Evelyn Kanter

What’s New This Season: New York State

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Plattekill Lodge Snowstorm

Statewide Programs for Kids

Good news for parents and grandparents – The SKI NY Passport Program-Kids Ski Free is back for the 2022-23 Season. Kids in 3rd and 4th grade can ski free with parents at mountains including Belleayre, Gore, Greek Peak, Holiday Valley, Snow Ridge, Swain and Whiteface Ski Areas.

Ski Mountain Updates – Alphabetically

Belleayre Mountain has added more than 50,000 feet of new pipe, high efficiency pumps and an arsenal of new snow guns that greatly decrease energy use while greatly increasing snow output. There’s also a new heated patio and outdoor foodservice area, extensive new pavement, and a new and expanded retail shop on the main level.  (Catskills)

Catamount Mountain Resort expanded night skiing, new base area courtyard and a re-configured learning area, including a lower mountain quad chair and a new summit triple, extensive upgrades to the snowmaking system and 100 additional snowguns on several trails. There’s also a new snowtubing park with a magic carpet lift and lights for night tubing.  (Capital-Saratoga)

Gore Mountain features an all-new 60-foot wide, intermediate trail with grooming and snowmaking. It begins at the top of Burnt Ridge Mountain and parallels the Barkeater Glades before ending just uphill of the Roaring Brook Bridge at the bottom of what’s known as The Pipeline. It makes access to Little Gore Mountain and the Ski Bowl faster and more direct.

A new 18,000+ square foot four-season base lodge is being added to the North Creek Ski Bowl, expected to be completed in 2023. It will feature a new restaurant, a tavern, two levels of patios with scenic views, central ticketing services, a full-service center for mountain biking, hiking center, chairlift rides and a unique rail-zipline ride. Within walking distance of North Creek’s village center, the new lodge also will serve Nordic and alpine night skiing activities. (Adirondacks)

Greek Peak Mountain Resort has invested over $1.3 million for a new triple-chair lift, a $700,000 snow-making upgrade and new family trail ski project.  As the largest ski resort in central New York, this brings Greek Peak’s ski trail total to fifty-six. (Central New York)

Mount Peter has recreated Valley View Learning Center with three progressive trails, each with its own carpet lift. Also they have increased their rental fleet by 30% and parking capacity by an additional 20%. (Hudson Valley)

Mt Van Hoevenberg launched the all-new Mountain Pass Lodge as an integral part of Mt. Van Hoevenberg’s transformation, plus these other upgrades –

In a major advancement for the sports of bobsled, luge, and skeleton, a new indoor push track is now the only such indoor refrigerated facility in the United States. Athletes from around the world travel to Lake Placid to train and compete here throughout the year.  The multi-sport refrigerated bobsled, luge, and skeleton track is one of the world’s premiere facilities and among the most challenging. There’s an expansive new awards platform and podium right below the track adjacent the Lodge.

A new biathlon stadium is conveniently located near the lodge and features paved roller ski trails with outstanding, accessible new accommodations for spectator viewing.

An all-new Climbing Center is one of the region’s largest, serving all ages and abilities year-round. The center offers 1500 feet of climbing space, including bouldering walls and a 30-foot top-roping wall with auto-belays and multiple lead options.

A new SWIX concept store is the only one of its kind in the country and features the latest tech wear as well as SWIX cross-country ski products and items from its partner brands.

In addition to new competition trails as part of its 55kms of cross-country ski trail network, Mt Van Hoevenberg is now home to one of the world’s most advanced snowmaking systems dedicated to a Nordic facility. That makes maintaining top conditions easier and the venue highly attractive to the sport’s organizing bodies for national and international competitions.  (Adirondacks)

Peek ‘N Peak Resort has invested over $3 million to improve this season, a redesigned rental shop, a new outdoor deck, two new Piston Bully groomers and miles of snowmaking lines.  The resort also has switched to a new cashless system. (Chautauqua-Allegheny)

Plattekill has widened its most popular “Powder Puff” beginner trail to give beginners more room and added new snowmaking on the trail, plus an all-new beginner trail that wraps around to the “Lower Powder Puff Trail”. Although it won’t have snowmaking yet this season, the trail will open on natural cover – so fingers crossed. Improvements to the base lodge include new steps to the deck area. Expanded guest services now include a new feature to the online webstore that will allow guests to rebook tickets, and new ski and snowboard rentals with all the latest equipment. (Catskills)

Song and Labrador have 200 New Energy Efficient LED Lighting fixtures on the hill at both ski areas, Lift Upgrades, 40 new snow guns, extensive remodeling of Song Mountains main Lodge and new rest rooms and locker room at Labrador. They will be adding to their groomer fleet for 2023-24. (Finger Lakes)

Snow Ridge now offers up to 33 total trails, including two new for this season. Upgrades to Little Mountain include dismantling the old Snowy Meadow Chair to widen Easy Rider, and slowing down the running speed of Little Mountain Chair to make it easier to use. There’s a new NASTAR course on South Slope this season, a Saturday night adult race league and expanded retail shop. (Adirondacks)

Swain is opening a new year-round daycare center for the local community which will provide care on weekends and holidays for ski resort guests.  The magic carpet has been lengthened to expand the beginner’s learning area.  Snowmaking has been updgraded with new guns and additions to the grooming fleet.  Also, the main lodge, got a refresh, including new carpets and painting. (Finger Lakes)

West Mountain will have RFID Access Gates to their lifts across the whole mountain. (Adirondacks)

Whiteface Mountain has many new improvements including the Warhorse Quad Lift. Named in honor of Andrew Weibrecht, three-time Olympian and Lake Placid native, the new lift provides greatly increased capacity along with easier and more direct access from the base to both the top of beginner runs and to the freeway lift. Trails essential to major competitions were widened and snowmaking capacity increased while also improving the sustainability of snowmaking systems.

ORDA is achieving greater efficiency in snowmaking, due to smart investments in systems and equipment, and because snowmaking accounts for approximately 70 percent of ski resort energy requirements, sustainability is a high priority. The vast majority of this mountain’s (and Gore’s) power is produced at a dedicated solar installation, essentially allowing ORDA to turn sunlight into snow.  There is also a new Bear Den Lodge and Learning Center. (Adirondacks)

Windham Mountain invested more than $9 million in capital improvement projects over the summer, including a brand-new high-speed quad chairlift, significant upgrades to automated snowmaking, and the purchase of 450 acres of land.  (Catskills).

See you on the slopes!

Evelyn Kanter

ICYMI December 2022

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Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

There’s so much news this new ski season, which is why we are launching this monthly ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) collection of this and that at our favorite resorts.

Reservations Required

Your IKON Pass gives you five free days at a participating resort.  But don’t just show up anywhere, since some IKON resorts now require advance reservations.  Not all, just some.

To prevent being turned away, remember to make a reservation in advance to ski or board at these eight IKON resorts which require reservations this season – especially if you want to get on a chairlift or gondola on a busy weekend.

Reservations are required if you want to get on the mountain before 2pm. In alphabetical order:

  • Aspen/Snowmass
  • Big Sky
  • Brighton
  • Jackson Hole
  • Loon
  • Snoqualimie
  • Taos
  • Windham

Some resorts, both IKON Pass and not, are now also requiring reservations for parking.  See our recent article on new parking policies and prices for full details.

https://seniorsskiing.com/new-parking-policies-and-prices-at-utah-resorts/

Work out at a gym inspired by Mikeala Shiffrin

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, in the Vail Valley, has opened a new TechnoGym strength and cardio center at the recently created Studio M: Mikaela Shiffrin Performance Studio, a workout space inspired by the Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup winner who trains at the facility when she is in Colorado.

We wish there was a chance to work out with the great Mikaela Shiffrin – as there is to ski with Olympians, such as with Billy Kidd at Steamboat.  Maybe next year.

Powder Mountain Snowmobile Tours

Sign up for new 1-to-2-hour guided snowmobile tours around the White Pine/Gertsen area every Saturday and Sunday, starting in January 2023, conditions permitting. Discover the southernmost aspect of Utah’s largest ski resort via a trail-specific snowmobile.

The vistas, located around 9,000 ft of elevation, offer views of the Wasatch, Ogden Valley, The Great Salt Lake, and more. The tour includes information about the surrounding topography, ecology, and history. Snacks will be provided as you overlook Utah’s gorgeous scenery.

Two tours depart with a max of 6 guests per tour (3 operators and 3 riders). The morning tour is 10am to around Noon. The afternoon tour is 1pm to around 3pm. Snowmobile operators need a valid driver’s license and must be 18 years or older to drive. Children old enough to hold on can ride as a passenger. Helmets are provided and participants should winter outerwear, goggles, beanies, neck gaiters, warm gloves, and insulated boots.

Rates are $160 per Snowmobile (Operator) + $40 for an additional guest (Passenger), and 72-hour advance reservations are required. Conditions permitting. https://www.powdermountain.com/resort/adventures

Get a Free Ride at Lake Tahoe

Going car free is entirely do-able at Lake Tahoe. The new app-based Lake Link www.tahoelakelink.com launched this past summer allows visitors and locals to request free rides in 9-12 passenger vans on the main thoroughfares from the Nevada casinos (and in 2023, to and from the Events Center) to the Al Tahoe neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe, approximately three miles from the state line.

If you are driving yourself, Caltrans has current California road conditions at www.dot.ca.gov or 1-800-427-ROAD (7623) or 916-445-7623. For road conditions in Nevada, contact the Nevada Department of Transportation at http://nvroads.com or 877-687-6237. For a comprehensive guide to getting around Lake Tahoe, visit www.linkingtahoe.com.

The Territory

Okay, it’s not about downhill or XC, but all of us winter sports enthusiasts have a vested interest in sustainability and climate change, and this is an award-winning documentary featured at the Sundance Film Festival, which was started by a famous skier who also founded the ski resort named Sundance. If you can’t figure out who that is, do an online search for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The Territory is a riveting documentary about indigenous activists struggling to save the Brazilian Amazon rainforest from illegal loggers and farmers, and their fight for transparency over the government and corporate forces working to hide – and stop – their efforts. It’s both inspiring and heartbreaking.  Read more in this NYTimes review, which includes a video clip.  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/movies/the-territory-review.html

View The Territory it for free in December on the National Geographic and Sundance channels, or if you are a subscriber to Disney+.

Learn to XC Ski Week for Older Skiers   submitted by www.XCSkiResorts.com

Older skiers can enjoy cross country (XC) skiing at their own pace for getting outdoors in winter nature and the wellness associated with physical, psychological and spiritual fitness.

For those who have never tried XC skiing, or need a refresher course, Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, MI has special programs specifically to encourage older XC skiers.

During Silver Streak Week, January 9-13, 2023, XC skiers aged 60 or older can get a complimentary XC SKI HQ Facilities Pass, and try out new skis for free at the demo center. Plus, there’s complimentary coffee and hot cocoa.

The Golden Years Ski School is an introduction (or reintroduction) to the cross country skiing for those aged 55+. This learn-to-ski workshop for both beginners and those who have not skied in many years, tailored to each participant’s goals and ability levels, and aims to teach participants the skills required to truly enjoy cross country skiing.

