France Vs Italy
Stanley Rubenstein

France vs. Italy: And It’s Not About Soccer

/0 Comments/in /by

Market day in Val Cenis

Looking for a traditional French village with a ski resort, I came across Val Cenis in Savoie, at the southern side of the highest paved mountain pass in Europe, Col de l’Iseran, 2,764 meters. In winter the closest airport is Turin and then the Frejus Tunnel. Flying to Geneva is also a possibility.

We sought the French atmosphere of a traditional village. On the recommendation of a friend, we stayed in the village of Lanslevillarde. The Arc River flows through the town which is on the north bank, whilesouth side, where the skiing is, has hundreds of ski-in ski-out vacation apartments. The town is at 1,500 meters and the highest lift goes up to 2,850 meters. We rented a cozy two-bedroom apartment with a fire place in the center of town on the north side of the river. The owner was an alpine guide and very French, that is, not as accommodating as he might have been. More on him later. Scouting out the restaurants we found traditional Savoie fare, Fondue, Tartiflette, and Pizza.

Skiing down to the restaurant in Val Cenis

The skiing can be divided between, the tree lined trails starting at 2,100 meters and going down to the village and the open areas above the tree line up to the top. This is an area of untapped potential. The skiing above the tree line is has great potential. For the most part it’s natural snow and the red runs with a 700-meter vertical are really great for cruising: the excitement of a good pitch without moguls. The drawback is that the lift going up to 2,850 meters is an old fashioned non-detachable chairlift that takes forever to get to the top. On a sunny day this could be plus, but in inclement weather going up is an unpleasant experience. Also, there’s only one mountain restaurant in this sector.

The fire place in our rented flat

We were there for two weeks, half of the time enjoying the sunshine but experiencing poor visibility on the other days. But on the days with poor visibility, I skied the runs below the tree line down to village taking advantage of the better visibility and enjoying the uncrowded non-stop runs with verticals of 500 – 600 meters. Artificial snow provided good cover all the way down to the village.

Oh, about the owner. Two days before our planned departure, he alerted us to the chance that French farmers protesting against the government might block the Frejus tunnel on the day we had planned to drive back to the airport in Italy. We couldn’t take the chance of missing our flight, so we revised our plan and left a day early. But where to go for these remaining days? A quick look at the map pointed me to the Sauze d’Oulx, part of the huge “Milky Way” ski region linking Sestriere with Montgenevre. We left Val Cenis on a grey Friday morning and two hours later arrived in sunny Italy. The local tourist office found us a pleasant hotel for one night. We checked in, and got dressed for skiing. A short walk up the hill to the lift and I was back in my element. Long red runs, great for non-stop cruising and sunshine, with a plethora of restaurants on the piste offering a wide range of Italian cusine. While I was skiing my partner was surveying the possibilities for dinner. She found a great restaurant with tapas and gourmet Piedmont delicacies plus a selection of Piedmont’s famous Barolo and Barbera wines. Rising early the next morning, I got in another few hours of fabulous skiing, before getting in the car for the drive the airport.

The score: Italy 1, France nil.

arapahoe-basin-Colorado Ski Country
Evelyn Kanter

Alterra Buys A-Basin

/2 Comments/in /by

Add another mountain to the growing list owned by Alterra – Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin, which everybody calls A-Basin.

A favorite of locals and those who prefer an old-fashioned, low-key destination, A-Basin has been part of the Ikon Pass system since 2019.

Devoted fans hope Alterra won’t change it into a glitzy resort like its neighbors, Vail and Breckenridge, which are owned by Vail Resorts and on the Epic Pass. So far, all that’s been announced is improvements to parking and snowmaking, perhaps as early as next season.  This season, there are no chan

ges to the Ikon Pass.

A-Basin sits on the Continental Divide and offers some of North America’s highest-elevation and most-challenging terrain, paired with a laid-back vibe.  More than 80% of the mountain is blue, black or double-black – seriously, a place for serious skiers.

Iconic terrain includes steep, funnel-shaped Pallavicini, the East Wall, the Steep Gullies, plus the Beavers and Montezuma Bowl, some of North America’s newest terrain.

A-Basin is just 68 miles from Denver and boasts the longest season in Colorado, often running through the 4th of July, when the day includes fireworks.

The Beach, a stretch of prime real estate at the base, transforms into one of Colorado’s longest-standing après traditions.

Over the last 27 years, owners  Dream Unlimited Corp., together with the Arapahoe Basin management team, expanded A-Basin to 1,428 acres, replaced all of the lifts and most of the buildings, and opened the two highest elevation restaurants in North America, Il Rifugio and Steilhang Hut.

In 2018, A-Basin pledged to be carbon neutral by 2025 and recently the resort made a huge step toward that goal by officially using 100% renewable electricity.

“Arapahoe Basin is considered legendary for a reason. From its unparalleled terrain, to its commitment to sustainability, A-Basin has a team that has a passion and commitment for this unique place and its traditions, making it an ideal fit for the Alterra Mountain Company family,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of Alterra Mountain Company.

Alan Henceroth, A-Basin’s Chief Operating Officer who has been with A-Basin for 36 years and has been the steward of the mountain’s unique culture.

“A-Basin has a long-time and loyal following among skiers and riders in Colorado and we care deeply about the culture of A-Basin that brings them back,” he said, adding, “we have every faith that Alterra is committed to helping us maintain A-Basin’s authenticity.”

Guest Contributor

Senior Skier Tries Monoskiing

/6 Comments/in /by

Rob Scharf at Sierra At Tahoe

Editors Note: This article comes from SeniorsSkiing subscriber Rob Scharf

I have been on two skis 55+ years, including as a patroller and volunteer mountain host.  So trying a monoski was a challenge that became exhilaration  – and just plain fun.

I learned to ski at Mt Lassen Ski Area in northern California, where there were two rope tows and one Poma lift and a season pass for my parents and four kids was $100 total. As a high schooler in the 1970s I was intrigued by monoskiing, but didn’t know anyone who did it, or how to find out about it. I had seen it on TV, in magazines, and probably in Warren Miller films. I tried snowboarding in the 1990s and hated it.  So I stayed on my two skis.

I learned to ski when it was a status symbol to keep them close enough so the inside of the boots rubbed against one another, and it was a real status symbol if the duct tape you applied to your scraped boots was also scraped up. I have had ski instructors tell me I ski with my skis too close together, but when I ski patrolled and had to pull a toboggan, my skis automatically separated for a more stable base.

In the spring of 2021, I was a volunteer mountain host at Sierra At Tahoe Ski Resort, working at the bottom of one of the lifts reminding guests to put on their COVID mask, when I saw someone approaching the lift line on a monoski. It turned out to be an enthusiast loved to talk about skiing while your feet were locked side-by-side on one board. Towards the end of our conversation, he offered me to loan me the spare SnowShark monoski in his car.

After so many years on two skis, the monoski was a struggle. On two skis, much of your weight is on your downhill foot pressing on your uphill edge. On a monoski, that shifts to your uphill foot to get the uphill edge weighted.  Clearly, this old dog would have to learn a new trick or several.  It was a struggle, but eventually I felt more comfortable.

In March 2022 I went to Monopalooza, an annual event that attracts about 100 monoskiers from all over the US and beyond. The first day was a demo day. I found strong contenders from each manufacturer, but chose to go with a WhiteKnuckle All Mountain ski, and ordered one that summer.

Most monoski manufacturers are small operations, so they can provide almost unlimited customizations. They suggested a website to order fabric. I found one I liked and that green malachite fabric became the topcoat of my new ski. We agreed on the graphics “WK” on the shovel and “WhiteKnuckle” at an angle just in front of the bindings, which were mounted to fit the boot sole length I provided.  Now, I had my own monoski with custom graphics, for less than most pairs of skis cost.

At the start of the 22/23 season, I was probably more excited than I had been in many years. I was also nervous. Am I doing the right thing? What if I don’t like it and I have this very nice custom monoski? What will I tell my wife about the money I had spent just to have a wall decoration?

That first day on the slopes on my new ski was wonderful, exciting, scary, uncomfortable and just plain weird. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like a beginner, and I suddenly had a whole new appreciation for all beginners on a ski hill. I couldn’t control where I might slide to or whom I might slide in to. Stopping under control was iffy at best. I also got a better appreciation for snowboarders who only have one edge to hold them on a slope and for use when turning.

I am getting better on my monoski. Groomed runs are no longer an issue – as long as it’s not too icy. I tried some powder and the ski floated so well I quickly found myself sitting in the powder. Just imagine trying to get up in powder when both feet are securely fastened to one ski and your side-to-side balance is next to zero. As we all know, pushing a pole down in those conditions is not much help as it sinks down to the handle. I was able to struggle to sit on the back of my ski then stand up. Small moguls are fun but large ones are something I need to work my way into. Steep slopes with moguls will require more experience than I have right now, but hopefully one day.

One day recently, I was skiing at Alyeska, Alaska. I reached the bottom of a run when I heard someone just getting on the lift yelling in my direction. It was another monoskier “in the wild” waving at me. He waited at the top for me. 

He was a ski instructor at Alyeska. He taught on two skis, but was having fun on his monoski between teaching. He skied with me and my buddy for a couple of runs, giving us a quick tour. We would have never met that local if it weren’t for me monoskiing at the right place at the right time.

Standing on a monoski in a lift line is always interesting. “What is that?”, “Is that a training tool to keep your skis together?” “Cool board dude.” “Wow, a monoboard. I haven’t seen one of those in a long time. That thing must be ancient.” “Mommy, look at that funny  ski.” “Did they forget to cut your skis apart?”

My responses: “It’s called a monoski.” “They mounted my snowboard bindings incorrectly.” “I have yet to cross my tips.” “I snow plow one side at a time.” “I do have trouble skating on this.” It’s quite the conversation piece.

