Many thanks to our enthusiastic readers who continue to inspire us.
Credit: Parents Magazine
Jon and Mike, Co-Publishers
And our wonderful regular correspondents: Harriet Wallis, Rose Marie Cleese, Susie Winthrop, Steve Hines, Roger Lohr, Tamsin Venn.
Last spring, we did our first Subscriber Survey to learn, among other things, just who our readers were. We learned that you guys like discounts first and foremost. We also learned you that 55 percent of our respondents skied more than 30 days a year! Now that is impressive considering that the average number of skier days for all demographics was 7.6 in 2013-14, according to Snowsports Industries America.
That our readers are passionate about skiing continues to be validated by a new sliver of data. SeniorsSkiing.com’s first major poll revealed that in late August and early September, 66.3 percent of respondents had ALREADY bought their season passes and another 6.3% were about to. Clearly, you were taking advantage of early-bird discounts. And you definitely planned to ski at a favorite ski area. A lot. Here are the results.
We are pleased to see that Michael Warner started a website for senior deals in the Tahoe area. We like to think seniorsskiing.com stimulated his venture to some degree. We now have an ally in trying to promote the needs and interests of senior snow enthusiasts by targeting a specific geographic area.
Michael Warner has launched a new ski deal site for seniors focusing on the Tahoe area.
Credit: Tahoe Senior Ski Deal
Tahoe Senior Ski Deals keeps tabs on lift pricing rates at 16 resorts throughout the Tahoe Donner region. As we have learned in SeniorsSkiing.com’s Annual Ski Area Surveys, the best deals are always at the smaller areas like Boreal Mountain ($54, 65-69; $29, 70+) and Homewood ($47, 65-69; $20, 70+) for just two examples. We were glad to see Tahoe Donner, a SeniorsSkiing.com Senior-Friendly Award Winner, on the list of deals ($22, 60-69, free, 70+). In fact, Tahoe Senior Ski Deals calls Tahoe Donner the “Best Senior Prices”.
Tahoe Senior Ski Deals focuses on 16 resorts ringing the big lake.
Credit: Google Maps
The site also advises that seniors buy online at least three days before coming to the mountain. There are always better deals online. The site also lists ski clubs and, notably, a link to SeniorsSkiing.com. Thanks, Michael.
It shows that seniors can ski and enjoy the outdoors without having a hedge-fund account. If you know of other sites that report ski or cross-country ski deals, clothing or gear discounts, please let us know.
My pal Jerry took his wife and two college-age girls on a ski trip from Boston to Vail a few winters ago. The trip involved a stopover in Chicago which, when his plane from Boston landed, was being covered in a blinding snowstorm. His connecting flight was cancelled. So, Jerry and family had to schlep all their luggage—roll-aways, back packs, boot bags and skis—to an airport hotel in the snow, in a taxi, get up well before dawn, reverse his tracks and check-in with his entourage and their baggage, waiting on snaking baggage check lines. Not pleasant and a constant reminder of one of the flaws of traveling-whilst-a-skier—hassling your kit.
Enter Ship Skis, a service that picks up your gear, sends it to your destination hotel, and when you’re done with your ski vacation, sends the stuff back home again. We met the guys at the BEWI Boston Ski and Snowboard Show this fall.
You’re going to have to pay for checked bags anyway, so it makes sense to ship your gear.
Credit: SeniorsSkiing
It’s all done online. You schedule a shipment to your destination, select insurance options (you get $500 base coverage with different add-ons), print out a shipping label, pack your stuff and wait for the pickup or head to a UPS or FedEx drop-off point. You can track where your shipment is, but you’re probably on the plane by then. Ship Skis claims your equipment will arrive before you do. Pretty simple process.
Pricing varies depending on where you are going, how much you send, and how urgent your shipment is. We priced a hypothetical trip from Boston to Vail, using Jerry’s family as an example. The price ranged from $69 per ski bag to $139. (You might be able to put two pairs in one bag.) That’s one way. When you add boots, the price bumped up varied from $128.99 to $288.99 per ski bag (which might contain two pairs) and boots, again one way. You get the lower price by sending a week or so before you expect to arrive and vice versa coming home. For the Jerry example, shipping a week ahead of time and getting equipment returned from vacation a week after you arrive home would be about $300-$500 for round trip boots and skis for four people, assuming you stuff two pair of skis into one bag. You have to decide if that’s worth it. To Jerry it very well might have been.
By the way, airlines will charge you anywhere from $25 to $200 per checked ski bag and/or boots each way, depending on how many bags you check. So, when you think about it, if you’re going on a ski vacation somewhere by plane, Ship Skis might make sense.
We are discussing a potential discounted rate for readers of SeniorsSkiing.com with the powers that be at Ship Skis. Stay tuned for an update.
Not New England today. Unfortunately, we have to wait some more for snow.
Credit: Currier & Ives
There’s an old adage here in New England that half your cord wood should still be left over by Ground Hog’s Day. But, so far this winter, we’ve hardly touched the wood pile; we’ll have most of it left over come April if this trend continues. We guess that’s one advantage of having a record-breaking snow-drought, warm-spell syndrome around here. Frankly, we’d rather ski than not have to chop.