The all-day workshop is Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023, beginning with indoor instruction, then head outside for an on-snow lesson. After lunch in the center’s Stone Turtle Cafe and Day Lodge,  instructor Jim Bradley takes skiers on a guided ski tour on the XC Ski Headquarters trails. Cost is $55 and includes a full-day ski rental and facilities pass, learn- to-ski workshop, and guided ski tour. This event is limited to 20 people. http://www.crosscountryski.com

See you on the slopes!

Evelyn Kanter

The Indy Pass

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Chestnut Mountain Resort courtesy of Indy Pass

Move over IKON Pass, Epic Pass, even Mountain Collective Pass, and make room for the Indy Pass with access to 120+  small independent ski areas in the US, Canada and Japan.

Through Dec. 31, an Indy Pass is just $349 for two free days at each area, and discounted lift tickets after that.  Extra deal – there are no blackout dates at most Indy Pass resorts.

The Indy Pass has been growing steadily in the last few years, with 40+ resorts added just this season.

If you want to avoid long lift lines and support smaller areas – including family-owned areas – where lift lines are shorter and friendlier, consider the Indy Pass.  https://www.indyskipass.com/

Here’s some of what’s new this season with the Indy Pass –

Granby Ranch, Colorado

Just 90 miles west of Denver, this family-owned resort is designed and operated with families in mind.  It’s laid out with two mountains – East and West – offering different levels of terrain.  East is largely green and blue, while West offers more challenging blues and blacks.  All trails feed back to the base area, so friends and family can meet easily.

Granby Ranch gets an annual average snowfall of 120 inches.  The base elevation is 8,202, and there’s 406 skiable acres.

Echo Mountain, Colorado

This is the closest skiing, snowboarding and tubing area to Denver, just 50 minutes from downtown.  Annual snowfall is 150” and the base elevation is 10,050.

Bluebird  Backcountry, Colorado

Bluebird Backcountry offers avalanche-managed terrain, skin tracks instead of chairlifts, slopeside parking instead of crowded lots, a culture of education, and a grassroots scene of campfires and live music.

Located in between Steamboat Springs and Kremmling, just two hours from Denver, this family-owned area offers 4,200+ skiable acres including 3,000 acres of  guided-only backcountry terrain.  The longest run here is 1.4 miles, and there are no blackout dates for Indy Pass holders.

Chestnut Mountain Resort, Illinois

This is the most popular downhill resort in Illinois, high above the Mississippi and tucked into the hills near historic Galena.  There are nineteen trails and a seven-acre terrain park

Lock Lomond Ski Area, Ontario, Canada

Nestled in the heart of the Nor’Wester Mountain Range on the North Shore of Lake Superior, this area boasts some of Central Canada’s gnarliest ski and snowboard terrain, with an apres ski scene to match.

Annual snowfall is 80”, vertical drop is 750”, and there are more than 60 skiable acres.

Calabogie Peaks, Ontario, Canada

This is the first Eastern Canadian resort to join the Indy Pass.  It is the tallest public ski resort in Ontario.Plus, three other Alpine partners and four XC resorts have been added this season in the USA and in Canada.

They are –

  • Bear Valley Adventure Company, California
  • Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, Montana
  • Jay Peak Cross Country Center, Vermont
  • Nickle Plate Cross Country Ski Club,  British Columbia, Canada

For our article on the Indy XC Pass click here

See you on the slopes!  Or the XC tracks!

Jonathan Wiesel

Minnesota’s North Stars

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Cross-country ski clubs and Nordic non-profits in North America (for simplicity, let’s just call them “clubs”) are crazy-diverse and often unsung, but they play a vital role in creating lifelong skiers – not just elite racers but the equally important recreational participants.

Clubs are the base which spread the word, coach kids, bring their families skiing, buy clothing and equipment, even volunteer to maintain and groom trails. And that inherently means buying and repairing grooming machinery plus cutting firewood for lodges and trailside cabins.

More than 400 clubs, especially in Canada, are effectively cross country ski areas – grooming trails, running programs, holding events, generally concentrating on kids’ learning to ski and often race, with plowed parking, base lodges, even equipment rentals. Many have Masters racing programs and some concentrate on operating XC ski trips, domestically and sometimes internationally.

COVID Winters generated major growth in club membership, which can range from dozens to thousands. An increasing number have dedicated snowshoe and fatbiking trails. Several clubs mix in downhill skiing. You’ll even find a small but growing number with snowmaking, like Alaska’s Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage and Nakkertok Nordic in Quebec.

The North Star Ski Touring Club (NSSTC) in St. Paul, Minnesota, https://north-stars.org is eclectic. It no longer has its own trail network, but it is big, influential, and impressively active.  Okay, maybe that should be “hyperactive.” Their motto is “Cross Country Skiing is our passion, but we have fun all year!” They’re involved with events like hiking, biking, paddling, fall trail- clearing trips, lectures, regular meetings, a new mentoring program for new skiers.

The North Stars have evolved a lot over their 55-year history, but they keep alive a sense of play. One of the largest Nordic ski clubs in North America, they are devoted to non-motorized outdoor recreation. The club’s sweeping mandate is to “enjoy and promote cross-country skiing in Minnesota and elsewhere.” Originally winter-only, they’ve evolved into a year- round organization that runs all kinds of events – not just in the Midwest but also to Norway as well as Idaho’s Sun Valley and Washington’s Methow Valley.

Founded in 1967, the club’s first project was developing a trail network that formed part of course for the Victoria-Jonathan-Chaska Ski Tour and Race Course, a famous event that pre-dated the American Birkebeiner.

The club has been a major winter sports influence around the Twin Cities. The late Peter Hale, one-time importer of Madshus skis, remembered the North Stars as “advocates for the sport, forging a link between tour racing and today’s skiing. The club was a huge source of knowledge

and energy. They were committed to participant cross-country, not primarily competitive cross-country, and they welcomed families.”

NSSTC has played a significant political role in Minnesota XC. In 1970-‘71, they helped persuade the Hennepin County Park Reserve (now Three Rivers Park District) to support cross-country, including limiting snowmobile trail expansion. They also campaigned against snowmobile access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and played a pivotal role in development of a statewide ski pass to supplement state funding for ski trails.

There’s a lot of racing history too. In winter 1972-‘73, NSSTC helped haul snow for the U.S. National Championships at Hyland Park Lake Reserve in the Twin Cities. In 1973, three club members completed the first American Birkebeiner at Telemark Lodge in Cable, Wisconsin. In those early days, women weren’t supposed to ski the full distance, but club member Jacque Landeskog completed the event, though officials refused to include her in the finishing list. She’s now recognized as the first woman to finish the Birkebeiner.

Club projects have included work on the Vasaloppet trails in Mora, Minnesota; North End SkiTrail near Telemark, Wisconsin; and the Gunflint area trails in northeastern Minnesota. They’ve also contributed to projects such as lights for night skiing and snowmaking at Wirth Park inMinneapolis. In 2022, they’ve awarded thousands of dollars to clubs and schools for new trail building, upgraded grooming equipment, and ski equipment.

Perhaps unsung, they’re still a force in Minnesota’s Nordic community.

Evelyn Kanter

Take the Train to the Chairlift

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All aboard the popular Amtrak Winter Park Express – your ticket between downtown Denver and the base of  Winter Park Resort.

The new season of what everybody calls the “ski train” rides each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Jan.13-15 through March 24-26. That’s a total of 33 roundtrips to what’s been voted one of North America’s best ski resorts and Colorado’s top adventure town.

One-way fares start at just $34, with kids fares (ages 2-12) from $17.

Reservations fill up fast, so make yours sooner rather than later.

Bring your skis and snowboards as a carry-on for no charge, with a dedicated baggage storage for your gear. While onboard, you’ll enjoy a trip featuring wide, reclining seats with a big picture window, ample legroom and no middle seat.

The Winter Park Express features a bi-level Sightseer Lounge with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains from upstairs,  and café service with snacks and drinks for sale downstairs. The lounge is the social hub, offering oversize windows and seating on both levels, and the chance to hook up with other skiers to plan the day’s runs on the bumps and steeps of Mary Jane or the long groomers on Vasquez Ridge.

Tickets between Denver Union Station (station code: DEN) to Winter Park Resort (station code: WPR) are now on sale at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress and the Amtrak app.

The train departs Denver at 7 a.m. and arrives at the resort at 9 a.m.

The return trip departs Winter Park Resort at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 6:40 p.m. All times Mountain. Union Station is served by the Regional Transportation District’s commuter trains to and from Denver International Airport as well as light rail, local or intercity buses, ride-sharing services, and taxis.

Group Tickets

Customers in groups of up to eight can purchase Winter Park Express tickets at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress and the Amtrak app.

Groups of 9-14 can call 800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to make a reservation.

Groups of 15 or more—including requests for exclusive railcar occupancy—should fill out this form and an Amtrak representative will contact you.

For more information about discounted group travel, call 800-USA-1GRP (1-800-872-1477) weekdays 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. MT, or email GroupSales@Amtrak.com.

Other Amtrak Access to Winter Park

Yes, you can travel to Winter Park by train other than on weekends.

Ride the Amtrak California Zephyr, operating daily between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay via Denver and Salt Lake City, with service to Winter Park Resort (WPS) via a shuttle connection at Fraser, Colo., eight miles west of the resort. Be sure to enter station code ‘WPS’ if you are booking the shuttle.

What’s New at Winter Park This Season

Winter Park Resort is planning to open previously unutilized terrain in The Cirque Territory and also planning to open more terrain in the Chutes area on Mary Jane. The newly accessible terrain means that skiers and riders will have access to almost twice as much expert-only terrain as last season.

Plus, the resort is adding more staff and resources for more grooming on popular intermediate trails across the mountain, enhancing the entire on-mountain experience whatever terrain guests like best.

Winter Park Resort is an Alterra Mountain Company property and its Ikon Pass welcomes skiers and riders to a community of inspiring mountain destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Lift tickets and other passes can be purchased directly from the Winter Park Resort website.

About Amtrak®
For more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada, Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at Amtrak.com.

About Winter Park Resort
Winter Park Resort, Colorado’s quintessential mountain and ski resort, is less than 70 miles from Denver. Flanked by the dramatic Continental Divide, the resort is defined by its pure natural environment, a strong pioneering heritage, and its unique Colorado adventure culture.

During the winter, Winter Park receives some of the state’s most consistent snowfall across its 3000+ acres of world-class terrain, and has been voted USA Today’s #1 Ski Resort in North America three of the last four years. During summer, the resort is home to renowned Trestle bike park, and has been named as Colorado’s Top Adventure Town. For more information, visit www.winterparkresort.com.

Evelyn Kanter

Ski Sauvage Tour: Test Gear and Ski With Champions

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French performance skis and apparel brand blackcrows is bringing back the Ski Sauvage tour for the 2022-23 winter season, with gear to test and celebrities to ski with.

The Ski Sauvage crew is loaded with an array of skis from the all terrain, touring and big mountain collections. The team moves around from ski area to ski area preaching wild skiing, sharing experiences and creating new stories of life on skis. They will be supported by a rotating cast of ambassadors who will help lead the guided sessions, share tips and attend the events.

This season the Ski Sauvage tour is focusing on big weekend events and product specific events. Multi-day events will include a full quiver of skis to test, ambassadors and athletes to meet, loud music and special screenings of the brand’s newest videos.

