Apr 07

2 Wheels, 2 Planks: Bound for the Alps

It wasn’t until recently – like only two weeks ago! recently – that we really felt like the rugged Alps of central Europe were even remotely suitable for the kind of bicycle-powered skiing adventure that we have grown to love over the years. After all, the Alps are laden with steep mountain passes that don’t open til May, dead end valleys, dark tunnels, wild boars! and many other obstacles to linking up an early spring cycling route that leaves us with any extra time and energy to ski.

However, after pouring over maps and snow data for the region, it seems as though we’ve found a few soft spots in the Alps – a region where the roads will keep us close to snow line (skiing right from our tents is key), a few mountain passes might actually let us pass (with some mandatory snow biking, perhaps) and the backcountry skiing options should be especially friendly.

So with a vague route in mind through the mapped region above, we’re off once again with our two wheels and two planks on an adventure through what just might be the center of the cycling and skiing universe. If only our Deutsch and Italiano was a little more polished! (Give us a few weeks.)

We’d like to extend a special thanks to the following for their support of this project and for their ongoing collaboration:Switzerland Tourism (Michaela and Carlos), Swiss Intl Airlines (Jacqueline), Black Diamond (Tyler M., John D), Surly Bikes, Patagonia, Julbo USA (Nick and Ali), SCARPA, Mammut (Gribbin), BOB Trailers ,Smartwool (Mavis), Pale Morning Media (Katie and Drew), Ibex (Keith)Onion River Sports and Muscles Not Motors (Andrew, Tristan, Phil, Kip and the crew)…as well as our families and friends! You guys rock!

Please stay tuned for more updates soon.

Ski you out there.

-Brian, Emily and Tom

NOTE: Check out our posts featuring 2 Wheels, 2 Planks – Arctic Norway, HERE.

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Apr 03

Six Years Ago This Week: Remembering Doug Coombs

Six years ago this week, the Northeast-bred, steep skiing pioneer, Doug Coombs, passed away while skiing and attempting to rescue a friend near his home in La Grave, France. After skiing in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine as a child, Coombs left a lasting mark on the adventure skiing world with his exploratory descents in the Tetons, Alaska and beyond. He was a beautiful and incredibly talented skier, whose life was shaped by his intimate connection with the mountains. As a mountain guide, he successfully accompanied thousands of skiers through some of the best days of their lives.

Coombs’ spirit lives on. The footage in the two video posts below offer just a glimpse of Coombs in his element.

Thanks Doug!

-Brian and Emily

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Apr 02

Photo of the Week: Tasty Turns with Tom

Another heavy dusting of fresh snow arrived in the mountains near AdventureSkier headquarters (central Vermont) overnight, and with blue skies overhead and a fresh breeze out of the north, the mountains were calling more than usual early Monday. As much as we’ve loved riding lifts through the closing days at of our local ski areas lately, it’s great to be reliant on only our legs and lungs again. And there’s something about the turns earned with each stride up the mountain that makes them especially tasty, especially when the mountains throws you fresh powder, butter cream and golden corn all in one run – like it did Monday for Tom Hite, who’s featured in the photo here.

Tom was married to his sweetie Jami Mantia this past weekend, so these were his first turns as a married man! He was pretty excited on Monday all around, to say the least. Tom was also with us on a bike-powered skiing adventure through Norway’s Arctic Alps a couple of springs ago. Check it out here.

More mountain snow is in the forecast this week, and with both natural and man-made snow still lingering in many areas, there will be a great mix of fresh tracks, hard pack, fast grass and tasty corn awaiting skiers out there.

– Brian

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Mar 28

Photo of the Week: Still Skiing?

While the recent heat wave and corresponding spring-skiing madness may have drained many skiers of their energy and motivation to continue embracing this whacky ski season, the fact is that there is still some great skiing out there. For one thing, there’s hardly a soul out skiing, which makes for empty runs and a nice relaxing vibe at the ski areas. More fresh snow in the mountains tonight and on Thursday, followed by sunny skies for the weekend should make for some especially sweet skiing in the days ahead across the Northeast. And with some luck, the fresh snow may open up our favorite grass- and moss-covered slopes for some adventurous skiing late Thursday and Friday.

Way up on Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula, where conditions are definitely thinner than usual for late March, approx. 30cm of fresh snow fell earlier this week, and conditions continue to offer skiers great options for descents throughout the higher reaches of the Monts Chic Chocs and Monts McGerrigle, especially. Check out our Gaspe Avalanche Bulletin for more info about conditions. The next ten days should turn out to be a great stretch of time to be skiing up there.

If you’ve been tempted to get out skiing again, the next few days will be special. In fact, Thursday and Friday could treat us to some long overdue fresh tracks in some areas across the Northeast. Although Old Man Winter hasn’t scored big points with most of us this winter around here, it’s clear he is still trying. He still has time to redeem himself, too.

Ski you out there.
– Brian

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Mar 25

What a Spring! Now, Back to Winter.

Sure, it was a thin-cover season here in the Northeast. Powder days were elusive. And dust on crust was often glorified with descriptions like “micro-pow”, “expert-powder” and “20-30!!….millimeters”. But despite the sparse offerings of the 2011-12 winter season in the Northeast, the last two weeks of nearly flawless spring weather helped to compensate by offering some of the most delectable skiing of the season. The abundance of warm air, super-edgeable snow – if not totally mushy at times – and bright blue skies had many skiers enjoying a regular dance with gravity with powder-day smiles on their faces.

With Old Man Winter regaining control of our weather pattern this coming week, it’s easy to wonder about what lies ahead. Will the Old Man coat our mountains with snow again, and give us another cycle of powder days and spring conditions to enjoy in the mountains? Only time will tell.

Ski you out there.
-Brian

Rob Bisbee enjoying one last run of the year with natural snow on Paradise at Mad River Glen last week.

It was a short, but very sweet season on Mount Washington this spring.

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