The Weather Channel says this Christmas could be the warmest of your lifetime, especially in the East.
Next week’s jet stream pattern from the Weather Channel. Don’t like the word “Mild” where it is.
Credit: Weather Channel.
It is clearly a winter for the record books. Looks like the El Nino predictions are coming to pass. We just heard that Mount Sunapee (NH) has closed until this weekend when the forecast predicts some colder weather for snow making. Okemo hasn’t seen natural snow since Nov 30th, and conditions are soft with open spots. Plus it rained last night up country. Other areas have a lift or three running, that’s all. The ski train from Boston to Wachusett Mountain has been postponed because “the ski area has zero trails open,” according WBUR radio. Everyone is looking for a window of cold air for snow making.
And it’s not just New England. Ontario, Quebec and even Europe are experiencing too much warmth when we need cold.
We’ve had snow droughts before. New England Ski Industry has collected some memorable highlights about those unhappy times. Click here to view quotes. Oh well, this, too, shall pass. Just like the Red Sox World Series drought. Just takes some wishing.
Please don’t accept the current status quo as a trend for the rest of the winter; it’s way too early for that, despite the year’s El Nino potency. Last winter, the toughest and coldest in recorded history here in Boston, precipitation didn’t get very serious until mid-January into February when the snow became overwhelming. We’ve seen wicked March storms and a three-foot blizzard on April 1 a few years ago that had the wildlife and crocuses confused.
On the other hand, there is a helluva lot of snow right now out in the Wasatch, the Rockies, in the Far West and the Sierras.
Wish it our way. Come on, wish it. Wish it. Let’s go snow. Wish it.
Snow-covered Prius shows depth from one-day storm in SLC.
Salt Lake City-based SeniorsSkiing.com Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg Reports:
The biggest single dump since 2011 is how some observers characterize the mid-December storm that blanketed Utah’s Wasatch range with almost two feet over the past few days. Snowfall extended into Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
Individual resorts report impressive numbers. Brian Head, the state’s most southern resort got 38″ over 48 hours. Eagle Point, another southern area on the high slopes of the Tushar Mountains collected 20″, Alta, 24″ and Snowbird, 23″.
But the base depths at most of these and other areas hovers around 45″, much less than the base needed to feel comfortable skiing off-trail fresh powder. Sorry to deliver this news to Eastern skiers, but we’re expecting more deliveries—snow, not UPS—through Christmas.
I decided not to head up the canyon today; possibly tomorrow. Instead, I walked Lucy (the mutt) around our neighborhood, one of the oldest in Salt Lake City. At about 4300′, we’re almost 3/4 mile lower than the base of Alta.
[Editor’s Note: A contributor in Denver submitted the following picture of his television screen. Lots of snow out west.]
Denver weatherman reports snow depth from recent big fall.
Credit: Joe Durzo
Practical and inexpensive, this De-Icer Windshield Washer can save your day.
Credit: Harriet Wallis
A cheap but practical gift is a jug of low temperature windshield washer fluid with de-icer. Look on the label for a temperature rating that is -25 or -30 or lower. A gallon jug costs less than $5.
There are some days when a certain mix of temperature and humidity can cause windshields to glaze over as you climb in elevation or go over a pass. The “blue stuff” that’s usually in the your car reservoir will not defrost the windshield. Using low temperature windshield fluid will likely save your ski day.
There are several brands of low temperature windshield fluid. Different brands are different colors – orange, purple or pink. But none are blue. Stick a bow on the jug, and it’s wrapped!
You might want to buy a turkey baster too. Use it to suck the blue stuff out of the car’s reservoir and then replace it with the low temperature washer fluid.
It’s the little things that make a difference.
Hey, you guys! Look what we found. Our friends at SkiNewHampshire just sent us their Senior Deal page from the SkiNewHampshire website. Lots of deals for both Alpine and Cross-Country skiers. Check out mid-week at Cannon Mountain for 65+ skiers! Let us know which deals you like best.
It’s not your favorite trucker treat of yore. This “new” jerky is natural, gluten-free and tasty. Credit: Harriet Wallis
I love jerky, but most of it tastes like over-seasoned cardboard. On the other hand, Field Trip Jerky is yummy, and it’s different—lightly seasoned and just the right “chew.”
It’s all-natural, gluten-free, MSG and nitrate-free, and it’s packed with protein. Refuel while out on the trail, on your bike or out for a ski tour.
Where can I get it? Field Trip Jerky has partnerships with Starbucks, Stop & Shop, Sprouts and more. Check the website for a dealer near you. About $6.50 to $8 a pouch.
Gluten-free? I questioned how jerky (a meat) can be gluten-free (which comes from plants). The answer I got is this: “Field Trip Jerky uses gluten-free low sodium soy sauce. All products have been tested and contain less than 5 ppm of wheat.”