Confirmed events include: ski touring 101 with professional skier, Liv Sansoz and ambassadors Casey Rietz and Celeste Pomerantz, big mountain skiing with Freeride World Tour champion Kristoffer Turdell and Air Carving with twin-tip enthusiast Tuck Graham. Additional special guests from the blackcrows team will also be in attendance.

It’s all free, but registration is required.

“The Ski Sauvage tour is about sharing adventures and the love of skiing with like minded people in pursuit of pleasure,” says Giorgio Saviane, blackcrows, chief marketing officer. “It’s a way of exploring new resorts, bringing people together and enjoying time in the mountains.”

Confirmed dates and locations in the USA:

 December 16-17 • Taos, NM

January 7-8 • Aspen Highlands, CO

January 21-22 • Killington, VT

January 28-29 • Ragged Mountain, NH

February 8 • Vail, CO

February 13 • Keene Valley, NY

February 24-26 • Jackson Hole, WY

Confirmed dates and locations in Europe: 

December 3-4 • Val d’lsère, FR

December 10-11 • Avoriaz, FR

December 21 • Chaonix-Mont-Blanc

December 28-29 • Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR

January 6  • Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR

January 7 • Meribel, FR

January 20 • Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR

January 28-29 • Verbier, CH

February 18 • Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR

February 20 • La Rosière, FR

February 21 • Tignes, FR

February 23 • Courchevel, FR

February 25 •  Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR

March 4-5 •  Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR

For updates and registration, visit https://www.black-crows.com/us/en/ski-sauvage-calendar-na.html .

Bob Trueman

How to “Knowtice” and Improve Your Skiing

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Here’s a new word for you – “Knowtice”.  It describes the mental process combining knowledge with noticing.  Learning to do this is essential to developing skill, including skiing skills.

No system can purposefully change without accurate, prompt, feedback. If feedback is delayed, inaccurate or simply not noticed, any change will be random, and probably short lived – perhaps thankfully!

 I have mentioned elsewhere of my own miserable experiences trying to become a better skier by spending three nights a week for years at a dismal artificial slope ski school in the West Midlands of the UK, and managing only to make slow progress. I came to believe that the fault must lie with me rather than with the instructors I worked with.

 Since I took up skiing around middle age, I became convinced that I must simply not be sufficiently athletic, or fit, or whatever it took to be a good skier. The fault obviously lay with the teachers, not with me.

 Then one year, in the Alps, again with not much expectation of improvement, in just one week I made huge transformations in my skiing. Just seven weeks later I went again with the same teacher, and again made terrific leaps forward. Indeed, immediately after this experience I started on my own journey through the instructor training program and on to coach and to be an instructor trainer. That’s how much impact one teacher can have.

 So what made the difference?

 It was the rare ability of an exceptional communicator and coach. But just what was it he did that was the essence of the difference? He put effort into making the whole thing simple not mysteriously arcane. He didn’t demonstrate or show-off; he explained that only I could effect the changes, but he took responsibility for helping me.

 What made the difference was noticing.

 He constantly and repeatedly encouraged us to “be aware” – of our toes, or perhaps our shins, or our legs, or our hands. For a long time I did not internalize the simple power of this. Only gradually did I begin to perceive that in all the practice before meeting him, the key element which none of my instructors had ever brought into the mix, was “to have a clearly defined intention, and to notice what I was getting”. 

 Instructors had always told me to watch them and copy. When I was unable to emulate their own performance, they mostly got frustrated, or jeered, or urged me to try harder.  But it was pretty hopeless, and the reason was that I was never helped to develop an ability to notice what I was getting as a result of what I was doing, and why.

 Without that ability my development was all but completely stifled, and yours will be too. In my case the pain lasted eight years until I met this life-changing coach. The lack of the desired outcome was painfully obvious, but there was no connection in my mind between intention and outcome. Something was missing, and it wasn’t my mind. Does this in any way echo your own experiences?

 So, what is “knowticing” and how is it done?

 To develop skill there is no better process than the “Intention-Attention Feedback Loop”.  It was developed by John Shedden and others and is now applied to almost all top level sports.

 “Knowticing” is the ability to become aware of one highly specific physical manifestation, through the medium of one selected sensory channel.  Sounds fancy, but it’s simple. For example, first you and your coach agree on one simple action you will do, such as  just flexing your ankle a bit more. Then – and this is key  – to become aware as you ski, of where there is pressure under your foot, or maybe your shin.  It’s simple and it’s powerful.

 You first decide jointly that “pressure under your foot”, or against your shin is the manifestation you will select, and the sense of touch, is how you will appreciate it. It is crucial to its successful application that only one manifestation is to be noticed, and that only one sensory channel is used to “knowtice” it with.

 Deciding what you’ll do is your intention, and the “know” bit of my new word gives you your attentional focus, and understanding. The “knowtice” bit comes from having made a conscious decision to employ one sensory channel – feeling, or seeing, or hearing, or one of your other senses.

 The “know” part is founded on an understanding of how skis work, and is expressed in the form of simple physical tasks or goals, such as the example above.

 If you employ this simple powerful model at least some of the time when you are skiing, you will begin to make significant changes to the way you ski, and also to your understanding of skiing, especially your own skiing.

Herb Stevens

The Skiing Weatherman November 25, 2022

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By the time you read this you may have already made your first turns in the new season.  Mother Nature has been generous with cold and natural snow from coast to coast, with the West favored in late October and early November and then the Midwest and East over the past couple of weeks.  The East is where I am going to focus my reports this season.  It makes sense because I have skied at most every resort east of the Appalachians over the years and the vast majority of my forecast clients are in that same area.

It might surprise you to know that the FIRST resort to open in the East this year was Sugar Mountain, NC.  When early season cold is short supply, elevation matters, and Sugar’s base is right around 4,000 feet.  Since they started turning lifts mid-month, several dozen resorts have joined in the fun, and many of them are already sporting double digit trail counts with multiple top to bottom routes open.  Everything is set up for one of the busiest Thanksgiving weekends in many years, but there is just one problem…the weather.

The early season cold outbreak from Canada has just about run its course, and for the next ten days or so…through roughly 12/6…any cold air masses that move through the East will be transient, and generally confined to the resorts of NY and New England.  As Black Friday gets underway, a weakening low pressure system and cool front are moving across the spine of the Appalachians and the passage of that system will lead to a round of light rain.  Saturday will be the best day of the weekend to get out on the slopes, but another low will cut up through the eastern Great Lakes and then cross central New England Sunday and Sunday night.  There won’t be cold air around to support snow, so Sunday looks wet…not the greatest news for Day 2 of the Women’s World Cup at Killington.

Temperatures will be quite variable over the next ten days as relatively weak disturbances track into the Lakes and then run along the U.S. Canadian border…an unfavorable track for snow and cold except for northern Ontario and northern Quebec.  Snowmaking windows will be small, but there will be several along the way.  The pattern will change at the end of the first week of December, though.  Why?  Well, first there is the EPO, or Eastern Pacific Oscillation.  The EPO is an index based on the relative positions of upper level ridges and troughs over the northern Pacific Ocean.  When it is negative, we find a ridge over Alaska and British Columbia and a trough downstream over central North America.  The clockwise flow around the ridge directs very cold air from the high latitudes southeastward into the counter-clockwise circulation around the trough, leading to an intrusion of very cold air into the lower 48.  Even if the main thrust of the cold is into the center of the country, it will spread out and reach the east coast.  Here is the forecast for the EPO over the next two weeks…

The correlation between a negative EPO and cold in the East is a strong one and you can see that the EPO is consistently negative, suggesting a change in the temperature regime.  Supporting that idea is the outlook for the NAO, another ingredient of the “alphabet soup” of indices that I use to sort out winter pattern changes.  The North Atlantic Oscillation is built on the pressure differential between Greenland and the Azores.  When pressures are high over Greenland, the jet stream pattern gets blocked up, often with an upper trough setting up shop over the Northeast, where it can draw cold air south from Canada.  Here is the two-week forecast for the NAO…

If we take a quick look at the jet stream setup anticipated for 10 days from now, you can see that the pieces are in place for a return to colder weather…the ridges over Alaska and Greenland, with a trough over central Canada poised to deliver a fresh cold air mass to the eastern U.S. as it tracks southeastward.

The season is off to a fast start, but trail count expansion will pause before picking up the pace again about ten days from now.

alg turkey best
Harriet Wallis

How Okemo saved Thanksgiving

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photo credit: Harriet Wallis

“Quick. Look over there. Do you see what I see?”

The fog was as heavy as a wet blanket. I’d already been driving for 3 hours and most of it was in the pea soup as I headed north up the Connecticut River Valley. High beams were too much. Low beams weren’t enough. Just stay on the road.

Destination: Killington, Vermont.

We left home in Connecticut in the middle of the night with the intention of being first on Killington’s slopes. It was the late 1970s, and Killington was the only New England ski area that was open – on just a few trails on the top of the mountain. We’d have to ride several chairlifts to get to those trails. We built in extra time for that, but we hadn’t expected heavy fog and slow travel.

It was the first Thanksgiving that I was a divorced mom. The three of us – Craig, 12; Alison, 10; and I – agreed that it wouldn’t be any fun sitting around a turkey by ourselves, so we decided to start a new Thanksgiving tradition. Let’s go skiing!

That’s where we were heading. It was vaguely becoming daylight as I left the fog-bound interstate and headed north on 2-lane roads toward Killington. Fog was thinning a bit, but I still had a white-knuckle clench on the wheel. I was beginning to wonder if we’d get to Killington in time to make the long drive worth it.

 

Waves of fog continued. Horses looked over pasture fences and exhaled plumes of frosty breath. Little farm houses appeared ghostly and then quickly dissolved away. The images were magical, but we wanted to get to the slopes.

Just beyond Ludlow, the wispy curtains of fog opened for a moment and we saw snow guns blasting snow at Okemo.

“Quick. Look over there. They’re making snow!”

It was still another hour to Killington, but I needed a break. I drove to Okemo and we took a look. Snow guns were pounding the beginner slope – and skiing was free for anyone who dared to ski it.

Skip Killington. We’re here. Let’s ski Okemo’s beginner slope. The price was right and the drive was over. The snow guns turned us into frosted doughnuts on every run. We crinkled from our wool hats to our ski boots, and we had to chip the ice off each other after every run. But we’d started our new ski on Thanksgiving tradition.

alg Jers, Elle, Betty
Harriet Wallis

At Some Ski Areas, the Flavor Really Lasts

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Brighton’s drumstick trio: “Jers,” Elle & Betty

A rag-tag snowboarder with a ratty-looking mop of hair held the door open for me. Then he graciously acknowledged my thank you.

A staff wearing a headband with jiggling Thanksgiving drumsticks raced by to check on something. I burst out laughing.

A lodge cleaner guy pushing a vacuum around the locker room looked up to cheerily wish: “Happy Thanksgiving and have a great day out there.”

I’d been in the lodge less than 3 minutes, and the staff’s exuberance was already showing the flavor of this ski area – Brighton. It’s always been like that.

It was Thanksgiving day and my first day back in over 2 years. Health things have kept me away. The staff has changed a lot, and I scarcely knew anyone. But the flavor was still the same– unleashed happiness and fun.

At some ski areas, staff members are uniformed and groomed to perfection. At Brighton it’s often hard to identify the staff from the skiers and riders. Some ski areas are upscale. Brighton is down home.

