Tag Archive for: SeniorsSkiing.com

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Dec. 30)

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Happy New Year! Ski Carefully.  This Week: Fun Videos, Almost Lost Ski Area, Where To Find Our Senior Ski Recommendations.

SKIING magazine editor and ski legend Doug Pfeiffer at a ski show sometime in the early 70s.

Another busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com’s press room.  We hope your holidays were happy, and that, as we head to the New Year, everyone reflects on their blessings and the promise of the year ahead.

We’ve apparently aroused major interest in our readership when it comes to skis for seniors.  We have had a great boost in the number of subscriptions (free, fun), but some new folks are having trouble finding our valuable content assets for subscribers only.  So, we spelled out simple instructions for finding our senior ski recommendations and for downloading our other free offers to subscribers. Just click here for directions.

Correspondent Cathie Judge, a long-ago colleague at SKIING magazine, sent us a nostalgia-tinged video reflecting the classic Harry Leonard ski shows of yesteryear.  Industry veterans will appreciate this view of the personalities that dominated the biz in those inchoate days. Thanks, Cathie.

We also found a cartoon from the 60s that shows how skiing was viewed from Goofy and Mickey’s perspective.  Kinda fun.  Thanks, Walt Disney.

We all know that owning a ski area is a challenging business.  Success depends on many factors that owners don’t have control over. As a result, as the industry grew, many small and medium-sized ski resorts have become “lost” over the years, trails overgrowing and property reverted to condos or other uses.  The great exception in this story is Laurel Mountain in Western Pennsylvania.  Laurel was built around the same time as Cranmore Mountain, NH, another pioneer area.  And, it was backed by some of the same moguls.  Better, the trails were laid out by none other than Hannes Schneider.  Thanks to correspondent Pat McCloskey for bringing this story of reclaiming an almost lost ski area to us.

Next week we will be bring you more resort reviews, advice on using old equipment, a report on Stein Eriksen Day in Utah, and more.

As you enjoy winter sports this week, please remember that SeniorsSkiing.com depends on you telling your friends about us.  There really are more of us everyday, and we aren’t going away.

Happy New Year 2017!

Flipping out at a 60s ski show.

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Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows received 25 inches over the holiday weekend. Wow, what a difference from last year.

COLORADO

In recognition of National Safety Month (January) Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts are hosting special safety-related programs and activities to raise awareness and demonstrate how to be safe on the slopes. Events include joining ski patrol on end-of-day patrol sweeps, demonstrations with avalanche dogs, and increased awareness about helmet use.

MONTANA

As it has for the past decade, Big Sky Resort hosted a holiday dinner for more than 1,500 workers. Resort management served the food and cleaned. This year, Big Sky employs about 600 new out-of-state workers and roughly 114 international employees. The area provides free ski and snowboard lessons and rentals to all employees and their children.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Jackson Ski Touring Center’s Get 4 and Go program is a great way to learn x-country! Participants pay $199, for four days of cross country ski and boot/pole rentals, two group lessons, and two private lessons. Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate of Achievement and a season pass for the rest of winter — a total value of $423. The center also has a variety of other discounted offerings to encourage people to learn x-country and skate skiing. Kids under 10 ski free. Nice outing for parents/grandparents with small children/grandchildren: towable kid-sized sleds. Oh, that aching back!  Thanks to Roger Lohr, publisher of XCSkiResorts.com for the tip.

PENNSYLVANNIA

The Area Agency on Aging of Luzerne and Wyoming Counties hosts a free ski/snowboard/telemark clinic, 9:30 AM, Wednesdays starting January 4 at Jack Frost Mountain. Participants will need equipment and lift ticket. A special luncheon, with presentations about eating well and remaining in shape, is scheduled for January 18.

UTAH

The U.S. Speed Skating Championships will be held at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns (Salt Lake City), January 6-8. The best U.S. short and long track speed skating athletes will attempt to qualify to represent the U.S. in the World Cup and World Cup Sprint circuits. Admission is free.

December’s snowfall has given Utah over 100% of its average snowfall to date. In the past week, many resorts received 2 to 4 feet of snow.

VERMONT

Woodstock Inn & Resort, a quintessential New England ski hostelry, is offering several ski and snowshoe packages. The resort includes the Suicide Six Ski Area.

OTHER

January is Learn to Ski & Ride Month. Seventy-five+ US and Canadian resorts are expected to go for a Guinness World Record for the largest ski and snowboard lesson ever taught. About 6,000 people took part in last year’s record attempt.

MDV Sports is new name of the corporate owner of the Marker, Dalbello and Völkl brands. A company announcement states the three brands will cooperate in the areas of R&D, production, sales and marketing.

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Ski Show Retro Video Brings Back Memories

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If You’ve Been Around The Ski Biz, You Will See Some Familiar Faces.

Flipping out at a 60s ski show.

Thanks to Cathie Judge for sending us this video commemorating the famous Harry Leonard Ski Shows, starting in the late 60s with lots of clips of several giants of the ski industry back in the day.

Ski and Snow Board Show impresario and SeniorsSkiing.com advisory board member Bernie Weichsel, who contributed archival photographs to this video, said that Harry Leonard’s son, Adam Leonard, produced this for Harry’s 90th birthday.

SKIING magazine editor and ski legend Doug Pfeiffer at the show sometime in the early 70s.

So many familiar faces: Barbara Alley, Stein Ericksen, Doug Pfeiffer, Bob Beattie, and many other industry personalities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat McCloskey

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Saving Laurel Mountain From Obscurity

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Western PA Pioneer Area Comes Back To Full Operation.

Fun Fact: Legendary Hannes Schneider designed the trails at Laurel at around the same time he created Cranmore.
Credit: Laurel Mountain

There has been a lot written about the lost ski areas.  For one reason or another, ski areas sometimes are unable to meet the financial or operational requirements and end up closing the lifts.  They fall into disrepair and end up on a list of lost ski areas forever.  But, there is an exception whose light is burning bright this winter.  Laurel Mountain in the Laurel  Highlands of Western  Pennsylvania will once again be spinning the lifts thanks to a grant from the State of Pennsylvania and the financial and operational input of the major ski area in the region—Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

Laurel’s origins date back to 1939 when Pittsburgh financier Richard King Mellon began to plan a ski area for the enjoyment of the members of the  prestigious Rolling Rock Club.  In alliance with Harvey Gibson who was chairman of Manufacturer’s Trust Company and owner of Cranmore Mountain in New Hampshire, they began building the ski area on the western flank of the Laurel Ridge near Ligonier, Pa.  The design of the mountain was created by the world famous Hannes Schneider who was the inventor of the Arlberg method of ski teaching which is the basis of modern alpine technique.  Schneider was brought to the U.S. by Harvey Gibson and the legendary Austrian ski instructor hiked the Laurel Ridge and designed the trails and the signature Wildcat run which is the steepest run in Pennsylvania.