If you ever have the opportunity to try a monoski, do it. They are fun, scary, exhilarating and just plain fun. Did I mention they are fun? Will I try the monoski where the feet are one in front of the other like a slalom water ski? No, because I would automatically lean back and grab for a rope out of habit.

If you see a group of monoskiers in late February or early March this season or a future one, you’ll know there is likely a Monopalooza nearby. And, if you see just one or two monoskiers you can now refer to it as a monoski, not a monoboard.

 MONO, MONO!

Phil Johnson

And then there is Titus

/5 Comments/in /by

Titus Skibana

High speed detachable quads, gondolas, six-packs and eight-packs, bubble chairs and heated cushions are all part of the growing race to get us uphill faster, even warmer. And then, there is Titus, an independent family-operated, family-friendly destination near the Canadian border in upstate New York.

Titus Mountain Family Ski Center is a 1,200 vertical ski area tucked an hour’s drive north of Lake Placid and about 50 miles south of Montreal. There are 52 trails and glades, 38 with snowmaking. It is a mellow, well groomed layout. Ski it end-to-end and you’ll go through two tunnels and cross over a bridge.

What about the lifts?

There are six fixed-grip doubles and two triple chair lifts, all manufactured by Hall, the Watertown, NY, company that went out of business in 1982. So don’t expect a quick ride up the hill at Titus. And don’t expect that to change.

According to area operations and marketing manager Bruce Monette III, whose family has owned the former Moon Valley area since 2011,  “We believe these lifts are just fine for us. It gives people time to talk on the trip uphill. We don’t see that changing.”

The Monette family is no seat-of-the-pants operator. In addition to the ski area, their business interests range from large scale maple syrup production to gravel mining operations that support infrastructure and road development in the area, to fuel distribution services throughout the region.

Need a place to stay while skiing at Titus?

They own the Holiday Inn Express in nearby Malone as well as several Airbnb slopeside chalets.

What does it cost to ski at Titus? 

It is a bargain in today’s ski world. A ticket purchased on line is $59 on weekends, $49 on weekdays – add $5 if buying at the ticket window. The day tab for seniors 65+ is just $39 on weekdays, $49 on weekends. And that includes evening skiing on Fridays and Saturdays. A season’s pass for 70+ is $199.

And Titus is now part of the INDY pass network.   https://seniorsskiing.com/indy-pass-adds-54-new-resorts/

Want to make it a weekend at Titus? 

The Monette’s Holiday Inn Express in Malone offers a one-night ski-and-stay package for two for $249 total that includes breakfast, preferred parking at the hill and lift tickets. Compare that to a single day walk-up lift ticket on a weekend elsewhere these days.

 Treat yourself to a heated Skibana

While the lifts may date back to an earlier time, Titus has one area feature that is cutting edge: Skibanas.

These are eleven regular and three larger Amish-built wooden enclosed cabanas near the main base lodge that can be rented by the day. They are heated, outfitted with comfortable seating, and can easily accommodate a family of four carting their own food and beverages.  Another perk is they come with reserved parking.

Titus Skibana

Need to rent equipment?

Arrange in advance and it will be there in your skibana when you arrive. The cost to reserve: $99 on weekdays and $149 on weekends, which usually sell out days in advance.

If you are planning a road trip and want speedy lifts and fancy facilities, Titus is not your place. But if you want a family friendly area with an appealing ski layout at a modest price, this one is worth a try.

https://www.titusmountain.com/

Out Of Control
Bob Trueman

Better Quality Skiing – Tribute to Contributor Bob Trueman

/13 Comments/in , /by

Editors Note:

It is with great sadness that we learned of the recent passing of one of our very popular contributors, Bob Trueman, a retired ski instructor and coach based in Europe.  Every one of his many articles about how to ski better and enjoy it more struck a chord with SeniorsSkiing readers, always eliciting a spirited conversation in the comments section.  We are republishing one of his last ones, about the simple pleasures of just enjoying skiing without worrying about improving or not.  Richard Lambert

Jean Claude Killy, one of the greatest ski racers of all time, reminded us that “skiing is always a trip to the edge of what is possible. But it is not an obligation – we don’t have to improve if we don’t want to; skiing should always be a pleasure.

It’s in our nature that only a small percentage really want to improve the quality of our skiing, and for those who do, that’s one of the ways we enhance our pleasure. For others it can more beer in the mountain restaurant. Both are valid.

What IS better quality skiing? Put at its most concise, it’s best described as “more skillful skiing”.

Skill is a much misused word. “Carving” a ski, or pitching a baseball are often referred to as “skills”. They aren’t; they are techniques, which can either be executed skillfully or not. Watch me pitch a baseball and you’ll know what I mean.

So the next questions in this cascade of questions are – what is skill, and how is skill improved?

The most concise definition of skill I know is this – “Skill is the learned ability to bring about pre-determined outcomes with maximum certainty; often minimum effort”. (Emphases added).

My job over the last 35 years or so has been to assist skiers to enhance their ability to do this. Not to “show” them what to do. Not to “demonstrate” perfect skiing (which I can’t do anyway). Skill cannot be enhanced by watching someone else, particularly if they are especially proficient – super skillful skiers do things so subtly that you can’t see what’s going on anyway.

Our personal make-up guides our beliefs, which give birth to our thoughts, which drive our actions – what we actually do – and what we do brings about our outcomes.

To achieve better skiing outcomes we need to change what we do. I’ll repeat that – it’s what you DO that matters.

“Doing” in skiing, involves a lot.

As a skier, you already know full well that we have to exercise control over every part of our bodies – our heads, torsos, arms, hips, legs, feet, even toes!

Because the only person who can improve your skiing is you, you are the one who needs information coming to you in real time letting you know how close to your desired outcome your performance is. Once, that is, you have defined your desired outcome of course – which is where fellows like me come in.

Since we have only a limited number of senses acting as pathways for this information, we must ask which is best. As a longtime instructor and coach, I can tell you that it’s what you feel , it’s not what you smell, taste, or hear though once already highly skilled, hearing may well be useful, but it’s not the number one.

Importantly, it’s not what you see, though that can help you avoid a tree. One reason for this (there are many) is that you cannot see yourself as you ski.

You need to develop a high level of skill is assessing what you feel. As a simple example of this – imagine you’re my pupil. We decide a specific desired outcome and what you’ll attempt to be aware of. You ski, I watch. At the end of your very short run I ask “What did you feel?” If you’re like 99% of skiers you will say something like “It felt good”. Or “Yeah, I felt ok”,or “I didn’t really feel confident”, or whatever.

At which point you will hear me say “I didn’t ask you that – I asked you what you felt (as you skied) I wasn’t asking you for a value judgement, just what you felt.

We are likely to have agreed that you would seek to feel, say, some pressure under a toe, or feel your shin pressing against your boot, or to feel if any pressure came under your heel, etc etc. Just one thing, never two.

I will tell you that I don’t want you to think or anticipate or even make anything up (you’re not being judged). All we are doing is working together to help develop your awareness. Very few skiers have it, and watching other skiers will not develop it.

You can do it on your own though when you know how. Until you know how, it provides a living for good ski coaches like me!

I wrote a paper somewhere in which I made up two new English words that help us here – the paper was called “The Kneed to Knowtice”. To enhance our skill at pretty much anything we need to be focused, and more importantly to notice a chosen specific that will enable us to know what is happening concurrent with its happening.

The simplest example is my most frequent exhortation when starting with any skier, however good already, which is “Let’s agree before you set off that you will do your best to be aware at all times of nothing other than feeling the amount and quality of the pressure under your big toes – if you like just under one big toe”.

And I promise in return that after your practice run, that I will refer to nothing other than that about your skiing on that run.

Roger Lohr

Wooden Ski Day Held At Carter’s XC Ski Center

/0 Comments/in /by

Maine Ski Museum’s Glenn Parkinson shared his knowledge about vintage gear with folks at the Wooden Ski Day

The traditional way of skiing (from the 1920’s on) was celebrated at the annual Wooden Ski Day at Carter’s XC Ski Center in Bethel, Maine. The event has been run for about 40 years at Carter’s, which began operating in 1984. In the early days of skiing everyone used wooden skis because synthetics had not begun to be used in ski manufacturing. Soon after the Carters started the family XC ski business, they acquired a pair of 12-foot long wooden skis, which they believe is the longest pair of wooden skis in New England! And there are stories about Dave Carter, who has since passed away, joining some relay team members to race on those 12-foot skis.

Nowadays, wooden skis are often used as wall decorations but there are still a few skiers who love the feel of wood under their ski boots. Many people refer to wooden skis as vintage or retro but while it may be fun on any type of XC skis, when compared to most modern skis, their performance is not in the same league. Keep in mind as we aggrandize the past ski equipment, that new equipment including skis, boots, bindings, and poles will significantly outperform wooden skis, light leather boots, 3-pin bindings, and so on. For example, the pair of Bonna 1800 skis that I borrowed for the Wooden Ski Day parade were terribly warped in the ski tail, which is common for many pairs of the wooden skis that still exist.

Carter’s XC Ski Center owners Anne and Jess Carter celebrate Wooden Ski Day. Jess is on the 12 foot skis, the longest skis in New England!

Ski historian, Glenn Parkinson, currently the president of the Maine Ski & Snowboard Museum, shared his knowledge of ski history at the event and he is one that knows about it. In 1995, Parkinson published the book called “First Tracks” that traced skiing in Maine back to the 1870’s. The book covers Maine’s skiing heritage from the time when Swedes immigrated to the state and brought what they called “skees” to clear snow-covered forests for settlers. In those days ski wax was known as “dope.” Parkinson’s book covers all of Maine’s ski history with photographs, skiing characters, ski trains and winter carnivals, lost ski areas, and a chronological chart of the historical highlights between 1870 and 1938.