Today, too weak from recent chemo to ski, I brought my computer to the lodge intending to get some work done. I went for a cup of coffee and the cashier noticed my season pass but my non-ski clothes, and she said the cup of coffee was on her. Only at Brighton. She was new. I’d never seen her before but she had the Brighton spirit. Her kindness brought tears to my eyes.

I was pounding away on my laptop when a long time ski patroller stopped by with a hug. Hugs are common. Brighton is family.

Looking back over the years, Brighton has become a snowboard haven with woods and cliffs and radical off-piste terrain. Some people hate snowboarders partly because they are often counter-culture with a rumpled and unsavory look. But when I crashed a few years ago, it was Brighton’s snowboarders who stopped and stayed with me. Several times it was Brighton’s snowboarders who dug my car out during a powder dump. And today, it was a snowboarder who held the door open.

Brighton, at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon beyond Salt Lake City, Utah, is family. And whether you’re a skier or snowboarder, Brighton has a flavor that lasts.

skihistoryf22
Seth Masia

Skiing History Magazine

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Skiing History Nov-Dec 2022 Cover

The Herminator Turns 50, Collecting Books and a US Ski Team Reunion

The November-December issue of Skiing History magazine is on press, but you can read it now, online.

The Herminator Turns 50: Top story comes from Patrick Lang, who recently retired after a lifetime covering the Alpine World Cup circuit. Patrick summarizes the career and bucolic retirement of Hermann Maier. During 11 seasons the Herminator won 54 World Cup races, four overall World Cup titles 10 discipline titles, plus 10 Olympic and World Championship medals, including five golds—and he came back from nearly losing a leg in a motorcycle accident. Now, Patrick reports, Maier lives quietly and secretively, protecting the privacy of his wife and young daughters. 

Boot Camp on Mount Rainier: A week after Pearl Harbor, John Woodward and Paul Lafferty began teaching recruits in the 87th Infantry Regiment how to ski, working out of a lodge on Mount Rainier. Their greater purpose, according to author John Lundin, was to figure out how to train the thousands of troopers who would, within the next year, become the 10th Mountain Division.

Caroline Lalive and Nelson Carmichael: After earning America’s first Olympic medal in freestyle, two-time World Cup champion Nelson Carmichael went home to Steamboat – where he married Alpine Olympian Caroline Lalive. Edith Thys Morgan catches up with them.

A Dusty Passion: Everything you need to know about the collecting rare books about skiing. Meet the history nerds who love old books. Maybe you’re one of them.

Other stories:

And: Ski with the ISHA gang at Big Sky Resort, March 21-24. We’ll hold our 31st Annual Awards Banquet there on March 22. Be there!

greg-rosenke
Evelyn Kanter

New Parking Policies and Prices at Utah Resorts

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Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

The good news is that several ski/snowboard resorts in Utah have increased parking spaces, paved lots, preferred close-in parking for vehicles with three or more passengers, and added shuttles from outlying lots to the base area. The bad news is that parking is likely to cost you more this season.

Here are the new parking policies and prices in Utah.  But first, the advantages of taking the UTA Ski Bus:

The UTA Ski Bus picks up at several locations in Salt Lake City and throughout the Salt Lake Valley and beyond, including at special park and ride lots. Many resort season passes and the Ikon Pass offer FREE fares for their passholders.

The UTA Ski Bus takes riders directly to the following resorts:

So here are the new parking rules, by area:

Alta Ski Area – For the 2022–23 season, Alta requires a $25 parking reservation for Friday-Sunday and during holiday periods. For those who purchase an Alta day pass, parking is only $10. No reservations are required any day after 1 p.m.

Find information about reserving your early morning parking spot here. Your Alta season pass and/or Ikon Pass comes with a free UTA ski bus pass, and carpoolers (3+ passengers) get preferred parking.  Alta is releasing parking spaces every Sunday afternoon during the winter season.

Snowbird – There’s a a variety of parking options, from their Preferred Parking Pass and valet to $25 parking reservations and free first-come parking. Snowbird is making carpooling a priority for vehicles with 4+ passengers by providing expanded carpool-only parking areas at all the entry points. There are free UTA bus passes for all-season passholders and employees.

Brighton – Since free parking is known to fill up quickly, you can guarantee a spot by reserving one of their 120 VIP parking spaces between Great Western and Explorer for $30.

Solitude Mountain Resort – There is a fee now for all lots. Cost depends entirely on the number of people in your vehicle and whether it’s weekday or weekend or holiday.  Fees range from $5 to $35, but parking after 2p.m. is free. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for parking this season.

Vehicles with 4+ occupants: Free parking opening day through December 11. $5 Friday through Sunday after December 11 and holidays/peak periods.

Vehicles with 3 occupants: Free parking opening day through December 11. $5 parking Monday through Thursday. $15 parking Friday through Sunday and holidays/peak periods.

Vehicles with 2 occupants: $5 parking opening day through December 11. $10 parking Monday through Thursday. $20 parking Friday through Sunday and holidays/peak periods.

Vehicles with 1 occupant: $10 parking opening day through December 11. $20 parking Monday through Thursday. $35 Friday through Sunday and holidays/peak periods.

Sundance Mountain Resort – In keeping with their long history of conservation efforts, Sundance has introduced winter paid parking for select lots for cars with 1-3 occupants on weekends and holidays. Cars with 4 or more occupants receive complimentary parking.

Lot B (Premium) – Weekdays 7am – 2pm: $25/day or $5/hour • Weekends & holidays 7am – 2pm: $45 all day

Lot A & C – Weekdays 7am – 2pm: Complimentary • Weekends & holidays

7am – 2pm: $22/1-3 occupants, complimentary/4+ occupants

Lots D&E – Weekdays 7am – 2pm: Complimentary • Weekends & holidays 7am – 2pm: $5/1-3 occupants, complimentary/4+ occupants.

Park City Area Parking Information

The UTA PC-SLC Connect is a great public transit option between Salt Lake City and Park City. Once you’re there, the town of Park City buses are all free. Park City Transit routes can be found here.

The Mountain Village base area moves to a parking reservation system with a combination of paid parking – up to $40 a day – with free parking, and incentives for carpooling and public transit.  Paid reservations are now required at the Main, First Time and Silver King surface lots and in the Mountain Village Garage. Here are the details:

Reservations will be required seven days a week until 1:00 pm, and are available online. After 1:00 pm, all parking is free and no reservations are required.

The fee for paid reservations will be $25 per vehicle per day in the surface lots, December 12 through April 2.

Early and late season parking reservations are free in Main, First Time and Silver King surface lots, but reservations are be required.

Reservations for surface parking are free for vehicles with four or more occupants, but reservations are still required.

The fee for paid reservations is $40 per vehicle per day in the Mountain Village Garage for the entire season.

Free parking will remain available at the Canyons Village base area, Park City High School (on weekends and holidays) and High Valley Transit Park-n-Ride locations.

In partnership with the City, Park City Mountain is establishing a new traffic circulation plan in the Mountain Village base area that will prioritize bus and transit access seven days a week.

Park City Mountain also is implementing text message alerts to provide updates to text subscribers in real time.

Make your 22/23 season parking reservations here

Richardson Flat – The park and ride has more than 700 parking spots and will have bus service every 20 minutes from 6am to 11pm. This route also services the Park City Heights neighborhood.

  • Learn more about this route here.

Woodward Park City – Parking is free, but the lot can fill up quickly. If you’re in the town of Park City, take the free PC Transit Bus

Deer Valley Resort – There is free parking at five base area parking lots below Snow Park Lodge, along with a complimentary shuttle to the lodge. There is also limited complimentary parking at the Jordanelle Express Gondola.

Limited paid parking is available mid-mountain at the Silver Lake Lodge. There is no day skier parking at Empire Canyon Lodge.

All day lodge locations are serviced by Park City’s complimentary transit system, which runs frequently throughout the greater Park City area and within the Deer Valley Resort area.

Vehicles containing three or more people are allowed to park in Lot 2 during busy holiday periods and on weekends throughout the season.

Snowbasin Resort – There is free parking in five locations: Earl’s Lot, Maples Lot, Canyon Rim Lot, Wildcat Lot and Green Pond Lot. Snowbasin has expanded the total number of parking spots, and those who carpool with three or more in their vehicles have the option to park in the carpool lot closest to Earl’s Lodge.

  • The UTA Ski Bus also runs routes to Snowbasin from Ogden.
  • Find more information here.

Powder Mountain – Free parking can be found at the Timberline, Hidden Lake and Sundown base areas. The UTA Ski Bus also provides routes to Powder Mountain. More information can be found here.

There are complimentary shuttles between the Powder Country area, Sundown Lodge and Timberline Lodge.

These Utah resorts provide complimentary parking, but do not have UTA Bus Service:

Brian Head Ski Resort
Beaver Mountain
Cherry Peak
Eagle Point
Nordic Valley

This list was assembled from a combination of press release information from Ski Utah and from individual resorts.  Of course, make every effort to be factual and accurate, but sometimes things change after an article has been published. If you find that one of the prices or conditions is different than what you read here, please let us know so we can fix it.

See you on the chairlift. Or gondola. Or Magic Carpet.

Evelyn Kanter

What’s New for the 2022/2023 Season – Idaho Edition

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With the La Niña weather pattern developing thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean for the third consecutive winter, the Northwest should expect a cold, wet winter with heavy mountain snow. That means another great ski and snowboard season in Idaho.

It’s not just the snow – for the first time in history, SKI Magazine named three Ski Idaho destinations to its list of the top 30 ski resorts in the West, and two have been nominated as part of USA Today’s “10Best”list.

So here’s all that’s new this season in Idaho, by region.

Northern Idaho

 Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area – In northern Idaho, near the historic town of Wallace and straddling the Idaho-Montana border and the Mountain and Pacific time zones, this multi-use area opens highly anticipated Eagle Peak Expansion this winter, with a new fixed-grip quad.  It adds 500 acres of new terrain, nearly doubles the resort’s footprint to 1,023 skiable acres and adds 14 named runs, raising its total to 52 trails. With a summit elevation of 6,150 feet, Eagle Peak offers 1,650 feet of total vertical — 500 feet more than the original Lookout Pass summit. The new chair stretches just under a mile at 5,640 feet and can move at least 1,500 people uphill per hour.

Eagle Peak will deliver more and drier snow than Lookout’s already snowy reputation thanks to the 500 feet in elevation gain.  Lookout Pass also regraded its Success beginner learning terrain to offer a more consistent pitch ideal for learning to ski and snowboard. It upgraded its trail cameras to streaming video, and also improvements to the main lodge, rentals and additional parking.

Schweitzer – near Sandpoint, Idaho’s northernmost ski resort, skiers and riders will enjoy better access to the tree skiing and long groomers in The Outback Bowl thanks to 14 new chairs on the six-pack Stella. This will boost total uphill capacity on the lift by 25 percent, allowing it to carry 600 additional riders per hour.  The resort also has expanded its children’s center — a fully licensed childcare facility serving guests ages 4 months to 6 years old – with age-appropriate indoor and outdoor programming.

Schweitzer also opens its new spa, Cambium, in the village in a new building adjacent to Selkirk Lodge. The 3,600-square-foot retreat includes a relaxation with outstanding mountain views.  Schweitzer’s boutique, 31-room hotel, Humbird, which opened in February, will officially reach completion with the new 12-person rooftop hot tub.  Construction continues on Schweitzer’s new $22 million employee-housing project in Ponderay, with 84 apartments and a full-service daycare facility for employees with young children.