Soon after World War II, the private resort was opened to the public.  “Ski tow” tickets were $1.25 per day to ride the surface lifts.  Private lessons were $5.00 per hour with instructors trained by the famous mountaineer  Ralph “Doc” DesRoches, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division and eventual major patron of the US Ski Team. Laurel grew with the post war boom and in 1947, a new lodge was built at the mountain summit. Laurel was soon the home of the Pennsylvania State Ski Championship founded by Edna and Max Dercum of Penn State University where Max was a professor of forestry.

In 1955, a new lift, perhaps the only one of its kind—a Constam T-bar— became the first top to bottom lift eliminating the need for three rope tows to get to the summit.  In 1956, Laurel was among the first ski resorts to install large scale snowmaking.  In 1963, R.K. Mellon and his sister Sarah Scaife gave the ski area to the State of Pennsylvania which began a new era with Poma lifts replacing rope tows and lights for night skiing.  The first chairlift at Laurel was installed in 1968.  After a number of years of state ownership and mounting competition from Seven Springs and Hidden Valley, Laurel fell to financial troubles and had many years of start/stop operation.  In 2004, Seven Springs entered into an agreement to run Laurel Mountain, but, with many improvements deemed necessary, the resort was once again closed.

Seven Springs eventually purchased the assets of Laurel Mountain and soon began to chart a course for operation once again with SE Group as the primary consultant.  With revitalized snowmaking by HKD, reconstruction of the lodge in 2015-2016, and official groundbreaking for a new quad chairlift, the plan for opening for the 2016-2017 ski season was finally a reality.

Laurel is a gem to the local community. The 1000+ members of the web-based group Friends of Laurel Mountain had a lot of influence in the progress of the construction. It is with great pride that the residents of Ligonier and the ski community in general in Western Pennsylvania welcome the historic Laurel Mountain back to the list of operating ski areas in the U.S

Location:

US 30 East, just outside of historic Ligonier, Pa.  Approximately a one and a half-hour drive east of Pittsburgh.

Trail Map: Click here.

Hours of Operation and Ticket Prices:

Sunday –Wednesday- 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM  Tickets $38.00

Thursday-Sunday- 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM – Tickets $53.00

Holidays- $58.00

Preferred Lodging:

Ligonier Country Inn

Call for reservations: 800-916-4339

Dining:

There are many dining establishments in the town of Ligonier including the Ligonier Tavern, my favorite,  just off the town square.

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Goofy And Mickey On The Art Of Skiing

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This Throw-Back Cartoon Reveals The Stereotypes Of Skiing In The 70s.

Credit: Walt Disney Productions (Of Course!)

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Where To Find Skis For Senior Recommendations

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Subscribers Want To Know.  Here’s Where To Find The List.

On December 15th, we simultaneously announced our new list of skis for seniors, created in collaboration with realskiers.com, on Huffington Post and SeniorsSkiing.com. Since then, we have received a number of inquiries as to where to find the list.

If you are a subscriber, simply go to the top navigation bar, click on Community.  Then select Subscriber-Only Content.  In the drop down menu, you will find SeniorsSkiing.com’s special offerings for subscribers. Click what you want to see and download.  You will be asked to confirm your email address and, bingo, the content you want will be available as a PDF download.

If you are not a subscriber, consider signing up.  It’s free, we have a lot of content in our inventory of stories, covering ski history and heroes, destination reviews, gear and clothing recommendations and lots of other senior-focused articles. You can find ski clubs near you, locate where seniors can ski for free, download a 16-page eBook of historic ski posters, and find instructions for getting serious discounts from top clothing and gear brands through Experticity.com.

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This Week in SeniorsSkiing.com (12/23)

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And To All, A Good Night.

This week, as we celebrate our respective holidays and share in our love of Winter, we bring you a short and beautiful video that gives new meaning to the idea of night skiing. There’s a piece on Utah’s Powder Mountain. And Short Swings! is loaded with interesting developments and product information.

In case you missed it, we’re resending our animated greeting.

 

 

MOONLINE Mathieu Bijasson
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Moonline: Night Skiing In a Whole New Light!

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Holiday Cheer.

MOONLINE Mathieu Bijasson

Enjoy this short, uplifting, award-winning video. Cozy snowbound cabin. Illuminated skis and poles. Powder. Moon. What a joyful pleasure! Moonline

Jon Weisberg

Powder Mountain: The Cuba of Utah Ski Areas

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Visit Soon, It’s About to Change.

Before the end of this season, Powder Mountain, Utah’s slightly out of the way ski area will become the largest in all of North America with 8464 acres, surpassing in size Park City (7300 acres), Whistler Blackcomb (8171 acres) and Big Sky (8000 acres).

School bus picks up on road on right.

Even without the 1000 new acres that will be available with the completion of two new chairs, the place is vast and under skied. One reason is limited day and season pass sales; another is because of its distance. It takes a little over an hour to get there from Salt Lake City, much less if you’re travelling from Ogden, about 30 miles north of SLC.

Powder Mountain is one of the places I head for after a classic Utah deep powder dump. Even days after a dump, fresh, untracked areas are waiting to be explored.

The new owners are planning a new village that will give the place more of a resort feel. Currently condos are available on the mountain. Other lodging and restaurant options require a short drive.

Much of Powder Mountain’s acreage is gentle, but know where to look, and you’ll find ample steeps to keep you well entertained. The area also offers a variety of guided and unguided cat and heli experiences.

Skiing trees at Utah’s Powder Mountain

 

I’m not sure how the new village and lifts will change the feel of the place. In many ways the current Powder Mountain reminds me of skiing as a kid in Vermont. The lodges aren’t fancy, but they serve up tasty and reasonably priced food. There’s a genuinely friendly and helpful vibe. I don’t know if its unique to Powder Mountain, but old-fashioned school busses help convey skiers from one part of the area up a canyon and back to the lifts.

Seniors (65-74) pay $60 for a day pass. Free skiing if you’re 75 or older!!!!

Powder Mountain might be like Cuba. It’s old fashioned in a highly appealing way. There’s a tremendous amount to enjoy. I recommend visiting before too much changes. It will change for the better, but for now, Powder Mountain should be high on every skier’s Utah list.

