VT Ski & Ride, January, 2014

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Ski Ride
M A G
and
t n o m Ver
Merisa's blog:
The Female Ski Bum
MIRACLE MAKERS!
Vermont flexes $10 million in new snowmaking musclejust in time!
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
30 Events not to miss!

January-February 2014
$200 million project launched at Okemo

FREE!
SHARP MATTERS: Ski tuning tips from a pro Guide to Brews, Spirits & Wine

PA G E 2 V E R M O N T S K I A N D R I D E M AGA Z I N E , F E B RUA RY / M A RC H OKM-W13/14-073 // Vermont Ski & Ride // Okemo // Full Page // Trim: 10.25 x 13 // 4 color // Winter Campaign // VT/NH Only Lift Tickets Deals
contents
Vermont ski resorts spent more than $10 million on their snowmaking systems in the past two years. The result? Record early season opening; surprisingly good skiing just hours after weather disasters (rain). Impressive numbers tell the story.
Here are tuning tips for your skis from a pro because sharp edges matter on hardpack.
and
6-7 Miracle makers!
26 Sharp matters
Ski Ride
A Z I N E
Vermont
Editor/Publisher, Angelo Lynn

angelo@vtskiandride.com Advertising Sales Christy Lynn Assistant Editor Evan Johnson
20-21 30 Events to see!
Contributing writers Polly Lynn, Karen Lorentz, Biddle Duke Graphic Artist/Production Stephanie Manning For news tips or to advertise call 802-388-4944 or email: info@vtskiandride.com Advertising & Editorial Office: Vermont Ski & Ride Magazine 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, Vt. 05753 802-388-4944 (also offices of the Addison Independent) Vermont Ski & Ride Magazine is owned and operated by Addison Press Inc., a Vermont company locally owned since 1946. Vermont Ski and Ride Magazine is published monthly November through March.
18-19 Snow Carvers
Four Vermonters excel in the niche art of snow sculpting. Theyre headed to Breckenridge as one of three U.S. teams to compete in another international competition. Thats just cool.
Our calendar is full of exciting events and activities at Vermonts ski resorts during January-February. You wont want to miss the ones nearest you.
Cover Photo:
Vermont native Dan Smith carries his skis on the skyline of Mount Mansfield above Stowe at sunset. Photo by Brian Mohr/Ember Photography.
Merisa Sherman is a professional ski bum. She works at ski shop in Killington, skis with her dog, Vespi, and even writes the Female Ski Bum blog. Thats living!
24-25 Ski bum profile
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PA G E 4
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V E R M O N T S K I A N D R I D E M AGA Z I N E , F E B RUA RY / M A RC H
Publishers Desk
Bad weather, they say, builds character. Could be thats why Vermont has so many of them. Weather, the good and the bad, denes Vermonters becauseat least for skiers and riders, and farmerswe live in it, not around it. We talk about it a lot because it is, on a day-to-day basis, what matters. This ski season, for example, started off better than weve had in several years. Killington Resort opened for skiing on the top of its mountain on Oct. 26. Okemo had top to bottom skiing on ve runs by Nov. 13. By the third week of Novembera week before Thanksgiving10 resorts were open for skiing and riding, a record for the state. Cold weather was a factor, but resorts also have more efficient and more productive snowmaking than ever before. Good thing. Good weather turned bad the weekend before Christmas. Rain was followed by temps at 20-below and colder. The snow base was, as we like to say, hard-pack. But, contrary to just a few years ago, the resorts bounced right back almost overnight.Snow guns roared across the state, and in a couple days the skiing was pretty darn good. Not epic, but good enough to ski the mountains and have fun. The repower of the snowmaking systems is impressive. Mount Snows gunscan dump enough snow in 20 hours toll Fenway Park full of snow 18 feet deep. Thats right at the top of the center wall. Such snowmaking capacity has changed skiing in Vermont in one crucial way: consistency. Today, with 80-plus percent of its trails covered in snowmaking, skiers can count on Vermont to have snow on its ski trails, if not always in the village. Numbers tell the story on Pages 6-7, but not as well as a single comment by long-time Stowe skier Jeff Teplitz, who notes that Stowes $8.1 million in snowmaking improvements in the past two years has made a phenomenal difference. Its just unbelievable how fast the mountain bounces back after a rainstorm. Give them 24 to 48 hours and its right back to what it was. Its amazing. Ditto, most of the other resorts in Vermont, and thats no small thing. ********** Two signicant transformations occurred this past December at two classic resorts: Jay Peak and Killington. The new Peak Lodge at the top of Killingtons gondola opened after a two-year construction cycle. At over 4,000-feet in elevation, the lodge claims to be the highest dining experience in the state, and features stunning 360degree views of three mountain ranges. A story on Page 26 lls in the details. At Jay Peak, the new Stateside Hotel and base lodge was opened to great fanfare in December, replacing what needed updating and setting up a whole new phase of the resorts $500 million expansion. The update is on Page 14. Meanwhile, at Okemo Resort, a private developer recently received Act 250 permits to build a $200 million project at the South Face of the resort. A new base area and lodge, plus a private residential community,is in the works. Its ambitious and impressive. Details on Page 22. ********* Killington-Pico resorts also broke ground this winter with a progressive uphill skier policy. Working with a local group of avid uphill skiers, the management team at Killington worked out appropriate trails uphill travelers could navigate, times to do it, safety precautions and rules of the game. They also instigated an annual pass for uphill travelers (free for season pass holders and $20 annually for non-passholders) that goes along with a signed waiver of responsibility. While rules and regulations are still evolving, local uphill skiers are pleased. Its a step in the right direction, they say, and they fully accept the responsibility the agreement puts on users. Embracing the change and welcoming a growing faction of skiers not only reduces future conict, but adds another layer to the colorful image of what it means to be a Vermonter: that steely, individualistic, no-nonsense character whod just as soon skin up the mountain in the dark of morning to catch dawns rst rays and fresh tracks as wait for the lift. Stranger still, he and she may go for a moonlight skin on a frigid Friday night and call it fun.
Photo by Brian Mohr/EmberPhotographyt
ANGELO S. LYNN
Another great day on the single at Mad River Glen.
PA G E 5
Snowmaking:
The art of damage control
Photos by Stowe Resort.
Stowe Mountain Resort has spent $8.1 million over the past two years to improve its snowmaking capacity, leading the way for all resorts in the East. Vermont resorts have more than 80 percent of their trail systems covered by snowmaking, by far the highest in the nation, which enables a surprisingly quick recovering after bad weather strikes.
Vermont flexes its beefed-up snowmaking muscle with $10 million-plus in new spending
By EVAN JOHNSON/ANGELO LYNN
After early Januarys rain, super-freeze and thaw, heres the shocker: The skiing is good out there. Its not epic, but its surprisingly good. How can that be with heavy rains and temps reaching the low 50s earlier this month? Snowmaking. The states ski resorts have been pouring money into better and more efficient systems for the past decade and it shows. Give Vermonts resorts just 24-hours of cold weather and they can turn what used to be a disaster (in the years before snowmaking was this powerful) into a skiing surface that makes heroes out of rookies. Fact: Vermont ski areas have 80-plus percent of their trails covered with snowmaking. Thats the most of any state in the union, by far, and 20 percent more than New Hampshire and far more than any ski area out West. Fact: Even after a rain event, followed by sub-zero temperatures, the snowmaking capacity at most of Vermonts resorts combined with an army of grooming machines routinely turns hard-pack surfaces into an groomed surface that any skier can enjoy in a single 24-hour period.
PA G E 6
That snowmaking capacity and expert grooming, called miracle-making by some, is at the heart of what makes Vermont skiing so dependable. Stowe Resort, for example, has spent a record $8.1 million in the past two years to boost its snowmaking capacity on its 116
RECORD SPENDING
guns, 150 energy efficient land guns, 20 Super Pole Cat fan guns and another seven miles of new snowmaking pipe. Snowmaking, in fact, is at the core of a half-billion dollar master plan beginning with the formation of a 116-million-gallon water storage area named Peregrine Lake and New Englands rst and only fully automated snowmaking system on Spruce Peak.
While running at maximum capacity, Mount Snows snowmaking system can fill an Olympic-size swimming pool with snow in just 47 minutes. By that same calculation, you could fill Fenway Park up to the 18-foot centerfield wall with snow in 20 hours.
trails over its 2,160 vertical descent. This past summer, Stowe invested $3.4 million in new equipment, including 100 HKD tower guns, three Super Pole Cat fan guns, a new pump-house and miles of snowmaking pipe. This comes on the heels of the $4.7 million invested the previous summer for a two-year investment that includes 445 HKD tower Its paid off. Locals are pumped with the resorts beefed-up snowmaking capacity and even the high-traffic trails have withstood the onslaught of this years challenging weather. Its been phenomenal, said long-time Stowe skier Jeff Teplitz, who worked in the ski industry and is now a part-time ski instructor at the resort. Its unbelieveable how quickly
the mountain can rebound from these rain storms; its icy one day, but give them 24-48 hours of cold weather and the skiing can be pretty unbelievable. Plus, its opened up a lot more terrain, which spreads the traffic. The improvements have really made an amazing difference. National media has noticed, as well. Outside Magazine awarded Stowe Resort its 2014 Ski-Season Travel Award for Best Backup Plan because of the resorts two-year spending spree on snowmaking. The magazine highlighted Stowes spending as more than any other resort in the East, and touted its ability to work more efficiently even in temperatures up to 28 degrees. And like other Vermont resorts, the improvements allow Stowe to operate with greater energy efficiency eliminating over 100,000 gallons of diesel storage, use and emissions, according to Jeff Wise, director of marketing and communications.
VERMONTS PROWESS
Stowe Mountain Resort is not alone. Sugarbush Resort, Killington, Okemo, Strat-
See Snow on page 7
Snow
ton and Mount Snow have long placed a priority on snowmaking capacity and being able to produce what mountain operations guys call a high quality product. Theyre talking strictly about the snow quality and they have the tools to do it. The six mountains at Killington feature 88 miles of pipe and more than 500 low energy guns. When conditions are at their best, the snowmaking crew at Killington can pump more than 720,000 gallons of water to 240 snow guns and cover 80 acres with 12 inches of fresh snow in an hours time. Thats smoking. Mount Snow boasts some of the most powerful snowmaking systems in the industry with more than 250 high output/high efficiency fan gunsthe most in North Americaplus almost 1,000 traditional air/water guns. While running at maximum capacity, Mount Snows snowmaking system can ll an Olympic-size swimming pool with snow in just 47 minutes. By that same calculation, you could ll Fenway Park up to the 18-foot centereld wall with snow in 20 hours. Stratton spent $750,000 in snowmaking, purchasing 1,000 HKD tower guns. Okemo invested nearly $1 million in snowmaking improvements, the largest single-season investment in snowmaking for more than a decade. Okemo Mountain Resort opened the 201314 ski season in early-November with top to bottom skiing season for the rst time in the resorts history. Previously, Okemohad been able to pump between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of water per minute through its snowmaking
system, but with a new $1 million investment tabbed as Operation Snowburst, the resort boosted its pumping capacity to 7,000 to 9,000 gallons per minute. This increased output, combined with 225 new HKD tower guns helped Okemo open earlier than in many years with ve top-to-bottom trails a record, much to the delight of central Vermonters and thousands of New Englanders. Smugglers Notch invested more than $1 million on developments including 150 high efficiency tower guns and new electric air compressor. Guns were positioned on selected intermediate trails on Sterling Mountain, intermediate Lower Liftline on Madonna Mountain, and beginner trails Lower Liftline and Log Jam on Morse Mountain. Even Jay Peak Resort, which is blessed by its legendary Jay Clouddumping 400 inches of natural snow each year, has invested roughly $1 million over the past couple of years, including replacing more than 100 new snowmaking guns on historically challenging trails such as Montrealer, Northway, Vermonter, Angels Wiggle, Paradise Meadows, Alligator Alley and Perry Merrill, as well as more hydrants on Upper River Quai. That total investment yielded good results. As cold temps blessed the state in early November to start the 2013-14 season, a record 10 Vermont ski areas opened before Thanksgiving. In addition to building up a base when temperatures are low enough, snowmaking is essential for damage control following unseemly weather events (rain, sleet or other
Above: Fan guns in action at Mount Stowe. Below: Groomers at Stowe work throughout the night spreading the snow evenly across the trails.
FROM RAIN TO PEARLY WHITE
See Snow on page 30
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PA G E 7
Logan, others make Olympic teams