Silver Mountain Resort – South of the Border terrain is now within the borders, with the destination expanding its boundaries to include the popular pow stash. Off Chair 2 to left of Skyway Ridge just past Sunrise, SOB is naturally gladed, holds tremendous powder, and now boasts a new marked trail graded to get skiers and boarders back to the lift. The resort, in the historic North Idaho mining town of Kellogg, also opens the new Jackass Snack Shack at Midway Chair 4. It is on the original site of the ski lodge back when the mountain was named Jackass Ski Bowl in honor of Bill the $12 Million Burro, who accidentally assisted in founding the Bunker Hill Mine underneath Silver Mountain. The structure will have a restroom.

 North Central Idaho

The three destinations encircling the Camas Prairie — Bald Mountain Ski Area near Pierce, Cottonwood Butte Ski Area near Cottonwood, and Snowhaven Ski & Tubing Area near Grangeville — have not announced any upgrades for the 2022-23 ski season beyond usual maintenance and upkeep. They offer throwback experiences where it’s all about snow riding, family, and happy vibes with adult lift tickets costing only $20.

Central Idaho

Renowned for its glade skiing, Lost Trail Ski Area on the Idaho-Montana border between Salmon and Missoula has thinned more than 80 acres of its intermediate and expert tree-skiing terrain served by Chair 2 and Chair 4. It also completed micro grooming on its beginner and intermediate runs to help ensure an early opening.

Three miles west of Hailey, Rotarun Ski Area heads into its 74th ski season with key infrastructure improvements including new snowmaking that supports early and late-season programming. It also celebrates winter sports and mountain-town culture with free public skiing under the lights on Wednesday evenings.

For the third consecutive year, SKI Magazine named Sun Valley Resort — the birthplace of the chairlift and American’s first destination resort — the top ski resort in North America in its 2022 Annual Resort Guide. Sun Valley ranked no. 1 in the West for overall satisfaction, lifts, dining, apres and nightlife, family-friendly, and local flavor.

The resort is also a leader in sustainability, with the Bald Mountain Stewardship Project to improve forest health, reduce fuels and associated fire risk, and preserve the recreational experience on and around Bald Mountain. As a result, the resort will open up 79 acres of new gladed terrain in the Warm Springs area in advance of two new lifts being constructed this summer — including a six-pack chair — slated to open next season. Sun Valley also hosts the Alpine Skiing National Championships for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

Southwest Idaho

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area  – Near Boise, Idaho’s capital city, installed additional chairs on the Morning Star and Superior Express lifts, which will increase uphill capacity on those lifts by 30 percent.  There also are two new trails — Independence and Blackbird – with 11 acres of additional terrain. Blue and black runs, respectively, the new trails return riders from the backside of the mountain to the frontside. The nonprofit ski area also expanded night-skiing terrain by 15 acres, lighting the Sunbeam and Superior runs off the Superior Express lift, bringing the number of lit trails to 21.

Several beginner runs and cat tracks have been widened and improved, including Buttercup Cat Track, Shamrock, Sleepy Holly, and Sunshine has been regraded to improve learning progression.  New and extended snowshoe trails have doubled the distance of mapped snowshoe trails, and Bogus Basin will offer regularly guided and special-themed snowshoe tours. It is also introducing RFID ticketing technology for hands-free access to lifts. It also paved the main parking lot and added 50 new paved parking spots.

Brundage Mountain Resort – Between McCall and New Meadows, the resort added a 2,800-square-foot ski and bike patrol first-aid facility. This is the final season for nostalgia-minded visitors to ride the Centennial Triple Chair, a fixed-grip lift installed in 1990. A new Doppelmayr CTEC high-speed detachable quad will debut in its place next winter, cutting ride time from 14 minutes to 6 minutes and offering two high-speed quads on the front side of the mountain. The resort also purchased and transformed a historic building in New Meadows into its newest employee-housing facility.

Just outside McCall, the Little Ski Hill has lit a third trail, Race Run, and added more lights to the base area and lodge face. The Payette Lakes Ski Club will finish lighting the ski area’s terrain park next summer. Only the top quarter of the terrain park is currently lit.

The après ski scene at Tamarack Resort near Donnelly gets a boost with the opening of Seven Devils Tap House. Located next to The Village’s grand staircase, the 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar is large enough for more than 300 guests with indoor seating, a mezzanine for more intimate dining, and covered and uncovered outdoor seating overlooking the snow front and West Mountain.

Save time and money by pre-purchasing day tickets with 24-hour advance online purchase — only $55 for midweek and $75 weekend tickets — and through Tamarack’s expanded system of ticket-pickup kiosks and automated ticket-scanning lift gates. New features include RFID-enabled snow-front ski check and heated seasonal lockers along with paid seasonal access to prime ski-in, ski-out parking via RFID gates. SOUTHERN IDAHO

Although Magic Mountain Ski Resort near Kimberly has not announced any major upgrades for skiers and snowboarders this winter, it is promoting a new Kosmik Tubing experience on Friday and Saturday evenings. Private group bookings are available on those evenings and other nights, and weekday afternoon group tubing will be available on a limited basis by reservation only. The mountain’s Saturday and Sunday daylight tubing will continue as normal.

Pomerelle Mountain Resort near Albion has upgraded grooming with new PistenBully 400 Park Pro groomers. The rental shop sports a new fleet of ski and snowboard gear from Rossignol and Burton, respectively.

New adventures and an improved on-mountain experience will greet guests at Soldier Mountain, near Fairfield.  The tubing hill which opened last winter returns, plus key runs at the top of Chair 2 have been cleared of brush, which will allow the snow to stick better and enable the resort to open trails earlier and keep them open longer. In addition, Soldier Mountain deployed three SNAPD action cameras — one at the top of the magic carpet, one as skiers and riders unload Chair 1, and a third near the top of Chair 2 with a picturesque mountain backdrop.

The camera systems are designed to work like those at amusement parks that automatically capture guests as they pass by. They leverage RFID technology to identify guests and allows them to access their pictures online or via a smartphone app. SNAPD day passes at Solder Mountain will cost $10 and a SNAPD season pass will run $25. Soldier Mountain is already booking seats on the snowcat for its renowned backcountry experiences

Eastern Idaho

Grand Targhee Resort — which lies four miles across the border in “Wydaho”, across the Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, and affiliates with Ski Idaho because the only way to reach it is through Driggs, Idaho debuts the brand-new Colter Lift on Peaked Mountain. The new lift can transport up to 2,000 people per hour, gain 1,815 vertical feet in just over 5 minutes, and provide 30 percent more skiing and riding with the addition of the new terrain on Peaked Mountain. These 600 acres used to be accessible only via snowcat bootpacking when the gates were open. Now, skiers and riders can access varying types of terrain, including awesome tree skiing and steep pitches.

This is the first major terrain expansion at Grand Targhee since 2001, when it opened the Sacajawea lift.  Grand Targhee also has renovated the slopeside Teewinot Lodge, and is introducing RFID ticketing technology to allow guests to access lifts hands-free via smart gates.

Kelly Canyon Ski Resort near Ririe as added new snowmaking and upgraded its trail lighting system. The new owners also have upgraded the lodge and transformed its cafeteria into the Half Cab Grill with an expanded menu.

Pebble Creek Ski Area, near Inkom has replaced the haul rope on the Skyline Lift and gave the rental shop a facelift.

Noteworthy Milestones

 Amid all these improvements, Ski Idaho, which counts 19 ski areas among its member destinations, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, Bogus Basin is turning 80, Soldier Mountain is turning 75, and Silver Mountain is turning 55 this season.

Multi-Resort Passes

Sun Valley has joined Schweitzer as partners with the IKON Pass.

The Indy Pass has a new, seventh Ski Idaho member with Kelly Canyon joining Brundage, Lost Trail, Pomerelle, Silver Mountain, Soldier Mountain, and Tamarack.

Grand Targhee and Sun Valley are members of the Mountain Collective.

Lost Trail joins Bogus Basin and Silver Mountain as partners in the Powder Alliance.

Sun Valley offers a Sun & Snow Pass with Snowbasin in Huntsville, Utah, that allows up to three days at each resort.

About Ski Idaho

Founded in 1982, the Idaho Ski Areas Association, a.k.a. Ski Idaho, is a nonprofit association funded in part by the Idaho Travel Council via the state’s 2 percent lodging tax paid by travelers and collected by hotel, motel, private campground, and vacation rentals owners.

Boasting 29,000 feet of vertical spanning more than 21,000 acres, Idaho is home to America’s first destination ski resort, the birthplace of the chairlift, and often considered the soul of skiing. Its 19 family friendly alpine ski areas offer trails and backcountry for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels, breathtaking views, hundreds of inches of fresh powder, affordable passes, and short lift lines. Many Ski Idaho destinations open for the summer season, as well, to provide lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking and trail running, disc golf, horseback riding, and more.

Visit skiidaho.us for more details.

What’s your favorite destination in Idaho?  We love your comments

Randy Johnson

What’s New for the 2022-23 Season—Southeastern Edition 

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Massanutten Resort

Terrain expansions and technology upgrades are routine at the seventeen ski resorts south of the Mason-Dixon Line. This year, that trend continues.

Here’s what’s new for the 2022/2023 season in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Virginia –

Massanutten – 2022-23 marks the 50th year of skiing inside the “Kettle” bowl of Shenandoah Valley landmark Massanutten Mountain. In 1990, the resort joined the regional “big list” jumping to its present 1,110 feet of vertical by opening two major slopes and a summit quad.

This year, Mueller’s Mile adds a third run from the summit, along with two other new slopes, a black connector to Mueller’s Mile called Slot, and Ridgecrest, a blue from the upper mountain along the craggy crest of the Kettle. The expansion finishes up next winter, replacing the old fixed quad with a detachable, and turning the lift line into the resort’s only double black diamond run.

The requisite snowmaking expansion started five years ago with a two and a half-mile pipeline tapping a new water supply, and finishes this year with 21,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe on the mountain. Director of Skiing Kenny Hess, says “this expansion will be a game changer for Massanutten, especially next year. With a double black lift line trail, Mass will ski much bigger than in the past.”

Bryce Resort, near Basye, Virginia, has converted its legacy double chair to a fixed grip quad. And Wintergreen Resort, near Charlottesville, makes a big snowmaking upgrade to its Upper Dobie and Lower Diamond beginner slopes and The Plunge snow tubing park.

West Virginia –

Timberline Mountain – After being closed for two pre-pandemic seasons, Timberline Mountain in Canaan Valley (pronounced kuh-NANE) was purchased in 2019 by Indiana’s Perfect North Slopes. The reinvention of a great southern ski area is picking up speed as COVID issues ebb.

The new owners have made “a complete do over on the snowmaking, quadrupling capacity,” says Paige Perfect. Two new lifts went in, West Virginia’s first six-pack detachable, to the summit, and a fixed grip quad to mid-station with a loading conveyor. New lighting to mid-station brings back night skiing this winter.

The summit, where two-mile Salamander starts, the South’s longest run, stays dark for now to protect the Cheat Mountain salamander. Flanking the alpine-like Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, the slope is the only one in the region on US Forest Service land. In fact, Perfect says, “we saw Salamander and knew Timberline was it.” The slope’s beginner pitch, few intersecting runs, and expansive width make it a regional favorite.

