Destinations

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Brian Head Resort

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Brian Head Resort

For a laid-back, inexpensive, Western ski vacation, perhaps with grandkids learning to ski or board, look into the southern comfort of Brian Head.

by January 22, 2019 2 comments West
Bromley is right-sized for seniors, lots of do-able trails, even the Black Diamonds. Credit: Bromley

SeniorsSkiingGuide: Big Bromley

Bromley Mountain Is Just Right For Seniors. At Bromley Mt. in southern Vermont, runs are not too long and not too short, just right for senior legs to make a top-to-bottom, 1,300 vertical-foot run without a thigh-burn break. Although you would be remiss not to stop. Views from the top of the Sun Mountain Express stretch from the Adirondacks to[Read More…]

by January 16, 2019 2 comments East
The new Belleayre Gondola whisks skiers to the summit in comfort. This is part of the continuing upgrading of facilities at the mountain. Credit: Belleayre Mountain.

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Belleayre, A World Away…

…But Close Enough To Enjoy The Day. Folks living in and around major urban centers, with the exception of places such as Denver and Salt Lake City, often find it difficult to plan a ski day within an easy drive. And while the population is graying, more seniors are skiing that ever before. So the hunt for ski areas within[Read More…]

by January 3, 2019 11 comments Resort Reviews, East
Credit: Mike Roth

Trail Name Series: Doc Dempsey’s

A Wonderful Cartoon From Mike Roth, Ski Journalist From Albany. Mike writes and draws cartoons for the Albany Times-Union Ski Blog. This one is about Smuggler’s Notch’s Doc Dempsey’s run.

by December 6, 2018 1 comment East
See if you can spot Draufganger on Big Boulder's Trail Map.

Trail Name Series: Pennsylvania

Extrovert, Powder Puff, and The Elevator Spend a little time looking at resort maps and you’re sure to find some attention-grabbing trail names. When I looked at Pennsylvania resorts I found some beauties. Powder Puff and The Elevator at Jack Frost along with Extrovert at Blue Knob topped the list. Among the best is High Hopes also at Blue Knob.[Read More…]

by December 5, 2018 2 comments East
Happo One is the largest resort in the Hakuba Valley with base areas serving the mountain. Credit: Hakuba.com

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Japan’s Hakuba Valley

A Senior’s Introduction To Some Of The Best Skiing In Japan. The Hakuba Valley sits three hours west of downtown Tokyo and boasts some of the best skiing in all of Asia. Host to the 1998 Winter Olympics, Hakuba offers a unique combination of diverse terrain spread out over 11 resorts, 12 meters of annual snowfall, world class facilities, and[Read More…]

by November 29, 2018 3 comments Resort Reviews, International
The Italian Dolomites: Skiing Perfection

The Italian Dolomites: Skiing Perfection

There are times when I crave beautiful mountain scenery and the pure joy of skiing groomers. This March, my wife and I will spend a week or so cruising through the magnificent Dolomites; staying along the way in pretty lodges with spectacular views. The World’s Largest Ski-Pass NetworkWe’ll be with the outfitter, Inspired ITALY, on Ski Safari in the world’s largest ski-pass[Read More…]

by November 29, 2018 7 comments International
Chile 2018 Ski Season Wrap Up

Chile 2018 Ski Season Wrap Up

Finding Good Days In A Disappointing Snow Season In The Southern Hemisphere. The 2018 season started on time in June, after a serious drought, but sputtered out before it ever really got going. The Chilean Central Zone ended with a 54 percent precipitation deficit, despite ENSO-neutral conditions. For a ski area in Chile not to get to the Sept 18[Read More…]

by November 20, 2018 1 comment International
High Voltage, Squaw Valley. Credit: Patrick Saffarian

Trail Name Series: California

Consider The Name Of A Trail. You Will Often Find Uniqueness And Whimsy. Peruse a few resort maps, and you’re sure to come upon some great trail names. Doing so with California resorts was no exception. Training Wheels at Mammoth is a wonderfully apropos name for a beginner trail. Amusement Park at Big Bear is fitting for a trail designed[Read More…]

by November 12, 2018 4 comments Destinations
From Reader Alyce Perez: In the 41 years that I have skied, it is the first time I have ever skied in October. Mount Snow’s earliest opening day in 64 years. Another first to add to my bucket list.