In additiion, the “majority of experts report that grain-fed beef is fine to eat. Before protein is absorbed by the body, it’s broken down into single amino acids or very short peptide fragments and no longer contain gluten. Second hand transmission of gluten does not occur between animals and human consumption.”
The back story. Field Trip was started a few years ago by three friends looking to make jerky that wasn’t junk. Breaking away from the corporate mold (the three previously worked in law, finance and the auto industry) Tom, Scott and Matt started with a lot of hustle and $12,000 in seed money scrapped up from friends, family and savings and launched a homemade jerky business from their kitchen.
Worth a try and makes a great stocking stuffer.
[Editor Note: This is not a sponsored article. Harriet is reporting on products she finds genuinely interesting and useful for our readers.]
Our very own co-publisher Jon Weisberg appears in HuffPost 50 with gift ideas for your very own senior skier. Jon’s suggestions range from renting a whole ski area for a day for $10,000 to a $9.95 boot horn. Click here for his Santa list.
Sundance offers senior discounts as well as season passes that include public transportation from Provo.
Credit: Sundance
Since then, we’ve heard from our readers. Lots of reactions, some criticism, many additional ski areas to add to the senior-friendly list. Here’s what you told us :
The Rio Metro Regional Transit District offers something special that can be truly awesome for Seniors —Take the Train to Ski and Play in Santa Fe
A senior gets a reduced fare on the Rail Runner so you could stay in a hotel in either Albuquerque or Santa Fe and ski all day at Ski Santa Fe for a very reasonable cost. Also a Super Senior (72 +) can ski for free! One of the best things I’ve seen at Ski Santa Fe, there are no or few lift lines during the week!
I have a Bronze Pass (weekdays only) for the season and as a veteran (with a VA medical card) I can ride the Rail Runner for free. My transportation costs from Albuquerque to and from Ski Santa Fe amount to five dollars a day.
Take the train to ski at SkiSantaFe. 72+ ski for free! That’s senior-friendly.
Credit: Lee Kniess
We thank all our readers who commented on senior-friendly areas. Your comments validate our publishing philosophy—It pays to be friendly to senior skiers. We are often your best customers, and there are more of us every day.
Do you have a senior-friendly area that needs to be included? Please let us know.
Correspondent Rose Marie Cleese reports on her fitness journey, noting that regular exercise makes a big, big difference in how you feel.
Credit: Pinterest
Although this will be the last official installment of my personal fitness journey series that began on May 1st, it’s definitely not the end of the journey. I have many more pounds to lose before I sleep and promises to myself to continue to keep. I’ll be posting an update some time in the next three months, at which time I hope I can tell you that I’ve met all of my goals, including losing that last 20 pounds and tipping the scales at 130 pounds. I’ve already lost 20 pounds so I’m halfway there.
Even though I haven’t yet reached my desired weight, I’ve added a number of habits to my life that have made me a healthier, happier person with a body that’s so much better prepared to hit the slopes (hopefully in the next couple of weeks) than the one that floundered on them last March. I tried on my ski clothes last week and they fit comfortably rather than my feeling like a stuffed sausage. People who haven’t seen me in a few months are noticing my weight loss and telling me how good I look. Most importantly, I feel so much healthier…and bouncier.
So what am I taking away from these past seven months? The number one lesson I’ve learned is how important regular exercise is. My twice-weekly aerobics classes and my once-a-week stretching classes and weight classes have had a considerable effect on me. I don’t get out of breath exerting myself anymore, my balance has improved 100%, and my arms and legs actually look and feel toned. I’ve rarely missed my classes because I feel so energized at the end of them. This is one habit that has become solidly entrenched. In the near future I’d like to add some yoga to my exercise regimen and I’ve put a Fitbit on my Christmas wish list.
Regarding my weight loss, I’m happy that I haven’t gained back any of the weight I’ve lost (even over the Thanksgiving holiday!), but I do need to get back on track in the coming months. I plan on being more religious about mindful eating, portion control, food choices (less “white” food, more fruits and vegetables), not eating late meals, and saying “no” at least a couple of times a day when I’m tempted to snack or eat something that’s unhealthy. I’ll continue the daily food diary that I’ve been faithfully keeping the last seven months, and I’ll continue to weigh in once a week and also check my measurements once a month. If I find that the pounds are refusing to come off, I may participate for a couple of months in one of the several diet plans out there that are the top choices of the medical establishment.
As I write this article at 3 AM, I have to admit that I have failed miserably at getting enough sleep and am beginning to wonder if a night owl can ever be an early bird. I’ll let you know in my update in a few months if I’ve found an answer to this perennial problem of mine. Suggestions welcome!
Speaking of suggestions, I want to thank all of you out there who have sent me your thoughts, insights, and encouraging words over the past seven months. It really does make it easier when you’ve got some cheerleaders urging you on. In the meantime, there are some snowy slopes out there that are calling my name, and I can’t wait to make some tracks on them. Stay fit…stay tuned…and have a great winter!
Editor’s Note: SeniorsSkiing.com salutes our correspondent Rose Marie Cleese for sharing her journey with our readers over the last few months. Her project took courage and fortitude. Please join us in acknowledging her efforts and her willingness to tell us about her experience.
