Nov 14

Photo(s) of the Week: SNOvember 2012

By the skin of its teeth, SNOvember is living up to its name again this season. It kicked off on Saturday 11/3 with a solid dusting of snow at the higher elevations across the Northeast, and by mid-week, another round of fresh snow under bluebird skies was luring greater numbers of hungry skiers to sample the thin-cover glisse potential. After turning on the snow guns last week, several resorts spun lifts last weekend, and the warm temps Sunday and Monday made for some very spring-like skiing conditions. A passing cold front Monday night blanketed the mountains with up to several inches of fresh snow Tuesday morning, treating skiers to another blast of early-season, binding-deep freshies. In the days ahead, sunshine and temps into the 40s will likely melt away the natural snow again on the best natural snow runs. Then again, it’s only SNOvember.
– Brian

Yesterday, Nov. 13th on Mount Mansfield in Vermont…

SNOvember in the Green Mountains…
    

The edge of a passing cold front, just in time for sunset…

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Nov 04

Photo(s) of the Week: Marquette Season

After struggling to keep Superstorm Sandy from interfering with the lives of millions in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions (and dumping historic amounts of snowfall over the Central Appalachians in his attempt), Old Man Winter was finally able to shoe Sandy away this weekend. He also had enough energy remaining to deliver several inches of fresh snow across our Northeastern mountains, just enough to offer the first top to bottom skiing of the season in many areas.

In recent years, the Marquette Backcountry Ski has found a prominent place in our ski quiver. Safer (big tips!), easier to turn (short and no edges) and far more durable than most modern skis, the Marquettes thrive in the thin-cover conditions prevailing this time of year – conditions that we now characterize as “Marquette Season”.

It’s hard to now imagine going through a ski season in the Northeast without some Marquettes, especially after last season, when Marquette Season never let up in the lower elevations. The skis make skiing in marginal conditions – which is sometimes the only option – more approachable and more fun than ever.

Enjoy the recent pics from the weekend.
– Brian

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Oct 31

Upcoming Shows: The Catamount Trail in 20 Days 11/10; Off Piste in the Northeast 11/7

Support Vermont’s Catamount Trail Association (CTA) this season by becoming a member and/or by joining them (and making a donation) at their upcoming annual meeting on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 3-5pm at the Green Mountain Club in Waterbury, VT. Local skier Ross Scatchard will present a visual/narrative account of he and his friend’s Leath Tonino’s recent 20 day end-to-end Catamount Trail skiing adventure. See the poster below for more info, or head to the CTA website, HERE. Be sure to RSVP, too, before Nov. 5th.

Also, don’t miss the upcoming slideshow, Off Piste in the Northeast, presented by Brian Mohr and Emily Johnson (Ember Photography) in the Film House at the Main St. Landing (60 Lake St.) in Burlington, VT. The show will be a fundraiser for the Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry – land through which the Catamount Trail passes! A large benefit raffle will follow the show, supported by numerous local outdoor businesses and retailers. See the poster below and more info HERE for details.

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Oct 29

Photo(s) of the Week: Sandy Ushers in Winter

After wandering by a TV today for the first time in weeks (months?), it was nice to see someone smiling about the fact that several feet of snow was expected to fall over the central Appalachians Monday and Tuesday. In light of Sandy’s devastating impacts on many areas in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, one positive is that winter is well on its way now, and tropical storms like Sandy should keep their distance for a while.

As for the Appalachians, we can only hope that our friends down at Whitegrass in West Virginia enjoyed some of the first turns of the season today, and were generic for ativan pill identification otherwise spared by Superstorm Sandy.

Meanwhile, our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been significantly disrupted by Sandy.

-Brian

Enjoying the fruits of an approaching Hurricane Sandy off the New England coast on Sunday afternoon, 10/28…

The combination of Sandy’s storm surge and a full-moon high tide sent seawater into the streets of Nantucket Island, MA on Monday morning, 10/29. Fortunately, property damage was minimal.

 

Waves fueled by Sandy’s storm surge and a twenty five foot ocean swell retreat under the light of a full moon and light winds, just before midnight Tuesday 10/29.

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Oct 22

Photo(s) of the Week: Fresh (Single)Tracks

NEWS FLASH: Adventure skiing slideshows kick off this Weds 10/24 and Thurs 10/25. More info HERE.

Although a micro-dusting of snow graced many northeastern mountaintops over the weekend, it wasn’t enough to lure us to break the skis out of the shed, as we had the week before. Meanwhile, after last Friday’s rainstorm gave way to a spectacular weekend of sunshine, passing showers and rainbows, some fresh tracks of a different sort were in order. As new mountain-bike friendly trails (and entire trail networks!) come to life throughout the northeast, we feel drawn to document their development, pitch in some trail work (and encourage others to join in, too) and encourage trail users of all kinds to get out there and enjoy what is taking shape in our communities.

This past weekend, finishing touches were put on a new network of trails on the old Norwich University ski hill (Shaw Outdoor Center) in Northfield, VT. Funded by a generous donation to the University, and developed over the last two summers under the leadership of trail designer and builder, Brooke Scatchard, owner of Sinuosity, with significant contributions by trail design/builder Dave Packie and design/builder Hardy Avery, of Sustainable Trailworks, the 10+ mile trail network offers something for everyone. Nearly 75 mountain bikers, including more than a dozen local residents, turned out on Sunday for the official opening of the trails and a guided tour of the new network. Having a relatively long-term connection to this area, it was exciting witness such an overwhelmingly positive response to the official unveiling of the new trails.

Out on the trail, we laid fresh tire tracks through the fallen leaves while pedaling through open meadows, stands of conifers and mixed hardwood forests. Scatchard set a pace that kept the group together, while sharing some tidbits of trail side Americana along the way (pointing out old slate quarries, evidence of the former ski area, and more). A few passing rain showers were no match for the enthusiasm infecting this group, and as we gave into gravity at the top of the old ski hill, a network of freshly built single track welcomed us with open arms. The experience was at once a celebration of hard work, community, a ski hill brought back to life… and so much more.

After a few hours out on the bikes, the Sevi Family hosted a fun gathering around a backyard fire. Scatchard passed around some apple cider and cheddar. Packie had a few refreshments to share. Still savoring the experience of the ride, none of us were as hungry as we should have been, but while nibbling away, it became clear that the new trails are not just trails. They are access to fresh air and beautiful views; they are a key component in an economy based on recreation and tourism; and they are a vital conduit to community, to friendships, and to health, fitness and fun.
– Brian

Mountain biking in Northfield, Vermont

Mountain biking in Northfield, Vermont

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