2020-21 Survival Guide
Buckle Up, Bundle Up And Buck It Up.
NSAA recommended signage for this season. Credit: NSAA
Never before has there been as much trepidation about a ski season as for this one. Given all the tumult that occurred during this year, it’s no surprise we’re anxious. What follows are some insights that will help us get the most out of what will be a most unique season.
Above all, we need to go into this season with realistic expectations. Things are not going to be the same as ski resorts strive to provide us the best possible experience in the midst of the pandemic. Be prepared for limits on the number of skiers allowed at resorts each day and in many instances we’ll have to reserve these days in advance online. The result is that we will likely not get to ski each and every day that we would want to, and we will likely not get to ski as many total days as we’d like.
As resorts work to ensure social distancing across all phases of our visits, we can expect changes to how day tickets are purchased, how food and beverages are purchased and where they are consumed. There will be changes to how lift lines are organized, rules about who can ride lifts together and how many people unfamiliar with one another can ride together. Because resorts will be limiting the number of people allowed in lodges, we need to be prepared to boot up, warm up, and eat in our cars.
It will behoove each and every one of us to be as self-reliant as possible.
There are a number of stakeholders in skiing, and it helps to understand that we all share the same goal: to make skiing as fun as possible for as many people as possible and to keep everyone safe. We are all in this together and the 2020 ski season will be th ebest possible if we recognize our interdependence. If people choose not to follow the rules, it could lead to further restrictions.
In addition to the demanding tasks involved in reopening each year, resort operators are facing a daunting array of challenges including redesigning how services are delivered, complying with federal, state and local mandates, financial challenges, acquiring an adequate work force and doing all this amidst tremendous uncertainty.
As a result, resorts are not going to get everything righ,t and we should expect things will not always run smoothly. In essence, we need to be understanding and patient.
Because the impact of the pandemic is so fluid, resorts will likely change policies throughout the season. So, know before you go. Staying up to date on information regarding a resort’s policies will help us avoid unwanted events.
Now the lemonade: The thing we love most about ski trips is the actual skiing, and this season time on the slopes will be just as much fun as ever. Additionally, we may come to like some of the changes. Strategies for more “low-touch” interaction with guests may lead to smoother and more efficient ticket sales, use of passes and quicker access to food and beverages. Resorts are considering some very creative options for dining such as food trucks, other satellite food stations and take-out.
So, buckle up, bundle up and buck it up.
Alone In The Woods Maine Guide Survival Manual
Whether You Day Hike Or Trek, There Is Some Woodsy Wisdom You Need To Know.
[Editor Note: We are reprising this article from July 2014 to remind our readers that there are definite skills and knowledge needed when heading into the woods. As noted elsewhere this week, people are going into state and national parks without proper preparation, some getting into trouble. This guide, as eccentric as it appears, has worthy information to take on board.]
Folksy but wise advice from Maine Guides.
Several years ago, we stumbled on a unique resource to surviving in the woods if you become lost. Now you might think that is probably something that won’t happen to you because you are either experienced, well-equipped, cautious about where you wander, or just lucky.
Well, getting lost out there happens all too often in the woods, even with prepared, expert hikers and campers. Unexpected stuff comes down: GPS batteries die, injuries happen, weather changes, equipment fails, that luck of yours runs out, and knowing how to make it out is a critical set of skills.
The State of Maine has published a truly valuable guide for surviving in the woods if you are lost. It’s called, “You Alone In The Maine Woods,” and it is billed as a practical guide to woods comfort, safety, and survival. It’s been updated frequently since the original 1972 edition by various authors from the Maine Warden Service and Search and Rescue from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
We offer it here as a PDF download for you and your friends and family for all readers who visit SeniorsSkiing.com. Notice its whimsical but clear illustrations and straight-forward advice. Typical Maine.
Click the image below to download the 72-page guide.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Alone-in-the-Maine-Woods
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Oct. 16)
Gala Classified Launch!, Mystery Glimpse Returns, Question About Buying Decisions, Rendezvous Ski Trails, MT, Early Season Quiz, Book Review: Staying With It, Prepping Your Mind.
SeniorsSkiing new Classified feature is active and ready to accept ads!
Readers Said It Would Be A Good Idea. And Here It Is.
Since we started SeniorsSkiing seven years ago, we’ve received many emails from you asking about where to find ski clubs, equipment suggestions, and places to stay in different parts of ski country. We have also received an extraordinary number emails from people looking for ski buddies.