Luke Larsen, owner of the Lift House in Salt Lake City, demonstrates the Hestra brand of heated mittens. Hestra also makes heated gloves.
Credit: Harriet Wallis
If you google “heated gloves”, you’ll find two dozen brands in all price ranges. And more brands are advertised in ski magazines. It seems that many companies have jumped into the heated glove market. To make matters confusing, the descriptions all sound alike.
“Heated gloves that work well cost about $300 – $400” said Luke Larsen, owner of the Lift House, a premier Salt Lake City ski shop. “It’s the same technology as heated ski boots.”
Consider these tips before you invest in heated gloves.
Here’s what skiers are saying about their heated gloves:
“Last year was the first year I used battery powered gloves for skiing, and they are the best. If my hands are warm, I am warm all over,” says Arlene Maginn of Hamilton, MA. “On medium setting, they last all day! They are Core Heat Snow Gloves, and I recommend them for all kinds of winter activities.”
Salt Lake City skier Laurie O’Connor agrees. She can stay toasty all day. However, instead of heated gloves, she opted for heated Thermo Gloves liners. That way she can wear different outer gloves.
Todd Reynolds, a commercial fisherman from sunny Florida, has heated Hestra gloves. “I love them” he said. “I’d freeze without them.”
There was a time lift blankets and fur coats kept you warm on chilly days. Here Mad River GM Ken Quakenbush checks tickets on the single chair, circa 1953.
Credit: Mad River Glen
Remember the good old days when we did not have high tech fabrics, boot heaters, hand warmers, and lots of layers to keep us warm as we rode up the single chair lift in our wooden skis with screwed on steel edges and Dovre safety bindings. The lift could be a very cold, one-mile long ride.
At Mad River Glen and other resorts (I remember Stowe), we would pick up a wool poncho type blanket off the rack, slip it over our head, and try to not get it twisted as we loaded the lift. The blankets are no longer there, but the single chair is.
We would then hide under it on the way up the lift. And for a small kid, we also had to worry about not tripping on it when we got off.
I joined the patrol at Mad River in 1962 and still remember those blankets being in use. The lifties at the top would bundle up three or four and try to slam them across the arm of the chair so they would stay there until they were removed at the bottom. On windy days, the occasional bundle would be lifted off the chair, separate into individual blankets and gracefully descend onto the trail below. And, if it was particularly gusty, one or more would end up in a tree anywhere from 10 to 30 feet off the ground.
One of the duties of the patrol was to regularly to ski the lift line and pick up the blankets that had blown off the chairs on the trip down the hill.
This was in the days before the entire lift line was designated trails. On the top of the lift line above mid-station (remember the old 1/3 tickets they gave out if you got off there), picking up blankets on the Chute was relatively straight-forward. We would pick up two or three, roll them into a bundle, and heave them underhanded up to some willing customer in a chair. Of course, this provided great entertainment to the other customers on the lift as many of the throws and catches were not major league quality.
And, if we were in an area that was too high to toss them, we would end up wearing them, sometimes up to five or six. We looked and skied like a gray version of the Pillsbury Dough Boy.
Much of the lift line from mid-station down was not legitimately skiable terrain. So only the hardy patrollers ventured into that territory to retrieve blankets. And as the lift was rather high off of the ground, this usually entailed wearing them down over the cliffs and through the underbrush, again to provide entertainment for the customers. There are great stories of tumbles down the steep faces, and blankets getting tangled up and tripping the patroller.
Former GM Ken Quakenbush takes the last ride up the single chair at Mad River before it was restored in 2007. Credit: Mad River Glen
From the folks at Jackson Hole and Teton Gravity Research, here’s what happened last spring on top of the famous Corbet’s Couloir.
First turns of a hopefully long season at Heavenly Valley with beautiful Lake Tahoe on the horizon.
Credit: Rachel Woods
Celebratory mood on the lift line at Northstar in the California Sierra as the 2015-16 season opens with lots of snow, boding well for a great year. Credit: Paul Plaza
California wintersports lovers have a lot to be happy about this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and they—and the industry—are hoping that this earlier-than-normal start to the ski season is a harbinger of things to come. Nearly every major resort in the Sierra has at least a few runs operating this holiday weekend (Squaw Valley opened for business on Thanksgiving Day andSugar Bowl the weekend before). Snowpacks this week grew to an average depth of two feet after the latest in a string of quick storms added several more inches to resorts’ bases. Two feet of snow on the ground is not all that impressive in a mountain range where up to eight feet of snow in a single storm has not been uncommon in years past, but, when coupled with cold temperatures allowing resorts to make snow, these little snow dumps have been enough to get the lifts rolling.
Several major areas in the Sierra opened way ahead of Turkey Day. Leading the pack was Boreal Mountain Resort, which opened even before Halloween, on October 28th. Next to open was Mt. Rose on November 4th. Mammoth Mountain’s opening day was November 11th, and Vail Resorts’ Tahoe triumvirate—Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood—followed suit a few days later, on November 14th. Sierra-at-Tahoe cranked up its lifts on November 20th. Says General Manager John Rice, “The last time we opened this early was 11 years ago. A November opening is giving us a great outlook for the rest of the season, as, in a similar year, we logged as much as a total of 499 inches of snowfall!”