Tamsin Venn

The Ski Trains Return!

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Car Free Means Care Free for Seniors.

The newly Revived Winter Park Express. All Aboard! Credit: Amtrak

The newly revived Winter Park Express. All Aboard!
Credit: Amtrak

Remember ski trains? Back in the day, trains were the way to get away from the city and into the mountains.

Skiers unloading in Grandview, circa 1946.

Skiers unloading in Grandview, circa 1946.

Denver skiers were thrilled last March when the ski train resumed service from Denver to Winter Park, CO, to help celebrate the ski area’s 75th birthday. Officials had ended the service in 2009 due to expense and liability. But regular weekend service resumes for the 2016-17 season Jan. 7. www.amtrak.com/winterparkexpress.

Adios to I-70 and the dreaded “red snake” down from the mountains, slick roads, zero visibility, death grip on the steering wheel, leaving you wondering whether it’s OK to use the runaway truck lane yourself.

Ski trains make a lot of sense for us seniors. Go ahead relax, get up and walk around, visit the dining car, arrive rested not rattled, and perhaps meet some fellow comrades to ski with. Then, on the way home, knock down a Mountain Stream Ale, no need to keep your wits about you. Plus, Amtrak offers seniors 62 years of age and older a 15 percent discount.

Here are some other “ski trains” to help you get right to the lifts car-free:

* Salt Lake City skiers have to be the most spoiled skiers in skidom with major resorts like Alta, Snowbird, and Park City a 45-minute drive from downtown via car or bus. But why not take the train? The UTA Front Runner rail service takes skiers from downtown Salt Lake’s North Temple Station to Ogden in less than an hour for skiing at Snowbasin or Powder Mountain. www.rideuta.com

* Lake Tahoe skiers and riders in California can ride the Polar Express that goes from Emeryville/San Francisco Amtrak station to Truckee in about five hours later to nearby Northstar. The scenic ride through the snow-swept Sierra Nevadas sure beats I-80 closures due to snow. No need to “seek an alternate route.” www.amtrak.com

* Leave your car at home and take the Downeaster to Portland, ME from Boston. From there a shuttle from the Bethel Inn Resort will meet you at the train station and whisk you off to Bethel and skiing at Sunday River.

* Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Mass., encourages you to “Ski the T.” New this year Boston skiers and snowboarders can take the commuter rail (ski racks included) from Boston’s North Station to the new “Wachusett Station” only ten minutes from the mountain. On weekends, a ski shuttle will meet you there. www.wachusett.com.

* In the Adirondacks in upstate New York, the Gore Mountain Ski Train connects Saratoga Springs to North Creek and a free shuttle bus takes skiers from the North Creek Station to Gore Mountain’s Base Lodge Friday-Sunday. That service started a few years ago after a 50-year hiatus. Does anyone remember riding this train back then?

* Amtrak’s Vermonter hauls skiers and riders to Brattleboro where they can hop on the free local MOOver shuttles to the Mt. Snow base lodge or various local inns. It’s easy – just tell the driver where you need to go and the driver will be sure you connect with the right bus.

* Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express takes car-free seniors from Penn Station to Rutland, VT. The Killington Express Shuttle will pick you up at the depot and take you your final half hour to Killington.

Riding the rails has a long tradition in skidom, and the appeal is still strong.

Thanks to www.liftopia.com for some of these route suggestions.

[Editor note:  Thanks to the Canadian Ski Instructor Alumni Association for passing long this “lost footage” of real ski trains from 1939. From the Governor Francis P. Murphy Estate.]

Ski train unloads in North Conway, NH, circa 1946. Credit: Dick Smith

Ski train unloads in North Conway, NH, circa 1946.
Credit: Dick Smith

 

Peter McCarville

The Value of Guided Skiing

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Try It, You’ll Like It OR Let Me Toot My Horn.

Ski Guide Peter McCarville, who lives in western Colorado, assumes a pose at Snowmass. Credit: Peter McCarville

Ski Guide Peter McCarville, who lives in western Colorado, assumes a pose at Snowmass.
Credit: Peter McCarville

When I tell people that I am a guide for skiing and hiking I, basically, receive two different responses. The first response goes something like “cool, I want your job, ….”. The second response goes something like “why does someone need a guide for skiing, that sounds silly….?”. I definitely like the second question because it is an opportunity to make my case for hiring a guide when skiing anywhere in the world. I know it is popular and common to hire a guide for heli-skiing or for skiing off-piste in Europe, but I want to make the case for hiring a guide or going with a guided group when on a domestic (US) ski trip.

In March 2016,  I met some friends in Summit County, Colorado, to ski at Copper and Breckenridge. I have not skied at these places in years but considered them my home mountains when in my 20s. I generally am a very good route finder and have good orientation skills. Hell, I am a geologist by profession and a guide in these kinds of terrains with guests! On this trip, however, I found that I was having lots of trouble finding the best terrain and snow for my interests. I just could not remember the mountains well enough to maximize my fun. In addition to the snowstorm we were skiing in, there were some new high peaks at Breckenridge that I had never skied. Combine that with thin cover (although we just had 36” of snow in three days) and flat light, and I found myself tentative on some of the slopes. My buddy, with whom I was skiing, considered Breck his home mountain. However, he is my stockbroker, not a guide. At numerous times, we were lost and not in the bowl he thought we were in. Once he lacked the information to tell me about the thin cover on a line I was skiing, and I had a nice chat with some shallowly buried rocks at about 30 mph. Also, the lines at the lifts! Why are we at this lift, I said to myself. OK, I should have known; weekend in March, Breck, Spring break, and he is a broker, not a guide.

As a guide, I show my guests the best line to ski on a hill. I describe the fall line, the band of rocks to avoid, and where the lift lines aren’t. I also look out for their safety as well as many other small helps.

Although ski guiding in Europe is quite common, in the US we have very few listings of guides for skiing. Backcountry guides are available via companies that provide Mountain Guiding Services. The best ways to engage a ski guide at a ski area for the day or longer are: 1) word of mouth, 2) a search service like toursbylocals.com, or 3) a mountains’ concierge service. The free on-mountain guiding services, offered by larger ski mountains, may be short in duration, but just may suit your needs.  On the other hand, a personal, paid, guiding service is a completely different experience. Remember, a guide is worth his or her weight if they place YOU on the right terrain and snow conditions, in an unfamiliar area, to meet your skiing ability. And, keep you safe doing it.

 

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SIA Asks For Your Input For Industry Survey

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Snowsports Industries America Is Conducting Research And You Can Help.