Snowshoe Mountain – Even with nearly 200 inches of annual southern snowfall covering its 1,500-foot vertical, this Alterra Mountain Company resort added 15 automatic fan guns on the revamped Skidder beginner slope beside the summit village, creating a longer, wider learning slope with consistent pitch. There’s also additional snowmaking at Progression Park and at the Silver Creek area, the ridge top run and adjacent easy routes get the same snow gun expansion as Skidder.

To reduce traffic on the Ballhooter lift, the usual route back up to the village from The Boat House eatery on a lake below, Skidder’s carpet lift has been realigned to access the village from the top of the Grabhammer lift.

Winterplace – The only southern ski area located five minutes from an interstate highway celebrates its 40th anniversary this season. The resort has redesigned its rental process and expects a 75% decrease in the time required to rent from a ski and snowboard inventory that this year is all new. There’s also a new Progression Terrain Park with a double chair located beside one of the area’s favorite easier slopes, Highland Run.

North Carolina –

Appalachian Ski Mountain – This area, in Blowing Rock, becomes the latest of the South’s slopes to embrace the RFID ticketing system based on an easy, radio verified lift ticket purchase that’s reloadable online.

Beech Mountain – In the northwestern High Country corner of the state near Boone, this is the East’s highest ski area at 5,506 feet, one of two major ski areas flanking Banner Elk (town license plates read “Ski Capital of the South”). This season, Beech’s far left legacy double chair has been upgraded to a fixed grip quad with a loading conveyor. he mountain’s former terrain park becomes a new beginner trail, Carolina Caribbean, named after the resort’s original development corporation back in the late ‘60s that paired the ski area with a resort in the US Virgin Islands. That new green gets an enclosed conveyor lift.

New terrain parks are being built, for advanced riders on the former Powder Bowl slope, and for beginners on the Meadows run, both with new LED lights and fixed SMI tower Polecats (among Beech’s ten new guns for this year). An interesting new Latitude L60 All Weather Snowmaker is being installed in the tubing area.

On the “back side” of the mountain, the Oz slope’s new name is West Bowl, and its Lift 7 has gotten an electrical upgrade.

Sugar Mountain – The other ski area near Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain adds its second new high speed detachable quad chairlift in three years, on intermediate cruiser Oma’s Meadow. The first opened on the Easy Street beginner run in 2019, and a new fixed grip quad went in on intermediate Big Birch in 2021.  There’s also a six-person Summit Express servicing the rousing Gunther’s Way advanced run.

With all the new high-speed lifts since 2014, and lift configurations since the mountain has literally reinvented its slope system, dramatically improving the ski experience at one of the region’s top ski areas. Snowmaking improvements will help cover the expanded base of the Oma’s slope and on adjacent upper mountain runs from the mile-high summit. The resort’s conveyor lift gets an enclosure to shelter skiers and new electronic lockers make ski storage easier in the lodge.

Cataloochee – The snowmaking system has been fully automated at North Carolina’s first ski area (1961) and an additional twenty-seven guns added. The lodge has a new menu with gluten free and vegetarian options, along with authentic, on-site smoked North Carolina pulled pork barbecue. Hand-crafted ski racks have been installed on many walls and railings.

 Tennessee –

Ober Gatlinburg – The state’s oldest (1962) and only ski area has changed hands, with original owners the Anders family selling to local investors led by Joe and Jessi Baker, founders of Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing. The name means “over Gatlinburg” in German, and Eastern America’s largest tram lifts skiers to the slopes from the streets of the Great Smoky Mountain tourist town. The area’s new name will be Ober Mountain.

Evelyn Kanter

Alaska Airlines Offers a Monthly Subscription for Flights to SLC

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Alaska Airlines, the only U.S. airline to offer a pay-by-month flight subscription service, is expanding its popular program to Salt Lake City less than a year after its launch.

Just in time for ski/snowboard season, subscribers to Flight Pass can fly between Salt Lake City and San Francisco or San Diego, in addition to 18 other routes throughout California and select cities in Nevada,  Arizona and now Utah.

The service allows passengers to book six, 12 or 24 roundtrip flights at a fixed-monthly rate starting at bargain $49 a month that includes six roundtrip flights a year, which works out to as low as $15 per flight – plus FREE checked bags.  Subscribers lock in main cabin deals for a full year and pay taxes and fees when booking flights.

Since its launch earlier in 2022, Flight Pass has grown steadily among frequent travelers on the West Coast, particularly from Northern California. The most booked Flight Pass routes connect between the major metro areas in California, while the most popular plan among the Flight Pass options is the $49 per month service that includes six roundtrip flights a year. Flight Pass is currently offered in select cities in California, Nevada, Arizona and now Utah.

Through Nov. 30, new Flight Pass subscribers also will earn complimentary Mileage Plan MVP status for 12 months, while new Flight Pass Pro subscribers l automatically earn MVP Gold status, if eligible.

For existing subscribers enrolled in qualifying Flight Pass plans, Alaska Airlines is upgrading subscribers to complimentary MVP or MVP Gold status through 2023.

Find additional information on the Alaska Airlines website, including terms and conditions – because there are always rules with a deal this good.

news.alaskaair.com

Company statements

“Utah is a popular ski and outdoor recreation destination among our California subscribers, and we’re happy to now make those trips more affordable and accessible with Flight Pass,” said Neil Thwaites, Alaska Airlines regional vice-president of California. “We’re also excited to introduce Flight Pass to Utah and provide Salt Lake City travelers with an affordable option for their frequent travel to California.”

“To thank subscribers for their commitment to Alaska Airlines, elite benefits that would normally be earned after flying for a year can now be enjoyed from the very beginning,” said Thwaites. “Flight Pass members will be able to enjoy the perks of being Mileage Plan elite members throughout their subscription, including upgrades to First Class and Premium Class, earned bonus miles and free checked bags.”

Harriet Wallis

When an Avid Skier Faces a Life Threatening Challenge: a Perspective

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Harriet and Alison at Alta by Peak Photo

Aging comes with health issues — sometimes life-threatening health issues. Body parts wear out and disease happens. I often jest that it would take five or six seniors to have enough good parts to assemble one complete person. 

But in spite of fused spines, mechanical joints, heart stints and disease, we ski.  We ski for the fresh air, the whole body motion, and the camaraderie with other senior skiers. Skiing is such a positive sport it lets us shine even when the physical body is headed in the wrong direction. 

Senior skiers generally seem positive. When members of Alta’s Wild Old Bunch gather in the lodge for snacks and conversation, we talk about upbeat topics such as recent road trips or discovering a new restaurant. One subject never comes up: what hurts. That’s just the way it is. 

Then it happened. The leaves had changed color and snow was in the forecast when a gardening friend and I headed off for a day at a botanical garden. We hadn’t seen each other for a while, so as we drove we caught up on each other’s families and our recent gardening projects. 

Suddenly, she asked, “How long?” 

“How long — what?” I replied. Since she’s a non-skier I assumed she was asking about ski season. “Ski season starts around Thanksgiving,” I said, “ and I’m really looking forward to it.” 

That wasn’t what she wanted. She pressed on. “How long are you going to live?” 

Stunned, I shot back, “I’m not a can of soup. I don’t have an expiration date stamped on my forehead.” And I added, “Some people flaunt their life-threatening challenge. I guess it makes them feel unique. But I’m not discussing this because I don’t want my brain to lock onto the negatives. I’m going forward.” 

She batted her eyes at me and rushed onto her next question. “What do your doctors say? They must tell you when you’re going to die.”

“What my doctors say is none of your business. And your questions are ghoulish.”

Defensively she whimpered, “My aunt had cancer before she died. I’m just trying to be comforting.”

Take-aways

There are some take-aways that might be useful if you’re confronted by well-meaning friends who probe for details about a serious medical issue. 

Be strong. Don’t let people push you for details unless you really want to spill the beans. It’s your body and you’re under no obligation to tell all. In addition, everyone knows somebody who had “exactly the same thing.” You’re under no obligation to listen to those stories of struggles unless you really want to. 

Be bold. Decide what you’ll say to those who ask about your condition. Write your own script. For me it’s “Thank you for asking about me. It makes me feel good that you think of me, so please keep asking. But I’ll give you the same answer every time: ‘I’m fine.’ I don’t want my brain to lock onto the negatives. The more I’d tell about the down side, the more powerful those negatives would become.”

Look forward. There’s a saying I live by. “The best way to go forward is to quit looking in the rear view mirror.” 

I’ll see you on the slopes!

seniorsskiing

How to Select Your Next Pair of Skis

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Regardless of the number of years you’ve been on the slopes, making the correct ski choice can be a challenge.

As part of its annual review of new skis, realskiers.com, the go-to site for in-depth ski evaluations, has determined the best skis for older skiers. Most of the selected skis have relatively soft flex, which helps them engage the snow with minimal exertion. Regardless of one’s physical condition, using skis with these characteristics allows older skiers to turn more easily and to ski longer without tiring.

Those who visit a variety of areas in different regions and who experience different snow conditions, may want to acquire a “quiver” of skis, each of which can be used for different terrain and different conditions. An alternative is to rent equipment when you get to the mountain. For example, Eastern skiers who tote their narrow skis to Alta, would be better served with a pair of wider powder skis.

We strongly recommend trying before buying. Start by choosing the most suitable ski category for the terrain and snow and working with a quality ski shop, preferably one at or close to the mountain so you can switch out demo equipment throughout the day. That said, this information also can be useful to those running across previously owned boards at a Swap or Sale.

BTW, SeniorSkiers.com subscribers are eligible for a 50% discount off subscriptions to realskiers.com.  This is a limited time offer.  Click here to request your promo code.

Recommended 2023 Skis for Senior Skiers

The Best 2022 Skis for Senior Skiers has 29 selections from Blizzard, Dynastar, Fischer, Head, K2, Kastle, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Stockli, and Volkl. Ten of the recommended skis are identified as women’s skis, which sometimes are engineered for female size and physique.

The selections fall into four groups, organized by range of ski width, which helps determine the terrain where its performance is optimized.

Specific recommended skis follow:

FRONTSIDE

75MM-84MM
Fischer RC One 82 GT
K2 Disruption 78 TI
Stockli Montero AX

WOMEN’S FRONTSIDE

75MM-84MM
Blizzard Black Pearl 82
Nordica Santa Ana 84

ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

85MM-94MM
Nordica Enforcer 88

WOMEN’S
ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

85MM-94MM
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Head Kore 85 W/91W
Nordica Santa Ana 88/93

ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

95MM-100MM
Dynastar M-Pro 99
Head Kore 99
Volkl M6 Mantra

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

Blizzard Black Pearl 97
Dynastar E-PRO 99 
Kastle FX96 W
Head Kore 97 W

BIG MOUNTAIN

101MM-113M
Blizzard Rustler 10
Fischer Ranger 102 
Head Kore 111
Nordica Enforcer 104/110 FREE
Rossignol Sender 104 Ti
Salomon QST 106/Stance 102
Volkl Blaze 106

WOMEN’S

Fischer Ranger 102
Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti
 
LeMassif
Evelyn Kanter

What’s New for the 2022/2023 Season – Quebec Edition

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LeMassif

Fall and cooler weather are giving antsy legs to all skiers, snowboarders, as well as all other winter lovers.