From all those emails, the comment sections of our many surveys, most recently, our test-the-water Question For You last spring, we sensed that you wanted to get in touch with each other, to buddy-up, to exchange information, to sell stuff, and to rent vacation spots. We believe that Classifieds would further contribute to the sense of community our readers share by encouraging person-to-person interactions.
Over the summer, we developed a Classified Ad section, trying various versions to try to make the posting and responding process as simple as possible.
Introductory Offer: $1 Ad Expiring Nov 13
From Oct 16 until Nov 13, you can post a 30-day ad for $1. It’s our introductory offer, and it is a way for you to help us shake down our new feature. Just place an ad on or after Oct. 16 for $1 and before Nov. 13, the ad will expire automatically after 30 days from your posting date. On Nov 14, our regular pricing rate card will be in effect.
Interesting Categories And Affordable Prices
We asked our readers what categories they thought were most relevant to our audience of, active, outdoor sports oriented seniors might be. Here’s the resulting category list, most of which are organized by region:
- Alpine and Nordic equipment for sale
- Accessories, Gizmos, Electronic equipment for sale
- Guides/Instructor Services
- Seasonal/Weekly Rentals By Owner/Agent
- In Search Of
- Looking For Ski Buddies/Rides To Share
- Ski Club Trips Open to com Readers
- Vintage Equipment, Collectibles, Antiques For Sale
We’ve priced ads to make them affordable. Here’s the pricing schedule that goes into effect on Nov. 14th.
- $10 for One Week Posting (7 days)
- $25 for Three Week Posting (21 days)
- $30 for Five Week Posting (35 days)
- $50 for Ten Week Posting (70 days)
Post and Pay
You can securely pay for your classified by credit card when you post your ad. We use a reliable third party app for processing payments. Pictures of your product or service can also be posted with the ad. Any shipping instructions and or additional costs can be explained when you describe your offering.
Buyers can contact sellers directly as contact information is provided to interested parties. Once connected, buyers and sellers can sort out the details of their transaction, like shipping, payments, returns, etc.
There are clear step-by-step instructions on how to post an ad under FEATURES>CLASSIFIEDS>POST AN AD. You can also click on the SeniorsSkiing Classified House ad in the right column. There are important Terms of Participation for you to consider when either posting or responding to an ad.
It’s important to use common sense and a healthy degree of caution dealing with people you are doing transactions with.
Please be patient with our new feature. We’ve tested it through several versions, but you never know what might happen. If you run into trouble, please contact us at advertising@seniorsskiing.com.
This Week
In addition to all the excitement above, we have a nice collection of articles to stimulate your thinking about the season ahead.
Credit: Ski History Magazine
SeniorsSkiing’s popular feature, Mystery Glimpse, is back with an intriguing photo of a venerable legend of ski history. Can you recognize him? And there’s extra points for identifying the photographer. Click here.
This week’s Question For You focuses on how you making buying decisions. If you’re in the market for new gear or clothing, what’s your search, find, and buy strategy? What or who do you rely on? Share you thoughts with your fellow readers. Click here.
Jonathan Wiesel contributes a resort profile for our Make More Track series. This time, he writes about Rendezvous Ski Trails, a mecca for Nordic events, located near the majestic Yellowstone National Park. Obviously, there’s more to XC than skiing on your local golf course. Read and learn about a bustling center of Nordic activity. Click here.
Correspondent Don Burch offers his annual early season quiz, this time focusing on ski trails in the Northeast. Accompanying the quiz are a couple of Don’s highly stylized photographs which we think are pretty stunning. Click here.
Yellowstone Ski Festival has racing, but there’s a lot more including Pilates, kids activities, clinics, classes, demos. YSF is cancelled for this year but back again in 2021
We are reprising a review of a favorite book of ours that we reviewed in 2014. It’s the venerable ski writer John Jerome’s Staying With It, his tale of how he decided to rejuvenate his athleticism at age 50.
Credit: Don Burch
His experiment was based on the theory you can slow the aging process with fitness. See what he learned in his journey from bystander to competitor. His sport was swimming, but principles apply to any athletic activity. Click here.
Finally, correspondent Steve Hines reminds us that getting ready for the season involves getting your head squared away in addition to your body. He cites three books that are the source of inspiration for him, slipping him into training gear for the season ahead. Click here.
Thanks for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Please tell your friends. And remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.
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