SeniorsSkiing.com is honored to be asked to support a special survey being conducted by SIA.  It’s all about Alpine boot buying.  If you respond and are selected, you might win some cool prizes from SIA as a reward, including boots, cameras and t-shirts of all kinds.

We’ve taken the survey, and it’s short and to the point.  Please let’s give SIA a hand and provide some input.

Click Here To Take The SIA Survey.

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (12/16)

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Find Ski Buddies, Ski For Free, More Gizmo Gift Ideas, Mt. Bachelor’s Appeal, New Backcountry Area Open and Short Swings!

We have some terrific news for all readers of SeniorsSkiing.com.  Through our reader surveys, we know that many readers are looking for skiing companions.  We thought of different ways to fill that need from boosting our FORUM to literally individually matching people who wrote in to us. Finally, we came up with a much better idea.

We’ve formed a relationship with the National Ski Council Federation which is an umbrella agency of regional ski councils comprised of hundreds of local ski clubs.  That means you can look up a ski club near you, go on a group outing or trip to a distant resort, join, make friends, and transform your outdoor winter experience. We think this is a really important addition to the value we bring to our readers, and it is available to anyone who comes to our site; you don’t have to be a subscriber to access the NSCF page which is under the COMMUNITY menu pick.

But, as a reminder, we’ve just created a Subscriber-Only area which contains valuable information that we’ve worked hard to compile and produce.  The Subscriber-Only menu can be found from the top navigation menu.  Go to COMMUNITY, and in the drop-down you will find a menu pick.  You will be asked to confirm your email address.  No Password! You will then have access to…

  • Our list of skis recommended just for seniors developed in collaboration with realskiers.com
  • An inventory of 108 ski resorts that offer FREE skiing to seniors, thanks to the help of the National Ski Areas Association
  • Instructions for accessing and signing up with Experticity, a portal to many deep discounts on top gear and clothing brands specifically targeted to our readers
  • A downloadable, 16-page historic ski poster collection we curated with the support of the International Ski History Association.

Look for more Subscriber-Only content coming soon.

Where Seniors Can Ski For Free

We’ve just posted the 2016-2017 list of 108 ski areas in the US where seniors can ski for free. This is a Subscriber-Only asset, and you can find it under COMMUNITY. As with last year’s list, please be sure to check with the ski resort to ensure the listing is accurate. Some areas start as early as 60 while free skiing for others starts at 80+.

Last Minute Gizmo Gifts

Washington, DC, based SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Val E brings us some highly practical gift  ideas for connecting with people when you’re in back bowls, back country or remote trails. Did you know a low-cost device can add local texting and location capabilities to your SmartPhone even out of cell-tower range?

Luxury Yurts In Backcountry

Speaking of backcountry, correspondent Harriet Wallis provides you with an overview of Whisper Ridge, a brand new Cat skiing area opening this season in Utah.  Aside from the 100 square miles of skiing, the new resort features lodging in luxury yurts. And we mean luxury.

Mt. Bachelor A Friend To Senior Skiers

Finally, Seattle-based correspondent John Nelson introduces us to Mt. Bachelor in our first official Resort Review of the season.  Mt. Bachelor is opening a new lift this weekend, check out the view.  Also, John met up with a 98 year old skier who continues to make turns on what he says is a “darn good mountain.”

Bernie Weichsel Honored

We also want to highlight Bernie Weichsel, a SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Council member and snow sports industry leader.  Bernie was honored with a lifetime achievement award by YES (Youth Enrichment Services), a Boston-based organization that provides opportunities for outdoor adventures for urban youth.

Next week, we’ll be looking at a return of the Ski Trains of yore, why guided skiing makes sense, some holiday fun and other stuff.

As usual, please tell your friends about us.  There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Credit: Parents Magazine

 

 

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Short Swings!

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Snow Sports Industry Leader Bernie Weichsel Is Honored

SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Council member and Snow Sports industry leader, Bernie Weichsel, was honored with the YES Lifetime Achievement Award in Boston last weekend. YES (Youth Enrichment Services) serves the urban youth of greater New England by providing outdoor adventures in skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, canoeing and camping.  Bernie has been an outstanding supporter of YES for more than 40 years. Bernie’s generosity has provided thousands of Boston youth with the opportunity to experience the outdoors and benefit from enrichment programs at YES. We are proud of you, Bernie!

ISHA Fund Raising Campaign

If you’ve not yet made an annual contribution to the International Ski History Association, please consider a donation today. It’s fully deductible in the United States for the 2016 tax year if posted by December 31. Your ISHA contribution will support the expenses incurred in publishing Skiing History magazine, maintaining the skiinghistory.org Website, and running the annual ISHA Awards program.

Skiing History was recently featured in the Huffington Post as a unique holiday gift! Click here to read the article by Jon Weisberg of SeniorsSkiing.com. And  to send a Skiing History gift, just fill in the gift subscription form. For an even better deal, give your favorite away-from-home student a digital subscription for just $29.

Canada

Quebec City has announced it has won the USA Today online vote for Best Winter Wonderland in North America.  We’ve been to the famous Winter Carnival in January, and it is an amazing and festive celebration of ice and snow.

Monte-Sainte-Ann and Stoneham in Quebec are celebrating incredible snow conditions with 55 received since the beginning of the season. Christmas activities are starting. Why go to Europe when Quebec is a drive or quick flight away?

Colorado

Sunlight Mountain Resort celebrates it’s 50th anniversary with the most expensive lift ticket in the country.  The $700 per ticket price includes one full day of skiing at the resort as well as a pair of limited edition Sunlight 50th anniversary Meier skis and a ticket to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs. The $600 version gets you a 50th anniversary snowboard.

Utah

Deer Valley Resort has won the distinction of the United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards for the fourth consecutive year. The World Ski Awards’ 2016 Ski Oscars winners represent excellence in ski tourism and the leaders shaping the future of the ski industry.

Enjoy midweek skiing and snowboarding for free at Snowbasin Resort when you fly Alaska Airlines into Salt Lake International Airport. From December to April, snow enthusiasts can “Fly Alaska, Ski Free” or simply take a scenic gondola ride at Snowbasin Resort for free within 24 hours of landing at the Salt Lake International Airport Tuesday through Thursday.

Quad Wednesdays are back at Brighton this year! With a charitable donation, you can purchase a lift ticket for only $20. December 14, 2016:  Donate a warm article of clothing such as hats, jackets, pants or anything that will keep someone warm this winter.  Proceeds go to The Road Home Charity. December 21, 2016: Donate a grocery bag of non-perishable food items.  Proceeds go to the Utah Food Bank.