Carter’s XC Ski Center complimented folks who participated on wooden skis with free trail passes. All the people who donned wooden skis held a short parade and prizes were given based on most “old-timey” or traditional Nordic ski wear, retro 70’s/80’s ski wear, and finally, most overall creative. There was live music with a local jazzy folk band, a bonfire, and Norway Brewing Co. served beer. A portion of the day’s profits at Carter’s benefited the Maine Ski & Snowboard Museum.

Evelyn Kanter

ICYMI for February

/1 Comment/in /by

In case you missed it, here are bits and pieces from here and there about several of our favorite winter resorts East and West, to help you plan your downhill or XC time and your time before, during or after. See you on the slopes! 

Birding on Skis at Alta

This is a unique winter adventure. Alta’s Birding on Skis program let you glide through  breathtaking snowy landscapes while expert guides birding from Tracy Aviary lead you to discover the diverse avian species that thrive in the Wasatch Mountains in winter.  Immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, learn about the fascinating behaviors of winter birds, and create lasting memories against Alta’s beautiful snow-covered terrain. Registration required.

Birding tours are 9am-Noon on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Meet at the bottom of Collins lift by 8:50am with a lift tiket or season pass, all your gear and ready to ski. Participants must be at least 12 years old and able to ski intermediate, groomed runs.

  • February 8th and 22nd
  • March 14th and 28th
  • April 11th and Alta Earth Day (TBA)

Jackson Hole Kings & Queens of Corbet’s Competition – Cancelled

JH Kings and Queens of Corbets Veronica Paulson first womans backflip

Jackson Hole is saddened to announce that Kings & Queens of Corbet’s 2024 is cancelled.

The Jackson Hole Ski Patrol, Mountain Operations, Event Leadership, and current/former competitors have been working together to assess conditions in the Couloir for the competition scheduled for Feb. 3-10. 80” of snow has blanketed the Resort in the past two weeks and the mountain is open wall-to-wall.

However, Corbet’s Couloir requires specific weather factors to fill in properly and create a competition-worthy environment that supports landing mind-blowing tricks and carrying high speed through it. Unfortunately, this last storm didn’t deliver what we needed. Upon first-hand inspection of the snowpack within the Couloir, the competitors agreed that conditions are not at the level needed to run an elite competition. However, they all agreed that it is skiable for those with expert abilities. We are working to open Corbet’s to our guests very soon and will update you when it’s ready.

Kings & Queens veteran Veronica Belle says, “Corbet’s is skiing great, but conditions are not there to do what we want to do. As athletes, we all want to show off our best skiing, and right now the conditions are not safe enough for us to put on the show we usually do. I’ve trained all year for this and now I have another year to keep training and dreaming about my run.

Also see our recent article on where to ski and what to do in Jackson Hole. 

https://seniorsskiing.com/seniorsskiing-guide-jackson-hole-not-for-experts-only/

Evelyn Kanter

Skier/Snowboarder Responsibility Code

/25 Comments/in /by

January is National Safety Awareness Month, a good time to be reminded about safety on the slopes we all love, to keep us, the kids and the grandkids all safe and smiling on the slopes we all love.

 We invite you to add your comments about experiences with downhillers who have violated the safety code. Even more, we invite you to contribute a full article on your opinion of the current state of safety and courtesy on the slopes today.  Add your comment directly to the article, or send us your full article to info@seniorsskiingmedia.com

This list of ten “must do” safety tips is from the National Ski Areas Assn. (NSAA), which represents more than 300 alpine resorts that account for more than 90% of the skier/snowboarder visits nationwide. Additionally, it has several hundred supplier members that provide equipment, goods and services to the mountain resort industry.

  1.  Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
  2.  People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
  3.  Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
  4.  Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
  5.  You must prevent runaway equipment.
  6.  Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
  7.  Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
  8.  You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
  9.  Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
  10.  If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Ski and snowboard safely – in January and in all months of the ski, snowboard and XC season.

Guest Contributor

Fit to Be Tied

/8 Comments/in /by

Lord willing, this is my 66th straight year of skiing. But this is about one special memory with the Blizzard Ski Club of Minnesota in 1964, when I was nine.  It is also about my dad, a PSIA Chief Examiner who skied well into his 70s, as I am doing now.

My parents were early flatland skiers in the Twin Cities just after WWII, after he had returned from active combat in Western Europe.  He had enlisted in the 10th Mountain Division but became impatient for assignment and transferred to the 71st Infantry.  As a kid he competed at a respectful level in jumping, which was really the only skiing done back then in our neck of the country.  He decided to join the Minneapolis jumping club after visiting Sun Valley when he was just 12 years old, in 1936, and then fell in love with downhill skiing, too. 

We had many family ski trips when I was a kid –  the old single chair adjacent to Ruthy’s Run at Aspen was my first experience on a chair lift, at the age of seven.  This is one of many stories I have written about the Adzick Family Alpine Skiing adventures, about a spring skiing excursion to Montana.

The Blizzard Ski Club had assembled 100 kids from in and around Minneapolis to take the train to Billings and ski Red Lodge Mountain, for a full week of corn snow, clear blue skies, new friends, goggle eyes and – for my family – my mother’s 40th birthday.  The freedom we kids enjoyed was a celebration of life at its very best. I skied alone, not by choice, mostly by will and reckless abandon. By mid-week, the entire flatlander club was well equipped with mountain legs, including me.

George Adzick at A-Basin 1982 in Daphne style, a Bernard Altman sweater, jeans, Nordica Astro Bananas, and 210 Blizzards.

One afternoon, from a chairlift, I spotted a group of skiers making their way down the highest and most difficult terrain on the mountain, romping from one mogul to another.  My privileged view triggered a deliberate pre-teen unraveling of my inner self.

As the tiny figures below expressed their joy of dancing with gravity, they braided past one another and through the trees, leaped the knolls and carved the fall line.  Random movements separated their individual styles, but they would remain in formation, as if a squadron.

These men were the finest skiers I had ever seen, an eight-year-old watching a regiment of heroes rapidly moving downhill as I slowly ascended past them.  The sounds of their skis on the snow added to this wave of splendor, brilliance and grandeur.  I was overwhelmed.

“Dad!”, I shouted as they skied beneath my chair.  I was the only rider on what may have been halfway to a never-ending ascent.  “Wait!” I yelled down as I moved uphill away from them. Our paths had crossed.  “Wait!”  They all stopped, in an instant.

My dad looked up. I was in agony.  Would he wait for me to join him?  Would they all wait?  Any of them? I twisted around to keep them in sight as the chair moved further away. Then, the unspeakable.  The squadron of men I so desperately wanted to join, to romp with and braid with, to show my stuff, to keep up with, in a blink turned in unison down the fall line in real time.  It was a portrait of magnificence, the rare beauty of elite christie in unison, for my eyes only.

They didn’t wait, and I had but one choice to take command of my destiny, to experience inclusion in this squadron of alpine masters, so I did it.

I worked my way to the edge of the moving chair and jumped 40 feet off. I hit the ground hard, luckily everything intact, and quickly pulled myself together to catch them. I pointed my skis down the mountain and thought of nothing but the coming glory of my gallantry.

I caught up to them and stopped with a hockey stop swagger. They stood motionless, seething, not a variation of expression on any face.  And while by week’s end I would become a fixture in Blizzard Ski Club folklore, I was until then a shocking image, a paradox on skis, an undeniable liability.

They were fit to be tied.

George Adzick

Blizzard Ski Club

Stanley Rubenstein

Winter in the Time of Global Warming

/3 Comments/in /by

Planning in late summer for an early December ski trip in Europe you have to think about glaciers. There are a number of possibilities: Zermatt in Switzerland, Cervinia in Italy, and Hintertux, Kitzsteinhorn, and Stubai in Austria. Glacier skiing used to be confined to summer and pre-season skiing, but with global warming, the situation is changing and if you want to be sure of snow in early December, it has to be on a glacier.

We chose to go to the Stubai glacier in Austria because it’s the glacier with the most ski runs and it’s just a short ride up the hill from the Innsbruck airport. There are 35 downhill ski runs between the top stations at over 3,100 meters all the way down to the mid-station at 2,300 meters. The lifts are of a mix of gondolas and covered chair lifts with a few T-bars for shorter runs. We bought our lift tickets on line and took advantage of the 20% discount offered for advanced purchases.

Glacier skiing is usually not ski-in-ski out. We stayed in the town of Neustift, which is 25 minutes from the Innsbruck airport. The lift station for the glacier is a further 20 minutes up the road, and is serviced by a free ski bus every fifteen minutes or so. For convenience we chose to drive. Neustift is a typical Austrian ski town complete with ski shops, restaurants and shops selling all the local handicrafts. We stayed in an apartment at Sportpension Elisabeth which was more than comfortable, with a small kitchen to prepare dinner on the nights we stayed in, and with the option for breakfast in the pension’s breakfast room

Everything at the Austrian ski areas is tip-top: moderately priced self-service restaurants, full-service restaurants, inside areas reserved for those who bring their own food, cubby-hole storage to store your pack while you’re out skiing, escalators to avoid climbing stairs, charging stations for your phone, and snow, real snow. Oh, and don’t worry if you’ve forgotten something down in the valley gloves, goggles, a helmet, skis, poles, whatever, there are Intersport shops at every lift station.\

The weather in December is not always accommodating. We had four snowy days and three days of bright sunshine. The skiing was great, even on the days we couldn’t see much past the next turn. The new snow made up for what we couldn’t see. Temperatures were -2 to -8 Centigrade, depending on the altitude, but with new materials for ski outfits these days, such temperatures are not uncomfortable. The sun did come out for us during our last days, and the skiing was super. While skiing on a glacier may seem fraught with black diamond rated trails, the reality is just the opposite. For the most part the trails are rated blue with a few reds. We encountered no ice and enjoyed cruising along on the runs which were meticulously groomed after the snow stopped falling.

