Tag Archive for: Gore Mountain Resort

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Secrets of the Ice is a Norwegian website dedicated to archaeological discoveries in melting glaciers and ice patches in Norway and elsewhere. Glacial archaeology is a developing science as the planet warms, and objects from mummified people to ancient skis melt out of the ice. In Norway, one ski was carbon-dated to 650BC Another ski, from 750AD, was found with a complete binding. 

Digervarden ski (c. AD 750). Source: Secrets of the Ice

Click here to read a well-written account of what has been learned about these early skis. 

What do you think future peoples exploring the mysteries of mountainous areas will think about trees covered with women’s underwear? Were they a weird form of public art created by even weirder humans recreating in the cold?

A few years ago (maybe he still offers the service) a guy at Alta hired himself out with a metal detector to find lost skis buried in deep powder. Those of us who’ve been through that experience, know its value. I always found my skis, but it can take time.

At one point, I hid coins in nature with the idea of finding them in the future. I remember one such hiding spot with my daughter on a rustic perch overlooking a glacial lake. It was over thirty years ago. It makes me want to go back as a family and find them. 

Reconstruction: Alfons & Adrie Kennis © South Tyrol Museum Archaeology/Ochsenreiter

In the Spring, I wrote about visiting Oetzi the Iceman in the Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy. He’s been dated to 3300BC. It’s a wonderful small museum, and several of you posted comments about your visits there.

A couple I know in Salt Lake City went off route on Everest several years ago and found a well-known American climber’s jacket and other of the missing climber’s artifacts. He disappeared in the 30s.

Many of us could have some interesting archaeological finds simply rummaging through the pockets of old ski clothing. When I was 12 an uncle gave me the anorak he used in the 20s or 30s. In a pocket was an ancient stick of Wrigley’s gum, complete with foil and paper wraps. I couldn’t resist the temptation. It was awful.

There are so many things waiting to be found. We constantly consume and dispose. Given our collective concerns about ski area safety, would it be a surprise if those future glacial archaeologists also found the scattered remains of older skiers?

Alterra To Purchase Sugarbush

Alterra Mountain Company has entered into an agreement to purchase Sugarbush in Vermont.

Women An Important Part of Jackson Hole History

Most ski and ski area videos are male-oriented, if not male-dominated. Jackson Hole has a delightful 90-second video on the impact of women throughout its history, starting with the fact that in 1920, the town elected the first all female government. Click here.

 

Areas Open and Opening

Lifts are running across North America. Here’s a partial list of open areas and those that soon will be:

East

Killington VT) Open

Mount Snow (VT) Open

Sunday River (ME) Open

Bristol Mountain (NY) Open

Wildcat (NH) Nov 15

Gore Mountain (NY) Nov 15

Greek Peak (NY) Nov 15

Hunter Mountain (NY) Nov 15

Whiteface Mountain (NY) Nov 15

Big Boulder (PA) Nov 15

Sugarloaf (ME) Nov 15

Loon Mountain (NH) Nov 16

Titus Mountain (NY) Nov 16

Mont Tremblant (QC) Nov 22

Snowshoe (WV) Nov 22

Stratton (VT) Nov 23

Sugarbush (VT) Nov 23

West/Northwest

Arapahoe Basin(CO) Open

Eldora (CO) Open

Mt. Norquay (AB) Open

Lake Louise (AB) Open

Winter Park (CO) Open

Copper Mountain (CO) Open

Banff Sunshine (AB) Open

Mammoth Mountain (CA) Open 

 Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows (CA) Nov 15

Steamboat (CO) Nov 15 

Park City (UT) Nov 22

Alya (UT) Nov 23

Solitude (UT) Nov 23

Aspen and Snowmass (CO) Nov 28

Big Bear (CA) Nov 28

Big Sky (MT) Nov 28

Jackson Hole (WY) Nov 28

Snow Summit (CA) Nov 28

Taos (NM) Nov 28

Big Bear (CA) Nov 29

Snowbird (UT) Nov 29

Revelstoke (BC) Nov 39

Aspen Highlands (CO) Dec 7

Buttermilk (CO) Dec 7

Deer Valley (UT) Dec 7

The Summit at Snoqualmie (WA) Dec 7

June Mountain (CA) Dec 21

Midwest

Boyne Mountain (MI) Nov 15

Crystal Mountain (MI) Nov 22

Boyne Highlands (MI) Nov 28

Military Week at Taos

Not Forgotten Outreach, Inc. (NFO), the Taos, NM, non-profit that organizes annual ski outings for past and present military at Taos Ski Valley, will host the 7th  Not Forgotten Outreach Ski Week, January 21 – 26, 2020. The event is open to military, their immediate families, and Gold Star Families. Participants enjoy deeply discounted lodging, lift tickets, lessons and rentals. Through a VA Adaptive Sports Grant, NFO is offering five scholarships for skiers/snowboarders currently on active duty with vision, intellectual/cognitive, or physical-related diagnoses. Click here for more info.