By EVAN JOHNSON
BRECKENRIDGE, CO After a rollercoaster year of injury, recovery and a triumphant return to skiing, Vermonter Devin Logan, of Dover, will be one of 11 slopestyle and halfpipe athletes to represent the United States at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Vermont Ski & Ride Magazine proled Logan late last year. After suffering a torn ACL and micro-fractures in her knee in August 2012, she spent ve months in rehab and was back on the hill in April 2013 attempting to qualify for slopestyle and halfpipe in a series of ve USSAsanctioned events this winter. At the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships in Breckenridge in December, the 20-year-old scored 87.80 in the rst of her two runs and maintained a lead ahead of Canadian Kim Lamarre and American Maggie Vosin. She nished sixth in the halfpipe nal, but because two international athletes nished higher than she did, Logan was credited with a fourth-place nish. In addition to leaving Breckenridge with a Dew Cup, she also left as the top womens slopestyle rider, earning 100 Olympic qualifying points. Coming back from my injury last season, I wanted to put down a good run and denitely boost my condence, she said. Coming off of a win in slopestyle took some pressure off my shoulders. On Saturday, she placed third with a combined nal score of 80. She also took rst place in slopestyle, securing her a spot on the Olympic team in the slopestyle division. Its basically head to head with everyone, Logan says. We only have a handful of spots and only 14 go, but whoever gets to go will represent their country greatly. Team members for the the 2014 Olympic Freeskiing Team, announced mid-January, are: David Wise, Reno, Nev.; Aaron Blunck, Crested Butte, Co.; Lyman Currier, Boulder, Co.;Maddie Bowman, S. Lake Tahoe, Ca.;Brita Sigourney, Carmel, Ca.;Angeli VanLaanen, Bellingham, Wash.; Nick Goepper, Lawrenceburg, Ind.;Bobby Brown, Breckenridge, Co.;Gus Kenworthy, Telluride, Co.;Devin Logan, W. Dover, Vt.;Keri Herman, Bloomington, Minn. Also recently announced are the following members of the 2014 Olympic U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team from New England: Tyler Walker, Waterbury, Vt.; Nick Alexander, Lebanon, NH.; Kelly Clark, West Dover, Vt.; Jimmy Cochran, Keene, NH.; Simon Dumont, Bethel, Me.; Nicholas Fairall, Andover, NH.; Dylan Ferguson, Amesbury, Ma.; Julia Ford, Plymouth, Nh.; Kris Freeman, Andover, Nh.; Michelle Gorgone, Boston, Ma.; Ellery Hollingsworth, Darien, CT.; Tyler Jewell, Boston, Ma.; Nolan Kasper, Warren, Vt.; Hannah Kearney, Norwich, Vt.; Robby Kelley, Starksboro, Vt.; Scotty Lago, Seabrook, Nh.; Christopher Lamb, Andover, Nh.; Bode Miller, Franconia, Nh.; Michael Morse, Duxbury, Ma.; Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, Vt.; Warner Nickerson, Gilford, Nh.; Eliza Outtrim, Hamden, Ct.; Kevin Pearce, Norwich, Vt.; Tucker Perkins, North Hampton, Nh.; Ross Powers, Bennington, Vt.; Ida Sargent, Orleans, Vt.; Ryan CochranSiegle, Starksboro, Vt.; Leanne Smith, North Conway, Nh.; Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, Vt.; and Seth Wescott, Sugarbush, Maine.