This was a multi-generational adventure with my son, some grandchildren and spouses. All in all, we greatly enjoyed our early December glacier skiing. Snow covered pine trees, snowy white landscapes, skiing in the new snow, all reminded me of Winter’s Past.

Marc Liebman

Different Way to Buy a Pair of Skis – Part II

/5 Comments/in /by

Different Way to Buy a Pair of Skis – Part 1

Before I left Dallas, knowing I now had a new pair of Dynastar skis, I needed a new ski bag. The ones I had were designed to protect the skis on a car roof rack but weren’t suitable for riding in the baggage compartment of an airliner.

On visits to the local Dallas shops, what the shops had left was either really expensive or didn’t fit my needs.

So, I called the ski shop holding my new Dynastars, and sure enough, they had ski bags. But when I arrived, they had only bags for two skis or more. Again, not what I wanted.

That first night at Whistler, my lovely bride of 53+ years went to work. As a “master” Amazon Prime shopper, she found the perfect ski bag on Amazon Canada in minutes. The single ski bag listed for CDN$98, which equals ~US$69 plus taxes. On Amazon U.S., the bag listed for $149!

Then she asked “Do you want a new boot bag?” Sure, why not. CDN$69 (US $48) later, and the boot bag and ski bag were on the way to Whistler/Blackcomb. Skis, bindings, ski and boot bags all for less than US$500. Not bad.

The lesson learned is that currency arbitrage can be a wonderful thing. During our ski trip, the Canadian dollar was worth about 70 cents. So, everything we bought was at a ~30% discount.

Oh, and the skiing? Fantastic. Whistler/Blackcomb is one of my favorite ski areas in the world. I hadn’t been there since before Covid, but it is a place I love to ski. What Whistler/Blackcomb calls an intermediate trail, most ski areas would call expert. Most of the runs are well-groomed and the trails are well marked.

For the brave, you can take the gondola between the peaks, but if heights make you uncomfortable, I suggest skiing down to the bottom. There are runs that are great for all levels of skier and quickly enable you to switch areas.

The only negative was that we were there during the Canadian spring break (the first two weeks of March), and the trails were not crowded. Lift lines, if one knew where to go, were non-existent. The on-mountain restaurants were packed with very long lines for food and the fare limited.

We stayed in a condo complex within a short walk of the Whistler Creekside live. The area didn’t have as much snow as it normally did during the first two weeks of March, but there was plenty. Every day, we had periods of snow that dropped 2 – 4 inches and days when it was cloudy but no snow.

There were also parts of the mountain where the light was so flat, it was akin to skiing inside a milk bottle. I never liked skiing in flat light, and as I get older, I like it less and less.

However, the sun came out on the last two days and the skiing was glorious. Whistler/Blackcomb, I will be back!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2024
Richard Lambert

Happy Holidays

/2 Comments/in /by

Many Thanks to our Enthusiastic Readers and Best Wishes for Happy and Healthy year!

Richard Lambert

Best Deals For Seniors at 112 North American Ski Areas

/36 Comments/in , /by

SeniorsSkiing.com is pleased to provide subscribers with our annual listing of North American ski areas providing older skiers with free or deeply discounted season passes and/or lift tickets and the age to qualify. We believe these incentives are a positive for the snow sports industry and appreciate all the ski areas listed below.

Our general criteria for “deeply discounted” were passes available for under $50.  Many areas offer the lowest passes in the spring and increase the cost as the season approaches. Some passes may no longer be available at super low prices or not available to purchase again until the spring.

While not intentional, this list may contain incorrect or out of date information.  Ski areas may discontinue discounts or change prices at any time, so please defer to the ski areas posted pricing.  We encourage readers to email corrections info@seniorsskiingmedia.com.

ALASKA
Eaglecrest 75
Moose Mountain 80
ARIZONA
Arizona Snowbowl 75
Ski Valley 70
CALIFORNIA
China Peak  75
Dodge Ridge 76
Mammoth, June, Big Bear, Snow Summit  80
Mount Shasta 85
Mt High 70
Pallisades Tahoe 80
Snow Valley 80
COLORADO
Hesperus 75
Granby Ranch 76
Monarch Mountain 69
Powderhorn 75
Purgatory   75
Ski Cooper 75
Sunlight Mtn Resort 80
Telluride 80
Wolf Creek 80
IDAHO
Lookout Pass 80
Pomerelle Mt 70
Schweitzer Mt Rst 80
MAINE
Big Rock 75
Black Mt of Maine 75
Hermon Mountain 70
Mt Abram 80
Saddleback Mt 80
Pleasant Mtn 80
Sugarloaf, Sunday River 80
MARYLAND
Wisp 75
MASSACHUSETTS
Bousquet 80
Berkshire East 80
Otis Ridge 70
MICHIGAN
Boyne Mt 80
The Highlands
Crystal Mt 80
Mt Holiday 70
Nubs Nob 70
Shanty Creek 70
MICHIGAN-continued
Snowriver Mtn  80
Snow Snake  70
MONTANA
Bridger Bowl    80
NEVADA
Diamond Peak  80
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Sunapee, Crotched Mt, Attitash, Wildcat (2) 80
Bretton Woods Ski 80
Cannon Mountain (1) 65
Dartmouth Skiway 80
Gunstock 70
King Pine Ski Area 80
Loon Mt 80
McIntyre Ski Area 65
Ragged Mountain 80
Waterville Valley 80
NEW JERSEY
Mountain Creek  80
NEW MEXICO
Angel Fire 75
Parajito Mtn 75
Red River Area  70
Sandia Peak  75
Sipapu 75
Taos  80
NEW YORK
Catamount 80
Hunter Mt (2) 80
Maple Ski Ridge 70
McCauley Mt. 70
Mt. Peter Ski Area 70
Swain Resort 75
NORTH CAROLINA
Beech Mtn Resort 70
Catalooche 70
Sugar Mtn Resort 75
OREGON
Hoodoo Ski Bowl 75
Mt Ashland 70
Mt Hood Meadows 75
Ski Anthony Lakes 70
Willamette Pass 75
PENNSYLVANIA  
Big Boulder, Jack Frost, Liberty Mtn, Ski Roundtop, Whitetail, Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, Laurel Mtn (2) 80
Shawnee 70
PENNSYLVANIA-cont  
Ski Sawmill 70
Spring Mountain 70
Bear Creek 70
SOUTH DAKOTA
Terry Peak Ski 80
UTAH
Alta  80
Brian Head Resort 75
Nordic Valley 75
Powder Mountain 75
VERMONT
Okemo, Stowe, Mount Snow (2) 80
Bolton Valley 75
Burke Mt 80
Jay Peak 80
Killington / Pico 80
VIRGINIA
Massanutten 70
Wintergreen Rsrt 75
WASHINGTON
49o North  80
Crystal Mountain 80
Mt Spokane 80
Bluewood 70
Summit at Snoqualmie 80
White Pass  73
WEST VIRGINIA
Canaan Valley 70
WYOMING
Snowy Range 70
CANADA
ALBERTA
Banff Sunshine 80
Castle Mtn 75
Lake Louise 80
Marmot Basin 80
Mt. Norquay 80
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Mt Washington 75
Fernie,Kicking Horse,Kimberly, Nakiska 75
Red Mt Resort 75
ONTARIO
Mt Pakenham 70
Ski Chicopee 80

Note
(1)  NH Residency Required
(2)  80+ Epic Northeast Value Pass (off sale). Click Here.

Don Burch

Don Burch “Vintage Skiing”

/11 Comments/in /by

Short productions by ski videographer, Don Burch, have been gracing these pages for a several seasons. As we enter 2024 enjoy this Vintage Skiing video featuring Tbars, sitzmarks, 9 foot skis, and a groovy sound track!

Evelyn Kanter

ICYMI for January

/0 Comments/in /by

Our monthly roundup of this and that from here and there includes news about the winter Olympics returning to the USA, sled dog racing, a prize you can win, an event that set a world record, a new lease on life for a small family-owned area, something about next season, and more. Because there’s always something happening at the winter resorts we love. 

See you on the slopes.

2034 Winter Olympics Likely to Return to Utah

The International Olympic Committee has chosen Salt Lake City as its preferred host for the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games, which all but guarantees its official okay.

Salt Lake City hosted the games in 2002 and reportedly wanted to bid for the 2030 event, but the IOC decided that would be too close to the 2028 summer games in Los Angeles. The preferred bidder for the 2030 winter games is France – which is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics in and around Paris. 

The IOC will announce its final decision this summer about both the 2030 and 2034 winter games, but it’s pretty certain the preferred host cities will be the official choices.

Read more – click here.  

2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

The West Central Mountains of Idaho will reverberate with the thunderous and athletic spirit of sled dogs as the 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge marks its sixth annual run, Jan. 20 to Feb. 1. Its 300 grueling miles and 36,000 feet of elevation changes make it one of the toughest, and it attracts world-class mushers.  It’s the only such Yukon Quest qualifier in the lower 48 and one of only three such events for the Iditarod in the contiguous continental U.S. (The Iditarod and the Yukon Quest are considered the longest and the toughest sled dog races in the world).

It begins Jan. 20 with the Meet a Musher event in downtown McCall, followed by the 52-mile Warm Lake Stage Race that starts and finishes at North Shore Lodge & Resort Jan. 24-25. The Ceremonial Start, presented by Brundage Mountain Resort at the McCall Activity Barn, is Jan. 28, and the 300-mile and 100-mile races start Jan. 29 at Lake Cascade State Park.

Organizers expect the 100-mile race to end Jan. 30 at the Wye Trailhead & Campground off U.S. Route 95. Mushers and their teams are expected to cross the 300-mile race finish line at the Lake Cascade State Park boat ramp starting in the evening  ofJan. 31 and throughout the next day, Feb. 1.

