Jan 27

POSTPONED til March 3: SKI THE THUNDERBOLT!

****UPDATE 2/3**** Due to lack of sufficient snow on the course, the race has been postponed until Saturday, March 3, 2012.

:FOR RELEASE: January 12, 2012
CONTACT: Jonathan Butler, Town Administrator, Adams, MA, 413-743-8300

The Thunderbolt Ski Race Offers a Wild Ride on a Historic Trail

(Adams, Mass.) On February 11, one hundred intrepid backcountry skiers and snowboarders will hike to the summit of Massachusetts’ highest mountain and then come blazing down the historic Thunderbolt Ski Trail. The Expert-Class A trail runs nearly two miles through the heavily forested slopes of Mount Greylock and presents the competitors with challenging drops, turns and terrain. Admission is free for everyone who wishes to watch the race at the foot of the mountain near Greylock Glen in the town of Adams. In addition, volunteers and community-minded sponsors have extended the race into a daylong event by creating Thunderfest, a free winter festival in downtown Adams after the race. The festival is open to all, regardless of attendance at the race.

“The Thunderbolt is unlike any ski race you might see on television or at a ski area,” says Jonathan Butler, Town Administrator of Adams. “First of all there’s no ride up to the top! And the trail itself is fast, narrow and tough and has no manmade snow. In Adams, we like to think of ourselves as the hub for outdoors recreation in the Berkshires and the Thunderbolt epitomizes that. To celebrate the race and winter in the Berkshires, this year we’re also offering Thunderfest, a free party in town after the race.”

The Thunderbolt Ski Trail was originally cleared down the precipitous east slope of Mount Greylock in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It quickly became known for the annual world-class race that attracted top skiers, including Olympians, from across the country and Europe. Even Nazi Germany sent a team to compete in 1938. With the advent of ski areas, the trail fell into disrepair in the 1950s until 2008 when a group of backcountry ski and snowboard enthusiasts took it on themselves to restore the historic ski run and revive the race. Blair Mahar, one the founders of the Thunderbolt Ski Runners who maintain the trail and organize the annual race says, “It’s as thrilling a ski run as you’ll find anywhere! And we love seeing lots of spectators as we whiz by, so please come and watch.”

The run is 1.6 miles in length with a vertical drop of 2,050 feet and grades as steep as 35 degrees. The fastest known time down the trail is 2 minutes 8.6 seconds, set by Norwegian Olympian, Per Klippgen in 1948. Modern racers compete in six categories: Alpine, Telemark, Snowboard, Women’s Overall, The Ascent and King of the Mountain for fastest overall time. Registration for competitors is closed for this year’s race. Experienced competitors interested in future events should visit http://www.thunderboltskirunners.org for details.

The Thunderbolt Ski Race relies on natural snow. Conditions on Mount Greylock may cause the race to be postponed until March 3. Spectators at the race are encouraged to take the free shuttle from downtown Adams. A hike of about 40 minutes is required to reach the finish line of the race.
Thunderfest, the free downtown celebration following the race will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Adams Visitors Center on Hoosac Street in Adams. The free festival will feature live bands, hot local food including a chili and chowder cook-off, local beers and hot beverages, family fun, a blazing bonfire and Thunderbolt race videos. Even with the bonfire, the public is reminded to dress warmly.

Detailed information can be found at www.facebook.com/ThunderFest on Facebook.
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Jan 24

Dodging Rain Showers

The resiliency of the ski season here in the Northeast never ceases to amaze us. Last Tuesday afternoon (1/17), when temperatures climbed above freezing and a steady rainfall ensued, it was hard to imagine that we’d be skiing such beautiful snow just a few days later. Then again, this is the Northeast – home to the most schizophrenic winter weather on the planet. And when 2-8″ of fresh snow arrived last Thursday night and Friday morning, Tuesday’s rain had all but vanished from our selective memories. To top things off, the weekend came through with some brilliant sunshine and even another fresh inch or two.

This morning, as I write this, it’s 36 degrees out there and another cycle of light rain is winding down. And that’s just fine. These warm temps should make for some very fun on-piste trail skiing today, and without a doubt, after temperatures drop and the snow firms up tonight, we’ll be enjoying some high-octane pasture skiing tomorrow. This weather also makes it easy to catch up on home front chores, spend time with friends and family, and tend to a few deadlines at work – worthy causes, no doubt.

Before long, and by the looks of the Thursday/Friday weather forecasts, the fresh snow will be flying again. It always does. Here are a few images to share, too, captured in Vermont’s Green Mountains this past weekend.

Ski you out there.
– Brian

Fresh tracks near Stowe, Vermont (top photo, and here).

 

Ian Forgays enjoys some late afternoon sun and snow after a passing snow squall…

 

Forrest Twombly, putting his Marquette skis to very good use in some steep terrain with thin-cover conditions.

 

Wind, sun and snow goblins along the Green Mountain divide.

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Jan 20

Photo of the Week: Mad Pow Disease

Last week’s storm infected countless skiers across the Northeast with an unusual strain of Mad Pow Disease. Skier Justin Woods Chapman was especially hard hit by its symptoms. With more fresh snow across the northeast today and this weekend, Justin’s going to be hard pressed to make a full recovery…but we’re confident he’ll pull through. (Click on the thumbnail below to enlarge)
– Brian

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Jan 15

The Friday the 13th Storm…Honoring MLK

The storm we’ve all been waiting for dumped 10-20″ of fresh snow across the mountains of the northeast on Thursday and Friday, January 13th. By early Saturday morning, Vermont skiers like Justin Chapman and Dave Bouchard (ahead and back, in the first photo, respectively) were easily belly deep in powder on steeper, leeward aspects surrounding Vermont’s Mad River Valley. These images were captured at Mad River Glen.

Cold sunshine prevailed on Sunday and Monday. Thanks to the fresh snow, we now have some base to work with at lower elevations (although it’s still dangerously thin, so be careful!). It was also nice to spend a moment on Monday honoring the late, great Martin Luther King, Jr. Had he been a skier, I think he would have been loving it last weekend, while enjoying the freedom of the hills.

-Brian

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Jan 12

Photo of the Week: Freshies with Family

Every winter, my sister, Lindsay, and her husband, Sean, kick off nearly three months of “down-time” (from their gardening/ landscaping business on the MA coast), by skiing with us here in Vermont. Sean’s a ripping surfer with whom we’ve enjoyed some incredible swells over the years, and he’s skilled on both skis and snowboard. “Sis” just rips in general, and when chasing her around the mountains, you’d never know she spent most of the year on the water. (Okay, thanks for letting me feel some pride!)

Each winter, we embark on increasingly fun and challenging ski adventures together – whether right out the door in Vermont’s Green Mountains, on multi-day missions into NH’s Whites or NY’s Adirondacks, by going hut to hut in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains….and beyond.

We spent today (along with Emily’s sister, Leah, and her beau, Richard, too!) climbing for one fresh run after the next, feeling lucky to have the whole mountain to ourselves, and even luckier to be sharing the joy of skiing together.

– Brian

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