Diamond that he had had an unusual experience, which caused him to write SKI INC. My journey through four decades in the ski-resort business, from the founding entrepreneurs to mega companies.

His comments as to the challenges, mistakes, and bright spots provide a fascinating backstory for those of us who experienced skiing’s amazing history — like Mount Snow’s “clickety clack” chairlifts dripping grease — while his look at some of skiing’s key personalities, resorts, and organizations is as enlightening as it is entertaining.

This is the first book of its kind and is notable for Diamond’s insights as to what has and has not worked as well as his prognostications for the future.

Mt Snow 1950s scene with pool and sundeck above, a clever innovation for a ski resort.

Regarding his Vermont years, Diamond writes: “Looking back at these early experiences at Killington and Mount Snow, there is one clear regret I have relative to their status today as regional resorts versus ‘what might have been.’ While the outside perception of the ski business insists that the core financial driver is real estate, nothing could be further from the truth. Well-run resorts make money on operations. That said, real estate is very important for destination ski resorts in that it can support or enable the strategic vision.”

Explaining that skier demands have changed since the 1970s, Diamond bemoans the lack of modern base villages at Mount Snow and Killington, opining the resorts are at a competitive disadvantage that has caused their skier visits to be off former records. “No other major area in the country has seen that happen,” he said in an interview, expressing regret that “windows of opportunity to reset the base areas” at the resorts were missed.

Chris Diamond has some clear opinions about where the ski business is going.

While Diamond praises ASC founder Les Otten for his many contributions to skiing, he laments the spending spree that cost Otten his company and made Diamond’s job at Steamboat a nightmare of sorts. He explains Steamboat’s revival under new owner Intrawest, providing a look at what was then North America’s largest ski conglomerate until the bottom fell out of real estate.

Having known the players at Vail Resorts, Diamond also offers an analysis of their success, including ramifications of the Epic Pass and his view “it’s just a matter of time” before Vail enters the Northeastern market.

SKI INC. is great reading for anyone interested in how the ski industry has gotten to where it is today and its future; available through skidiamondconsulting.com and at Amazon.com.

SkiTechnique357
Marc Liebman

From Level 30-Level 71: A Skier’s Journey Through Time

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How “Moving Up The Levels” Kept Changing This Skier’s Style.

Correspondent Marc Liebman might have indulged in this risky technique when he was Level 30. Now, not so much.

Kids and millennials often brag about getting to level 4 or 5 on a video game. To relate, I tell them I’m level 71 as in seventy-one years old. What I ski and how I ski has changed as I’ve moved up levels. For the record, I’m a former ski instructor certified in two countries, ski tester and racer.

Back in the good old days when I was Level 30, I skied anything and everything—the steeper and more difficult the conditions, the better. Blue ice that turned a narrow trail into a skating rink was viewed as a challenge to demonstrate my edge holding skills.

By the time, I got to Level 40, maturity started to set in. A short ski was still 203cm long. Blue ice was avoided whenever possible. My skiing ego was maintained with a low-single digit NASTAR handicap!

Level 50 was a revelation. Mashed potatoes, wet soggy spring and late fall snow was no longer skied. Thirty thousand vertical feet a day was still the goal. Reflexes and strength weren’t what they used to be so I skied a lot slower. I called it “instructor demonstration speed!” Skiing a long bump run well was still a joy, but only once a day because it took way too much out of my legs. More wasn’t worth the aches and pains from my knees. Tucking flat spots became a thing of the past! It wasn’t getting into the tuck that was a problem, it was getting up after more than 30 seconds.

Glades with closely spaced trees drove caution at Level 60. Rather than plunge right in making quick, tight turns around the trees, I’d look before going to another trail. Yes, I’d slowed up and open groomed runs became the order of the day. Yet, when powder beckoned, I couldn’t resist. Moguls were skied (a) out of necessity; (b) just to do a few to stay in practice; or (c) to show younger skiers that us oldsters can still ski bumps.

At Level 70, I started to feel the cold. Solution: ski in warmer parts the country. And, despite exercise and stretching, I’m a lot less flexible. Getting a pair of ski boots on and off is a whole lot more difficult than I remembered. But then again, my memory isn’t what it used to be. And, after the rare fall, I’m no longer ashamed to stick my hand out for assistance.

So, at Level 71, I ski steep (the steeper the better) groomed runs, powder and love to carve on frozen granular. The goal is 30,000 vertical feet a day made easier to document using apps on a smart phone. Occasionally, I’ll let the skis run but when I start going fast, fear takes hold, and I slow down. At this level, one doesn’t break, one shatters!

Net, net, for all of you who haven’t yet reached Level 71, keep skiing. We can still show the young’uns we can keep up.

 

Harriet Wallis

How To Get Several Days From Your Shake-Em-Up Hand Warmers

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Use These Two Sneaky Tips.

The air-activated hand warmers keep your fingers toasty while you ski. Even when your legs fall off, your hand warmers keep going.

Then what do you do with them? They have a lot of heat left.

I used to give them away in the locker room. People would snap them up for themselves or their kids.

Tip #1. Here’s how to save them.

Mummified hand warmers can be revived for another day.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

I discovered I can keep them until the next day and sometimes several days by wrapping them tightly in Saran wrap or other generic plastic wrap.

Mummy them up tightly in about 2 feet of plastic wrap until you can no longer feel the heat coming through.

The wrap cuts off the air, and they go dormant. Reactivate them by unwrapping them and shaking as usual. Roll the plastic wrap onto a tube and reuse it another day.

The up side is you can save and reuse hand warmers for several days. The down side is that sometimes it just doesn’t work.

Experiments 101

Plastic baggies don’t work. Even if you squish really well, there’s still too much air left inside. Aluminum foil doesn’t seem to work, but I don’t know why. Use plastic wrap.

Tip #2. Before you buy.

Check that expiration date. It should be several years out, not soon.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Before you buy a stockpile of hand warmers, check the expiration date. It should be several years into the future—not next year. Hand warmers close to their expiration date often have less oomph.

On the other hand, you might discover hand warmers long past their expiration date that have been buried in your ski bag for years. And they might work very well. Just don’t count on it on a sub-zero day.

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

 

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 27)

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Mountains Of Snow, Ski Fashion Legend Obermeyer, Resort Reviews From BC, PA, NH, DIY Instruction Part 1, Old Style Freestyle Video.

Mt. Rose lodge buried.
Credit: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

The meteorological world and just about everyone else is in awe of what is happening in the West.  Snowfalls are breaking records, and Bay Area-based correspondent Rose Marie Cleese reports on what’s going on out there.  We have some simply amazing pics of big resorts just buried in mountains of snow. Terrific snow packs will go a long way in relieving California’s multi-year drought, too.