The existence of actual skiable snowpacks in the Sierra has had a ripple effect in the flatlands, where some shops selling gear and clothing for skiers and boarders have seen sales double over the same time period last year.
Of course, the frequent mini-storms could become infrequent, and the temperatures could rise, obliterating this happy scene. But everyone connected to the California wintersports scene is counting on the growing prospect that the strong El Niño forming in the equatorial Pacific Ocean will bring normal precipitation to Northern California and above-normal precipitation to Southern California, starting around late December and early January. If the weather scientists at NOAA are right, who knows—skiing at Big Bear on Memorial Day?
Rain comes with early season skiing. Lilly Venn braves the drops at Bretton Woods and gets to see the moody views towards the Presidential Range.
Credit: Tamsin Venn
For seniors who like to zig without the worry of another skier’s zag, one of the best times to hit uncrowded slopes is in the rain. Sometimes that is what these early season ski days bring us. It’s not exactly the bluebird day most of us hope for, but before you turn on the TV for a Netflix binge, consider these advantages.
Does anyone have skiing-in-the-rain pictures or stories to share?
Editor Note: Skiers who are also sailors think rain is just another way to enjoy your sport. And remember the old expression, “There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.”
Special Thanks to Roger Lohr, Editor and Publisher of XCSkiResorts.com for pointing out these snow-country x-c resorts that are specially accommodating to seniors.
Martha Chandler, 84-year old mother of Bretton’s Nordic Center director Ellen Chandler, glides along.
Credit: Ellen Chandler
About a quarter of the cross country (XC) skiing population is older than 50 years old, and, as Baby Boomers continue to age, we are remaining active—many of us are looking for softer or easier forms of recreation and cross country skiing and snowshoeing fit that prescription.
It is important for older people to exercise because it can help fight both physical and psychological maladies. Everyone understands the need to stay physically active and there is a growing body of research indicating that physical activity is beneficial for the brain, particularly the hippocampus, which is that part of the brain where working memory partially resides and is most susceptible to problems associated with aging. There is extensive evidence that outdoor exercise has positive impacts on sleep, depression, and anxiety. No matter how old you are, it just makes you feel good, too.
The SeniorsSkiing.com 2015 Subscriber Survey showed that the priorities of the older skiers include: discounts; easy access to the area facility from the parking lot; newsletter or website pages dedicated to specific activities catering to older skiers; instruction or guide tailored to older skiers; and a meeting place or set-aside areas in the lodge for seniors.
There are XC ski resorts and lodging establishments that have those senior-friendly characteristics and the incentives almost always include discounts for older people. At Canmore Nordic Center in Canada, trail fee discounts begin at age 55, while most ski resorts set a higher age for lower-priced season or daily passes. At Bear Valley Nordic Center in CA, skiers aged 60-69 get a 28% discount on trail passes and those aged 70 and older get 60% off. At Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, MT there is a discount for skiers aged 60-69 while it is free for those aged 70 or older to access the ski trails. They also apply a senior discount for season passes. This is a popular way that most ski areas attract the older skier segment.
One of the age-old concepts is that many senior skiers are retired and as such, they have more flexibility in their weekly schedule. During the week, most cross country ski areas have few patrons, thus the development of group offers, activities, and programs such as at Lutsen Resort in MN where there is a Sunday-Thursday discount offer on lodging rates that includes free XC ski or snowshoe gear and a guide. The Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, MI (and other XC ski areas in MI) has the Silver Streak Week (Monday-Friday on January 11-15, 2016) with complimentary facility access, free hot cocoa, and free demos.
Jackson Ski Touring has easy-ski programs for seniors.
Credit: JSTF
Programs such as Jackson Ski Touring’s Friday Gliders & Easy Sliders and Tuesday Trekkers provide a group experience that’s taken advantage of by mostly older folks. Such programs coordinate a scheduled weekly outing for groups such as the Easy Sliders, which is a group of skiers who cross country ski on easier trails (and they get tips from a guide) or the Tuesday Trekkers snowshoe group. For these examples, the Jackson Ski Touring Center in NH is the starting point, and, after the tour, people meet back at the lodge for an après ski spread with wine and cheese, fruit, coffee. There’s even a masseuse on hand to offer massage for tips. Garnet Hill Lodge in North River, NY, hosts a weekly snowshoe club and Cross Country Ski Headquarters reports a similar group regularly drives two and half hours from Grand Rapids to visit and ski the area.
At Lapland Lake Vacation Center in Northville, NY there’s a Silver Strider discount trail pass and the weekly “Soup-er Seniors,” which includes a free bowl of soup on non-holiday Thursdays starting in January.