Visit idahosleddogchallenge.com for more information.

Aspen Wants Your Artwork

Are you an artist, or even an accomplished doodler?  Submit your best illustration to win up to $1,000 and be part of Aspen’s ski racing history.  The 2024 Stifel Aspen Winternational marks the return of a festival tradition, which includes iconic poster art commemorating various events during the festival.

You have until January 15th to submit your artwork, for a chance to win $200 gift cards or the grand prize of a $1,000 Aspen Snowmass gift card. All finalists will have their work featured throughout the weekend, but bragging rights extend long beyond that.

For Submission information click here.

Jackson Hole Achieves Guinness World Record

Congratulations to JHMR, which has snagged the award for the World’s Most Skiers/Riders in Jeans on a single day.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, 3,114 jeans-clad downhillers showed up for the record books, beating the record held by New Zealand resort The Remarkables by 102 people. 

We previewed the event in last month’s ICYMI.

Hickory Ski Center, Warrensburg, New York

 The family-owned ski center has joined the Indy Pass for the 2023/24 season, which is allowing it to re-open after eight years in a deal initiated by Unofficial Networks.  Hickory Ski Center, one hour from Albany, was founded in 1946 by veterans of the 10th Mountain Division.  In addition to the Indy Pass, there are season passes for the upper or lower mountain.

More information at skihickory.com.

 Looking Forward to Next Season

This season is just underway, but this important announcement can help you start planning now for next season, including which season pass to purchase.

Vail Resorts is acquiring Crans-Montana, one of the largest ski-snowboard regions in Switzerland, joining the Epic Pass for the 2024/25 season. Accessible from three international airports and by train, Crans-Montana Mountain Resort is in the Valais canton of Switzerland, approximately two and a half hours from Geneva and less than four hours from Milan and Zurich. It’s also under three hours from the company’s other owned and operated European resort in Andermatt-Sedrun.

In the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana offers breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and the Mont Blanc, and has been recognized as one of the best ski resorts in Europe. It has a legacy of being a renowned outdoor sports destination, with signature events such as the Ski World Cup, Mountain Bike World Cup, Omega European Masters, and other championships, the Caprices Festival and more.

Colorado
Evelyn Kanter

Discounts for Senior Skiers/Riders in Colorado

/21 Comments/in /by

Age has its privileges. That includes discounts for senior skiers and snowboarders.  Here’s what’s available for 50+, 65+, 70+, 75+ or 80+ in Colorado, including where to ski free or a super-bargain $25 for the entire season. Alphabetically of course, since that’s the only fair way. See you on the slopes – with a discount pass for seniors.

Arapahoe Basin

Seniors 70+ with a valid ID can receive 30% off lift tickets.

Aspen Snowmass

There are two season pass options for seniors this season. Those between 65- 69 can get the Aspen Snowmass Premier senior pass for $2,424, which includes a complimentary Ikon Base pass. Silver seniors 70+ can purchase a Premier Pass for for $799. Aspen Snowmass also offers discounted lift tickets for seniors 65+. Purchase at least seven days in advance and for multiple days for the best rates available.

For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com

Copper Mountain

Copper offers the Over the Hill Gang 50+ guided ski program.  A full season membership, for 44 days of skiing or riding with certified guides, is $549.  80+ get the same pass for $269.  There also are one-day discount tickets for $99, which must be purchased on day-of-usage at Mtn Sports Sales Center in the base village.  Lift tickets or Copper Mountain/Ikon season passes are required for all lesson participants and are not included with the program.  Prices listed are for the program…lift tickets are not included.

For more information, visit https://buy.coppercolorado.com/s/lesson-guides/adult-programs/

Echo Mountain

There are two passes for seniors for ages 65+.  Value Senior Season Pass is $259 and includes blackout dates. The Unlimited Senior Season Pass is $359 and does not include any blackout dates.

There also are Midweek Season Passes for $129, and even though it is not senior specific, it is popular with seniors who have more free time during the middle of the week. While there are blackout dates, the pass includes night skiing on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For more information, visit https://echomtn.com/

Eldora

The best and most affordable way to ski or ride Eldora is on a season or multi-day pass. Visit Eldora’s website to see which pass works best for you.

Granby Ranch

Seniors 65-75 can buy a season pass for for $619. Golden Seniors  76+ pay only $35. For more information, visit www.granbyranch.com.

Howelsen Hill

Howelsen Hill features a variety of season passes including special senior rates: Alpine Pass – $195, Nordic Pass – $160, Combo Pass – $266. Plus, the historic ski area in downtown Steamboat offers discounted daily lift ticket rates for anyone 65+.

 The best deal for any age is Ski Free Sunday, where skiing/riding is free every Sunday of the season. Www.steamboatsprings.net/ski.

Loveland

Seniors 70+ can enjoy deep discounts on season pass products while skiers and riders age 60-69 can take advantage of daily lift ticket deals during the regular season. For more information, visit http://www.skiloveland.com.

Monarch Mountain

There are several choices for seniors.  The Super Senior Pass for 69+ is just $25, for Monarch Mountain only. Ages 62-68 can get a pass for $509 which includes all reciprocal partners.

Peak Season Senior day tickets are $139. Also, there are substantial savings by purchasing online prior to 11:00 pm the day before your visit.

For more information visit Season Passes – Monarch Mountain (skimonarch.com)

Powderhorn

Skiers age 75+ can purchase the Mission: Affordable season pass. This offers unlimited skiing and riding during the 2023-24 season for just $29.

Powderhorn also invites seniors ages 50+ to join the Young at Heart group every Tuesday for small groups with intermediate and above skills to explore the mountain and build relationships. Discounted lift discounts will be offered.

 For more information, visit www.powderhorn.com.

Purgatory

Those between 65-75 can purchase a Power Pass fir unlimited access to eight ski resorts plus partner days at several additional resorts, starting at $549. Super Seniors (75+) ski for free. Purgatory also offers ski clinics designed for skiers and riders ages 55 and up.

 For more information, visit purgatory.ski.

Steamboat

Steamboat Resort offers a discount on single-day and multi-day lift tickets for seniors 70+, rates vary throughout the season.

Telluride

The Palmyra Pass, for skiers 80+, grants free and unlimited access to Telluride. Seniors 65+ receive a discount on daily and multi-day lift tickets, available online with prices varying throughout the season. The unlimited season pass for seniors is $1,995.

The Silver Skier program offers the opportunity to explore the mountain and meet others who share the same passions over a 4-session clinic for Telluride skiers over the age of 50.

 For more information, visit www.tellurideskiresort.com.

Thanks to Colorado Ski Country USA, the trade organization representing most of Colorado’s large and small resorts, for putting this information together for SeniorsSkiing at our request.

Phil Johnson

Concierge Skiing Comes East

/1 Comment/in /by

What are your favorite thoughts about that upcoming ski trip?

I’ll bet carting ski gear from home to the mountain and back is not one of them.  And sitting in a rental shop at the hill isn’t on the list either.

There is an alternative. If you have never tried a ski concierge service, it is worth a look. High quality equipment chosen to match local conditions is there waiting for you when you arrive. No more hauling skis through the airport, or worse, waiting at the terminal with fingers crossed, hoping your gear made it on the same plane you did. With a concierge service, you avoid all that. Sure you pay for the convenience of knowing that the right gear will be in the right place when you arrive. It isn’t cheap. But there are companies out there that make the cost every bit worth the price. The service is common at western resorts and, in recent years, is available at some areas in Europe too.

And this year, it has come to the Northeast.

Ski Butlers, a company that has a wide presence throughout the western US and Canada, has opened in Vermont this winter, servicing Stratton and Mt. Snow. It is the same service that Ski Butlers and other multi-location companies like Black Tie and Christy Sports have been offering in the west for the past 20 years: top quality skis and snowboards delivered directly to your lodging. There you are fitted with the right gear and ready for the slopes  It is all arranged on line in advance: no forms to fill out when you arrive  or base area rental shop to navigate. It can’t be easier. Not satisfied with your choice after a few runs, or if conditions change while you are there, you can swap out your gear. And at the end of your stay, they come to you for pick up.

Is it seamless? It sure has been in my experience. One time at Jackson Hole, I had not cleared the rental car parking car lot before my cell phone rang and the company – in this case Ski Butlers – was on the phone confirming my arrival and the time to deliver my equipment. I was set up and ready to ski before I had unpacked my luggage. It was my sixth rental with the company and each time it has been smooth as promised.

Now offering the service in New England this winter is a homecoming of sorts for Ski Butlers founder and long time chief executive Bryn Carey who started the company in 2004 right after graduating from the University of New Hampshire where he was a member of its D-1 ski team. He had grown up in Maine where his father was the marketing chief at Sugarloaf. By then, the Carey family had moved to Park City Utah and the Canyons resort. Bryn, now finished with school, was looking at the job market ahead,  He knew he wanted to live in a mountain and ski town, and, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, he wanted his own business.

Talking with his father, the conversation ultimately turned to the hassle skiers often encountered traveling from home to hill. Voila: Convenience and Service: it was the birth of a business idea. Working out of the family garage in Park City that winter, Bryn delivered equipment to local ski area visitors and did the fitting right at their lodging. The service was a hit. The demand exceeded expectations.  Carey expanded to other mountains in the region. The rapidly growing business quickly outgrew the family garage so he bought out a former Mexican restaurant in Park City – Nacho Mama’s. The business had a headquarters.

Eventually Ski Butlers expanded to more than 30 areas in North America and added resorts in France and Italy. In 2022 Carey sold it to Alterra, the multi mountain ownership group and large Ikon ski pass company. Plans are to further expand in the Northeast.  Ski Butlers now has operations at 50 areas worldwide with plenty of new markets in South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan so far untouched.