Here’s what’s new this season, north of the border in the province of Quebec, by region, including several important resort anniversaries.

Bas-Saint-Laurent

Parc du Mont-Saint-Mathieu has expanded its snow park, and snowmaking improvements will allow both earlier and later season access to an area with multiple glades.

Eastern Townships

At Mont-Orford, the new electronic RFID ticketing system will simplify the customer experience, and improvements to the snowmaking system will ensure a longer ski season, just like at Mont Sutton and Owl’s Head.

Centre-du-Québec

At Gleason, there’s been a transformation to LED lights for night skiing and improvement of the snowmaking system.

Quebec and Charlevoix

Mont Grand-Fonds celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, adding a new magic carpet and improvements to the snowmaking system. There will be special anniversary events throughout the year.

This is the first full season for Club Med Quebec which opened in December 2021 with all-inclusive food and drink, and an instructor-level on-snow touring guide.

Chaudière-Appalaches

Massif du Sud also has implemented a new RFID system on the mountain.

Côte-Nord

This season is the grand reopening of Gallix Ski Resort, which was partially closed last season due to a major chairlift breakdown.

Gaspésie

Petit Chamonix celebrates its 60th anniversary this season.  Val d’Irène has added two new double-black runs.

Laurentians

Belle Neige celebrates its 60th anniversary this season with new lift, La Fenster, as well as improvements to the snowmaking system. At Vallée Bleue, the new Le Muskeg Bar is sure to be the scene for great après-ski.

Les Sommets has upgraded the snowmaking system for Sommet Saint-Sauveur, Versant Avila, Sommet Gabriel and Sommet Morin Heights, and to the learning zone at Sommet Olympia. Sommet Gabriel skiers will be able to sit in the new La Laurentienne chairlift.

Mont Blanc has added a new main lift boarding mat, new service center and improvements to the Pioneer Bar.

Tremblant introduces a new app with live weather and ski conditions, ski and village interactive maps, run history and challenges, and more. Details here.  Hymne des Trembles is a new multi-phase project that will connect the Versant Soleil to the Versant Sud areas, supporting the eventual expansion of skiable terrain.

Montérégie
Mont Rigaud will offer a different experience to the users of the magic carpet since it will now be covered with a dome. The mountain’s lighting is now all in LED. Also, improvement was made to the snowmaking system. At Ski Saint-Bruno there’s a new terrace and a ski café for après-ski enthusiasts.

Outaouais

Camp Fortune has expanded the main lodge and made improvements to the snowmaking system which will extend the ski season.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Mont Fortin introduces a new magic carpet ski or snowboard beginners. Valinouët is launching a new website.

Thanks to the Quebec Ski Areas Association for this information.

Founded in 1979, the ASSQ is a non-profit organization grouping together Quebec’s ski areas. Its mission is to promote and defend the interests of the ski areas, to foster the development of the next generation, and to support the industry to offer skiers and snowboarders memorable experiences.

Skiing and snowboarding are practiced by about 1.4 million Quebecers.

What’s your favorite place to ski in Quebec?

TMT HIVER_ 86
Jonathan Wiesel

XC in Mont Tremblant Canada

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XC at the Domaine Saint-Bernard

Mont Tremblant is a major alpine ski resort just north of Montreal, part of the vast Alterra Mountain Company menu of ski areas, which includes Steamboat, Winter Park, Mammoth Mountain, Deer Valley, Stratton, Sugarbush. Therefore it’s part of the Ikon Pass system. 

 Though it’s well-known to Eastern Canadians, cross country skiing around Mont Tremblant isn’t quite the clichéd “hidden gem” for Nordic skiers in the U.S., but it’s certainly not a byword.  And that’s mildly ridiculous for so many reasons, ranging from extensive, superb terrain and good grooming to opportunity to mix your sports to the fantastic dollar differential between the U.S. and Canada.

Mont Tremblant is a year-round resort in Quebec’s spectacular Laurentian mountains, roughly 1.5 hours northwest of Montreal’s airport, which is served by multiple airlines from American hubs.

For XC visitors interested in history, this is Jackrabbit Johannsen country (so is Lake Placid, incidentally). Famous in Canada but not so much in the U.S., Jackrabbit was a fascinating guy who is justifiably credited with introducing skiing to eastern North America. Still skiing at the age of 102, he died in 1987.  And check out the Canadian Ski Museum while you’re at Mont-Tremblant.

XC in the Mont Tremblant Region

The best pre-trip resource on Mont-Tremblant-region XC skiing – including extremely useful trail maps – is https://www.tremblant.ca/things-to-do/activities/cross-country-skiing

 A typical XC season runs from early December through March; average snowfall is around 135 inches per winter.

 A quick summary: Lots of trails (many of them short), lots of lovely kilometers (100+), many of them with multiple uses – some classic technique only, some classic and skating, exclusively snowshoeing, a number with XC and fat biking or snowshoeing and fat biking or walking.  Overall, there’s a nice mix of “boulevards” and winding narrower routes, many trails passing by many lakes. While most skiing is suited to beginners and intermediates, there’s some challenging stuff too. It’s guaranteed that you won’t get bored. 

There are two trail networks with some parking for easy access. The northern system emanating from the resort (Secteur Tremblant) is smaller, has generally easy trails and several access points, as well as road crossings.  It also connects to the famous P’tit Train du Nord trail (the roadbed was formerly a Canadian Pacific railroad line) via la Villageoise-de-Mont-Tremblant trail; and the system based around the Domaine St.-Bernard, these days a large nature (ecotourism) and recreation complex. The two are connected by the ski-over Pont Jackrabbit over the Devil’s River (Rivière du Diable). 

Secteur Domaine Saint-Bernard has much more extensive skiing, with a day lodge, more diverse terrain (snowshoeing and walking paths too), outstanding viewpoints, and a number of convenient parking points as well as several warming huts. Some trails are groomed for both classic and skating, plus some ungroomed routes. 

There’s also equipment rental as well as the only XC ski school in the region (CANSI-trained instructors), offering both private and group instruction. 

In sum, there’s meadow, forest, mountain views, intriguing rock outcroppings, even riverside skiing… and birds that will feed from your hand.

Accessible by car nearby are another 40-or-so km of groomed trails, along with rustic wood-heated shelters, at Parc National du Mont-Tremblant. Difficulty runs from easy to difficult, with multiple loops. There’s a trail fee, which you can purchase online. 

Other Stuff

Purpose-built Mont Tremblant Village is a European-style village, reminiscent of Whistler Village in BC. You can visit spas or a casino, and enjoy a wide variety of fine dining and local cuisine, Mexican, Lebanese, pizza. Les Moulins Lafayette is one of a Québécois bakery chain… delectable! Plus, the old Mont Tremblant village is a few minutes away with more traditional shops and restaurants. 

As to winter recreation locally, there’s also ice skating on lakes and rinks, hiking and walking, fat biking and now e-fat biking, ice climbing, ice fishing, sledding, sleigh rides, dog sledding, snowmobiling, paintball. And if you also ski alpine, there’s more than 2,000’ of vertical drop on 102 trails. 

 If you’re a cross country skier and part of a group or family, consider staying at Domaine-St.-Bernard’s Farmhouse or Pavillon de Chasse (fully equipped kitchen and full bathrooms but bring your own bedding).

 If you’re splitting your time between XC and alpine and have a little Jackrabbit nostalgia but like more comfort, consider the comfortable Le Johannsen – right in the pedestrian village but not immediately accessing the XC trails. 

 Along with pervasive – and charming – French-Canadian culture, what more could you ask for?

Richard Lambert

We’re Back!

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As you may know by now, seniorsskiing.com founder Jon Weisberg passed away suddenly a few months ago and will be sorely missed for his love of winter sports and his importance to the industry.

Let me introduce myself as the new publisher.  Some of you already know me from my work with the 70+ Ski Club, which was founded by my grandfather in 1977.

So it’s in my DNA to share my love of skiing and a main reason I decided to continue the website. I’m grateful to Jon for generously sharing his knowledge and giving me the confidence to continue his work. 

I’m delighted to announce longtime travel journalist and winter sports writer Evelyn Kanter has joined the website as Editor.  Evelyn is passionate about snow sports and together with a talented group of contributors we will be bringing you a steady stream of great articles.

I appreciate your ongoing support of seniorsskiing.com.  Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we are doing. 

Richard Lambert, Publisher

Evelyn Kanter

What’s New This Ski/Snowboard Season – Utah Edition

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Photo Credit: Ski Utah

So many resorts, most of them within 45 minutes of the Salt Lake City airport.  And so many new lifts, trams, on-mountain dining, and more, this season.

Here’s a short swing around what’s new and notable on the snow in Utah, in alphabetical order, since that’s the only fair way:

Alta Ski Area – The Sunnyside fixed-grip triple has been replaced with a high-speed six-pack, speeding access from the Albion base area.  Also new this season is that parking reservations are now required for Fridays, in addition to Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.  Alta has improved some of the Sleepy Hollow terrain off the Supreme Lift area.

Cherry Peak Resort – Introducing one of Utah’s newest ski resorts, near Logan.  The family-owned resort features three triple chairlifts and 400 acres of family-friendly terrain. There are 29 runs, a terrain park, tubing, night skiing and ice skating.

Deer Valley – The Burns Express is a new chairlift connecting the Snow Park base area to Little Baldy, offering Ski School access to more beginner teaching terrain and an additional option for skiers to navigate out of the main arrival area.  Also, surface lifts and beginner terrain in the Wide West area have been improved.

The Snow Park Village base area has been upgraded with new transit arrival facilities including new food and beverage options.  A new high-end seafood and steak restaurant, Cast & Cut, opens in Snow Park Lodge, featuring seafood towers, grass-fed beef and more.

Nordic Valley – There are new glade runs on the Nordic Express area, plus a new Yurt lounge, and the former Ski Patrol room has been transformed into a beer bar, appropriately called The Aid Room.

Park City Mountain – There’s a new outdoor patio at Red Tail Grill, near the Orange Bubble Express and Red Pine Gondola. The resort also has invested in employee housing, with a 441-bed development at Canyons Village.

Snowbasin – The big news is the switch from the Epic Pass to both the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective Pass this season.  

Snowbird – The big news here is two brand new large, super-modern Tram cabins – one red, one blue – which will whisk guests to 11,000 feet. The trams offer spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows and additional see-through viewing panels in the floor, for a true feeling of flying. 

After snow season, prepare yourself to experience –  drumroll please – a rooftop balcony, first of its kind in the United States.  Hang out – and hang on – riding outside for 360-degree views.  Starting summer 2023. 

Solitude Mountain – The resort opens its first terrain park, adding features to the North Star and Main Street runs. The Yurt has been revamped to be open during the day for lunch.  In the evening, it transitions to an exclusive five-course dining experience reachable by a moonlit snowshoe tour. 

Sundance Mountain Resort – There’s a new fixed-grip quad south of Jake’s lift this season.  The 14-minute ride opens 40 acres of new terrain. In addition, the resort, founded by film icon Robert Redford, is expanding operations with 15 acres of groomed terrain, 10+ new runs, and 36 new acres of skiable terrain. 

Woodward Park City – Open just a few seasons, the area already has redesigned its layout to increase it’s terrain park features by 20%.  It is also one of the few ski/snowboard resorts anywhere with a parkour zone. 