Solitude Mountain Resort is set to host a U.S. Grand Prix/FIS Snowboard World Cup and FIS Skicross NorAm Cup January 19-22, 2017, as part of a test event for the 2019 FIS Freestyle, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships. The event will be the second stop of the U.S. Grand Prix tour for the 2016-17 season and the first major international skiing and snowboarding competition Solitude has hosted.

After two years of construction and licensing, the New World Distillery will be opening this week in Eden, UT. The state of the art distillery is featuring its “Oomaw” gin, soon to be followed by “agave
spirits and Ogden Valley Vodka.  New World will also offer classes in distilling in the Spring.

California

The second season has started for the Mountain Playground Group, a coalition of nine community and independent ski areas from California to Maine. Under the Mountain Rider’s Alliance, these ski areas have teams up to increase market awareness, share in best practices and identify expense-reducing initiatives.

Participating ski areas include Arctic Valley, AK; Bald Mountain, ID; Beartooth Basin; MT/WY; Elk Ridge Ski and Outdoor Recreation, AZ; Hurricane Ridge, WA; Mt Abram, ME; Mt Timothy and Phoenix Mountain, British Columbia.

New Hampshire

SkiNH reports that over the weekend of Dec 10-11 ski resorts received eight inches of fluffy stuff, and it was still coming down.  Check with SkiNH for latest conditions.  Season on in New Hampshire!

Jackson Ski Touring Center opened Dec. 12 with both classic and skate skiing on nine out of 55 trails (29 km groomed) thanks to a cross-country snowstorm.  Also, Jackson XC has announced a series of money-saving packages for beginners as well as more experienced XC skiers.

Vermont

Stowe’s $80 million Adventure Center at Spruce Peak sees its first winter. The sleek center is base camp for the resort’s children’s programs, from day care to ski and snowboard lessons. It’s also home to family-friendly eating in The Canteen and the indoor Stowe Rocks Climbing Center.

Maine

Sunday River skiers will find a new Locke Mountain top terminal on the triple, but will have to wait until 2017-’18 before the Spruce Peak Triple is replaced with a $2.1 million fixed-grip chair.

Massachusetts

Wachusett in Princeton is now more readily accessible for Boston-area skiers, thanks to the MBTA’s new Wachusett Commuter Rail Station in West Fitchburg on the Fitchburg Line.

John Nelson

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Mt. Bachelor, OR

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New Lift Opening On Dec 16 Makes Mt. Bachelor Sixth Largest In US.

The powdery slopes of Mt. Bachelor await skiers at the top of the new Cloudchaser Express lift. Credit: Jon Tapper

The season seems to go on forever at Central Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor, where Pacific storms dump huge annual totals, and the upper-elevation slopes hold onto the snow.

From November to late May, Mt. Bachelor keeps the lifts spinning for an ardent group of skiing faithful.

Among them are some dedicated seniors.

John Flynn, 66, of Sunriver, Ore., logged 190 ski days last season, and he’s busy skiing nearly every day this year.

“I just love it there,” says Flynn. “You pull into the parking lot, andyou’re in paradise.”

A view of Mt. Bachelor from the West Village parking lot.
Credit: John Nelson

Art Vinall, a Bend artist, is another senior keeping his slope dreams alive. At age 98, he’s still shredding at Mt. Bachelor.

“It’s a darn good mountain, and they usually have great snow. I learned to ski in the East, where it’s always so icy. This is so much better,” he says.

Mt. Bachelor is growing larger this year with the opening in mid-December of the new Cloudchaser Express lift on the mountain’s southeast side. The resort now has more than 4,300 acres of lift-served terrain, making it the sixth largest ski area in the U.S.

Snow, terrain and more

  • Location: Bachelor is about 22 miles from booming mountain town of Bend, Ore., on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
  • Snowfall: The volcanic slopes of Mt. Bachelor receive 460 inches a year, and with a base area elevation of 6,350 feet, the snow hangs around well into spring.
  • Terrain, lifts: About 50 percent of the mountain is rated intermediate or easy; 50 percent is rated most difficult or extreme. Most of Bachelor’s lower slopes are rated intermediate, making it “a great family resort,” says Stirling Cobb, marketing and communications manager. Seven of the resort’s 11 chairlifts are high-speed quads, handling large crowds easily on big days.
  • Vertical: 3,365 feet from Mt. Bachelor summit (9,065 feet) to the base of the Northwest Express lift (5,700 feet).
  • Nordic: Bachelor offers 56 kilometers of trails, with high-quality upper-elevation snow in a wilderness setting.

Lot to lift access

  • Parking: Three sprawling parking lots serve the Mt. Bachelor complex. The main lot is at the West Village and offers a gear drop-off zone. Close-up, permit parking costs $20 per day.
  • Public transportation: Bachelor Shuttle operates regular bus service between Bend and the resort.
  • Accommodations: No accommodations at the base; stay in the happening town of Bend, with an amazing selection of lodging, dining and shopping.

Culture

  • The vibe: Outdoorsy Oregon meets upscale resort. Nearby Bend is a popular tourist destination and is known as “Beer City, USA” for its love of craft brews.
  • Dining: Beyond the base day lodges, consider eating at the mid-mountain Pine Marten Lodge. It’s in a beautiful location just above treeline and houses a sit-down cafe, Scapolo’s (Italian for “Bachelor”).

Bottom line

  • You’ll pay for all that lift-capacity and vertical: Adult passes are $92. Seniors (65-69) are $76, and Senior Plus (those 70 and older) are $52.
  • Bachelor has it covered from every angle. It’s a high-end resort with lots of well-groomed, family-friendly runs, but also offers challenging steeps on the upper mountain.
  • This may be the best resort anywhere for spring skiing, where you can grab some turns in the morning and choose another activity (name it: mountain biking, kayaking, golfing, fly-fishing, beer-drinking) in the afternoon.

Trail Map Click Here

Webcam Click Here

A skate-skier glides on the trails at Dutchman Flat near Mt. Bachelor.
Credit: John Nelson

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Val E

Electronic Gizmo Gift Ideas Keep You Connected

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Wander, But Don’t Get Lost.

 

“Why am I here? What happened?”

I was lying on my back in a narrow 20-ft deep snow hole. My concerned buddy was looking at me from above. I took a few photos and started thinking how to get out of my snow jail without ropes or means of communication with ski patrol. The conditions were tricky, but I was lucky to quickly struggle up and out and still managed to enjoy the rest of the day on Whistler’s magic slopes.