A ski concierge service is now on my radar every time I plan a trip. My epiphany came several years ago when delayed flights had me dragging skis as well as luggage through the terminals at Newark airport at 11 pm after a day long travel from Reno Nevada. In my mind that evening. Ski Butlers, or any concierge service, would have been a bargain.

So whether your ski destination is near or far, west, now east, or overseas, consider one of the concierge services. They work, and the experience is worth the price.

Evelyn Kanter

Take Amtrak to the Slopes in California, Colorado and Vermont

/3 Comments/in /by

Take the train to one of your favorite ski/snowboard resorts, and avoid highway traffic jams and base area parking problems.  Amtrak has expanded its service this season to slopes in California and Vermont, in addition to the beloved ski train between downtown Denver and Winter Park. 

 Amtrak Benefits on All Ski Trains

 Unlike airline checked baggage or car rental agency add-ons for a luggage rack, you can bring your gear on board for free, and there are special ski storage racks on some trains. Plus, Amtrak offers discounts to passengers 65+, to members of the military and to disabled passengers. Families can save money, too, as children (and grandchildren) aged two to 12 are eligible for 50 percent off tickets.  

 Winter Park Express

Zip past backups on I-70 for an easy metro-to-mountain trip with a choice of 40 round trips this season. The popular Winter Park Express will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Jan. 12 through March 31, plus additional service on holidays such as on Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and Feb. 19 (Presidents’ Day).

Choose a one-day round-trip, or split your outgoing and return to spend an entire weekend, a full week or longer. Each way takes about two hours.

The Amtrak Winter Park Express leaves Denver at 7:00 am and leaves Winter Park Resort at 4:30 pm local time. While onboard, you’ll enjoy a trip in Coach class, featuring wide, reclining seats, big picture windows, ample legroom and no middle seat. Be sure to visit the bi-level Sightseer Lounge for panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and Moffat Tunnel from upstairs and café service with snacks and drinks for sale downstairs.

https://www.winterparkresort.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/winter-park-express

The Vermonter

Glide into some of the Northeast’s top ski destinations aboard Amtrak’s Vermonter, between St. Albans – Essex Junction (Burlington) – Springfield – New York – Washington, DC, while you pass quaint New England villages and towns tucked beneath the beautiful backdrop of the snowcapped Green Mountains.

Resorts accessible on the Vermonter:

  • Stowe Mountain Resort
  • Jay Peak Resort 
  • Bolton Valley Resort 
  • Cochran’s Ski Area
  • Catamount Mountain Resort 
  • Greek Peak Mountain Resort 
  • Mount Peter Ski Area
  • Okemo Ski Resort
  • Vermont Ski Resort 
  • Berkshire East Mountain Resort 

https://www.amtrak.com/vermonter-train

Ethan Allen Express

This trail operates daily between NYC, Albany, Rutland and Burlington, including a scenic stretch along the Hudson River through the Hudson Valley.

Killington is accessible from either Rutland or Burlington, via regularly scheduled public bus service on Vermont Translines.

https://www.amtrak.com/ethan-allen-express-train

California Zephyr

This classic and scenic train travels year-round between Chicago and the snow-capped Sierras beyond San Francisco, through some of the most beautiful scenery in the USA.  Although you might not want to make the full 51-hour trip in winter, it’s each to choose in-between destinations such as Denver and Salt Lake City, or via connections to Emeryville.

There are just too many ski/snowboard resorts accessible from the California Zephyr to mention them all.  Top choices include  –

  • Palisades Tahoe and Diamond Peak in California
  • Alta, Deer Valley and Park City in Utah
  • Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado

https://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train

Marc Liebman

Different Way to Buy a Pair of Skis – Part 1

/12 Comments/in /by

New skis at Whistler

It was after Thanksgiving, 2022 and ski trip planning was well underway. With ski passes in hand. I decided to buy a new pair of skis.

Being a cheap sort, I decided to wait until after the first of the year before going ski shopping. 

The Ski Gods didn’t cooperate. In early December 2022, I had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) that lasted for the better part of 10 minutes. During the TIA, my right arm was paralyzed. TIA’s are also known as a mini-strokes. If you’ve never had one, the emphasis is on stroke and they are really, really scary.

Skiing was the last thing on my mind as I went through a full neurological and cardiovascular workup. In the words of my neurologist, “my veins were 77 years old and not as flexible as they used to be.” The tests found where a piece of hard plaque had broken off and probably caused the TIA. The good news was that I was cleared to go skiing.

The next day, I started my search for a pair of skis. Understand that 10 years of ski testing, when a short ski was 190 cm long, gave me a very good understanding of how skis work and what brands fit my skiing style. For the record, I’m a Dynastar guy.

I live in Dallas, and, believe it or not, there are ski shops in town that carry skis, but now it was February, and the pickings were slim. Calls to ski shops near Taos (10 hours by car from my house) told me none had either the model or size Dynastar I wanted. Conversations with ski shops in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Angel Fire, and Red River Ski areas were unproductive. 

“Panic” was setting in. However, by then, we were planning to ski at Whistler/Blackcomb so I called shops in Whistler/Blackcomb. No luck. Then I called Dynastar dealers in Vancouver, and bingo, a shop had my second choice in the right length – 184 cm.

I told the salesman that I’d be there in three weeks and asked what did the shop need to hold them along with a set of bindings. He said I had to pay for the skis which already had a pair of Look bindings mounted.

Numbers flashed through my mind. U.S. retail list price for the skis was US$999, and I figured the bindings would be another US$300. Total – US$1,300 plus Canadian taxes. 

When the shop sales manager told me the shop wanted $469 Canadian for the skis and bindings and would be happy to hold them and adjust them to my boots when I came in. I almost fell out of my chair and couldn’t get my credit card out fast enough.

At the time, CDN$469 equaled ~US$328! In other words, I saved about a grand. Better news, when I returned to the U.S., I could ask for a refund on the Canadian taxes.

Part 2: https://seniorsskiing.com/different-way-to-buy-a-pair-of-skis-part-ii/

 

Randy Johnson

What’s New for the 2023-24 Season—Southeastern Edition

/0 Comments/in /by

For those who live in the Southeast, the many close-to-home ski/snowboard destinations offer affordable and convenient getaways for a day, weekend or longer.  The resorts here have been busy upgrading terrain, lifts, snowmaking and other amenities for the 2023/24 season.

Here’s an update of what to expect, by state.

Virginia

Massanutten

Following up last winter’s major slope expansion at the Shenandoah Valley resort, Massanutten again leads the region’s resorts in the “new terrain” category. 

Last year’s three new slopes, including a third long drop from the summit, are capped off this winter with easier, faster access on the Peak Express, a new, four-person high-speed detachable that replaces the old conventional quad. The run under the quad becomes a new expert slope, “No Hesitation,” the resort’s only double black run. It’s covered by automated snowmaking and LED lights.

 Another of the existing summit slopes, Paradice, has received a makeover and snowmaking upgrade, and there’s new expanded seating and menu options at the Mid-Mountain Grill.

Massanutten also leans into the region’s improving access to online slope information with a new interactive website trail map.It’s also increasingly easy to track southern ski conditions with a growing list of webcams on the slopes and in neighboring resort areas. This year Massanutten adds The Peak webcam on the summit.

Wintergreen

Wintergreen, Virginia, quite literally “perched on the crest of the Blue Ridge.”

Perched on the crest of the Blue Ridge near Charlottesville, Wintergreen has rebuilt its entire complement of fan snow guns to “like new,” condition, and the  Blue Ridge Express, one of the South’s first detachables, has a new haul rope. Group lessons will again be available this year seven days a week from the ski school (and Friday-Sunday for snowboarders). Also Friday-Sunday, the Mountain Explorers program returns for skiers ages 7-14.

West Virginia

Snowshoe Mountain Resort

The big news is a new replacement for the Powder Monkey lift. The almost 30-year old fixed grip triple chair, one the mountain’s original rides, will be replaced by a new fixed grip quad with a conveyor loading system. The new lift should significantly reduce congestion on the Basin Slope side of the mountain, making it quicker and easier to reach the crest of the mountain. This is where the entrance the Western Territory trail system opens the resort’s 1,500-foot maximum vertical drop on slopes like Cupp Run. 

Timberline Mountain

One of two alpine resorts in West Virginia’s Canaan Valley, Timberline was purchased by Indiana’s Perfect North Slopes in 2019. Major lift changes came first—a six-person fixed grip summit lift and a fixed grip quad to mid-mountain. This season the improvements are more subtle but still substantive, with thirty new snowguns, many of them tower mounted. A New water pump, and 8000 feet of additional snowmaking pipe have gone in, and a new Pisten Bully 600 joins the grooming fleet.

At mid-mountain, an unloading deck that was challenging for some skiers and riders is easier this winter. New lights on the green Winterset slope expand night skiing on the lower mountain and make skiing after dark accessible from that slope’s ski-in, ski-out rental cabins (available through valley rental agencies).

Winterplace

New terrain features and events have been added on last season’s new Heaven Holler Terrain Park located on the Highland slope. There also is a new look and offerings to the popular Snowdrift Lounge, including retro-themed snow parties, live entertainment, local microbrews, winter-inspired cocktails and tap takeovers. Guests at slopeside Mountain Mama’s Café have new menu items and improved flow to quickly get skiers back on the slopes.

Additionally, Winterplace also has a new Pisten Bully in its grooming fleet.

North Carolina

Appalachian Ski Mountain

The first (1962) of the now three ski areas in northeastern North Carolina’s High Country ski region, Appalachian was an early adopter of RFID lift ticketing. This season Appalachian says it will be the first resort in the nation to have daily lockers available to reserve online. Its 650 lockers of various sizes have been outfitted with RFID access technology to make locker rental easier. All skiers on a single order will be able to open the same locker with their RFID card.

The resort also added seven stationary guns to its snowmaking arsenal.