PA G E 8
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Bill McKibben kicks off new Town Hall series

Environmentalist speaks on climate, Jan. 31
STOWE, Vt. The new Vermont Town Hall series of public conversations announces its inaugural event: A Conversation with Bill Mckibben at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe. In a unique format, McKibben, the author of a dozen books about the environment, and the founder of the global grassroots climate campaign 350.org., will be in a live interview and conversation on stage with David Goodman, a Waterbury author and journalist who is host of the popular radio show, The Vermont Conversation, which airs weekly on WDEV. The public conversation with McKibben will then shift to the audience for questions and a moderated dialogue. This conversation with McKibben will take place in the heart of Vermont ski country, which he predicts will be profoundly impacted by a warming planet. Time Magazine dubbed McKibben "the planets best green journalist" and the Boston Globe said in 2010 that he was "probably the countrys most important environmentalist." "This a rare chance to hear one of the worlds leading environmental thinkers and activists in an informal conversation talking about the ideas and experiences that have shaped him, what he sees for the future, and what makes him tick, notes Goodman. First in a series of adventures of the mind, the Vermont Town Hall will feature intriguing people from all walks of life in public, moderated conversations. Come with your questions, leave with a better understanding of the world around you. The Vermont Town Hall is the brainchild of four friends who live in Vermont: management consultant Katrina Veerman, author and journalist David Goodman, social entrepreneur Craig DeLuca, and Stowe Reporter publisher Biddle Duke. The series is inspired by the tradition of Vermont town meetings, in which global issues are discussed in a local setting. The Vermont Town Hall will bring thought leaders to Vermont several times a year to challenge our thinking, exchange ideas, and deepen our understanding on a wide range of topics. "This is in the practical but also innovative, forward-thinking spirit of Vermont, where civil and intelligent dialogue has been part of the fabric of life for generations," says Duke. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at www.sprucepeakarts.org.
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PA G E 9
10
NORTH
Resort
Address
Contact
Main Phone:
Stats
Total Trails................................................70 Total Lift ...................................................... 6 Total Acreage ....................................... 300 Vertical Drop .....................................1,704 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........312 in./26 ft.
802-434-3444
4302 Bolton Valley Access Road Bolton, VT 05477
Snow Phone:
802-434-SNOW
Reservations:
1-877-9BOLTON
www.boltonvalley.com info@boltonvalley.com
Main Phone:
802-626-7300
223 Sherburne Lodge Road East Burke, VT 05832
Snow Phone:
888-Burke
www.skiburke.com info@skiburke.com
Main Phone:
802-424-2479
910 Cochran Road PO Box 789 Richmond, VT 05477 www. cochranskiarea.com skiarea@ cochranskiarea.com
Total Trails.................................................. 8 Total Lift ...................................................... 5 Total Acreage ....................................... 150 Vertical Drop ........................................ 350 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........225 in./19 ft.
Main Phone:
802-988-2611
830 Jay Peak Road Jay, VT 05859
Snow Phone:
802-988-9601
Reservations:
1-800-451-4449
www.jaypeakresort.com info@ jaypeakresort.com
Main Phone:
802-644-8851
Alpine Resorts
4323 VT Rte 108 South Smugglers Notch, VT 05464
Snow Phone:
802-644-1111
Reservations:
802-451-8752
www.smuggs.com smuggs@smuggs.com
Main Phone:
802-253-4754
5781 Mountain Rd Stowe, VT 05672
Snow Phone:
802-253-3600
Reservations:
800-253-4SKI
www.stowe.com info@stowe.com
Total Trails............................................. 116 Total Lift ....................................................16 Total Acreage ....................................... 485 Vertical Drop .....................................2,360 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........336 in./28 ft.
PA G E 10
11
Mount Ellens 50th!

Sugarbushs Mount Ellen celebrated 50 years of great times in early January . The resort opened as Glen Ellen in 1963 with a decidedly European influence and has a storied history among locals and international stars. Four days of events featured a celebrity dual slalom, bartender races, masquerade balls, and lots of music and dancing. Sugarbush CEO Win Smsith and wife, Lili Ruane, are top left, accompanied by John Egan and friends, center top, along with many others.
Photos courtesy of Sugarbush Resort
PA G E 11
12
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PA G E 12
13
Alpine Resorts
Resort
Address
Contact
Main Phone:
Stats
Total Trails............................................. 140 Total Lift....................................................22 Total Acreage ....................................... 752 Vertical Drop .....................................3,050 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........252 in./21 ft.
802-422-6200
4763 Killington Road Killington, VT 05751
Reservations:
800-621-MTNS
www.killington.com info@killington.com
Main Phone:
802-496-3551
PO Box 1089 Waitsfield, VT 05673
Snow Phone:
802-496-3551
Reservations:
800-82-VISIT
www.madriverglen.com ski@madriverglen.com
Total Trails................................................45 Total Lift...................................................... 4 Total Acreage ....................................... 250 Vertical Drop .....................................2,037 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........216 in./18 ft.
Main Phone:
802-443-SNOW
Snow Phone:
802-443-SNOW
6886 VT RTE 125 Hancock, VT 05748 www. middleburysnowbowl.com snowbowl@ middlebury.edu
Total Trails................................................17 Total Lift...................................................... 3 Total Acreage ....................................... 125 Vertical Drop ......................................1050 Avg Annnual Snowfall .........144 in./12ft.
Main Phone:
802-422-3333
Snow Phone:
4763 Killington Road Killington, VT 05751
802-422-1200
Reservations:
866-667-7426
www.picomountain.com info@picomountain.com
Total Trails................................................52 Total Lift...................................................... 7 Total Acreage ....................................... 265 Vertical Drop .....................................1,967 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........252 in./21 ft.
Main Phone:
800-53-SUGAR
1840 Sugarbush Access Road Warren, VT 05674
Snow Phone:
802-583-SNOW
Reservations:
800-53-SUGAR
www.sugarbush.com info@sugarbush.com
Main Phone:
Total Trails............................................. 111 Total Lift....................................................21 Total Acreage ....................................... 578 Vertical Drop .....................................2,600 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........264 in./22 ft.
CENTRAL
802-457-6661
14 The Green Woodstock, VT 05091
Snow Phone:
802-457-6666
Reservations:
800-448-7900
www.woodstockinn.com email@ woodstockinn.com
Total Trails................................................23 Total Lift...................................................... 3 Total Acreage ....................................... 100 Vertical Drop ........................................ 650 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........120 in./10 ft.
PA G E 13
14
Amidst other NE Kingdom developments, Jays Stateside Hotel opens its doors
By EVAN JOHNSON
JAY, VT Jay Peak Resort opened its 85-room Stateside Hotel and base lodge on Friday, Dec. 20. The $25 million project is the third hotel the resort has opened in the past four years. It is one of several improvement projects at the resort totaling $43 million for the year. Speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony, Bill Stenger, president and co-owner, said the 80,000-square-foot hotel was a muchneeded addition. We built this new hotel and base lodge for two reasons, he said. First, it was time for the old Stateside Chalet to go. It stunk, literally, and wasnt the most pleasant place to enjoy a meal or gather for aprs skiing. But, more importantly, the hotel part of this facility is aimed at bringing people back into our sport who may have been priced out. Skiers and riders will be able to lodge here with unlimited access to the lifts for less than the cost of what some resorts are charging for a lift ticket. The hotel employs 80 to 100 employees, many of which reside in surrounding Orleans, Franklin, Essex and Caledonia counties. The facility features a base lodge and eatery, a restaurant with two pubs, a retail store for skiers and a ski and snowboard rental facility. The hotel was designed on a computer, partially constructed in a warehouse and shipped in pieces to the resort where it was assembled on-site. This is the state-of-the-art today, said JJ Toland, communications director. Designing the facility in this manner allowed the construction to be completed rapidly. It was really amazing to watch. The hotel was sold out opening night and operated at 93 percent capacity throughout the rst weekend, Toland said. Starting this spring, the resort will begin construction of a 15,000-square-foot entertainment facility with a cinema draft house, climbing gym and virtual reality entertainment center. The facility will be stick-built onsite and is expected to be completed by next winter. The nearest movie theater is about 30 miles away, Toland explained. With this center going in, it brings in more for not only our guests, but also people in the local area. The announcement of the opening of the Stateside Hotel in December was accompanied with updates on other projects in the Northeast Kingdom Economic Development Initiative (N-KEDI), the $500-million, multiyear project that is believed to be the largest construction project in the states history. One
announced change is the shift in the Newport Airport project, which has been upgraded from an assembly plant to a fullmanufacturing facility for airplanes. Ariel Quiros, co-owner of Jay Peak and a partner with N-KEDI, reported that a new commercial enterprise, Flight Design Americas, LLC., has been established and will be based at the Newport Airport. Quiros and Stenger had originally intended for the airport to be solely an assembly plant for aircraft. With this new company, Quiros said Flight Design Americas has secured the exclusive production, assembly and distribution rights for North, South and Central America for the Flight Design four-seat C4 aircraft.
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Brews, spirits & wines
By Katie Nichols
The locals guide to Aprs