Klaus Obermeyer

Co-publisher Jon Weisberg was lucky to catch up with Klaus Obermeyer, an outdoor fashionista and innovative entrepreneur who has left an indelible mark on ski clothing and gear starting in the way back days of the early 60s. His advice to senior skiers, “Never give up skiing as it keeps the legs in good shape and improves your walking.”  Klaus is 97.

We have resort reviews of widely different areas from the Canadian West, Western PA and New Hampshire.  John Nelson tells us about senior-easy Sun Peaks, BC, Pat McCloskey reports on an elegant, historic, cozy and number-one-rated resort in PA, a great hide-away for cross-country or snowshoeing, and Tamsin Venn shows us historic Bretton Woods with its magnificent views and the fantastic Omni Mt. Washington Hotel.

DIY very carefully. But it can be done.

And thanks to our readers who contributed last month to Snowsports Industries America’s online survey on ski boots.  We heard from SIA head of research Kelly Davis that she collected enough data from you guys to make senior-specific conclusions, based on your responses.  We’ll report her findings as soon as they are published.

On to mid-season.  Good luck out there.  Eastern snowsports enthusiasts, the snow is up there; go and find out. Western folks, have fun.

Thank you so much for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Tell your friends, please. And remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.

And here’s another reader submitted video.  Steve Simons sent us this 1973 video showing a Freestyle event at Whistler.  Old Style Freestyle.  Thanks, Steve.

 

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

According to online ticket vendor GetSkiTickets.com, Mammoth Mountain has the deepest snow pack in the country. They’re currently at 20+ feet and more is on the way.

Ms. Nature has dumped 52″ on Mountain High. It’s the resort’s largest snowstorm in the last five years.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Jackson Ski Touring Center, the largest in the northeast, features free, supervised 90-minute ski tours for kids 11-17 every Sunday. They run 10:00 AM – Noon and follow trails in wooded areas. A nice Sunday excursion for the grandkids.

NEW YORK

Reader Ellen Stone reports there is another ski area where seniors ski for free.  It’s Mt. Peter, a small, seven-trail area in Warwick, NY.  70+ free all the time.

PENNSYLVANNIA

Grandparents take note: PA Ski offers free lift tickets to 4th and 5th Graders You don’t have to live in PA! Discounts for adults; free stuff for kids. Visit http://www.skipa.com

UTAH

Enjoy midweek skiing and snowboarding for free at Snowbasin Resort when you Fly Alaska Airlines into Salt Lake International Airport this season and get free midweek skiing at spectacular Snowbasin Resort. Go there even if you’re not flying Alaska. The place is BIG and beautiful and the facilities are about as luxe as they get. Seniors get a good deal there. 65-74 costs $79; 75+ costs $35.

VERMONT

For the fourth year in a row, Okemo Mountain Resort was named one of the 2017 Best Places to Work in Vermont. The resort was the first ski resort to make the list. The 2017 Best Places to Work in Vermont lists 45 companies.

The U.S. Ski Team selected Burke Mountain as an official U.S. Ski Team development site where members will train and hold elite skiing competitions while preparing for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. Burke Mountain has 178 skiable acres. Over 40 years, Burke Mountain Academy has produced 33 Olympians, 138 national team athletes and 117 U.S. Ski Team members, including 2014 Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin.

OTHER

ZEAL Optics has introduced a nifty way to change goggle lenses without hassle. Its Rail Lock System (RLs) uses a dual sliding rail system to guide and lock the lens in place. We’ve tried it, and it works. It’s especially good for seniors because of the very wide peripheral vision.

For those into needlepoint and skiing, Tuckernuck has kits for wallets, belts and coasters. Their “ski tricks” designs are delightful.

One Warm Coat is a San Francisco-based non-profit committed to providing anyone in need with a free warm coat. The group accomplishes this by helping people and groups in local communities organize coat drives. We know what it feels like to be cold when playing. There are many who don’t have the means to stay warm. One Warm Coat. One worthy initiative.

Contemplating a retirement move? WalletHub, an online provider of financial guidance, published the best and worst states to retire in 2017.

Rose Marie Cleese

Sierra Nevada Blowout!

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Think Feet, Not Inches.

Homewood: Monumental snow, lake level.
Credit: Homewood Mountain Resort

“Nevada” (Spanish for “covered in snow”) is back with a vengeance at the end of “Sierra” (“mountain range”) and California’s skiers and ski resorts are jubilant! Since January 1st, the Sierra Nevada has been

Mt. Rose lodge buried.
Credit: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

clobbered with one storm after another, and except for one spate of warmer temperatures that brought rain for a couple of days earlier in the month, it’s been nothing but fluffy white stuff ever since—feet of it! This week, it’s experiencing a nice long stretch of cold days and sunny skies that isn’t predicted to end until next Wednesday when another storm rolls in. Last year, many resorts were forced to close off and on because of no snow; this season nearly every Sierra ski area has had to close a couple of days here and there because of too much snow!

 

January has broken snowfall records across the mountain range.

Northstar shoveler at work.
Credit: Northstar California

The remarkable record-breaking snowfall statistics that Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has tallied up in the first 23 days of January are typical of many Sierra Nevada ski areas. According to Public Relations Coordinator Sam Kieckhefer, the combined resorts have seen 276 inches (that’s 23 feet or an average of one foot a day!) fall since the month began, easily surpassing the previous record snowfall in a single month (241 inches in March of 2011) since record-keeping began 46 years ago. Its total snowfall since the 2016–17 ski season began—381 inches—is more than double the average for this point in the season.

This jubilant tale is being repeated throughout the Sierra, from Mt. Shasta in the north to Southern California’s cluster of Big Bear Mountain ski areas. Like Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, many ski resorts in the northern and Central Sierra are reporting record-breaking total snowfall amounts to date averaging around 380 inches. Mt. Rose over the hill from Tahoe in Nevada has a season-to-date total at 412 inches and Sugar Bowl sitting atop Donner Summit back in California may be able to claim the highest total snowfall to date of 451 inches.

At the top of Crow’s Nest lift
Credit: Sugar Bowl Resort

This latest storm that wrapped up this past Monday added tons of light, fluffy powder to an already impressive snowpack. Dodge Ridge in the Central Sierra, which has often found itself on the short end of the snow stick, had 10 feet of snow fall in just five days, bringing its total January snowfall to 19 feet! Other impressive storm totals were 97 inches at Kirkwood, 88 inches at Heavenly, 94 inches at Northstar, and up to 106 inches at Sugar Bowl. Most ski resorts in northern California currently have top-of-the-mountain snowpacks ranging from 150 to 185 inches. Mammoth Mountain in Central California has a upper base of 300 inches and even Homewood Mountain Resort, which sits near the shore of temperature-moderating Lake Tahoe, can lay claim to impressive base figures: lower and upper bases of 77 to 156 inches respectively.

