As terrific as the spring-like, corn snow skiing is right now here in the northeast, it has been hard not to dream of powder days like this one…during the incredible St. Patty’s storm of March 2007.
Mar 11
3rd Annual Catamount Trail Challenge
Coming up this Sunday, March 14, 2010, Vermont’s Catamount Trail Association will host its 3rd Annual Catamount Trail Challenge – a backcountry ski tour (for those who’d prefer a more leisurely tour) and race (for those who’d like to race). The event is open to all levels of skiers interested in skiing one of the most beautiful sections of the Catamount Trail, starting at the Trapp Family Touring Center near Stowe and finishing at the Bolton Valley Nordic Center – 17km in total, with 2300′ vertical of climbing and descending. You can register and learn more about the event 3rd Annual Catamount Trail Challenge
Mar 11
Gaspe Dreams
It’s that time of year again when 1) our snowpack across the north country is at its peak in the mountains, 2) we’re feeling pretty satisfied about all the skiing we’ve enjoyed closer to home, and 3) several months of skiing and climbing have us tuned up and motivated for some more ambitious skiing adventures…
Every other year for nearly ten years now, we have managed to get up to Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula to ski in the endless, rugged and beautiful backcountry of the Haute Gaspesie. Several mountain ranges define this region – which is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains – and nearly one dozen huts managed by Parcs Quebec help to keep skiers warm and dry after a long day in the mountains. Since we were up on the Gaspe last March, we might not make it back up there this year.
Then again, maybe our dreams will come true…
Mar 09
Crossing Paths With Sylvain Saudan
New Englander Dave Watson, who recently skied from the upper reaches Pakistan’s K2, crossed paths last week with the legendary French-born extreme skier, Sylvain Saudan – known in some circles as “the skier of the impossible”. Both Watson and Saudan base themselves out of Gulmarg, Kashmir for a little while each winter, working and enjoying the incredible snows that fall in this corner of the Himalaya. Apparently, they both use the same tailor in town, so it wasn’t long before their paths crossed. Check out this link to Watson’s write up about his encounters with Saudan.
Mar 09
Holmenkollen Ski Jump
This is a bit of a diversion from our usual posts here at AdventureSkier, but it was too cool to pass up. We can thank the Norwegian Tourist Board for giving us all a take at the famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump, which is being rebuilt with plans to reopen this May 2010.
From the VisitOslo.com website:
“The Holmenkollen Ski Jump was the main arena for the 1952 winter Olympic Games, and plays an important part in the Norwegian skiing tradition. The jump is a national and international symbol of the sport of ski jumping, and skiing in general.
The annual ski jumping World Cup event in March is almost like a second National Day for Norwegians with thousands of spectators and a great atmosphere.
Inside the ski jump, the ski museum (reopens in May, 2010) presents the history of skiing over the past 4000 years, as well as the Polar expeditions of Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen and some historic glimpses from the Winter Olympics at Lillehammer in 1994 and in Oslo in 1952. It is also possible to visit the top of the ski tower (from summer 2010), where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Oslo and the Oslofjord.”