Oh, the art of wine and food. Trust me, it's not easy. But as we explore the world of wine, lets take the seriousness ofperfect food pairing with a grain of salt, and just enjoy the wine. In this column, we have focused on a style of wine (rather than the producer), but I'll give you a few names that will knock your ski socks off. And wait till you try the cheese...oh man! Fresh out of Sage Farm Goat Dairy in Stowe is a cow! The newest adventure in cheese is the Spruce with its luscious, salty, creamy, unctuous center thats so good nothing will bring you up for airexcept that perfect sip of wine. Look for a white wine with light acidity and a bit of sweetness all to balance that creaminess. A semi-dry Riesling, either from the Finger Lakes region of New York or from Germany are great options. If you are venturing around Vermont, try to nd the Vermont Vidal Blanc Late Harvest from Shelburne Vineyards. A great local semi-sweet dessert wine, this Vidal Blanc will show some stone fruit, pear, and honeysuckle perfect to add to the Spruce. Look for Shelburne Vineyards wines and Sage Farm Goat Dairy cheeses at stores like the Warren Store, Mountain Cheese and Wine in Stowe and at the Killington Market. ********** Located in West Cornwall, about 10 miles south of Middlebury, is the 20-acregoat dairy known as Twig Farm. Recently re-released was the Twig Farm Mixed Drum made from cows milk of the Ayershires of Scapel and Farm and Twig Farms goat milk. An interesting blended milk cheese, the Mixed Drum has bright sharp qualities of goats milk with a pronounced salty note followed by grassy deep earthiness from the rind. Put it with a nice medium bodied red with good fruit tones, but still slightly dry on the
Backcountry Ski Festival, Jan. 26

BOLTON VALLEY The Catamount Trail Association is hosting a Get Out & Backcountry Ski Festival at Bolton Valley Resort on Sunday, January 26 to introduce skiers to this growing sport. Backcountry skiing is one of the fastest growing segments in the snow-sports industry today, says Greg Maino of the CTA, who adds that equipment is getting lighter, stronger, performing better in a wider variety of conditions and generally is getting more awesome. The Get Out & Backcountry Ski Festival is set up for interested skiers to see and learn about many different types of backcountry skiing equipment. There are instructional sessions for everyone from rst-timers, to the seasoned veterans looking to tweak their technique. Well teach you about climbing skins, show you what to pack in your pack, teach you how to dress, show you how to navigate with a compass and paper map, and help you make beautiful tele-mark turns through the woods, says Maino. For more information, visit the Catamount Trail Association website.
nish. Newly distributed in Vermont are the Folk Machine Wines by Hobo Wine Co. from California. For this particular cheese, Folk Machines take on a Rhne blend, called A Simple Machine, is a great pair. With its balanced fruit and soft structure it complements the earthiness of the Mixed Drum. Look for this awesome $20 bottle at Wine shops like Cork (Waterbury), Waitseld Wine Shoppe and nd the Twig Farm Cheeses at Hunger Mountain CO-OP (Montpelier). ********** Ever hear of Big Picture Farm? Its described in their literature as a Vermont goat dairy and farmstead confectionary that is committed to producing the nest, most delicious caramel in the world using fresh goat milk. And now they are making cheese! Big Picture Farms Sonnet is a raw milk and cellar-aged farmstead goat tomme. Only produced during the summer months, this cheese is a must for your checklist. Rened with a smooth texture, rounded out with earthy notes and a bright balanced nish, the Sonnet is a beautiful presentation of a raw goat tomme. Enjoy it with a Loire Valley white wine with a lovely light acid, mineral note with a rounded out body. Try to nd Domaine Phillip Tessiers Cour Cheverny or Francois Pinon Les Trois Argiles Vouvray. Then you can always add a caramel at the end. Wherever you take your mountain adventures for the weekend, know that the incredible local fare of Vermont is waiting for you and the perfect pairing is your making. Say cheese!
Vermont Resorts to participate in National Helmet Safety Month

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 7,700 head injuries could be prevented every year if skiers and snowboarders wore helmets. This winter, in cooperationNational Ski Areas Association, 10 Vermont ski resorts will educate skiers and riders about slope safety awareness throughout January and February. The educational events, presented by Protect your Head at All Times (PHAT), will offer special promotions and interactive displays to raise awareness on the importance of using a helmet. PHAT is a project sponsored by the University of Vermonts College of Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care and the Vermont Childrens Hospital. The dates of the events and at which resort are: January 5 Cochrans Ski Area January 11 Smugglers Notch January 18 Bromley January 19 Okemo January 25 Bolton Valley January 26 Stowe January 28 Mad River Glen February 1 Sugarbush February 2 Jay Peak March 4 Okemo
US Snowshoe Championships set Feb. 28-March 2 at Prospect Mtn.