Beech Mountain Resort

The mountain’s one-time terrain park has become a beginner slope named Carolina Caribbean,  after the company which developed the ski area in the late 1960s. Nicely separated from the flow of the main trail system, the green run has a new conveyor lift this year. Beech Mountain Brewery is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with an array of concerts and other events.

Beech also joins the growing trend to RFID ticketing. Purchase online, redeem at a pick-up box, reload from home. No more waiting at crowded ticket booths.

Sugar Mountain

Sugar’s formidable snowmaking system has added a fifth air compressor and six new fully automated SMI snowmaking machines. The resort has finished another round of refurbishments to its venerable, vintage lodge, including a rebuilt slopeside deck. A new online ski rental system is being instituted that, along with onsite touch screen kiosks, is expected to significantly streamline the process.

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort

The former Wolf Ridge ski area is under new ownership and being rebranded as Hatley Point, a “boutique ski area,” say the new owners, with the emphasis on an upscale experience. The change has sparked high hopes for the resort a half hour north of Asheville on I-26, a short distance from the highest Interstate elevation in Eastern America.

The resort’s rustic original ski lodge is still being massively expanded, so due to delays, the resort will not open until later this winter. Among many upgrades and changes, including snowmaking improvements, the mountain’s former cafeteria is being relocated to the lodge’s upper level and upgraded to a dine-in experience.

Maryland

Wisp Resort

Overlooking scenic Deep Creek Lake in Maryland’s westernmost Garrett County, Wisp Resort focuses on snowmaking improvements this winter.

Twenty-two new TechnoAlpin TL8 tower snowmaking guns will be aimed at covering Wisp’s base area and the popular expert run above it, The Face. The long green Possum also benefits. More than 2,800 feet of new snowmaking pipe feed these improvements across the front side of the mountain. All the new snowmaking equipment is automated for self-adjusting snow quality, fast start-up and quicker shut down. New energy efficient lighting in the same area enlightens The Face and Squirrel Cage, both blacks. The resort’s rental inventory includes Rossignol ski and snowboard equipment.

Indy and IKON Pass Update

The Indy Pass has spread to six participating ski resorts in the South, including –

  • Bryce Resort and Massanutten Resort in Virginia,
  • Canaan Valley Resort and Winterplace Resort in West Virginia
  • Cataloochee Ski Area in North Carolina
  • Ober Mountain in Tennessee.

Alterra Mountain Company’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia, the region’s biggest ski area, is part of the IKON Pass network.

See you on the slopes!

Evelyn Kanter

ICYMI for December 2023

/0 Comments/in /by

In case you missed it, here are bits and pieces from here and there about several of our favorite winter resorts, to help you plan your downhill or XC time and your down time before or after.  See you on the slopes – or before or after!

 

Mountain Collective New Passes

New this season is a physical pass to put in your jacket or pants pocket.  The RFID card replaces the need to get a daily pass from the resort ticket window each day you want to ski.  This season the new plastic pass is for use only at North American member resorts in the US and Canada, including  Grand Targhee, Snowbird, Taos, Revelstoke and Sun Peaks. 

Fingers crossed that Mountain Collective resorts overseas, including The Remarkables (New Zealand), Chamonix (France) and Niseko (Japan), join the list next season. https://mountaincollective.com/pass/

 

Vermont Holiday Festival at Killington

This annual event is Fri./Sat.,December 8/9 this year in the Killington Grand Hotel, featuring handmade gifts by local artisans, entertainment, and a forest of more than 70 decorated trees.  It’s a great opportunity to get into the holiday spirit before or after a day on the slopes. There’s also a raffle with the chance to win one of the decorated trees.

 

AVSC’s Audi AJAX Cup on Aspen Mountain
The Audi Ajax Cup is a dual giant slalom right on Aspen Mountain and the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club’s largest annual fundraiser.  On Sat., Dec. 30, Sixteen teams will race head-to-head until one is named the winner and awarded the famed Gorsuch Cup as a fundraiser for Aspen Valley Ski Club.

Each team has a pro-racer, which in previous years has included Chris Davenport, Casey Puckett, Daron Rahlves, and AJ Kitt. The “Race Day” takes place at the base of Aspen Mountain and culminates in a traditional European style après ski celebration.

 

2024 Avalanche Dog Calendar

Decorate your walls year round with pix of four-legged Ski Patrollers. Produced in coordination with Ski Utah, this 8.5″x11″ wall calendar features the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue search and rescue dogs photographed at their workplace, the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah. Proceeds from the sale of the $25 calendar benefit Wasatch Backcountry Rescue (WBR).  It’s a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working in the Wasatch Mountains with the primary purpose of rapid response for avalanche rescue, winter related mountain rescue, and medical evacuation incidents using trained professionals and search and rescue dogs.  https://www.yearbox.com/calendarsforgood/ski-utah-wbr-2024-calendar/

Each avalanche dog-of-the-month features its name and information about it, including some photos of avi dogs decked out in goggles and other human gear.  Besides being beyond cute, one of these trained four-footed professionals could save your life or that of a buddy.

 

Ski With Santa and Mrs. Claus at Whistler Blackcomb

Santa Claus is hitting the slopes! On December 15, 2023 it’s time to hit the slopes, with 100’s of other Mr and Misses Clauses for the annual Ski With Santa Day, also known as Dress Like Santa Day.  The first 100 people to arrive in traditional red Santa or Mrs. Claus costumes get free lift tickets.  https://gibbonswhistler.com/christmas-holidays-in-whistler/

 

Guest Contributor

How Much Snow does a Mountain Need to Open its Pistes?

/4 Comments/in /by

[Publisher Note: Friend and Colleague, The-Ski-Guru publishes a terrific site for snow sports enthusiasts and paints some of my favorite mountain art. With her permission, we are reprinting an article that is always of great interest this time of year.]

How much snow does a mountain need to open its pistes?  It is not a straightforward answer!

It depends on several factors:

*Altitude
*Mountain Orientation
*Depth of Snow before Snowfall
*Has the mountain grassy fields or rocky soil
*Temperatures
*Availability of Snowmaking (man-made snow)

Let me delve a bit more on each subject!

Altitude:
The higher the mountain is, the biggest the chance to keep the snow. There is an estimate that every 100 meters in vertical drop, the temperature drops by 1 Celsius.

By having a colder temperature, it is easier that if it precipitates, it will be snow. Plus, being colder helps keeping the snow longer. Nowadays, with climate change, you see crazy freezing levels.

Freezing temperatures used to be at pretty low altitudes. Nowadays, there are more and more record temperatures recorded super high up in the mountains. This contributes to the permafrost starting to melt, with the subsequent risks of avalanches and rockfalls.

Credit:saje

Mountain Orientation:
In the Northern hemisphere, the northern exposed pistes and fields tend to last the most.
In the Southern hemisphere is the other way around. The southern exposed slopes last longer, and the northern exposed slopes tend to melt faster.

Depth of Snow before snowfall:
Having snow in the ground before a snowstorm, will help to keep the ground cold, and allows the new snow to stick and stay longer.

In the beginning of the season, when there is no snow, many resorts start producing man-made snow, if the temperatures allow. This is to help the first natural snowfalls stick to the ground.

Other resorts are ‘snow-farming’ their snow. That is keeping the snow under a thick blanket that will keep it from melting during the summer. Then you have already a base when new snowstorms come in. With a bad start of last season in Europe, expect to see much more snow-farming soon.

Is the mountain grassy or rocky:
This is very important. The mountains which slopes are grassy, need much less snow coverage to operate. This compared to rocky mountains. For example, Courmayeur, that is by the Monte Bianco, needs a much deeper base than its neighbour Pila that is 30′ away. Pila is a grassy mountain (you can see it in the summer). With a very thin coverage of snow, it can open its pistes. Courmayeur needs a deeper base to cover its rocks.

We went on a lovely walk in Pila, with great views of the mountains. Pila is a good example of grassy fields. In the winter, it does not need a big snow coverage to be operating.

Temperatures:
For it to snow, it has to be a temperature near 0 Celsius. Too high and it rains, and too low and it might rain too- as it is too cold for snowing! Depending where in the world is the mountain, it will be more or less feasible for having snow.

Availability of Snowmaking:
This is depending how much money the resort has. Many resorts have some snowmaking, some have pretty much full coverage (as the Sella Ronda) and some have none! Smaller ski resorts that tend to be in lower altitudes, usually don’t! They do not produce enough money as to buy snow cannons. These are not cheap!

Some bigger resorts also have state-of-the-art snowmaking, and they can produce snow in higher temperatures. Here the richer the resort, the most snowmaking you will see.

Be thankful that you can be outdoors and slide. Our future generations might not be as lucky!

See the original article here:  https://www.the-ski-guru.com/2023/01/16/how-much-snow-mountain-need-open-its-pistes/

Evelyn Kanter

What’s New on the Slopes of New York State, Pennsylvania

/8 Comments/in /by

Plattekill Lodge

Resorts all over the USA were busy all summer upgrading lifts and new terrain, including more snowmaking to extend the season.  Here’s what skiers and riders can look forward to in New York State and Pennsylvania this season, including new resort names, new ownerships and new season passes.

In alphabetical order by state, since that’s the only fair way.  See you on the slopes!

New York State

Hunter Mountain

Trent Poole is the new Vice President and General Manager of Hunter Mountain Resort. He assumed the role on October 30 replacing long time executive Russ Coloton.

A new six-person high-speed fixed-grip lift will replace the old Broadway quad for the 2024/25 season, offering quicker access up the mountain.  The old quad will be moved to replace the even older two-person fixed-grip E lift.   This means increased uphill capacity on the front side.  It’s also the first major infrastructure upgrade since Vail Resorts purchased Hunter a couple of seasons back.