Squaw Valley lift
Credit: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

Are the ski resorts happy that Easter—the weekend that most Sierra ski resorts traditionally close—is relatively late this year (April 15th)? You betcha. It’s likely that a good number of them will keep the lifts running well past that date. And, with the exception of 2015–16, which was the first respectable ski season in the Sierra after five years of sparsely covered slopes, thin layers of man-made snow, and some resorts not even opening, skiers and boarders are happy campers, too. Barring a barrage of warm “Pineapple Express” storms emanating from the Hawaiian Islands or the storm door slamming shut, 2016–17 is going to go down as one epic Sierra ski season!

 

Shovel all the day and nothing moves away. Digging out at Kirkwood resort.
Credit: Kirkwood Mountain Resort

Jon Weisberg

Snow Sports Leaders: Klaus Obermeyer

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“It’s Easier To Ski Than To Walk.”

Klaus Obermeyer is a skiing legend and innovator. The 97 year old founded Sport Obermeyer Ltd based on insights about ski wear while working in the late 40’s as an instructor in Aspen. One of his many innovations was the down ski parka, stitched together from a goose down comforter. Other product innovations include high-altitude suntan lotion, turtlenecks, nylon wind-shirts, and mirrored sunglasses. In 1961, the first Sport Obermeyer factory warehouse opened in Aspen, and innovations continued with “soft-shell” jackets, double lens goggles, pre-shaped gloves, the first waterproof, breathable fabrics, a built-in ski boot canting system and fashion-conscious, technically responsible skiwear.

Klaus Obermeyer

What are the most significant changes you have observed in the world of skiing?

Skis have gotten shorter and wider. Their advantage is that you can float at lower speeds in deep snow. They make it easier for everyone to ski deep snow. They also allow those who climb mountains to use a lot more of the mountain with or without the lifts.

 During your time, which well-known skiers have had the most impact on ski fashion?

Maria Bogner probably.

Please comment on the role of form and function in ski apparel?

For ski apparel to function well, for example, ski parkas, they need:

  • – To be waterproof and breathable;
  • – To have stretch material in places where stretch is needed;
  • – Be lightweight;
  • – Look terrific

For many years, you have been a role model for older skiers. Do you think equipment and apparel manufacturers would benefit from using older models and showing older people in their advertising and marketing?

The older models are slowly dying out and the young ones are tomorrow’s old ones. I think age makes no difference as far as technical performance of clothing.

What advice would you give older skiers who are still healthy but thinking about hanging up their boards in favor of other activities?

I think one should never give up skiing as it keeps the legs in good shape and even improves your walking after you’re over 80.

What advice would you give ski area operators to encourage older skiers to remain in the sport? 

Have parking places for older skiers so you don’t have to walk so far in those awful ski boots.

Of all people past and present with whom would you like to ride the lift?

With the best looking girl!

Please add any comments not covered above.

Skiing and boarding are sports that are absolutely unique and wonderful. The make you appreciate the incredible beauty of being outdoors in the mountains and give you tremendous choices of how fast to go, where to put your turns, and where to jump to get a zero G feeling. In the end it’s easier to ski than to walk.

Klaus in his earlier days

John Nelson

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Sun Peaks, BC, Senior-Easy Big Mountain

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When You’re No. 2, The Saying Goes, You Try Harder.

Skiers and snowboarders rise above the clouds on the Crystal Chair at Sun Peaks. Credit: John Nelson

That’s true of Sun Peaks Resort, Canada’s second largest ski area behind behemoth Whistler-Blackcomb 200-plus miles away in the coastal mountains.

This excellent resort near the British Columbia city of Kamloops offers three mountains to ski, a well-designed, bustling village and even a fair bit of off-piste, side country powder to hike. Add to that a sunnier climate, lighter snow and lower prices and Sun Peaks looks better and better compared to its rival to the west.

You’ll find bargains here as well. Seniors 65 and older receive a 20 percent discount on ticket prices at Sun Peaks, and that’s on top of the favorable exchange on the strong U.S. dollar.

A snowboarder shreds fresh snow on the Crystal Chair at Sun Peaks. Credit: John Nelson

Snow, terrain and more

  • Location: Sun Peaks is about 35 miles from Kamloops, a city of 85,000 in what’s known as “Thompson Country” of B.C.’s inland mountains. It is the closest inland resort to the Vancouver metro area (about five hours away by car), and the Kamloops airport gets several daily flights from major Canadian cities.
  • Snowfall: The mountains here receive far less snow than the coastal range, but Sun Peaks still gets more than 230 inches a year. Snowmaking helps keep some of the lower slopes covered.
  • Terrain, lifts: The three mountains at Sun Peaks serve predominantly intermediate terrain on its whopping 4,270 acres. About 68 percent of the resort is rated beginning or intermediate, and 32 percent is rated expert. The Gil’s Zone side-country area offers expert skiers the chance to find untracked lines after a short hike off the top of the Crystal and Burfield lifts.
  • Vertical: 2,893 feet from a village base at 4,117 feet. The hikable summit of Tod Mountain (7,060 feet) adds few hundred vertical for those willing to sweat for their freshies.

Lot to lift access

  • Parking: Parking is scattered in several lots near the bases of each mountain; in addition, accommodations generally offer heated parking garages.
  • Public transportation: A bus service operates on weekends from Kamloops. In addition, an airport shuttle runs from Kamloops to Sun Peaks, and an inter-resort shuttle operates between Whistler, Big White and Sun Peaks.
  • Accommodations: The village at Sun Peaks is well designed; you can ski among the shops, condos and hotels to the lifts. Several ski and stay deals are offered by the resort.

Culture

  • The vibe: This is the friendly interior of B.C., so you won’t find any of the Whistler-Blackcomb snobbery here. As with many resorts in Canada, a strong Australian presence is apparent nearly everywhere you go among workers and vacationers.
  • Dining: 22 dining spots are scattered around the resort and village. Several restaurants deliver great meals, including the excellent Voyageur Bistro and the rocking Bottoms Bar and Grill.
  • Mountain life: Winter activities abound, with Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skating. Of the interior B.C. resorts, Sun Peaks has the best four-season set-up, with a golf course and excellent mountain biking during the summer.

Bottom line

  • Sun Peaks has a robust village scene that delivers a resort experience at the fraction of the cost of skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb..
  • Canada’s second largest ski area has ample terrain to explore over the course of a ski stay.
  • With 2,000 hours a year of sunshine, your chances of getting a goggle tan are pretty good.