WOODFORD, Vt. This coming February, Prospect Mountain Ski Center in Woodford will host the 14th annual US National Snowshoe Championship. The series will run Feb. 28-March 2 and is expected to draw as many as 800 participants. The championship will also feature international and veterans divisions. The National Snowshoe Championship rotates locations every year. The 2012-2013 championship was held in Bend, OR. The race was last held in Vermont in 2006 at Bolton Valley Resort. Organizer for the race, Mark Elmore, says races in the Northeast and Midwest typically draw the most competitors. Because of the location of Prospect Mountain, were expecting a great turnout for this year, he says. The host community for the race is Bennington, located between the Green and Taconic Mountain Ranges. Dion Snowshoes, a Bennington-based snowshoe manufacturer, is the events principal sponsor and will provide a limited number of loaner snowshoes to participants. International athletes (non-U.S. citizens) may compete alongside the national championship competitors in the men and womens 10-kilometer elds. The top 10 international men and women will earn awards. Competitors must qualify to compete in the race. An athlete must be a current member of the U.S. Snowshoe Association. The USSSA hosts a series of 38 qualifying events from January 5 through February 23. An athlete must complete a recognized USSSA qualifying event and record a qualifying nish performance to be eligible for the national championships. For more information on registration go to ussnowshoechampionships.com.
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New Englands lost ski areas and Vermonts resilient slopes to be featured at Mad River event January 25
since-closed ski area named Oxbow in nearby Bolton. The ip side of Davis talk on lost ski areas is a documentary FAYSTON, Vt. Ski buffs and all those who are passionate lm that portrays how several small areas are central to their about small, independent ski areas will get a double treat at communities despite their size, and even because of it. Mad River Glen on Saturday, Jan. 25, as the iconic ski area will Its denitely sad and tragic to lose so many places that host a screening of the documentary lm United We Ski, prepeople enjoyed growing up skiing at, or skied at as adults, ceded by a conversation with Jeremy Davis, founder of the New Davis said. But United We Ski shows how the areas that did England Lost Ski Areas Project. make it are doing quite well with a lot of increased community Davis, a skier turned ski historian and now author of several support the lmmakers really capture that in their lm. books on lost ski areas, also started a website dedicated Brothers Elliot and Tyler Wilkinson-Ray grew up in Richto the history of lost ski areas throughout the Northeast. mond and started their ski careers right down the road at This event will take place in Mad River Glens General It really connects with peoples nostalgia, Davis says, Cochrans Ski Area. The two recently founded the comStarks Pub beginning at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by West describing the appeal of learning about these lost ski areas. pany, T-Bar Films, and spent several years piecing together Hill House Bed and Breakfast, NELSAP, T-Bar Films and the hour-long production that has been hailed as a breakPeople probably heard of them while they were growing up or they wish they had heard of them while they were Cabot Cheese. Donations will be collected during the eve- through ski movie that captures the human side of ski growing up Now the only place these lost areas exist is ning; the proceeds will support small ski areas in Vermont. culture. online or in peoples memories. The movie focuses on several Vermont areas, including Born in Chelmsford, Mass., Davis started skiing at the Hardack in St. Albans, Cochrans Ski Area in Richmond lives in the Saratoga Springs area of New York. age of 11 at Nashoba Valley Ski Area, a small area with a vertical His hour-long presentation at Mad River Glen on Jan. 25 will and Northeast Slopes in the Northeast Kingdom and features drop of only 240 feet. Later, he began making ski trips to north- focus on the more than 100 ski areas in Vermont that have shut the ski community as well as great action shots of local skiers. ern New Hampshire with his family. It was on one of these trips, down since the early 1930s and will feature before-and-after The result, says Davis, will be two different sides of the same a young Davis passed by Mount Whittier, an abandoned ski photos, historic skiing memorabilia and archived accounts of story: his presentation will be about the past, while the docuarea near North Conway, and became fascinated with its his- when these areas thrived. mentary will illustrate the present and even cast a few predictory. Over the years, Davis gradually expanded his knowledge This should be an overview of special attributes they had, tions about the future of small ski areas in Vermont. through research, digging through newspaper articles, old bro- why they closed and whats left of them today, he said in a I always try and tell people its not all doom and gloom, chures and other literature at antique shops, and through per- recent interview. Davis said. The lm will certainly illustrate that point. sonal visits to the sites. Plus, he said, Mad River Glen really captures the true essence The Mad River Valleyand surrounding area is home to a The majority of Davis research is visible on his website, number of lost ski areas, he says, including the Tucker Brook of what more natural skiing is like The fact that they restored nelsap.org. Davis says the site has hundreds of visitors everyday Inn and Ray Thorpes ski hill in Waitseld. Interesting tidbits their single chair instead of replacing it with a more modern lift and he usually receives two to ve emails per day with informa- of information also recall fond details, like knowing that the is a great contribution to historical records. Its a very special tion, rst-hand accounts and photographs. old t-bar from the practice hill at Mad River Glen was sold to a place and Im looking forward to getting back again.
By EVAN JOHNSON
Sometimes its hard to keep up with all of the emails, he says. Its wonderful that people want to contribute to the site. After hundreds of site visits and collecting and organizing material from lost areas all over the Northeast, Davis, 36, has written three books: Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont, Lost Ski Areas of the White Mountains, and Lost Ski Areas of the Southern Adirondacks. Davis, a 2000 graduate of Lyndon State College in Vermont, serves on the board of the New England Ski Museum in Franconia Notch, N.H., and today works and

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Vermont foursome carves niche in snow sculpting world

One of three teams to represent U.S. in international competition
By ANGELO LYNN
BURLINGTON Rising out of the obscurity of their sport, a quartet of Vermont friends have carved out a niche over the past 15 years in the national and international arena of snow sculpting. Sculpting together since 1999, Brooke Monte, Alex Dostie, Michael J. Nedell (all of Burlington) and Adrian Tans of Woodstock, have won 10 state events, placed second in the U.S. National event twice (2007 and 2009), won the U.S. National Award in 2012, and have been honored (through special invitations) to compete in the Breckenridge International Competition four times, including at the 2014 event, which starts January 21. This will be our fourth time at the International event and our rst time as national champions, said Nedell. Were also one of only three teams to represent the U.S. in the competition and the only team from Vermont to compete in the international competition. Those are no small bragging rights for four friends engaging in a hobby. The challenge at these competitions is to transform a 22-ton block of compressed snow into a work of art over ve days, using about 150 pounds of tools they haul to each event. Its a rigorous week of carving, sculpting, trimming and reassessing. From the opening announcement to the nal countdown you get about 65 hours to make it all happen over ve days, Nedell says. The nal day is an all-nighter. The other days you have to stop at 11 p.m. The rst day is always short and there is a party with the sponsors and other competitors so theres a little socializing mixed in with from people all over the country or world, and thats always fun. But like most sports, the more you put into the effort, the more you get out of it and in snow-sculpting competitions theres a lot of effort that goes into every event. The four friends have entered about 30 competitions in the past dozen years and have the routine well established. Before heading into each competition they design their art, carefully sketching out every detail for structural strength and artistic air. We spent a few weeks in the summer talking about and elaborating on the design, explains Nedell. Some designs are more risky than others, and over the years we have gotten to see what level snow can be pushed to. This years idea for the internationals is pretty risky. If the sketch is accepted into a competition, then we make a clay model and iterate the design even further. We are not engineers, but over the years we have a good feeling of what the snow can do. They compact the blocks down really well in these competitions and the snow can do amazingly tricky things if the weather is right. Making the model is a longer process we will usually be looking at it and tweaking it right up to the day before the competition. Not only is snow tricky to sculpt, its structural strength deteriorates quickly. They judge the sculptures immediately after tools down is called, Nedell explained, so you can really push your designs to the limit. It really only has to stand for a few hours, though the longer it stands the more people get to see it! The Germans are famous for making structurally risky things. They cut out the supports the morning of the last day and usually by the end of the day it has fallen. The year we won at nationals the snow sculpture collapsed about two hours after judging. That was the only one we made that has fallen so quickly. Our motto that year was, You gotta go thin to win. Winning the U.S. Nationals has gotten the team invitations to go to any snow sculpture competition in the world, the most popular of which are held in the Italian Alps, in China, in Switzerland, and the group is planning on an overseas trip next year, if they can afford it. Unlike other events that offer competition on a national and international level, the rewards in snow sculpting are everything but
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Marco Polo - 2010 Internationals - Breckenridge