But what if I were alone or out of sight of my ski group? Bad things do happen: medical emergencies, collisions, getting lost. Staying connected could be crucial. We know that some areas, especially in the mountains, have limited or no cell coverage. So, what are the options?

Radios

Two-way radios still rock in situations when you need to contact other people (who also have radios), including ski patrol, EMS, and police. The coverage depends on the power of a device and terrain conditions. In the mountains covered with trees, the coverage could be 1-3 miles.

  • Midland GTX1000VP4. Very affordable, reliable classic radio with NOAA Weather Alert and a range of up to 36 miles in a “line-of-sight”. About $59.00 from Amazon.
  • Backcountry Access BC Link Group Communication System.  Specially designed for harsh conditions of skiing, not very cheap, but simple, waterproof, and reliable. REI lists for $149.00
  • goTenna Text and Location Communicator.  A very compact and light device (0.11 ounce) lets your SmartPhone text and send your location info to other people even in the zones with no cell coverage. Technically the range is 2-5 miles, depending on conditions. Sold in pairs.  $149.95 from REI.

Satellite GPS 

GPS devices rely on satellite connections. Some devices provide only geolocation info, others let you send and/or receive text messages practically anywhere in the world on cell phones or computers.

  • SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger.  Standalone device which can automatically send messages with your coordinates to your family or emergency responders.  Should work anywhere in USA. Requires subscription. Usually about $149 but might get a Holiday deal with subscription sign up.
  • DeLorme AG-008727-201 InReach Explorer Two Way Satellite Communicator with Navigation.  Send and receive text messages via Iridium satellites. Built in GPS and compass help to navigate around. In case of emergency, you can trigger an SOS message. Working together with your cell phone, DeLorme gives you an access to the maps. Requires subscription. About $390 online.
  •  Suunto Ambit3 Peak Sapphire GPS Multifunction Heart Rate Monitor.  GPS locator and a heart rate monitor in a shape of a wristwatch from a seasoned Finnish manufacturer. Your device will provide navigation info, heart rate, altitude, speed, and more data, which you can download and analyze later. Prices vary online from about $300 up.  Shop around.

No matter what device you use, keep it dry and as warm as possible. Put it in a pocket next to your skin, unless you pull it out very often. Regularly charge or replace the batteries, otherwise it is a useless piece of equipment.

A few companies are making gloves and even insulated gloves and mittens which are touch screen compatible. Now if you need to answer your phone, you don’t need to take off your gloves!  Click here for some examples.

Harriet Wallis

Whisper Ridge: 100 Square Miles Of Snowcat Skiing In Utah

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It’s New This Year And Something To Shout About.

Helo to cat, cat to snow fields, skiing and glamorous camping, aka “glamping”.
Credit: Whisper Ridge

It’s the largest backcountry resort in the country: 3,300 feet vertical, 300+ average inches of snow, and luxury yurt “glamping.”

Check your bucket list. Better add Whisper Ridge. Peace, quiet, the hush of snow, make your own tracks, and the vastness of mountain ranges virtually to yourself.

Are you drooling?

Whisper Ridge is located about 60 miles north of Salt Lake City and close to Ogden, Utah. More specifically, this heavenly skiing is between towns appropriately named Eden and Paradise – names given by early settlers.

The area is so remote that Whisper Ridge flies its guests by helicopter to the cat base and from there it’s cat skiing from eight custom PistenBullys until your legs fall off. Then it’s overnight glamping in well appointed yurts.

Roughing it in a Whisper Ridge yurt. Yes, it’s a yurt.
Credit: Whisper Ridge

But how did 100 square miles of skiing go unnoticed until now? It began with owner Dan Lockwood’s vision. His environmental education and life-long career of land management on several continents was the spark. Locally, he was saddened that ranches that have been in families for eons were being chopped up and sold to developers. He wanted to make an impact.

Lockwood owns a portion of the land, and with the cooperation of adjoining landowners, he put together the 100 square mile tract of ridges, forests and meadows.

One day several years ago, Lockwood was skiing fresh, untracked snow with his son Cort. They stopped for a rest, and Lockwood asked: “Do you know what’s wrong with this?”

“There’s nothing wrong with this,” Cort told his dad. “This is perfect.”

But Lockwood continued. What’s wrong is that we aren’t sharing this with anyone, he said.

And thus Whisper Ridge was born from Lockwood’s passion to preserve the land and share the untouched wilderness experience with others. Last year was a test season. This is its first year of operation.

Check the video below or click here to whet your back country appetite.

For more information and reservations, click here. 

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

Whisper Ridge Cat Skiing from Whisper Ridge Cat Skiing on Vimeo.

mikemaginn

Find Ski Buddies Near You Through NSCF

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Now Our Readers Can Pinpoint Local Ski Clubs. Check Out Their Events And Activities.

Clubs rule. Ski with friends and the fun begins. Austria circa 1920s.

In Flying Solo, a recent article by XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr, the joys of solitary skiing, nordic or alpine, are highlighted.  From the comments, many readers agree.  There are definitely benefits to going at your own speed, especially when you ski with people whose skills are at different levels.

On the other hand, wouldn’t it be great if you could find like-level companions to ski trip with? Share costs, enjoy group discounts, even socialize and form friendships with? Well, in last spring’s Subscriber Survey, we found that 49.33% of respondents wanted to find other skiers in their region to ski with.  That’s a huge need we identified in the senior sport sport enthusiast population.

With those needs in mind, we approached the National Ski Council Federation to see if we could work together to bring its resources together with our subscribers search for ski pals.

The National Ski Council Federation is an umbrella organization that serves 29 ski council across the US, providing communications, education and benefits to member councils.  Those councils are comprised of many ski clubs with a total membership of about 300,000 folks.  These ski clubs plan trips, both locally and to distant resorts, providing serious discounts on lift tickets, instruction and other expenses. You can decide to join a club or join a club’s trips to see if membership might be for you.

If you want to check out ski club activities near you, just go to SeniorsSkiing.com’s top Navigation Menu bar, click on COMMUNITY, then pick FIND SKI BUDDIES WITH NSCF.  There you will find a map you can click on that will take you to the NSCF site where you can drill down to discover ski clubs in your region, state, and city. From there, you can identify a club officer’s email.  Connection made.

Now don’t be shy.  Ask a friend to join you.  This might open up a whole new and improved snow sport experience.

All of this is offered to SeniorsSkiing.com readers, including non-subscribers, at no cost.

Special thanks to the National Ski Council Federation executives who worked with us to create this link.