“Road Scholar” is a brand within the Elderhostel program intended for adults (many who are seniors) who want to travel, learn and stimulate discourse and friendship among other people for whom learning is the journey of a lifetime. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center hosts week-long Road Scholar XC ski programs during the winter months with programming inspired by the hostels and folk schools of Europe offering short term academic experiences to adults. This year, Craftsbury Outdoor combines XC skiing and snowshoeing with yoga programs, film programs, and dance programs.
The folks taking advantage of cross country ski offers are proof that you’re never too old to get out and enjoy nature in the winter. If you are an older skier or someone who would like to try cross country skiing or snowshoeing, check an XC ski resort near you for special programs.
If you’re an active cross country skier, you probably enjoy staying where you ski. Plus, if you’re an active senior xc skier you most likely enjoy comfortable surroundings, pleasant company and staff as much as you enjoy snow covered trails. A number of locations across the USA come to mind like
Gorman Chairback Lodge is a rustic winter retreat that appeals to your inner Thoreau.
Credit: Steve Hines
Royal Gorge, CA., Jackson Hole, WY., and Craftsbury Common, VT. But the State of Maine, LL Bean and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) have collaborated to bring the inspired xc skier a wonderful resource—Gorman Chairback Camp and Lodge. The Camp is located near Greenville Maine at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Exact directions to the lodge are at www.amcoutdoors.org where you can also make your reservation.
All the cabins have wood stoves amply supplied by the camp staff. As one of our party quite succinctly put it, “cabin accommodations were very comfortable yet simple.” The camp sits on the shore of Long Pond (really a very large lake) with no discernable development in sight or nearby. The food in the lodge’s dining hall was exceptional using many vegetables right from the Camp’s own garden. All meals are included with each night’s stay – and (delicious) coffee is available from early morning to late in the evening.
What makes Chairback unique is that you must ski about six miles from a winter parking lot to the lodge. The staff will bring your other gear and luggage to the lodge for you on snowmobiles. While the staff grooms the trails, you should be at least an intermediate skier. I use a metal edge, back country ski, but others in our group make do on touring skis. Plan to also bring a pair of snowshoes to enjoy the many hiking trails that are not groomed but have scenic terrain and panoramic vistas.
Trail markers point the way to Long Pond. The last few miles of the Appalachian Trail run through the area.
Credit: Steve Hines
The lodging is what I call “rustic elegance”. The cabins are heated with wood stoves that can be tricky to adjust and often need to be refilled in the middle of the night. So there’s and element of “roughing it” in the winter too. Many guests bring sleeping bags, but I usually bring my own flannel sheets and use the blankets and comforters provided.
I’ve found that skiing in this area always has what xc skiers call dependable snow. There’s never a time in the winter when the snow is missing or the trails have bare spots.
I’d like to make recommendations for specific trails but all the ski terrain is equally excellent.
As a post- script, it is well to remember that the AMC is a club and Not For Profit company. This means all members and guests have a responsibility to keep the camp clean and to provide proper feedback.
Snowbird is one of 16 ski resorts designated as “Senior-Friendly” through SeniorsSkiing.com’s second annual ski area survey.
Sixteen resorts in the East. Midwest, West/Northwest, and Canada are recognized as “Senior Friendly” for their proactive efforts to meet the needs of older skiers.
The selection is based on input from SeniorsSkiing.com’s second annual survey of US and Canadian resorts, reader input, and industry sources. Factors taken into account include free or discounted lift tickets and a variety of features—such as resort-sponsored clubs, close-to-lodge parking, and other amenities—which readers of SeniorsSkiing.com have identified as important.
The resorts designated as friendliest to seniors are (*designated Senior-Friendly in 2014-15):
East
Attitash Mountain Resort, Bartlett, New Hampshire
Special ski school clinics, discounts, clubs, social activities; $50 season pass (80+), 30% discount (65-79).
Cannon Mountain Ski Area, Franconia, New Hampshire
Ski school clinics, discounts, curbside assistance, $50 season pass (80+). 14% discount (65-79).
Cataloochee, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Free skiing (65+).
Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Jeffersonville, Vermont
Reserved areas in lodge, discounts: ski shops, rentals, school; area sponsored clubs, social activities, $20 season pass (70+0.
Sugarbush Resort, Warren, Vermont
$199 mid-week season (65+); free skiing (90+).
Waterville Valley Resort*, Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Silver Streaks ski club: clinics, races, social events. 30% discount (65-79), $25 season pass (80+).
Midwest
Crystal Mountain, Traverse City, Michigan
“Retired Not Tired” program: provides local retirees opportunity to return to skiing; actively enjoy winter in the company of peers. 42% discounts for mid-week season passes (56+), $29 season pass (80+).
Mt Zion Ski Hill, Ironwood, Michigan
Ski school clinics, curbside assistance, close-to-lodge parking, restaurant discounts. Free skiing (70+), 20% discount (65-69).
West/Northwest
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Colorado
Close-to-lodge parking, clubs and activities. Single day tickets $25 (70+), season pass $75.
Hogadon Ski Area, Casper, Wyoming
School clinics, equipment carts for gear, clubs and activities. 25% discount (65+), free skiing (70+).