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Brooke Monte, Alex Dostie and Michael J. Nedell were a three-man team with the 2012 U.S. National Winning Sculpture Inner Piece.
See Sculpting on page 19
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Sculpting
monetary. None of the group gets paid to take the time off work, travel to the events and spend the week transforming 22 tons of snow into a work of art, Nedell says, noting that while the host hotel provides rooms and many meals to contestants, they still need to cover travel fees, gear and hardware and all the stuff that comes with hauling 150-pounds of tools and four guys across the country or world to make art. The team accepts donations through their website: www.vermontsnows.com/blog. Financial struggles aside, their reason for competing in these competitions is all about the moment and their art is more eeting than almost any other than about the fame.
I am a project-oriented type of person, Nedell says of himself and his cohorts, so every single time one of these sculptures is done, I feel a terric sense of completion. And you dont have to sell it like other art, or store it in the garage, or haul it around. Once its done its done. You snap your pictures and then start thinking about what is next. And the satisfaction is as pure as new fallen snow. There is no other medium I know of that allows you to make as intricate a piece of sculpture in so short as time, Nedell says. Its also very clean. With wood you get saw dust; with clay you get clay dust; with metal you get sparks and fumes. With snow you are outside in the cold, clean air, and I get to do this with my good friends whose company is greatly enjoyable.
Reach for the stars Vermont State Competition -2008 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
Roller Coaster 2007 U.S. Nationals Second Place winner
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January/February Events
Night Rider Series at Bolton Valley January 15 March 5 Skiers and riders compete under the lights in the Bolton Valley terrain parks for prizes every Wednesday night. The event set-up changes each week. Come to every event and collect points for bigger prizes to be given away on the nal night of the series. www.boltonvalley.com Womens Alpine Adventure at Okemo Mountain Resort January 23 24 Two-Day Program designed exclusively for women and led by some of the best female ski and snowboard coaches in the business. Their goal is to take skiing and snowboarding women to the next level in any snow conditions and on any terrain. Participants quickly overcome fear, build self-condence and meet new friends in a supportive and social environment. www.okemo.com
2014
Stowe Tour De Snow January 29 Held on the Stowe Recreation Path. Join people of all ages on the 5.3 mile trek down the Stowe Recreation Path with the choice of skiing, walking, or snowshoeing. Along the path will be several stations with exercises, clinics and other fun winter activities. Noram Mogul Challenge at Stratton Jannuary 30 - February 2 Mogul Skiers from around the world compete at the World Cup at 2014 Grand Pre Nor Am. Teams from USA, Canada, Japan and Australia will take a shot at fame and a chance to compete on the World Cup stage.
JANUARY
Rails For Ryan at Smugglers Notch January 31 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Smugglers Notch presents the 2nd Annual Rails for Ryan rail jam under the lights at the Photo courtesy of Stowe Mountain Resort Madonna/Sterling Base Lodge. ComUVM Winter Carnival Ski Races at Stowe Mountain Resort. peting and spectating are both free, with a suggested $5 donation to benet NATO Telemark Workshop at Bromley www.vermontseniorgames.org. Gold, Silver, Bronze medals the Flyin Ryan Foundation, established to honor the memory January 25 - 26 awarded by gender in 5 year age groups (50-54, 55-59, 60-64, of local champion extreme skier Ryan Hawks. The Black Bear These annual events cover the elementary concepts behind etc). Gold medal winners are Vermont State Champions. The Tavern will be serving food and beverages throughout the the style to high-end hybrid, free heel techniques including $20 registration fee includes all Nordic races. event. Registration begins at 4:00 pm in the Base Lodge. step, jump, and hop teles, linking smooth turns and free heel K-Town Showdown at Killington parallel. Visit NATOs website for more information & to regJanuary 25 FEBRUARY ister. The second of three park competitions. Open to both skiers 18th Annual winter Trails festival at GMC Visitors Center and riders of all ages with multiple divisions. www.killington. 4711 Rt 100, Waterbury Ctr Wounded Military Heros Weekend at Bromley com February 1 January 25 26 Join a group hike or ski, participate in a workshop or explore The Bart Center for special needs will host the ninth annual Ski Patrol Sweep at Okemo Mountain Resort on a led nature walk. There will be childrens activities all day Wounded Military Heroes weekend. This weekend is dediJanuary 25 and well end with a bonre and live music, food and drink in cated to service veterans wounded in action, giving them an Head out with Okemo Ski Patrol and close down the mounour Meeting Hall. $10/ $8 for GMC members. Children 12 and opportunity to experience the sport of skiing or snowboardtain for the day at 4 p.m. Spaces are limited and participants under free. greenmountainclub.org ing with Bromley instructors. must be advanced level skiers or riders. Visit okemo.com for more information and to sign up. Boy Scouts of America, Bromley Ski Weekend 18th Annual Heritage WinterFest at Smugglers Notch February 1- 2 January 25-26 Get Out And Backcountry Ski Festival at Bolton Valley Now in its 39th season, the Boy Scouts of America, Green Our community celebrates Winter with many events put on Nordic Center Mountain Council Bromley Ski Weekend is the oldest scoutby many people and community organizations! At Smugglers 4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd, Bolton ing event of its kind in the country. Vermont scouts will have on Saturday, January 25, theres an afternoon 5K cross country January 26 the opportunity to work on their snow sports merit badge ski trek (non competitive) hosted by the Nordic Center, with The 6th Annual Get out and Backcountry Ski Festival is a over the weekend and compete on Saturday afternoon for a free rentals and trail fees waived. great way to advance your backcountryskiing technique and season pass for the 2014/15 season. explore the vast and exciting terrain of the Bolton Valley USASA Boarder and Skier Cross at Backcountry. Learn tips to make that perfect telemark turn, Craftsbury XC Ski Marathon at Craftsbury Common Stratton Mountain Resort how to best wax your skis for different conditions, and what February 1 January 25-26 to pack on an all day outing. http://catamounttrail.org/ Race starts at Highland Lodge in Greensboro and traverses USASA Southern Vermont Snowboard and Freeski Series three towns nishing on scenic Craftsbury Common. Theres boarder/ skiercross take place on East Byrnside on the custom Ski For Heat at Magic Mountain food and aid stations every 4 to 7 kilometers. www.craftsbury. terrain course. An exciting event to watch, skiers and riders January 26 com race down a terrain course four at a time with the top two This event helps raise money to support families in need of nishers advancing to the next round. Course features include heat in neighboring communities of Vermont. To support Mad River Ski Mountaineering Race at Mad River Glen banked turns, roller and tabletops. fundraising efforts for this cause, any one who skis at Magic February 2 this day and pledges $25 or more to Ski for Heat will get $10 The Randonnee Rally Race Series is a series of ski mountainVermont Senior Games Championship 5k Classic off an adult ticket ($53). eering races held at some of the premier resorts in North January 25 America. The Race Series test the competitors endurance, Classic XC race and snow shoe races. Registration and info
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January/February Events
equipment and skiing skills while skinning up and skiing down some of the toughest terrain that these resorts and their surrounding mountains have to offer. Join us as competitors make the trek from Mad River Glen to Sugarbush along the Long Trail. http://madriverglen.com/visit/event-calendar Vermont Senior Games State Championship Alpine GS at Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush February 9 ALPINE GS Race Combined time for two Modied Giant Slalom runs. Medals for the rst three places by gender in ve year age groups (i.e. 5054, 5559, etc.). First racer off at 10:00 a.m. Awards ceremony at noon in the Mushroom located in the top oor of the Valley House Lodge. The race will be held on the Legends race area on Lincoln Peak. The race is also a NASTAR qualier. www.sugarbush.com 13th Annual Northern Vermont Snowshoe Race at Smugglers Notch February 9 Smugglers and TSL Snowshoes present this exciting day of treks, walks and races on snowshoes. Theres a 1/2K kids fun run, a 4K fun run/walk, and an 8K race that is a qualier for the 2014 US Snowshoe Association National Championship on March 1 in Bennington.www.smuggs.com Cold Wars Rail Jam at Stratton February 15 Compete for cash, swag and bragging rights on Tyros rail and box features. 9:30 to 10:30am. Competition split by age group, 14 & under and 15 & over (14 & under run rst). Triple Crown Unconventional Challenge at Mad River Glen February 22 The rst leg of Mad Rivers Triple Crown Competition Series, the Unconventional Terrain Competition is the Easts original extreme ski competition and challenges competitors with a grueling test of their abilities. The expert terrain at Mad River Glen is recognized as the most difficult terrain in New England and the Unconventional Terrain competition is a test of a skiers ability to conquer it. Judging for the event is based on smoothness, creativity, turn quality, and difficulty of line. The Triple Crown, and the Unconventional Terrain Competition in particular, seem to attract the best skiers from all over, says Mad River Glen marketing director, Eric Friedman. The event has developed a reputation for the wildest ski competition in the East. The cost is $20 if preregistered, $25 the day of the event, or $50 for all three Triple Crown Events. http://madriverglen.com/visit/event-calendar Magic WinterFest 2014 at Magic Mountain February 22 Magic celebrates the spirit and camaraderie of winter sports with the Black Magic Extreme Challenge open to all 10 years old and older. 8:30-9:30 registration at the lodge (pre-register by downloading the form below or ll out form at Group Sales Office)); 11:00 start (Qualier for Ski The East Freeride Tour event at Magic on 3/1. Apres ski party and silent auction beneting the Alpine Club until 7; buffet dinner from 5:30 to 7 (tickets purchased at event $20 adults/$10 kids); torchlight Parade down the slopes of Magic at 7:30pm. (sign up at group Sales office). Fireworks at 8pm with live band, The Resistors
2014
The Wild Boar Tavern will have live entertainment all season long. K-Town Showdown at Killington February 22 The third and nal in the K-Town Showdown series. The series features divisions for all ages with prizes for winners. www. killington.com Hope on the Slopes at Jay Peak Resort February 23 A vertical challenge event to benet the American Cancer Society. Registration begins at 7:30 in the Stateside Hotel and the event runs all day into the evening for live music, food and a 50/50 raffle. www.jaypeakresort.com Stowe Derby at Stowe Mountain Resort February 23 Participants ski through 20km of challenging terrain, racing down Mt. Manselds Toll Road and along the entire length of the Stowe Recreation Path before reaching the nish in the village. The course has a total vertical drop of over 2,600 feet. The winners will complete the course in under 45 minutes, while recreational skiers can take a couple of hours to go the same distance. $30 to $90 depending on race and date of entry. stowederby@teammmsc.org, http://www.stowederby.com/ 802 253 9216 29th Annual Telemark Festival at Bromley February 23 The Kre Andersen Telemark Festival comes to Bromley for its 29th year with tele events, an annual race and clinics for the entire family. www.bromley.com Triple Crown Vertical Challenge at Mad River Glen February 28 Mad River Glens Triple Crown Vertical Challenge. This grueling event challenges competitors to ski as many runs as they can in one day, on Mad Rivers famous Single Chair. To make things even tougher, the competitors are required to ski directly under the chair, a route that cascades down Chute and Lift Line, two of Mad River Glens most difficult trails. The cost is $20 if preregistered, $25 the day of the event, or $50 for all three Triple Crown Events http://madriverglen.com/visit/event-calendar
Photo courtesy of Bromely
and 21, Designed for all ability levels, participants are responsible for providing their own equipment, telemark rentals are not available at Pico Mountain. Lift ticket not included, helmets recommended Season Pass holders receive a 15% discount. Call 866-233-1195 Wednesdays: Race Series: Ski Bum at Killington Teams of local skiers race down Highline for the best time. Each race nishes with a party. www.killington.com Tuesdays Trapp Nordic Cup Time Trial Series at Trapp Family Lodge XC Center Every Tuesday for ten weeks, compete each week on a marked racecourse complete with timing and start area. You pick your start time each day between the hours of 9am and 4pm. A 10-week series with prizes for both skate and classic. Thursday Night Lights at Ethan Allen Biathlon Range Thursdays The Ethan Allen Biathlon Club holds a six-race biathlon series under the lights in January and February. Races are open to beginners and include sprint, pursuit, individual and sometimes relay format for distances of ve to ten kilometers. Safety clinic, instruction and shared ries are available for novices. Race dates: January 9th, 16th, 30th and February 6th, 13th (state championships), and 20th (series awards and prize raffle after race). Racers should be 14 years old or older.
Free Heel Fridays at Pico Fridays Available Fridays beginning January 3, excluding February 14
ONGOING:
Photo courtesy of Sugarbush
Sugarbush celebrates in the new year with fireworks.