ReaderReport: Mt. Snow Opens Before Halloween

We Love Reader Submissions. Please Send Us Reports From Out There To Info@SeniorsSkiing.com.

by October 29, 2018 2 comments East
Ice fishing on Heffley Lake near Sun Peaks Resort with Elevated Fishing Adventures. Here, the guide and guest try their hand at outdoors holes. Credit: Yvette Cardozo

Ice Fishing Time Coming Up

Other Things To Do In Winter For Seniors. Some folks fish for sport. Some for relaxation. Some to “just get away.” I fish to eat. If I can’t eventually put it in a fry pan, I’m not really interested. So enter Elevated Fishing Adventures, near Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, Canada, where you get all three. Especially the eating[Read More…]

by October 9, 2018 2 comments International
Laying pipe with heavy equipment. A hot engine can quickly spark a blaze. Credit: Deer Valley

How Deer Valley Prepares For Worst Case Scenario: Wildfire

Fires continue to rage throughout the western states. It’s an annual phenomenon: drought, dry grass, tinder-dry forests killed by bark beetles. Lightning strikes. Human carelessness. Just one spark can set an entire mountain ablaze. For Deer Valley, it’s a normal summer. Hikers and mountain bikers enjoy the trails, and they dine outdoors on the patios. Aspen leaves ripple in the[Read More…]

by September 25, 2018 1 comment West
Dreaming of Skiing the Alps? Follow Warren Miller’s Advice: Don’t Delay.

Dreaming of Skiing the Alps? Follow Warren Miller’s Advice: Don’t Delay.

Warren Miller has been gone for less than a year, and his wisdom about not postponing your next ski adventure has been on my mind. There’s one experience in particular that beckons. It is based in the beautiful ancient village of Saint Vincent in the Aosta Valley in the western Alps, close to Mont Blanc, Zermatt, and Monte Rosa. Organized[Read More…]

by September 20, 2018 3 comments International
Taking on the Lake run. Credit: Casey Earle

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Portillo, Chile

Ride The “Va et Vient” Lift Up The Steeps, Ski With Ski Teams, Enjoy The Vistas Of Remote Mountains. There Is Only One Portillo. Editor Note:  Casey Earle has written several articles for SeniorsSkiing.com, introducing Norte Americanos to skiing in the Southern Hemisphere. Also click here for advice for neophytes . Portillo hosts international ski teams in training during the summer[Read More…]

by September 17, 2018 1 comment International
Coasting Most Of The Way

Coasting Most Of The Way

Senior Cyclists Love Gravity And Vice Versa. Pedaling up and down hills on a mountain bike has its rewards, but we prefer trails that have an emphasis on the downhill. We suggest three great places in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at or near ski areas to do just that. Important: We use suspension mountain bikes that absorb the[Read More…]

by August 23, 2018 1 comment East
Climbing the Via Ferrata at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.Credit: Peter Morning, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Summer Adventures At Mammoth Mountain

Non-Snow Activities Make Mammoth A Family Summer Vacation Stop. Ok, picture yourself, flat on your belly in “Superman” position, hurtling in the air down a mountain at 60 mph. No wonder Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort calls this the Mega-Zip. It’s billed as the “most vertical in the USA” (some 2,100 feet from the top of the ski resort at 11,053[Read More…]

by July 18, 2018 0 comments West
Casey grabs some pow at La Parva. Credit: Casey Earle