Trail Map click here

Webcam click here

A well-designed village offers dining, shopping and accommodations at the base of Sun Peaks. Credit: John Nelson

_____

John Nelson is a freelance outdoors writer based in Seattle. Follow his blog at skizer.org.

 

Pat McCloskey

Cross-Country At Historic, Cozy PA Lodge

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The Lodge At Glendorn Named Number One Resort Hotel In US.

Now this is what a comfy lodge looks like. Winter sports, good food, excellent accommodations at Glendorn.
Credit: Glendorn Resort

When I first said to our friends that we were having my wife’s 50th birthday party several years ago in Bradford, Pa. they cringed and all remarked, “In the middle of the winter in the icebox of Pennsylvania?”  They were sure surprised when they all drove through the wrought iron gates and entered a winter wonderland from yesteryear.

The Lodge at Glendorn not only is a nationally known Relais and Chateaux property, but it was acclaimed by Travel and Leisure as the Number One Resort Hotel in the nation in their recent Best Awards of 2016.  This historic 1500 acre property which abuts the Allegheny National Forest has been lovingly and painstakingly restored by its owner ( and curator) Cliff Forrest and his lovely wife Tracy.

Cross country skiing and snowshoeing on miles of trails is a feature of Glendorn Resort.
Credit: Glendorn

The property was once a retreat created by the oil and gas financier C.G Dorn in 1927 as a place for relaxation for his family.  The original cabins were created for each family member and the spacious log lodge was the central family gathering for dinners and holidays.  In 1995, it was opened to the public and in 2009, the property was up for sale.  Due to the vision of Cliff and Tracy Forrest, they purchased Glendorn and have lovingly restored its original grandeur with 16 luxury cabin and lodge accommodations.

Cliff Forrest, a senior skier, hunter, and golfer, is an active outdoors person who founded Rosebud Mining Co. in 1979.  Rosebud is currently the third largest coal producer in the state as well as the 21st largest producer in the country.  Cliff’s success has made it possible for him to invest in this truly unique property which has many opportunities year round for seniors.

Aside from being an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing property, the hiking, and sporting clays opportunities exist year round.  But in our experience, there is nothing as enjoyable or scenic as taking in Glendorn in the winter.  The cozy atmosphere of the cabins and the lodge with the crackling fireplaces and first class cuisine make the winter experience one to remember.  My wife and I have enjoyed Glendorn in the fall with the beautiful leaves of the Allegheny National Forest greeting us along the way, but the snowshoeing and cross country skiing available on the well-marked trails of the resort offer an exercise opportunity that is unparalleled.  All the equipment you would require is available at the resort including cross country skis, snowshoes, and skates.

S’mores by the bonfire on a Saturday night under the stars.
Credit: Glendorn

On Saturday evenings, the resort employees provide a bonfire up at the lake with s’mores and beverages with the opportunity to ice skate.  We also take advantage of the close proximity of Holimont Ski Club which is 40 minutes to the north and is open to the public weekdays for fabulous alpine skiing with the equally famous Lake Erie fluff blowing in and covering the slopes with a light, delightfully pleasant skiing experience.  Ellicottville, New York is the quaint town adjacent to the ski areas with a fabulous brew pub, Ellicottville Brewing, and many other dining establishments and outdoor recreation shops.  Again, it’s an easy drive from Glendorn adding to the total winter experience.  My wife and I have been making it an annual affair for her birthday.  It is truly top rate.

For Reservations and Rates click here or call 1800-843-8568.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the main lodge and picnic lunches for outdoor activities are available upon request.

Access: Three hour drive from Pittsburgh, PA,  two hours from Buffalo, NY, five hours drive from Philadelphia.

Holimont lift tickets weekdays only: Adult Full Day, $56.00; Seniors( 70+) $50.00 full day.  Groups of 15 of more who register two weeks in advance are offered a $39.00 lift ticket weekdays only.  The property is closed to the public on the weekends unless a club member is a sponsor.  Alternate opportunity is Holiday Valley Resort. 

Photos courtesy of the Lodge at Glendorn

 

BrettonWoods
Tamsin Venn

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Easy Going At Bretton Woods

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Seniors (65-79) Ski For $25 Mid-Week At This Classic NH Gem.

Majestic Mt. Washington is across the valley from Bretton Woods.
Credit: Bretton Woods

Down Cascade, up to Rosebrook Summit, down Upper Swoop, down Cascade, across to Diamond Ridge, down Deception Bowl, up the Bethlehem Express, down Big Ben, up Zephyr High Speed Quad, down Granny’s Grit.

The skiing at Bretton Woods, NH, was so smooth and our trips so fast, that you didn’t have time to think what joint might be aching that day. We were skiing with a group of 50-plusses and one 80-plus, all fabulous skiers with years of experience behind them. The grooming at Bretton Woods yields the best type of New England skiing with manicured slopes, wide open avenues, very hard pack with enough surface snow to grip. We blazed all over the mountain, happily racking up the vertical, on our apps or psyche. Most of the intermediate slopes were open and provided plenty of fun on Rosebrook and West Mountains.

Beautiful, broad skiing avenues make for nice cruising at Bretton Woods.
Credit: Bretton Woods

The overall experience here is a friendly mountain that’s fun to ski. There’s plenty of skiing available for an older person without putting too much pressure on hips and knees. For tree skiers, the glades are fairly open in keeping with the resort’s easy-going nature. In 2012, Bretton Woods added a T-Bar servicing Mount Stickney with 30 acres of more challenging glades. There is plenty of tough terrain on this hill once nick-named Medicare Mountain.

Four high-speed quads keep you going, and on crowded days the lift personnel keep the lines moving in a fair and congenial way.

What that allows you to do is just relax and rip. Plus all trails lead ultimately to the base lodge, minimizing separation anxiety from your ski companions.

Some say Bretton Woods, NH’s largest ski area, is more protected from the weather than other areas. You can always look across at storm clouds unfurling off Mt. Washington (the Northeast’s highest summit at 6,288 feet) and be happy that at least you’re not up there.

Across the street is the giant Omni Mt. Washington Hotel, like an ocean liner cruising across the White Mountains. Plan a visit, if only to stroll through the wide halls under 23-foot ceilings and take in the views of Mt. Washington from the Rosebrook Lounge sipping a cool Chardonnay.

To walk the hotel’s halls and verandas is to stroll through White Mountain history at its most hospitable. Built in 1902, the hotel most notably hosted the 1944 United National Monetary and Financial Conference to build the bones of a post-World War II economy. Walk into the room off the main lobby where the final treaty was signed.

Meanwhile, stretch your downhill muscles on the 62 miles of impeccably groomed X-C trails. They are also open to snowshoeing and fat tire bike riding.