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South Face Village at Okemo A7#B"#4@$C7D&&@E7@9$F%&?%G"$H7=9" receives Act 250 permit %&'()*+(&!),+(&-.&/!)0(12
$200 million project includes 208 residential units, two lifts, seven trails, another base lodge
By KAREN D. LORENTZ
The proposed South Face Village at Okemo received an Act 250 permit last fall for a ski-in and ski-out residential development on Okemo Mountains south side in Ludlow. The project includes 208 residential units and a base lodge as well as ski lifts and trails. The estimated cost is $200 million. The South Face development will be located on a portion of a 266.80-acre property on the southeast slope of Okemo Mountain off Trailside Road on the Miller and Carnes tracts. Timber Creek at Okemo Number II, LLC and Okemo Limited Liability Company (the Okemo ski resort, which will build the lifts and trails, install snowmaking, and operate the new skiing area but not be involved in the village construction) submitted the Act 250 application. Ted Rossi, president and majority owner of the Rossi Group, is the main investor behind Timber Creek at Okemo Number II. The permit application was for the entire project, which may take 10 years or more to build out, but the owners decided to plan, design, and engineer the entire project at once so that they could be ready to build it when the economy turned around. The South Face Village at Okemo consists of a 15-lot subdivision, as well as 22 singlefamily units, 64 duplex units in 32 buildings, 120 townhouse units in 9 buildings, and two luxury units atop a base lodge for a total of 208 residential units and 64 buildings. An 18,000-square-foot base lodge will include an 88-seat restaurant, restrooms, and retail shop that will be open to the public (skiin-only access) as well as a private owners area with lockers, pool, tness center, recreation room, and meeting room. The top level of the South Village Base Lodge will have two penthouse units, Rossi said. The proposed skiing area of about 22 acres includes two lifts and seven trails. The main lift will be a 2,600-foot, xed-grip quad extending from the new base lodge to the base of the South Face chair. A 1,500-foot secondary chairlift will primarily serve the homeowners for ski-in/out access in a manner similar to the lower lift at Solitude, Rossi noted. While South Face Village will be a private recreation community for owners and their guests, Okemo skiers and riders will be able to use the trails as well as the public portion of the base lodge via access from Okemos existing South Face (lift and trails) area. Similarly, homeowners will be able to access all the terrain at Okemo via the new lifts and Okemos South Face Express Quad.
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By POLLY LYNN
KILLINGTON Winter uphill travel by means of skinning and snowshoeing is becoming increasingly popular across the county and world. Some ski resorts have welcomed the sport; other have fought it some to the point of jailing perpetrators. In a well-known instance, backcountry skier Roland Fleck was arrested on Feb. 5, 2011, at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and was tobogganed off in handcuffs after he refused to stop skiing uphill. Fleck, 78, a longtime Jackson Hole doctor, tness buff and one of the original investors in Teton Village, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass, interference with an officer, unsafe skiing and theft of services. Fleck spent about seven hours in the Teton County Jail. But times change, and Killington Ski Resort and Pico Mountain now fall into the former group of ski areas supporting uphill travel. Just before the New Year, they published their formal policy welcoming winter uphill travel enthusiasts with signage, an official annual pass and designated routes open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
All served with Pure Vermont Maple Locals, many of Syrup whom have been skin-
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LAND USE
BackCountry Tavern stayed tuned to Mountain Times
ning up the mountains for years, have largely welcomed the resorts policy and see it as a progressive step forward. Last year a group of locals formed an organization called USTO (Uphill Snow Travelers Organization) to consolidate their ideas for an official uphill travel policy and opened the conversation with Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. This is a big deal folks, said Mike Miller, a founder of USTO in an email to the local travel group. If we can respect the mountains policy, they will open more terrain for us. The uphill routes are currently Ramshead at Killington and Summit Glades at Pico. The goals of USTO are to promote safe uphill travel, create a central location for members to share concerns and/or opinions, to work with resorts or land owners who have policies in place, and to help others create policies. The Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation and the National Forest Service acknowledge that ski resort operators have the ability to decide and dene how ski
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23
Travelers
trails and facilities can be operated, accessed and utilized. This provides Killington and Pico authority over land use at both locations. Killington Ski Resort leases land at Killington from the State of Vermont and land at Pico is privately owned. Uphill travel routes will be made available at both Killington and Pico during the winter season as conditions permit. We will open uphill travel routes in line with our ability to effectively manage and operate all functions within the entire resort, including but not limited to snowmaking, trail grooming, equipment maintenance, snow removal, etc., Killington Resort explains in its Uphill Travel Policy online.
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There is no charge for an Uphill Travel Pass for anyone who has already purchased a 201314 Killington or Pico season pass. Uphill Travel passes are available at the Killington and Pico
THE UPHILL TRAVEL PASS
Season Pass offices during operating hours. For those without a season pass, a 2013-14 Uphill Travel Pass can be purchased for $20 and may be used at Killington and Pico. The Pass does not provide lift access either up or down the mountain. In addition to wearing the pass, all uphill travelers are required to sign a 2013-14 Winter Uphill Travel Express Assumption of Risk form before accessing open and designated uphill travel routes. All uphill travelers are also required to: Wear reflective clothing and a bright headlamp if you will be on the mountain in low light or when its dark. Its your responsibility to make yourself visible to operations personnel. Travelers must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above. Do not stop in high traffic areas. Travel on the edge of the trail and dont stand more than two people side-by-side across the trail. Pets are not permitted on trails and slopes.
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New ski museum to debut at Pico