Find more information on any or all of these resorts on www.skiutah.com.

Where will you be skiing in Utah this season?  

John Gelb
John Gelb

To Do List Before First Tracks of the Season

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Buy a Back-Up Pass

Even you already have your perfect Ikon, Epic or Mountain Collective pass, it’s worth checking out resort-specific and regional passes to give you extra days. 

I’m an Ikon guy because I ski a lot at Stratton in VT and Snowbird UT.  But this season, I also got an Epic Northeast pass.  Why?  Because Epic offers a stripped-down pass that includes several areas within 30-40 minutes of where I live.  And for a super reasonable price, it’s a great deal enabling me to ski three top Vermont resorts, all nearby.   Another example is Brighton, Utah, which offers a resort-specific pass that adds days to your Ikon Pass.

So check your ski map and see if it makes sense to add an “other” pass to your ski season.  And don’t delay, because when pass sales end, they’re gone.  

Start Walking

“Age creep” is a problem for all of us senior skiers.  

Hip problems caused me to stop running over the past year, but walking is an amazing replacement.  I get in thousands of steps, see the sights, and sleep better, too. In just 30-40 minutes a day you’ll be amazed at your results, including increased stamina, so you’ll be more fit for ski season. 

Take a Group Lesson

Find two or three friends with a similar proficiency, and get everyone on board for one group private lesson during one of your first ski weekends.  Ski instructors like me “take lessons” at the beginning of every season because it truly helps us to dial-in the key tips and exercises that make a difference for our own performance on skis. 

With a few friends, and a 2-3 hour private, you’ll all get some useful tips from your instructor, get feedback and some practice, all of which will get you sliding in your best way.  Everyone’s got to re-learn a bit of their technique, and this makes it easy to lock-in the right ideas and leave behind the other stuff. 

Most ski areas will allow 3 or 4 adults in the same group as a private lesson, which helps spread the cost.

Remember the Little Things

Zero in on the little things that will make your season easier and more fun. Four suggestions:

Hands get cold? Buy a box of hand-warmers now, before you need them. You’ll have plenty for the season and you’ll also save money by buying in bulk instead of individually when you are already at a ski resort.

Check your goggles.  Are they scratched enough that vision is impaired a bit?  Did they fog up last season, which means they will fog up even more this season? Then get rid of them, and buy a new, decent brand, even an inexpensive one. 

Feet cold?  Now’s the time to explore boot heaters, since they often sell out early.  Or, try a “boot glove”, which I compare to the wetsuit that scuba divers use.  It’s simply a stretchy, neoprene wrap that covers the toes and top of boot, with a Velcro fastener behind the heel.  I’ve been using them on super cold days for seven years and can tell you that they work. 

Here’s a tip – pre-heat your boots on cold days: Put 1 or 2 hand warmers in each boot when you start getting ready in the morning, and by the time you put on boots they’ll be toasty warm.  The Boot Glove won’t warm up cold boots, but they help a lot to keep warm boots.

Seasonal Ski Check

More resorts are offering an all-season ski check or locker, which will relieve you of having to carry skis/poles to and from the parking lot.  Of course, this only works if you are skiing the same area all season, as ski instructors do.  Even if your season is several different resorts, overnight ski-check is worth the money so you don’t have to lug your skis and poles to and from the parking lot, shuttle bus, or even a base area hotel.

Roger Lohr

INDY XC PASS – The National Ski Pass For XC Skiers

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Trails at Waterville Valley

Most dedicated winter sports enthusiasts are familiar with the major season passes such as Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Indy Pass, among others. So far, these multi-ski area passes have been geared toward Alpine skiing and snowboarding. Not anymore! Make way for a new season pass specifically for cross country (XC) skiing and a deal that highlights XC skiing for Alpine skiers and snowboarders.

The new Indy XC Pass recently introduced for the 2022-23 season will provide two days of trail access at (as it stands now) nearly 20 XC ski areas for $69 adult and $29 youth (12 and under). XC skiing will also be included in the regular Indy Pass marketed to alpine skiers and snowboarders ($279 for adults) at 100 alpine ski areas, where applicable. The price is an early season offer and the Indy Pass prices was expected to increase on May 17 (the Indy XC Pass is still $69 in end July).

The Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA, which is an organization of XC ski areas) is partnering with Indy and will be receiving 10% of the Indy XC Pass proceeds. The initial XC ski areas are located in different regions where XC skiers can ski two times at each area and they include:

EAST

High Point XC Center, NJ; WhiteGrass Touring Center, WV; Woodstock Nordic Center, Rikert Nordic Center and Jay Peak XC Ctr in VT; and in NH Jackson XC and the Adventure Center at Waterville Valley.

CENTRAL, MOUNTAIN and WEST

Maplelag Resort, MN; Treetops Resorts in Gaylord, MI; Enchanted Forest Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoe Area in NM; Crosscut Mtn Sports Ctr in Bozeman, MT; and Bear Valley Adventure Ctr in CA.

Alpine ski areas that have XC skiing on the Indy Pass include Black Mountain of Maine; Jay Peak, VT; Waterville Valley, NH; 49 Degrees North in WA; and Meadows Nordic Center at Mt Hood, OR.

Canadian resorts are participating, too including Manning Park, Sovereign Lake, and Nickle Plate XC Ski Club in British Columbia.

These areas provide a wonderful cross section of experiences and destinations and it is anticipated that the Indy XC Pass will have another couple of dozen XC ski areas sign on by the start of the upcoming winter.

Depending on where one lives, that cost for XC skiing can be reduced further. Currently, those who live in the northeast can receive ski visits (two visits at each of six resorts in New England and New York within reasonable driving distance) for the $69 Indy XC Pass or less than $6 per visit. As more locations are added to the Indy XC Pass, the savings will become more widespread. However, the $69 price tag allows current XC skiers to discover new areas to visit and also offers an attractive enticement to those who are interested in learning the sport.

Most XC ski areas charge about $25 for a day pass to ski on their marked, maintained, and groomed trails. Many of these trails have set manicured tracks that make it easy for anyone to ski. Taking advantage of the Indy XC Pass will save a small amount and help XC skiers to discover some new ski areas to visit.

Promoting the Indy XC Pass will increase awareness of XC skiing and it will educate nonskiers and alpine skiers about XC skiing at areas that provide marked and regularly groomed trails. The image of XC skiing to many people is going out to ski at parks when it snows, breaking trails, or skiing in a previous skiers’ tracks in ungroomed snow conditions. Cross country ski areas use machines to groom the trails to provide consistent ski conditions all winter. Additionally, there are more than 50 areas that can produce machine-made snow because sometimes Mother Nature can be snow-stingy in the winter.

XC skiers who go to a few XC areas because of the Indy XC Pass may very well discover the joy of XC skiing regularly and raise it to a higher status as a prime recreational endeavor in their quiver of things to do in the winter. For more information, see https://www.indyskipass.com/ or https://xcski.org/

Stored Skis
Don Burch

Here’s How to Store Ski Gear and Clothes for the Off-Season

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[Editor’s Note: We’ve published Don Burch’s article on storing gear in the past.  It’s an excellent reminder that a little care goes a long way.]

Hopefully your ski equipment has taken good care of you all winter. It’s time for you to return the favor. Some simple steps now can save you the frustration of rusty edges, musty clothing and mouse-invaded boots.

Are your skis still in the bag by the furnace where you left them after your last ski day? 
Credit: Mike Maginn

Skis: At the end of ski season, the bottoms of your skis will be dirty. This will especially be the case if you did a lot of spring skiing. With today’s black bases it may not be that noticeable. Back in the day when a lot of bases were white the grime was obvious. Before having your skis waxed and sharpened, you want to clean the bases with a gentle cleaner. If you wax dirty skis, you’re just going to embed dirt into the wax.

I wet my skis bases with a garden hose, spray on Simple Green, wipe them down with a rag and then thoroughly rinse everything off. While you’re at it, thoroughly rinse off the tops of your skis and bindings. I don’t recommend using cleansers on the tops, as these can interfere with the lubricants in your bindings.

Some people use commercially available ski base cleaners or Dawn dishwashing soap. Cleaning ski bases will dry them out so it’s imperative that you have them waxed afterwards and don’t let them sit all summer without a wax cover.

Racers and others who are demanding about their equipment will clean their bases using the hot scrape method. This involves hot waxing the skis and scraping the wax off before it cools. This process literally pulls the dirt off the ski. The process is repeated until the warm wax scrapes off clean. This method works, but it’s time consuming.

A good edge sharpening and hot wax will ready your skis for next season and prevent the edges from rusting.

Boots: It’s essential that your boots and liners be totally dry before storing them. I use a boot dryer after every day skiing and before storage. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend removing the liners in order to get the boots thoroughly dry. I know getting the liners in and out can be a pain. Warming your boots to make the plastic softer makes it much easier to deal with liners.

Store your boots in a place where mice can’t get them. A friend of mine stored his in a shed and in the Fall found them chewed on and full of things you’d wouldn’t want put your foot into.

Poles: These get the same attention as they did all winter, none.

Parkas and Ski Pants: At the end of the season, I wash my parka and ski pants in the washing machine with Nikwax TX.Direct® Wash-In. This is a product that cleans and restores water repellency and breathability, and I’ve been happy with the results. I’m not an expert on clothes washing so please go online to learn more and read the washing instructions listed on the label inside your garment.

Anyone else have equipment maintenance tips for the off-season?

season ending
Marc Liebman

Season Ending: The Last Perfect Turn

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Source: Alyeska Ski Resort

The last turn of the last run on any ski day is a bittersweet moment.  If it’s the last day of the trip, it is sad, if not melancholic.

As I come down the mountain on what will be my last run of the day, I go through the same routine.  Partly because I am tired, partly because the beginner runs are easy skiing and take me to the bottom, and partly because I want to be able to imprint the memory of the perfect turns I made, so they will carry me, mentally, to the next trip.

Feet close together, tap the pole, unweight, roll your knees.

It’s also about muscle memory.  I want my body to remember how it felt to have the skis carve through the snow in a perfect turn.

As skis come through the fall line, press the knees forward and into the hill to get the skis on edge.

It is also about knowing that life is short and we never know what tomorrow brings.  As a senior skier, I am closer to the end of my skiing life than the beginning.  It’s depressing but true and makes the desire to carve the perfect turn even more intense.

Feel the edges bite into snow; keep the turn coming across the fall line to control speed.

At the end of every ski day, I want my mind and body to remember the turns, not just one, but a series of linked, perfect round ones.

Body square over skis, or maybe angled down the fall line. Hold the turn long enough to control your speed.

It has to be close to perfect so that even an instructor examiner would smile in approval.

Hands out in front, mid-chest high; feet less than shoulder width apart, ready for the turn.

The last turn was nice and round with the skis on edge that tossed a little snow.  Now time for the next turn, hopefully as good as, if not better than, the last one.

Stay in rhythm. Reach out, tap the snow, unweight, roll the knees.

The process goes on until I reach the bottom, trying to make each turn better than the one before in an attempt to end a day on the snow with a perfect turn.  It may be never-ending, but the quest is reason to head back to the slopes as soon as I can.

Why?  Because at my age, this could be my last day on the slopes. I want to remember that I did all I could do to make the perfect turn.