Bottom Line

Seniors 80 years and up ski free any day, and those 65-79 ski for $25 midweek/non-holiday.

Hot Chocolate: $3

Wiser Woods Program

Open to skiers and riders age 50+. This is group ski program under the guidance of an instructor who will coach you down the mountain.  Includes morning refreshments at Slopeside, receive 10% off retail, 10% off demo equipment.

Runs Jan. 3-March 14, Tuesdays 9-12. Meet on Slopeside Level of Base Lodge. $125 per person for the season, $199 per couple.

Mountain Stats

Vertical Drop:  1,500 feet
Trails and Glades: 97
Skiable Acreage:  464
Snowmaking:  92% of Trails
Average Annual Snowfall:  200+ inches

Webcam click here

Trail Maps click here

Bretton Woods boasts a network of well-groomed Nordic trails.
Credit: Bretton Woods

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 20)

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New Senior Ski Tips eBook, Solitude Races, Big White Resort Review, “Snowbound” Excerpt, Lift Tickets From Speeders?, OR Show Finds.

Oh, and the skiing ostriches.  Don’t ask, just watch.

It’s been a busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com. We are seeing ongoing, monumental snow falls in the West that are relieving drought conditions in California and creating avalanche hazards all over the mountains. The Northeast is depending on snowmaking and grooming.

We have received and posted our first ever reader-submitted video. Thanks to Emilio Trampuz for being number one. Look under Community in the top navigation menu. WE WELCOME MORE.  If you have a video you want fellow readers to see, post it on Youtube and send us a link.  This should be fun.

We also have a new, subscriber-only eBook we developed with Vail instructor Seth Masia called “9 Ski Tips Every Senior Skier Should Know.”  If you are a subscriber, just go to Community and select Subscriber-Only Content, confirm your email address and download the file.  If you’re not a subscriber, consider subscribing, it’s free.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis contributed two articles this week, one promoting Snowboardcross and Skicross Races at Solitude and another highlighting some really cool, senior-friendly products she found at the OR show.

John Nelson is churning out resort reviews, this week focusing on Big White in BC.  It’s low key area with skiing just right for seniors.  Check out his report.

With all the snow flying out West, we thought is would be symbolic to publish an excerpt from “Snowbound” John Greenleaf Whittier’s masterpiece about snow and life. Bottom line: Snow changes everything.

Finally, we have an important article from John Brown, a veteran ski patroller, who talks about lifting tickets from speeders and reckless skiers.  Turns out, it’s not as easy as it sounds.  We know our readers don’t like or are intimidated by speedsters and want the Ski Patrol to lift more tickets. What do you think?

Thanks for subscribing to SeniorsSkiing.com. Remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.

Alpine Meadows

 

 

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, when many resorts offer special “learn to ski or snowboard” programs. Among them is Mountain High where guests can purchase a two-for-one midweek, non-holiday Half-Day First Timer Package with lesson, rentals and a lower-mountain lift ticket.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to host the Elite FIS Astle Memorial January 17-20, 2017. The FIS tech series honors of Bryce Astle, one of two U.S. Ski Team members who died in an avalanche in 2015. Nearly 100 men and 100 women will compete in two days of Giant Slalom and two days of Slalom on the same course as the women’s Audi FIS World Cup event to be held at Squaw Valley in March.

COLORADO

January 15 -22 is Gay Ski Week in Aspen with an abundance of parties and entertainment.

UTAH

Two time Olympian Ted Ligety announced that back surgery would sideline him from this season’s World Cup. He expects to race at the 2018 South Korean Olympic Games.

Proceeds from the Snowbird’s Snowcat Skiing for Nature program benefit two local environmentally focused non-profits. Morning guided half-day tours run from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include breakfast, pre-public, guided skiing in Mineral Basin, lift ticket, and backcountry snowcat skiing in upper American Fork Canyon. $395/person Visit: http://www.snowbird.com/mountain-school/guides/catskiing/

VERMONT

Jay Peak Resort was named among Best Ski areas by Liftopia’s 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards. Voters identified Jay Peak Resort’s “tremendous amount of back country” with “New England-style skiing at its best including tight, twisty runs and challenging glade skiing that is far enough from the coast and gets tons of snow.”

OTHER

Patrick McCloskey is a frequent SeniorsSkiing.com contributor. A PSIA Alpine Level III instructor, he has been teaching skiing for 40 years. A Q&A with Patrick appears in PSIA-AASI’s Member Spotlight.

Thinning Down the Billfold — Almost every skier I know stuffs too many cards and documents into the wallet. It’s unnecessary, unwieldy, and often unsightly! The clever people at Allett designed a line of ultra-slim wallets for skiing, travel, and everyday use. They’re great looking and reasonably priced. A terrific way to slim down. At retail and online.

Don’t Cramp Your Style — Pickle Juice is a product designed to stop muscle cramps. It was developed with football in mind but is extremely relevant to older skiers. A lot of us cramp up a bit too often. Pickle Juice is delish and available at retail and online.

SheJumps is a non-profit dedicated to increasing women’s and girls’ participation in outdoor activities. The group creates “Get the Girls Out!” events, Outdoor Education, Youth Initiatives and grassroots recreational gatherings — some of them on snow. The SheJumps community comprises females of all backgrounds and ages who help one another reach their highest potential through outdoor adventures and education.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Nine Ski Tips Every Senior Skier Needs To Know

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Subscribers Can Download A New eBook For Free.

For Baby Boomer skiers, low impact and low torque are the keys to more runs per day and more pleasurable skiing in general.

With the exception of the occasional kamikaze, older skiers want to remain in control on all types of terrain. And they want have a good time and look good when skiing with spouses, kids, and grandkids.

Boomers learned the sport when teaching techniques and equipment required considerable athleticism. They learned to react quickly with joint jarring rotational and up and down movements and excessive exertion when correcting for changes in balance and preventing falls.

Recognizing that old techniques can damage older bodies, even those in good shape, Seth Masia, longtime PSIA instructor in the Vail Ski School (and a member of the SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Counsel), developed an instructional approach to help aging skiers change their ways. He teaches the technique in the three-day Ski Younger Now workshops offered throughout the season.

The technique is presented in a new, free, illustrated eBook developed with SeniorsSkiing.com. “9 Low Torque, Low Impact Ski Tips Every Senior Skier Needs to Know,” is available for subscribers.  To download the book, go to Community in the top navigation bar, click on Subscriber-Only Content, confirm your email address, then find the eBook, click on it. You will be downloading a PDF file.

Masia studied how older bodies, without risk of injury, could navigate a variety of terrains gracefully and more slowly. His new instructional approach takes into account skiers with artificial hip and knees.