Ski Safety PSAs

High Fives Foundation is dedicated to prevention of life-changing injuries and providing resources if they happen. The non-profit is based in Truckee, CA, and much of its snow sports activities are in Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. Among its many good deeds is production of Public Service Announcements educating people about on-snow safety. High Fives just released this short PSA on what to do when someone is injured. It is an excellent refresher. 

Ski Conditioning Series

Source: Parlor Skis

Powder Hour is a six-week online conditioning series featuring former US Ski Team member, Hilary McCloy. The program focuses on strengthening key muscle groups required to ski safely and powerfully. Parlor Skis, the New England custom ski company, is subsidizing the cost of the series by providing the first two free. The series cost is $75. For more info or to register, click here.

International Ski History Association

A Worthy Donation

International Skiing History Association is the non-profit dedicated to preserving and presenting skiing history. Its publication, Skiing History, is a joy to read. Digital subscriptions are free to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers. ISHA is seeking donations, all of which are tax-deductible. Please visit www.skiinghistory.org/donate and help ISHA continue its important work

The Man Behind The Ski Maps

Jim Niehues is the artist whose paintings are the basis of the maps of more than 300 ski areas. Ski Utah produced this 4 minute video of Niehues explaining his work.

Pat McCloskey

Backwoods Ski Club: Informal Senior Group, No Rules, Just Fun

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Good Times On Gore Mountain With Senior Skiers.

Gore Mountain Resort is headquarters for the Back Country Ski Club. It's not always this foggy. Credit: Pat McCloskey

Gore Mountain Resort is headquarters for the Backwoods Ski Club. That’s Whiteface in the distance. It’s not always this foggy.
Credit: Pat McCloskey

I am riding the chair at Gore this week with my good friend Mike Smith.  He said to me, “McCloskey, I have found the meaning of life—speed, horsepower and altitude.” Mike is an avid skydiver and pilot as well as a real good skier.  At 66 years old, he has more energy than most people.

He makes a home for the Backwoods Ski Club at Gore Mountain Ski Resort, NY.  There are several senior skiers who are regulars at Gore and like Mike, have more infectious energy than a lot of folks their age.  At 75, John Daly is the ringleader and is constantly herding his group of skiers who are all in their 70s and 80s.  John is a retired businessman from Amsterdam, NY and makes Gore his second home in the winter.  If you ever think that you have to slow down as a senior skier, you should spend a day like I did with Mike and the affable crew from the Backwoods Ski Club.

What kind of activities does the Backwoods Ski Club engage in?

Aside from skiing, they are very social.  No dues, no bylaws, just an invitation to join their club is all that is needed. Your membership includes a little varnished pin that is made of wood that simply states—”Backwoods Ski Club.”  They have a potluck lunch every other Wednesday and an end of the year social at the area with a catered meal.

How have they seen skiing change over the years?

One of the reasons they like Gore is that it is managed by the Olympic Regional Development Authority in conjunction with the State of New York.  There’s very little commercial development, and they like that just fine.  Gore is family and senior-oriented.  The lodge is filled with gray hairs and not crowded.  Mike says skiing in general has become very commercialized with focus on real estate development.  Gore is a throwback of sorts with focus on skiing.  That is why the folks from Backwoods love it.

What advice for a mid week club?

John Daly says that it is fairly simple. Gather the skiing friends and make a plan to meet on Wednesdays, just like them. The simpler the plan, the better they like it.

Back Country Ski Club members love the double blacks, even scary ones like this. Credit: Pat McCloskey

Back Country Ski Club members love the double blacks, even scary ones like this.
Credit: Pat McCloskey

Does Gore offer any assistance to seniors?

Aside from a casual meeting place in the lodge, they offer seniors a special season pass rate of $270.00 for anyone over 70.  They have mid-week adult clinics (not just seniors), including package meals, lift tickets, and instruction.

How large is the club?

Mike and John are not really sure.  They have lost a few folks in the past season, but the membership is pretty full and most are avid skiers who are retired or have the flexibility to ski in the morning and then manage their affairs in the afternoon.

What’s the lessons learned about ski clubs?

The key ingredients to the success of the club are flexibility, humor, infectious ski culture, and the rules are there are no rules.