Plattekill Mountain

The last remaining family-owned operation in the region, fiercely independent Plattekill will be open again weekends only this season, plus holiday Mondays, for skiing, riding and tubing.  A season parking pass is $325 for a guaranteed spot close to the base area.  A season ski/snowboard pass provides free or discounted skiing at 25 partner areas nationwide.  

New Name for Windham Mountain

Windham Mountain is no more. The Catskills resort has rebranded and renamed itself Windham Mountain Club, in an effort to market itself as the upscale alternative to nearby Hunter Mountain, and reflecting its original history as a private club.  Despite the “club” name, the rebranded Windham will remain open to the public and continue to be a member of the Ikon Pass. 

There is also a new requirement for two-day Saturday and holiday Sunday ticket reservations, starting January 2024. The new club name also reflects the private membership club ($175,000 fee) on the premises, with access to the golf course and other amenities.

Whiteface

The biggest project of 2023 adds a new detachable quad lift from the Bear Den Learning Center to just beyond the Legacy Lodge at mid-station. Named The Notch, it’s the only one of its kind in the East.  It’s actually two lifts in one that operate seamlessly together, so riders can unload onto the Boreen trail or continue farther uphill to access other trails and the Legacy Lodge.

The Notch will help skiers and riders at the Bear Den access additional beginner and intermediate terrain while also providing access to upper mountain lifts and advanced terrain, while also reducing traffic on other lifts and trails.

Pennsylvania

New Owners for Camelback, Blue Mountain Resort

The two resorts have been sold to KSL Resorts, and become part of the Ikon pass.  Both resorts are within two hours of New York City or Philadelphia, making them an easy daytrip or longer for more than 26 million people.

Camelback Resort, in Tannersville, is the largest ski mountain in the Poconos. With 166 skiable acres and 850 vertical feet, and a wide variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities it is an ideal environment to learn the sport. Camelback takes great pride in its 60-year history of creating the ultimate guest experience.

Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton boasts the state’s highest vertical – 1,140 feet – and one of the largest snowmaking systems on the East Coast, providing the longest ski season in the Poconos.

For the 23/24 season, Ikon Pass holders get seven days each at Camelback and Blue Mountain Resort with no blackout dates.  Ikon Base Pass holders get five days at each destination, with select blackout dates. Both destinations also are available on the Ikon Session Pass. Exclusive member benefits also include Ikon Pass First Tracks, Ikon Pass Travel and a Protect Our Winters membership.

Evelyn Kanter

What’s New in Maine, New Hampshire This Season

/1 Comment/in /by

If you like to ski or ride in the northeast, you’ll have lots of new lifts, new terrain and upgraded amenities to explore and enjoy this season at downhill and XC resorts in Maine and New Hampshire.  There’s even a brand new pass for uphillers in New England.

In alphabetical order, by state, since that’s the only fair way.   See you on the slopes!

Maine

Saddleback

The resort has joined Uphill New England

This is a brand-new collective mountain pass whose members gain access to 12 ski resorts and uphill trails in MA, VT, NH, and ME.  Cost is $185. There’s also a new high-elevation restaurant, perched at 3,620 feet, with both a full-service restaurant and a ski-up bar. The resort also added 50 new snowguns and upgraded electrical water connections for more efficient snowmaking.

Sugarloaf The resort is adding 120 acres of new terrain with 12 new trails at the West Mountain area.  It’s the largest expansion in more than 40 years and further cements its position as the largest ski resort east of the Rocky Mountains.

 New Hampshire

Attitash Mountain Resort

The new high-speed 4-passenger The Mountaineer is set to open in mid-December.  It replaces the Summit Triple, and is expected to reduce ride time by more than half, increase uphill capacity and improve the flow of traffic in the base area.  The new lift follows the replacement of the East and West Double-Double with the Progression quad, which opened last season.

Bretton Woods

In preparation for its 50th Anniversary season, the iconic resort has improved snowmaking and grooming on its 100km Nordic trail network.

Cannon Mountain

The NH State-owned destination has upgraded snowmaking on Upper Ravine, Lower Cannon, and Gremlin trails, for more consistent season-long use.  Also, the Middle Ravine and Turnpike trails have been widened to provide more room – and therefore safety – for skiers and riders

Cranmore Mountain Resort

The new Fairbank Lodge, named for the resort’s owner, offers an expansive food pavilion, retail shops, locker rooms, a slopeside bar and condominiums.  It’s part of an ongoing upgrade to the base area, which includes a new base lodge for the Mountain Adventure and Tubing Park, and biking center in non-snow months.

Gunstock Mountain Resort

There’s a new rental building near the Learning Center, so guests no longer have to wait in line at the ticket office to receive their rental contract.  Additionally, Gunstock is paving its main parking lot to maximize space and improve visibility.

King Pine Ski Area

The “Cubby Tow” rope tow lift has been replaced with a new Sunkid moving carpet lift. A new Prinoth Husky snow groomer will be used to improve conditions on the Purity Spring Resort XC & Snowshoe Reserve Nordic trail network, the Pine Meadows Tubing Park and add more lanes for greater capacity. There also a new rooftop deck off the main base area lodge Evergreen Room for additional outdoor seating.

Loon Mountain Resort

The new South Peak expansion adds eleven trails and one four-person chairlift, Timbertown Quad, increasing the area’s skiable terrain to more than 400 acres.  The new lift is one-half mile from Maine Street and less than two miles from Interstate 93.  It opens in December 2023.

The 30 acres of new terrain includes two tree skiing areas, which cater to beginner and intermediate levels.  More than 60 percent of the new terrain is green level, with the remainder rated more difficult.  With a vertical drop of 2,190, Loon has the longest runs in New Hampshire. There’s also state-of-the-art snowmaking on the new terrain.

Mount Sunapee

The South Peak is being revitalized with New Hampshire’s only ski-through lighthouse, inspired by Lake Sunapee’s three iconic lighthouses. Interactive signage which will create what the resort describes as “a photo moment” to memorialize your visit.

Pats Peak Ski Area

There’s a brand new Race Training Area with snowmaking, lighting for evening training sessions, and a specially designed smaller trail in the woods near the training lanes for intensive grills.  The Alpine Training Center, a hub for more than 150 Pats Peak Ski Team Racers, received an interior facelift with new furnishings and lighting, and energy efficiency upgrades.New LED lighting on the East Wind trail will improve night skiing visibility.  The system works with reduced power consumption, so it minimizes the area’s carbon footprint without compromising the quality of illumination.

Also, active and retired military and their dependents ski free any day between opening day on Dec. 15 and Dec. 24.

Waterville Valley Resort

There’s a brand new outdoor deck off the popular Freestyle lounge, with al fresco dining, and a firepit for apres ski.  Its location is ideal for parents and grandparents to watch as the kids learn to ski or ride on the Pasture Carpets.  Waterille has built a new Ski Patrol and sled garage at the summit, adjacent to the top of the Northside lift, and upgraded employee housing to attract and keep employees, including international employees.

Wildcat Mountain

New this year is the Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket available at all Vail Resorts destinations, allowing users to store their Epic Pass or lift ticket on their phone for touchless lift access.  The system also is available at Mount Sunapee, Attitash Mountain Resort and Crotched Mountain resort.  Wildcat also has replaced the Peabody Pedestrian Bridge, which connects the base lodge to the slopes.

For more information about ski resorts in New Hampshire, visit SkiNH.com, the statewide association representing 30+ alpine and cross-country resorts in New Hampshire.

For statewide travel info, go to VisitNH.gov.

 

Mike Roth

Homage to My Ski Mentor, Dick Butler

/10 Comments/in /by

Dick Butler

I started skiing about 50 years ago, when I was 26 years old and worked in an architectural office with a few people who skied. Colleagues Duane Snyder, David Sofer and Dick Butler were all avid skiers, so, I heard a lot about skiing in the office.

As winter approached there was more and more talk of going skiing. I had never had the opportunity to ski before getting out of college, although I wanted to. Then, one time I went to a small area called Rock Candy Mountain in Spiegaltown, NY, with some friends from college, where I basically taught myself to ski.  Not well, of course, but I could get down the hill, however long it took.

I started talking about going skiing with Dick and others in the office. They gave me old leather boots and wood skis with cable bindings. I thought I was doing pretty good when Dick took me to Killington. I stayed on the snowshed area all morning and believed I was ready to go up to the top of Rams Head.

What a humbling experience that was. It took me two hours to get down, between the skis releasing and my falling down more than I want to admit.  Dick was patient and supportive each time.

For the next 45 years, I skied following Dick Butler as my mentor. We skied all over the world together.

About 10 years ago Dick, two of his nephews and I were at Killington together. He said he wasn’t feeling well, and not to tell his wife, Pam. His cancer was catching up to him. He had skied just two runs and could not do any more. I took him back to the condo and watched him sleep the rest of the day.

Dick Butler passed away later that year. It was a great loss for all including myself, since I lost both a great friend and my skiing mentor. For years, I would mimic how he skied by following him, trying to match him turn for turn.  He could tackle just about any kind of terrain with grace and grit.  Now, I could only visualize him ahead of me in my mind.  It wasn’t the same.

As a member of NASJA, while we were skiing at Sierra at Tahoe area, we held a moment of silence for Dick at a lunch on the rooftop of the upper lodge at the 360 Smokehouse BBQ. A beautiful piece was written and read by Dave Sartwell, a fellow writer. There wasn’t a dry eye on that roof deck including other diners who were not part of our group.

I carry Dick’s ashes with me in my ski jacket every time I ski, so he is still skiing with me. That will always be with me. And to let my dear friend know that there is skiing in heaven.  His other ashes have been spread over Gore Mountain by his longtime friends Larry Estil and David Sofer, who I mentioned at the beginning of this article.

I am still listening to his instructions. “Big toe, little toe, face downhill and let the skis turn by themselves”.  He is gone but never has left my side.

Perhaps you also have a similar friend and ski mentor.