He uses a straightforward retraining progression that reduces rotational stress on the knees and lower back. The approach shows skiers how to utilize gravity, terrain, and ski shape to do the work when initiating turns. Similar principles work for controlling speed.

When successfully implemented, each turn is a continuous and predictable arc, requiring less effort and minimizing stress and potential sprains.

The first day of each Ski Younger Now workshop focuses on the nine simple steps explained in the eBook. They start with the “Patience Turn,” which allows the ski’s shape to start each turn with virtually no muscular input. Other steps include a) changing the timing and location of planting a pole to have greater control on steeps and in bumps, b) carving, buttering, or smearing skis to produce a variety of turns, c) an explanation of how to apply pressure on different parts of the inside of the boot to produce different types of turns, and d) the influence of terrain on rhythm and turn shape.

This brief and well-illustrated instructional gem will give senior skiers a new way to enjoy runs with slower, gentler, and more stylish turns. Most important, the tips should result in fewer strains and sprains.

Harriet Wallis

Solitude Hosts Major FIS, NorAm Snowboardcross, Skicross Races

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Jan. 19-22 Races Are A First For This Resort Located In Twisty, Winding Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Groomers finalize the steep course with its finish line right at the base of the mountain just a few steps beyond Solitude’s Village.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

It’s a test event for the FIS Freestyle, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships scheduled two years from now in 2019.

So what? Don’t yawn.

When Salt Lake City was chosen as the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the four resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons—Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude—were overlooked as possible venues partly because of the road. It’s one way in and one way out of each narrow canyon that was carved by glaciers eons ago.

However, professional and amateur races are frequently held in the two canyons, but this is the first time such a major event is scheduled there.

To paint the big picture, Deer Valley, located in Park City, bought the smaller Solitude Resort two years ago making Solitude part of Deer Valley’s family.

As to Deer Valley, this marks the 18th year that the resort will host international and world aerial and mogul competitions. It was a venue for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, two World Championships and 15 World Cups. It’s had lots of practice hosting major events and the resort is an esteemed venue.

So Solitude is not just jumping into big time races. It has the expertise of its parent, Deer Valley.

The races are high adrenaline, high action events. A detailed schedule for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Solitude Mountain Resort can be found here.

Boardercross is a snowboard competition in which a four to six snowboarders race down a course that’s typically narrow and includes banked turns, various jumps, rollers and drops designed to challenge each rider’s ability to stay in control while maintaining maximum speed. Mid-course collisions are common.

Skicross is a timed race event and with big-air jumps and high-banked turns. What sets skicross apart from other alpine skiing is that four skiers start simultaneously and attempt to reach the end of the course.

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

Here’s a short video that previews the Snowboard Cross course at Solitude.

John Nelson

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Big White, Big Senior-Friendly

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Big Choice Of Intermediate Runs, “Master” Lessons, Bring Seniors Back Each Year.

The Alpine T-Bar serves low-angle intermediate terrain near the 7,606-foot summit of Big White. Credit: John Nelson

It’s hard to find a resort better suited to older skiers than the popular British Columbia destination of Big White.

Located in Okanagan region of B.C. near the bustling, fast-growing city of Kelowna, Big White is indeed big, with a sprawling village that boasts the most ski-in, ski-out lodging in Canada.

A skier turns amid the snow ghosts near the top of the Alpine T-Bar at Big White.
Credit: John Nelson

The resort’s rolling terrain of predominantly intermediate runs is especially popular with older skiers. In its lesson programs, Big White offers discounted “Masters Mondays” classes, and two popular “Masters’ Weeks” designed to teach older skiers how to keep shredding.

“Our retention rate is over 60 percent,” says Ollie McEvoy, one of the masters instructors. “If they take a lesson from us, they’ll come back.” The many skiers who take part in the masters’ week programs return every year after making personal connections, McEvoy says.

“They end up making friends for life,” he says.

For U.S. residents, Canadian resorts are particularly attractive this year, with a favorable exchange rate of more than 30 percent. Add to that a discount on senior tickets at more than 16 percent and U.S. skiers make out very well at one of Western Canada’s favorite resorts.

Ski instructor Ollie McEvoy helps run the masters programs at Big White. Credit: Big White Ski Resort

Snow, Terrain and More

  • Location: Big White is about 33 miles southeast of Kelowna, a city of more than 100,000 in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Kelowna has an international airport with daily flights from Seattle, as well as major cities in Canada.
  • Snowfall: “It’s the snow” is the marketing slogan for Big White. Located far inland from Canada’s west coast, Big White’s snow is colder and drier than rival Whistler-Blackcomb, and it receives about 300 inches a year.
  • Terrain, lifts: Intermediate skiers love the rolling terrain of Big White, where all 15 lifts have a green run down. About 72 percent of the terrain is rated easy or intermediate; 28 percent is rated expert and extreme. Five of the chairlifts are high-speed on more than 2,700 acres of skiable terrain.
  • Vertical: 2,656 feet from Big White summit (7,606 feet) to the base of the Gem Lake Express lift (4,950 feet).

Lot To Lift Access

  • Parking: Day-trippers can park at the Gem Lake base or at the Happy Valley Lodge. This is one resort where you should consider staying on mountain because of the vibrant and affordable ski-in, ski-out village scene.
  • Public transportation: Big White offers a shuttle service from the airport to the mountain village, so skiers flying into Kelowna do not need to book a rental car if they are staying on the mountain. In addition, an inter-resort shuttle operates between Whistler, Big White and Sun Peaks for skiers who want to try three of Canada’s biggest resorts.
  • Accommodations: Big White is built for skiers who want to stay on the mountain. Thousands of ski-in rooms are available in all price ranges, with many package deals that include lift tickets and meals.

Culture

  • The vibe: Friendly, with a pronounced Aussie accent. The resort, owned by an Australian family, attracts a large number of Aussie workers and vacationers, giving it a “no-worries, mate” feel.
  • Dining: The resort has 18 on-mountain restaurants in various price ranges. Among the very best is the Kettle Valley Steakhouse and Wine Bar at the Happy Valley base area, serving excellent upscale entrees with a long list of tasty, British Columbia wines.
  • Mountain life: Beyond the lift-skiing, Big White offers many other activities, including Nordic skiing, outdoor ice skating, tubing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides.

Bottom line

  • Big White is a major resort that does very well by older skiers, with vast intermediate terrain and popular masters instructional programs.
  • The strong U.S. dollar makes this Canadian resort particularly attractive for deal-hunters.
  • Excellent snow quality keeps the lifts spinning well into April.