Mt Hood Skibowl*, Government Camp, Oregon
School clinics, mid-week parties, clubs/activities, mid-week motor coach transportation. Free skiing (75+), 30% discount (65-69).
Purgatory Resort, Durango, Colorado
School clinics, equipment carts for gear, mid-week parties, curbside assistance, valet parking, close-to-lodge parking. 30 percent off season pass (65 -79), $120season pass (80+).
Snowbird, Snowbird, Utah
Generous season passes discount; 10% food discount for seniors in all dining facilities (including new Summit at Snowbird). Ask the cashier.
Sundance Mountain Resort, Sundance, Utah
Sundance Senior Ski Group (free for 65+); lift ticket ($15), season pass ($125). Includes all skiing, x-c ski/snowshoe trail facilities, use of lift in summer months. Coaching available on select dates throughout season.
Tahoe Donner, Truckee, California
School clinics and discounts, mid-week parties, close-to-lodge parking, clubs, awards banquets, equipment rental discounts. Free skiing (70+), 45% discount (65-69).
Canada
Lake Louise Ski Resort*, Lake Louise, Alberta
School, equipment discounts. Free skiing (80+), 20% discount (65-79)
All Senior-Friendly resorts will be receiving an award plaque from SeniorsSkiing.com. Many of these resorts report that up to 40 percent of mid-week skiers are seniors taking advantage of fast lift lines, space in the lodge to spread out, as well as other low-cost, or no-cost amenities.
SeniorsSkiing.com salutes these resorts and thanks them for setting an example for the ski industry and for making seniors feel welcome.
Huff Post’s Post 50 Blog features our own Jon Weisberg reporting on the 98 resorts in North American where seniors can ski for free. The list of resorts both large and small were compiled by the National Ski Area Association and also published in Ski History magazine.
Regular subscribers to SeniorsSkiing.com will be emailed a copy of this listing. New subscribers will receive a copy as well as an ebook of historic ski posters.
Don’t be old-fashioned about getting fit. Rose Marie Cleese finds high-quality sites to check out.
You can find anything on the internet: the good, the rad…and the untruthful! So how do you know that what you’re reading on any given website is solid, current information? When you’re embarking on a fitness journey and decide to do some internet research, you’ll find a lot of contradictory information. And you can’t just google something and assume that the top five listings that come up are the latest and greatest. Ever heard of SEO? It stands for “search engine optimization” and there’s a whole army of specialists companies can hire who know the ever-changing ins and outs of getting one’s website to or near the top of a google list.
So what’s a web surfer to do? During my ongoing fitness journey that started six months ago, I developed a short list of criteria in deciding which sites could be trusted and would be genuinely useful:
Here are my “Top 10”—websites I think you’ll find helpful for getting your fitness journey off on the right foot. (And of course we’d like to hear from you about your favorite tried-and-true senior fitness websites!)
The U.S government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an excellent place to start for general health information; the link above provides a lot of information about exercise for seniors.
This site has been around for a long time and is one of the most popular “go to” sites whenever one has a general medical question and wants answers fast. The exercise information you’ll find at the link above is for adults of all ages.
Over the years, I’ve gotten many free samples of newsletters from some of the most-esteemed medical schools in the country. Hands down, the one that provides issue after issue of articles on health, nutrition, fitness, and the day’s hottest health topics that I actually want to read and are relevant to me is the UC-Berkeley Wellness Letter. Its website gives you a taste of what’s in the monthly newsletters, but I highly recommend you subscribe to the actual hard copy newsletter. You won’t be disappointed!
Although this website is geared toward getting visitors to the site to sign up for AARP, there are usually several articles posted that are chock full of good advice for seniors wanting to get or stay fit.
This site has a wealth of exercises, exercise videos, and lots of other fitness advice specifically for seniors.
National Institute for Fitness and Sport/Balance Training
The National Institute for Fitness and Sport develops wellness programs for companies and individuals, but there are also posts that visitors to the site can access; the article at the link above focuses on developing better balance, a key fitness issue with seniors and especially important in skiing and snowboarding!
American Heart Association/Cardio, Strength Training For Seniors
The American Heart Association’s website has a lot of solid, up-to-the-minute information and advice about being heart-healthy, an essential when embarking on a fitness program. The site has many useful articles, such as the one at the link above.
The U.S. government has a site, nutrition.gov, that provides a compendium of articles on the latest news and most reliable information on senior nutrition.
You already know about this great site!!
…and since Thanksgiving and the holidays are just around the corner, what better site to end my list with than my favorite “healthy recipes” site that was started by a freelance photographer who wanted to offer weight watchers the tastiest healthy dishes possible. She more than delivers…happy, healthy eating!
Healthy Recipes From Skinny Taste
Bargains are out there if you look.
Credit: SaratogaSkier
We’ve just discovered GetSkiTickets.com, an online marketplace for advance purchases of discounted lift tickets, lessons, rentals, group lift tickets and season passes. The service is designed for people who know the specific dates they’ll be using the passes.
Here’s a new online way to get discounted ski tickets. Credit: GetSkiTickets.com
Prices tend to be lower when purchased farthest in advance, somewhat like your airline tickets.