More Ski Chile: What To Expect From A Chilean Ski Trip

Some Adjustments Necessary To Ski The Legendary Mountains Of Chile. For many, a typical Chilean ski trip will seem a bit like traveling back in time to the USA 30 or 40 years ago. Some of the lifts date back even further than that! While the ski areas around Santiago are progressively upgrading their infrastructure, snow making, grooming, and security,[Read More…]

by July 16, 2018 4 comments International
Ski Chile: An Introduction For Neophytes

Ski Chile: An Introduction For Neophytes

Chase The Snow To Summer’s Skiing Headquarters In The Southern Hemisphere. Come May, you have probably set your skis into hibernation and begun patiently waiting for the snow to fly next fall. But you really don´t have to wait!  Southern America’s greatest mountain range starts getting snowed on in May, and by June the ski areas are normally in full[Read More…]

by June 18, 2018 6 comments International, Home Top Box 2
Ride with younger guys? Then ride wise and slow down. Credit: Pat McCloskey

Cycling Efficiency For Seniors

Bottom Line: Knoweth Thy Limits, Wise One. As I  was pounding the rocks of  Laurel Mountain on the mountain bike with  a group of younger riders here in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, I was thinking strategy.  At 63 years old, I am still in pretty good shape but the older I get, I start thinking about the old adage “age[Read More…]

by June 17, 2018 3 comments Conditioning, East
Summer Trail Prep: How It’s Done

Summer Trail Prep: How It’s Done

What Happens When the Snow Disappears Along With The Crowds? Bet you’ve never thought about how your favorite ski runs get cared for when there’s no snow on the ground. Yes, they have to be prepped each summer. Seth Worthen, slopes manager at Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, Canada, explained how his 11 person trail crew works. And it’s[Read More…]

by May 15, 2018 2 comments West
Spring cross country skiing can be found in high country and xc resorts. Credit: Mike Maginn

XC Skiing In The Spring Is The BEST!

Even In Mid-April You Can XC Ski; You Just Have To Find The Snow. As the cross country (XC) ski season winds down, most XC ski areas close because of lack of skiers rather than lack of snow on the trails. The sun comes out, the temperature rises, and the XC skiers quit. Why? Are we infected with winter fatigue?[Read More…]

by April 12, 2018 0 comments Destinations
Snow cat groomer making the ski run smooth for skiers the next day. Sun Peaks Resort, BC.

Ridin’ With The Cats

What’s It Like To Groom Trails At Night? They come out at night and do their job. You can see their lights progressing across the ski slope and occasionally hear their roar. And the next morning, they’ve left this delicious set of corduroy tracks across the ski hill. I’d always wanted to go on-slope with a snowcat groomer. And so,[Read More…]

by April 9, 2018 2 comments West, International
Grand Targhee: Deep Powder and a Friendly Vibe

Grand Targhee: Deep Powder and a Friendly Vibe

It had been snowing three days when I arrived at Grand Targhee. By morning the new snow total was 55″. A guy from Denver suggested signing up for Early Tracks. For $89 members of the ski school guide you at 8AM, an hour head start on the public. Next morning, I skied 1 1/2 hours on untracked terrain, guided by[Read More…]

by April 5, 2018 1 comment Resort Reviews
Find the Bear. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Spring Is The Time To Play Games

Try This New Game: It’s A Cross Between Where’s Waldo And A Scavenger Hunt. I was skiing at Deer Valley, and I was taking photos. I’m always taking photos. It’s what I do. I never know when I’ll need a certain shot to illustrate a story. The next time I skied Deer Valley, I was with a friend. I showed[Read More…]

by April 2, 2018 1 comment West
Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA

XC Skiing In Spring Is The Best

XC Ski In Shorts And T-Shirts This Spring: A Peak Experience! As the cross country (XC) ski season winds down most XC ski areas close because of lack of skiers rather than lack of snow on the trails. The sun comes out, the temperature rises, and the XC skiers quit. Why? Are we infected with winter fatigue? Is the lure[Read More…]

by March 29, 2018 1 comment Destinations