Trail Map Click Here

http://www.bigwhite.com/explore-big-white/mountain-info/maps-brochures

Webcam Click Here

_____

John Nelson is a freelance outdoors writer based in Seattle. Follow his blog at skizer.org.

Big White’s vibrant village has the most ski-in, ski-out lodging in Canada. Credit: Big White Ski Resort

 

seniorsskiing

Snow In Literature: Snowbound by John Greenleaf Whittier

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[An excerpt from Snowbound by John Greenleaf Whitter (1807-1892) to reflect on the tremendous snowfalls in the US and Canadian West.]

Alpine Meadows

So all night long the storm roared on:
The morning broke without a sun;
In tiny spherule traced with lines
Of Nature’s geometric signs,
In starry flake, and pellicle,
All day the hoary meteor fell;
And, when the second morning shone,
We looked upon a world unknown,
On nothing we could call our own.
Around the glistening wonder bent
The blue walls of the firmament,

Squaw Valley

No cloud above, no earth below,—

A universe of sky and snow!
The old familiar sights of ours
Took marvellous shapes; strange domes and towers
Rose up where sty or corn-crib stood,
Or garden-wall, or belt of wood;
A smooth white mound the brush-pile showed,
A fenceless drift what once was road;
The bridle-post an old man sat
With loose-flung coat and high cocked hat;
The well-curb had a Chinese roof;
And even the long sweep, high aloof,
In its slant splendor, seemed to tell
Of Pisa’s leaning miracle.

Sugarbowl

John Brown

Lift A Ticket? A Ski Patrolman Speaks

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There Are No Easy Answers.  It Might Hinge On Ski Resort Policy.

Editor Note: Last spring, we received a note from Frank Dolman, a 43-year member of the National Ski Patrol and a long time guide for the Over The Hill Gang at Steamboat. His comment: “Problem—Some owners of ski areas are cutting costs by lowering headcount and hours of the ski patrol. Consequently, reckless behavior can be out of control. Solution—A ‘license’ to ski, based on passing a test on the Skier’s Responsibility Code. License earns discounts, etc., as incentive.”  

Our Spring Survey 2016 revealed a lot of comments about controlling speeders. We’re still searching for an answer. This article by John Brown, a 38-year NSP veteran and patrolman at Ragged Mountain, NH, suggests lifting tickets really depends on the policies of the resorts. 

Know it, practice it, tell your friends.

Responsible behavior on the snow at times doesn’t seem to be a habit of a lot of skiers/riders today, and many people wonder who is responsible for the development of this go fast and take chances attitude. Is it the ski patrol? Is it area management? Is it equipment that may be too easy to use? Perhaps it’s the “point ‘em downhill and go” approach. And maybe it is a general apathy.

My answer is: “All of the above”.

So what can we do? Bring back and/or bring forward the skier responsibility code! Remember when it was posted everywhere, printed on napkins, the back of your ticket, on brochures and even a billboard or two? Look for it when you get a chance, and let me know where it pops up. Simply adhering to these common sense rules will make the slopes safe.

What should the ski patrol do? Well, first we would have to visit the individual ski area’s policy. Does the area encourage the patrol to be visible? Are there enough patrollers to actually patrol? Or does the patrol have to standby on top and wait to be dispatched?

Should the patrol take tickets away and under what circumstances? First offense? Based on a report? Before we build a long list of offenses, let’s first remember the patrol is not the police, and their primary mission is to keep the area safe and render aid when necessary.

There are various ski area policies that range from marking a ticket/pass to recording the name of a pass holder who has hit someone or otherwise skied/rode recklessly. An informative admonishment can be a valuable tool as well. A ski patrol that is visible can deter the potential speeder or reckless skier.

The ski area has a responsibility to take some sort of action when a report of reckless skiing is made. Whether it is customer service, the ticket counter, ski patrol or ski school, there must be a positive response to each visitor’s concern. You can’t ignore a ski area patron who takes the time to report what they feel is errant behavior which invariably could result in injury or worse, resulting in an unpleasant experience of a customer.

Of course, many people believe the easiest thing to do is to take away the ticket, and most certainly there are occurrences that warrant such action. Consider this though. After driving two hours and paying $80 for a ticket not to mention a $3 bottle of water, should we take away the ticket of someone who may or may not have skied too close to someone? Of course, if there is reason to believe recklessness resulted in injury or complete disregard for safety, then maybe the ticket should be taken. But what about gray-areas? Second-hand reports?  Not easy.

Just like the myriad of resorts in North America, the solutions will vary as well. There is one very proactive element that begins with all of us, and it is communication. No one will know there is a problem if it is not reported whether in person, by email, snail mail or by phone, once an area is aware of a concern there is a responsibility to act to make skiing and rider safe for everyone.

Harriet Wallis

Hot Finds For Seniors At The Winter Outdoor Show

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The Innovations Are Amazing. Here Are Three Top Picks For Seniors.

Vibram’s Arctic Grip soles won’t slip on ice no matter how hard you try.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Vibram – the company known for its hiking boot soles – has a new sole material it calls “Arctic Grip.” You can walk on solid ice and not slip. Really! To prove it, Vibram demonstrated on blocks of ice at its show booth.

Arctic Grip is used by six shoe companies on dress shoes to work boots: CAT, Hush Puppies, Saucony, Merrell, Sperry and Wolverine.

Stay toasty with heated ComfortWear in many styles.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

ComfortWear hooked up with Heat Factory which is known for its hand warmer packets. Now you can keep your entire body warm with clothing that’s designed with heat coils that are battery operated. Stay toasty as you ski, hunt or sit through a game in an outdoor stadium.

The most popular item is the heated neck scarf, said ComfortWear President Charles Hollcroft who owns the technology.

High tech Finbulvetr snowshoes have a funky egg-crate look, but they are made from a thermoplastic with flex underfoot and in the right places for steep uphill climbs or tough downhill descents. They’re designed and made in Norway where they really know their snow. They flex and move like no other snowshoe.

They were originally designed for the Norwegian military to carry heavy loads in the backcountry, said Christian Brunsvig, chief executive officer. Then the company created an additional model to suit a professional snowboarder who needed light weight but extreme performance for his uphill climbs. The long model is for long haul expeditions.

Norwegian snowshoes are lightweight and efficient.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

 

The Outdoor Retailers show is the largest product show of its kind in the US, and it’s staged in Salt Lake City. It brings product manufacturers from all over the world together with retail buyers who can see, touch and try new products and then place orders for the coming season. A few passes are issued to media writers and photographers – such as SeniorSkiing.com. That’s how I got in.

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

 

 

 

 

A mariachi band gets people dancing before the Outdoor Retailers show opens.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

seniorsskiing

Utah’s Historic Snowfall

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This Says It All About The Snowfall In Utah This January.