Purchasers receive an email confirmation, print out the voucher and present it at the ticket office with a photo ID. The ticket office exchanges ticket(s) for the voucher. Starting this season, the vouchers can be implemented via smart phone and tablet.
The group has 50 US and Canadian resorts participating for 2015-16, some with special rates for seniors.
According to Brandon Quinn, who started the business in 2008 with wife Heather, GetSkiTickets.com doubled in growth last season. While he, understandably, won’t give out sales figures, the reasons for growth are evident: discounted tickets, seeing available pricing options on a single screen, and ease of purchase.
GetSkiTickets.com is easy to navigate and understand. Select your dates, and the cost appears in an oval window with the amount to be saved shown below in red. Participating resorts are listed by state, and each resort shows snowfall for last 48 hours.
Resorts also may offer discounted advance purchase tickets on their own sites, so it’s worth checking that option, as well— similar to what many travellers do when booking air travel and hotels.
Other places to to visit:
GetSkiTickets.com’s larger rival Liftopia.com which also lets skiers buy in advance at 250 ski areas in North America as well as international destinations.
SkiForFree.com specializes in bargains at California ski resorts.
SlidingOnTheCheap.com has a wide range of discounts in areas from famous to obscure.
Every skier knows that simply getting to the mountain can be a hassle. Visiting an online discount aggregator can remove some of the aggravation.
Anyone know about other sites that offer discounted ski passes?
Picking your next skis is not as simple as it used to be.
When buying skis, choose a ski based on matching width and turn radius to the kind of snow you like.
Hard snow: select a ski with a narrow waist – 76mm or narrower.
Soft groomers (or general western front-of-mountain skiing): select a moderate waist – 75 to 85mm.
Resort powder (with firm surface underneath): select a mid-fat waist – 85 to 90mm.
Deep snow (with unpredictable base beneath): select a fat waist – more than 90mm. If you’re big and heavy or carry a heavy pack, go even bigger – 100mm+.
The remaining decisions are length and shape. Most men skiing at resorts can get along nicely on a 165cm ski; most women on 155cm. If you’re stronger than average, go a bit longer, but it won’t buy you a lot of additional stability. If you’re much lighter than average, go a bit shorter. It will pay off in improved agility.
Shape means sidecut. A deeper sidecut with a shorter radius carves a shorter turn. In general, this helps best on groomers. It won’t help in bumps, where you want the tail to release to avoid hanging up at the end of the turn. A good mid-fat has a shape close to 115-80-105, which gives a theoretical radius of about 14 meters and a bearing surface — the ski’s ability to “float” on soft snow — of 1350 cm2. Furthermore, the mid-fat’s agility — its ability to bend easily into a turn — is vastly improved because it has a short turn radius.
Each dimension can be varied in different ski types. Know your preferences.
Credit: Brittanica
What shape should you buy? Start with a “generic” 115-80-105mm shape at your length, then select a wider waist if you’re going to ski a lot of soft snow, or a narrower one if you’re going to ski a lot of hard snow. If you’re an expert who loves to carve, go for a shorter radius. If you want to be able to slide the tail a bit in bumps and tight woods (or if you have to skid a bit when you teach intermediates) opt for a slightly narrower tail.
Seth Masia, former technical editor of SKI magazine, heads the Ski Younger Now program at Vail Village. Ski Younger Now is a retraining program for older skiers, and skiers returning to the sport after recovering from an injury. It teaches low-impact, low-torque techniques to enable efficient skiing in all kinds of terrain.
The workshops are scheduled for December 15-17, 2015; January 12-14, 2016; February 16-18; and March 8-10. To schedule or learn more, email sethmasia@gmail.com or call Vail Village Private Lesson Desk (800) 475-4543 and ask for Seth Masia.
The 2016 Gorsuch catalog just landed on our desk with a cover model wearing $4,487 worth of ski outerwear. Inside are pictures of parkas costing in the thousands and a four-way stretch insulated “ski jean” for $2,399.
Fur hood parka by Bogner: $2,108. Doggie: Priceless.
Credit: Gorsuch
Choices for guys are pricey, but nothing like the trophy garments which, based on the Barbie-looking models, must be targeted at trophy wives.
It’s fun to thumb through the catalog and see how the tippy-top of the one percent is outfitting itself for the coming season. A knit neck warmer to stuff the stocking? $250. A black and grey zipper fleece? $498.
The 2016 Gorsuch has many luxury items for the carriage trade.
Credit: Gorsuch.
Photographed in Aspen, this is the 39th Gorsuch catalog. The company was founded by Renie and David Gorsuch who were members of the 1960 US Olympic Ski Team. According to their website, they fell in love, married, settled in Colorado and had three sons. Today, they have 13 stores at all the right addresses in Aspen, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Park City and Vail (one of which, appropriately, is on Wall Street).
Like most of the lifts at these areas, Gorsuch’s offerings are over the top.
To request a hard copy of the Gorsuch catalog, visit them here. Oh, by the way, it’s free.