The National Ski Council Federation can connect you to a local ski club.

 

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (Dec. 9)

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Subscriber-Only News, Gift Ideas, Season Photo Book, Are SmartPhones Upstaging Ski Talk (?)

A Message To Our Subscribers

It’s been a busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com headquarters. Not only is the ski season ramping up everywhere, the holiday gift rush in acceleration mode.  And we have some great news for our subscribers.

As you may be aware, SeniorsSkiing.com has created a number of free and valuable benefits for our subscribers.  These include:

  • Skis recommended for seniors, developed in collaboration with realskiers.com.
  • Ski resorts in North America where seniors can ski for free, developed with the help and support of the National Ski Areas Association.
  • Discounts and really great deals on top brands from Experticity which has created a special “team” just for our subscribers.
  • A 16-page eBook collection of historic ski posters, compiled with the International Ski History Museum.

Up till now, these were offered as exclusive downloads to new subscribers when they received their welcome email, the final step in the subscription process. We couldn’t put these on the magazine’s site because they were meant for subscribers only, and we didn’t have a “firewall”.

But many subscribers either missed or lost the email, forgot to download the special content offerings or just didn’t know we had these benefits available.  So, we had to respond to many individual requests from existing subscribers to send these offerings well after they subscribed because they were intentionally not on the site.

Over the past months, we’ve worked with our technical consultant—the wonderful Alice Winthrop of Gatehouse Web Design—to develop a way for our special content to reside on the site without the need for a username and password for subscribers. We don’t like passwords, and we bet neither do you.

Here’s the new pop-up to access Subscriber-Only Content. Only your email is necessary to enter.

The answer is simple.  We’ve created a Subscriber-Only Content area.  To access it, go to the top menu bar, click on COMMUNITY.  Under that, click on SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.  Then, click the download you want.  You will see this pop-up appear that asks you to confirm your email address. Enter it, and you will get your download.

Bear in mind, this is brand new and we may have a few wrinkles.  Your patience is appreciated if you run into issues. Nevertheless, it is a huge step forward in getting our special offers and benefits into the hands of our readers.

Let us know what you think.

 

 

 

 

Gift Ideas For Senior Skiers

Also this week, co-publisher Jon Weisberg has an article in the Huffington Post with gift ideas for seniors that we think you’ll find interesting and…different.  Check it out.

Of course, for subscribers-only, you have access to serious discounts from many top brands through Experticity. All you have to do is register as a SeniorsSkiing.com subscriber.  Those instructions can be found in our new Subscriber-Only Content area.

Document Your Season In A Photo Book

Utah-based correspondent Jan Brunvand advises us to start the season with the goal of producing a photo book of each day you head out either on slopes or trails.  He’s been creating a record of his season as a book for years.  Find out how easy it is to do.

Are SmartPhones The Ruination Of “Ski Talk”?

Correspondent Harriet Wallis has clearly drawn a line in the snow.  SmartPhones and skiing don’t mix.  She tells us about an incident where technology came between people, detracting from one of most pleasant aspects of snow sports.

Next Week

Interested in skiing with others?  The results of our Spring Survey 2016 revealed that many of our subscribers are looking for skiing companions.  We’ve been working with the National Ski Council Federation to show you how easy it is to connect with a ski club.

And much more news and interesting ideas.

Stick with us, tell your friends, share our online magazine, please.  And remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Early One Pole Skiers

 

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Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced that five of its skiers were named to the 2017 U.S. Alpine Ski Team. All are part of the area’s development system and have been successful in International Ski Federation (FIS) competition.

COLORADO

Numerous Colorado resorts offer free skiing for young children—a definite benefit for grandparents taking the kids for a ski holiday. Ages, dates, and other details vary by resort, and are worth checking on line or when making reservations. Among the resorts offering this perk: Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Loveland, Purgatory Resort, Steamboat, and Telluride.

MONTANA

Absaroka Dogsled Treks is based out of Chico Hot Springs in Pray, MT, about an hour from Bridger Bowl and two hours from Big Sky. The outfitter offers tours, ranging from $125 for a six mile trip (small kids free) to $450 for the day. Chico Hot Springs has a great natural hot pool where the community gathers to soak and an outstanding kitchen, recognized far beyond this little wonder, 45 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.

NEW ENGLAND 

Open Snow, the very excellent snow forecasting site, has reported that New England is in for “an arctic blast” for the next 10 days.  That means big time snowmaking.  But beware, it’s also going to be windy up there this weekend, so bundle up.

NEW YORK

Internationally renown artist Jeff Koons, 61 and a nascent snowboarder, designed the graphics for 50 boards that will be sold for $5,000 each at a fund raiser in New York City for the Chill Foundation, a charity established by the founders of Burton snowboards. The foundation helps children from underserved communities learn through competitive sport.

UTAH

Salt Lake City is offering the Ski City Super Pass with discounted tickets at Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude, free public transportation to get there, and discounted rentals. Available with lodging packages at participating Salt Lake City hotels. Staying in Salt Lake City and skiing different areas is a great way to experience the Wasatch Front. Many restaurant and entertainment options.

Park City’s KPCW radio interviewed SeniorsSkiing.com co-publisher, Jon Weisberg about (what else?) seniors who ski and why they’re important to skiing. The podcast can be heard by clicking here.  Jon’s comments start at 39:00 if you want to skip ahead.

Utah Olympic Park in Park City will host luge athletes from over 20 countries competing for a chance at a World Cup title, December 16 and 17, 2016.

WYOMING

Moe’s Original Bar B Que opened in Jackson Hole. FeaturingSouthern soul food, the chain resto was named one of the Top 10 Rib Joints in the U.S.

OTHER

Patagonia is offering 50% past-season products. The on-line deal is good for Tuesday, Dec 13, only.

 

seniorsskiing

Still More Gifts For Senior Skiers: Huff Post

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SeniorsSkiing.com’s Jon Weisberg Publishes Ideas For Holiday Gifts In Huffington Post.

Still wondering about a gift for your favorite senior snow sport enthusiast?  Co-publisher Jon Weisberg has some creative ideas that go beyond gloves and long underwear.  Jon is an outside-the-box kind of guy, and his gift idea are quite clever.

Click here for his article on gifts for senior skiers just published in the Huffington Post.

Many of these gift ideas can be purchased online and require shipping. Which means you have to get busy.  So if you’re going to browse and order, do it asap.

Why are there two of them?
Credit: @TahoeLight.com

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More Gift Idea Discounts For SeniorsSkiing.com Subscribers Only

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Check Out Serious Pro Discounts For Gear and Clothing From Experticity Our Online Partner.