Credit: SkiUtah

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 13)

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Deer Valley Senior Friendliness, Online Lesson Review Series Starting, Using Old Stuff, Part 2, Fun and Fotos; Black Diamond’s Founder Urges Outdoor Retailers to Leave Utah.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows this week and more snow coming.

The snow has been piling up and up in the West while the snow from last weekend’s moderate storm in New England has melted in 55 degree temps. Crested Butte was closed down for a while because roads were impassable and completely clogged with snow. Same in the Tahoe area; 10 feet of snow in the Sierra, I-80 closed. Too much snow. Meanwhile, the Northeast teeters on the edge between cold nights for snowmaking and warm and rainy days.  Very up and down season so far.

Sugar Bowl base lodge on a snow day.

What is most disconcerting though is news from various Western resorts where skiers are caught in backcountry avalanches.  Some lucky escapes have been caught on GoPro videos; others didn’t make it.  Too many deaths this season so far.  So, be careful out there.  Big, big snow has big downsides.

Peter Metcalf, founder and former CEO of outdoor equipment maker Black Diamond, urged the big Outdoor Retailer show to get out of Utah. His reasoning? The outdoor industry relies on access to beautiful public lands, but Utah’s political leadership is hellbent on selling it all to the highest bidder.

We have an interesting report from correspondent Tamsin Venn on Deer Valley describing how senior-friendly the resort can be.  Comfortable skiing, excellent dining, service staff standing by to help carry, direct, teach, or serve guests in many ways.  We hope to visit DV one of these days; a true stand-out resort.

Yes, neon jumpsuits were the rage…35 years ago.
Credit: Shinesty

Val E. continues his two-part series by talking about using, well, old clothes and accessories.  Did you know neon jumpsuits are coming back?  Have you seen anyone wearing an 80s fuschia onesie?

Reminder: Last week we asked for you to submit a video of your skiing experiences.  We had a terrific submission from one of you guys, and we are putting it on the magazine next week! Please send more.  

Next week, expect to read about a new content asset for subscribers-only, more resort reviews, an op-ed about the Ski Patrol (you will find this very interesting), and a review of an online instructional video.  Please keep telling your friends about us, visit our advertisers, and remember: There are more of us every day, and we are not going away.  AND DON’T FORGET YOU CAN FIND A LOCAL SKI CLUB BY LOOKING HERE.

Ahhh. Fresh morning tracks.
Credit: Deer Valley

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows received 10.5 feet since January 1!

COLORADO

Colorado resorts offering a variety of freebies, including:

Free Snowcat to reach expert terrain

Wolf Creek Ski Area https://wolfcreekski.com/.

Loveland Ski Area – http://skiloveland.com/the-mountain/the-ridge-cat/

Free Lift Tickets for Airline Passengers

Crested Butte — Fly Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles to receive free lift ticket anytime before March 25, 2017 plus ski free on day of departure http://www.skicb.com/

Free First Tracks

Aspen Snowmass — Free early access on Aspen Mountain or Snowmass. Space is limited; guests must sign up night before www.aspensnowmass.com.

UTAH

Alta recognized top in several categories in the 2016-17 Best in Snow Award, Powered by Liftopia. They include Overall Best in Snow, Beginner Friendly, Most Challenging, Family Friendly, Best Snow Quality and Best Value ski areas in the High West.

Solitude Mountain Resort hosts its first major international skiing and snowboarding competition January 19-22 with the 2017 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix/FIS Snowboard World Cup and FIS Skicross NorAm Cup.

OTHER

Great item for patching ski garments: noso patches has a selection of fun stick-on clothing patches in all shapes and colors. Use them for holes on down, ski pants, etc. Retail presence is rapidly growing; always available on-line at www.nosopatches.com.

Numerous companies offer tee shirts and headwear with national park themes. The Landmark Project does it with style and great designs:www.thelandmarkproject.com.

No more slip-sliding, bone-breaking falls! STABIL, the Maine manufacturer of ice cleats that attach to winter footwear are a must-have for those of us who want to avoid winter falls. Available in most outdoor stores. Find an outlet at www.stabilgear.com.

peter metcalf
Jon Weisberg

OpEd—Black Diamond’s Peter Metcalf to Outdoor Retailer Show: Leave Utah!

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Time For The Industry To Speak Truth To Utah’s Anti-Public Lands Political Agenda.

This was the week of the Outdoor Retailers big show and non-stop party in Salt Lake City. It happens in both Winter and Summer editions, each with products focused on that season.

But this one was different because Peter Metcalf, the founder and former CEO of outdoor gear company Black Diamond, spoke out directly to the anti-public lands initiatives being promoted by Utah’s governor and the state’s Congressional delegation.

Twenty years ago, Metcalf successfully led the effort to relocate the show to Utah.

To fully appreciate his rationale, one needs to understand the economic impact the outdoor industry has on both the national and the state economies. It generates nearly $650 billion in gross national product (GNP) activity. At the state level, it generates nearly $12 billion and is responsible for about 120,000 jobs. The OR show, itself, delivers nearly $50 million of direct spending to Utah.

Metcalf authored an OP-ED in the Salt Lake Tribune, advocating for the Outdoor Retailer to leave Utah.

“… The state has some of the country’s most beautiful, varied, wild and iconic public lands that personified our industry’s values,” he wrote. “Utah’s public lands also formed the underpinnings of the state’s great competitive advantage — an unmatched quality of life unique to much of America that has attracted some of the best and brightest companies and their employees to the state.”

In explaining why he is urging the OR show to leave, he wrote, “Utah’s political leadership has birthed an anti-public lands political agenda that is the driving force of an existential threat to the vibrancy of Utah and America’s outdoor industry, as well as Utah’s high quality of life.

“Specifically, Utah’s top elected officials’ stated strategy is to take down our newest national monument, Bears Ears, gut the Antiquities Act, starve funding from federal land management agencies, and transfer our country’s public lands to state ownership, where the state will sell and prioritize extractive use over all others.

“This agenda is antithetical to our industry, let alone the majority of our citizens regardless of party affiliation. By our industry’s twice-annual trade show remaining in Utah, we are actually complicit collaborators in our own demise.

“It’s time for the industry to again find its voice, speak truth and power to power while making it clear to the governor and the state’s political leadership that this trade show will depart with the expiration of the current contract in 2018 unless the leadership ceases its assault on America’s best idea.”

SeniorsSkiing.com stands with Peter Metcalf on this issue.

mikemaginn

What A Difference A Day Makes

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Cross-Country Skiing In Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA., January 10-11.

January 11, 52 degrees, 12:30 PM

January 10, 28 degrees, 11:30 AM