Just a sample of the brands on Ski Influencers available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.

Here’s just a sample of the brands on Ski Influencers available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.

SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers enjoy access to discounts on gear and clothing from the Experticity.com website which hosts links to many top brands.

To get these discounts, you have to be a subscriber.

If you are NOT yet a subscriber, just sign up using the pop-up or click here to subscribe. You will get a confirmation email, followed by a welcome email with instructions for accessing our Subscriber-Only content. Subscription is free, and you can also download our list of ski recommended for seniors compiled with another valued partner, realskiers.com.

If you ARE a subscriber and you missed sign up instructions from earlier emails, or you have not yet signed up with Experticity for discounts, please go to the top Navigation Bar>Community>Subscriber-Only Content. You will can download instructions for registering with Experticity.  It’s pretty simple; you just enter your email and access code.

Here are some more brands in the Ski Influencer group.  This is just a sample; there are lots more.

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Harriet Wallis

Have Smartphones Ruined The Ski Experience?

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We Used To Just Ski. And Ski Talk. What Happened?

There we were, making turns in the soft powder as it dumped from the sky. The fluff was mesmerizing. Then my companion-of-the-day announced: “I have to stop.”

Are Smartphones an insidious barrier to socializing on the slopes? Credit: Harriet Wallis

Are Smartphones an insidious barrier to socializing on the slopes?
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Off came the gloves. Out came the phone. She began snapping photos.

My mind said: “Take your photos, then let’s ski.” But the photo session continued.

“I need to send these photos to my friends in Germany right now.”

My thoughts said: “They’re asleep in Germany right now. It’s the middle of the night.”

On the lift, the phone came out, and the thumbs tapped away. They tapped in the lodge, and they tapped as I drove us down the canyon toward home.

I had my fill of this phone-thing and spoke up hoping she’d take a hint. “Would you like me to pull over so you can finish texting?”

“No,” she said. “I can do this while you drive.”

I’d been invisible most of the day, and then I was relegated to being the chauffeur.

What ever happened to ski talk?

In the past, ski friends would exchange news of the family and get caught up on each other’s activities. And in the past, if you got on a lift or sat at a table with someone you didn’t know, the ski talk began. “Are you having a good day?” “Where are you from?” “Do you ski here often?”

By the time the lift reached the summit or when you’d finished your burger, you’d exchanged life stories and probably had a tip for a great restaurant. Socializing was an important part of skiing.

But now, Smartphones have reduced communication to Neanderthal grunts—and tapping thumbs say, “Don’t bother me. I’m busy talking to somebody other than you.”

Has part of the ski experience been lost?

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

 

 

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Dec. 2)

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A Great Book Idea, Museum Visit, Balance Tip, Why Commercial X-C Ski Resorts, And Ski Mojo.

First day of the season!

First day of the season! Credit: Jan Brunvand

There is snow in the air: definitely lots of natural in parts of the West, more like serious making of snow in the East.  Nevertheless, resorts are opening and the season is beginning.  And just in time for the holidays.  That means gifts. Speaking of which we have three sources…

…If you are looking for a snow sports oriented holiday gift, head over the the “Ski Influencers” group at Experticity.com.  You can get major discounts from top brands of gear and clothing. If you are not a subscriber, complete our free subscription form in either the pop-up or the right column and you will get instructions on how to sign up with Experticity If you are already a subscriber, you should have registered with Experticity.  If you need instructions on how to do that, email us at info@seniorsskiing.com with “Experticity” in the subject line.

This week, co-publisher Jon Weisberg shares a book idea either for yourself as a gift.  The connection to snow sports is that is makes a great apres-ski read by the fire.  We haven’t seen him so enthusiastic for a book in a while.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis traveled to the New England Ski Museum at the base of Cannon Mountain for a report on its exhibits as well as its unique gift shop.  More interesting ideas for presents with a snow sports twist, so to speak.

Pat McCloskey, a veteran ski instructor and SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent, offers technique tip on balance.  It’s simple and effective.

You might wonder why you should go to a commercial xc center or resort when you can just go across the road to your local park, forest or golf club to ski all day for free.  XCResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr presents the case for visiting a commercial xc center.

Finally, we have a new advertiser, Ski~mojo, a supportive device that is said to take the pressure off knees and hips. Please check our first Sponsored Content article about the Ski~mojo product and let us know what you think.

Please note: We are working on making some of our special subscriber-only assets available on line to our readers.  This is taking a bit of engineering, but soon, perhaps as soon as next week, you’ll be able to access our recommended Skis for Seniors, Free Skiing for Seniors, Sign Up Instructions for Experticity, and our eBook of historic ski posters from the International Ski History Association. 

And remember there really are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

This photo of Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt Washington occupies an entire wall. Credit: NESM

This photo of Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt Washington occupies an entire wall.
Credit: NESM

 

 

Jon Weisberg

This Season Read One Good Book

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The Orphan Keeper: A Fantastic Apres Ski Read.

orphankeeper_cover_largeAs I approach my 73rd birthday and commence my 63rd consecutive season, I want to declare that from the time I was 10, skiing has been a source of joy.

Not too long ago I was good from when the lifts opened until last ride. In recent years, I’ve been starting a bit later (except on powder days) and leaving the hill earlier, especially when the light begins to flatten. I’ll go back to the lodge or drive home, clean up, pour a glass of something pleasant and, more often than not, open a book.

Recently, I came across a terrific read that deserves to be better known, and probably will be. The Orphan Keeper was written by Camron Wright, an award-winning novelist based in Utah. The book is based on the astonishing true story of Taj Rowland. It begins in India where the seven year old boy is kidnapped and sold to an orphanage. He’s then adopted by unsuspecting parents in the United States who have no idea their new son isn’t really an orphan. By the time the boy can speak enough English to tell them he already has a family, it’s too late. They write letters. They make phone calls, but all roads lead to dead ends.

Taj grows up in the United States, goes to school, plays sports (even learns to ski), and his story may have ended there—except his past isn’t content to let him be. I won’t spoil how the story develops, other than to warn you that after reading a few chapters après ski, you’ll want to read through dinner, and keep on reading. This is a well-crafted page-turner that had me shocked, laughing, at times dabbing my eyes, and eager to learn more. It is terrific story made even better by the fact that is based on Taj Rowland’s real experience.

Years ago one of my teachers gave this advice for summer vacation: Take one good hike. Read one good book. Make one good friend.

My advice for this winter season: Take many great runs. Enjoy your friends. Read The Orphan Keeper.