By KAREN D. LORENTZ
The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in conjunction with management at Pico Mountain opened a new VSSM satellite museum at Pico this winter. The new museum will be known as the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum at Pico Mountain Resort. It will be located on the
third oor of the base lodge in the two rooms opposite the Last Run Lounge. It is open Thursdays through Mondays (the days Pico is open for skiing/riding) and seven days during holiday periods. No admission fee will be charged, but there will be a donation box for anyone wishing to support the preservation of ski and snowboard history and
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BackCountry Tavern stayed tuned to Mountain Times
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Merisa Sherman, the Female Ski Bum

By EVAN JOHNSON Photos by MERISA SHERMAN
Merisa Sherman is many things. Shes a dog lover, an admitted gear addict, bartender and a shop manager. But above all, she is a skier. If I walk into a bar and theres no one that I can talk skiing with, then Im walking out, she says. Its a passion that she clearly takes seriously and one that shes incorporated into her blog, The Female Ski Bum, an online account of skiing in Vermont. Her writing on the blog is sparse and minimalist, while at the same time relentlessly enthusiastic, a writing style that, she says, is intentional. Its very emotional writing, she says. Its not I went here, and I turned left and then I turned right, because skiing is emotional for me. Its dancing, its a relationship. That relationship began when she was 18 months old while she was living an hour outside of New York City. She grew up learning to ski from her father at Tuxedo Forest (then called Sterling Ridge). After her parents came to Killington in 1971 for a ski vacation, they made it a habit and continued to bring theirchildren with them year after year. Sherman, now 35, has logged well over 50 days on-snow this season and will continue to ski well into the spring. The title of ski bum is one that she willingly embraces and even strongly defends: The ski bum lifestyle is not something that you can get out of your system in a single season, Sherman writes in her blog. It is a way of life that penetrates every breath and thought that occurs, no matter the season. A ski bum is someone who lives and breathes skiing, she says. Since I was a kid, thats been me. The blog began in 2010, when her boyfriend had a traumatic head injury and was bedridden and stayed at home to rest. When Sherman would return after a day of skiing, he was usually resting and she was unable to share her days adventures with anyone. So Sherman shared her adventures with the web and through her blog, The Female Ski Bum. Shermans blog documents everything from trail running, to paddling on Chittenden Reservoir, to the rst hot chocolate of the season, but the majority of the content documents her experience skiing, and extensively so. In the beginning it was just family and friends, she says. And they didnt realize how beautiful mountains were. I had to explain that yes, this was really where I lived and skied. As Sherman continued writing, her readership expanded beyond that small circle. Her Twitter handle @FemaleSkiBumnow has over 900 followers and the connected Facebook page has close to 500 likes. Her photographs and comments have been picked up by Ski The East as her writing reviews the conditions in the backcountry on Big Jay, Tuckermans Ravine on Mount Washington, and even the last patch of snow on Killington in July just big enough for one giant slalom turn. The goal of the blog, she says, is for people to reassess their skiing experience. Id like people to take a different viewpoint on their skiing, she says Instead of how many runs can I get in an hour? and stopping and looking around and being like, I really enjoy this. Because theres more to skiing than just going up and down. Now entering her fourth year writing as The Female Ski Bum, the kind of skiing she prefers alpine touring has seen a huge increase in popularity. At Base Camp Outtters in Killington, where Sherman works as a manager, alpine touring and telemarkgear has seen a 70 percent increase in sales in the past few years and the store is constantly reordering skins. The increase in popularity, she says, occurred as alpine touring bindings and skins made their way into the mainstream. What was originally her journal documenting personal adventures became a resource for readers. I began to realize that strangers were knowinga lot more about me,so I got kind of nervous, she says. The stuff thats in the beginning was more personal and I started to not write so much about myself and try and focus more on the skiing. This season, she says, hasnt yielded too many great days, but she remembers the highlights well. This November, she skinned up Killington and skied down in knee-deep powder at ve in the morning unbelievable conditions shared with just one other friend. It was the kind of skiingwhere you jump up and down and hug people, she says, recalling the morning. Because it was that good. Its just one of the privileges we get as uphill skiers. The solitude and companionship of the long pre-dawn ascents before exhilarating runs in perfect conditions are what Sherman says makes earning her turns so much more enjoyable. Uphill skiing is a common practice at many mountains. At her home mountain, Killington, skiers have been picking their own lines before and after hours for generations. Unfortunately, the times when the snow is best in the early mornings or late nights, is also the same time that mountain operations are in full production removing snow, setting up and operating snow guns and grooming trails often with large (and dangerous) equipment. Rather than work around the dicey situations or go diving into the woods to avoid snowmobiles, Shermans passion for the AT/ uphill variety of skiing lent itself to another endeavor outside of her writing. People have been skinning Killington and Pico since the beginning of time, she says. That hasnt changed, but with the advent of all this equipment, uphill travel is much easier to access by the general public. What Killington realized was that it wasnt just a bunch of locals who know the ins and outs, there are people coming from all over the place who are
See Sherman on page 25
Sherman and her father, above, take a break at the top of Superstar at Killington in June, 2006. At left, Vespi, her 12-year old golden retriever, is a constant companion. Opposite page, Sherman skins toward Mount Washington, and at right, takes a break at the shelter on top.
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Sherman
not safe. They really needed to come up with a standard policy. This led to her involvement as an organizer of the Uphill Snow Travelers Organization (USTO), a group that negotiates with management at ski areas on behalf of uphill skiers and then distributes information to over 300 members. The idea was to go to Killington and say, Hey, we have 350 members. Thats a lot of people that go uphill. You guys need a policy. USTO recently helped Killington and Pico design and implement their uphill skiing policy, which has been put into effect for the rst time this winter on designated trails. Presently, uphill travel is permitted to the summit of Pico while uphill skiers at Killington can travel to the top of the Ramshead lift. Additional access will be expanded in phases much like it was during the emergence of snowboarding. The policy requires uphill skiers to carry a specic pass whenever they use the trails. Passes are free for season pass holders and cost $20 for everyone else. Through the arrangement, in the event of cancelations or a change in the uphill travel route, Killington Resort management can contact USTO, which can communicate with the members. Sherman says the dialogue was productive and the policy is a good start. It was a good back and forth of what is safe for them and what is enjoyable for us and trying to nd routes that match that, she says. These are routes that weve been using for years, but theyre the ways that Killington
thought would be safest and the best ways to start. Sherman says she is encouraging everyone she knows to buy one of the passes. Getting this pass is a vote for uphill, she says. Outside of her involvement with USTO, Shermans skiing has become more signicant. This year, after losing her father, skiing is a means of reaffirming her relationship with her family. When Im [skiing] by myself, I can hear myself. It becomes a dance something between you and the mountain, she says. Now that Im out skiing with my cousins, that dance can grow to include two people, or three, or four. While skiing with her family, Sherman says shes been making fewer backcountry excursions and early morning skinning. But she says shes not picky. Being a ski bum, your resources are nite, she says. Fortunately, being in Killington means we dont have to go far. And when Sherman says we, she means one or both of two parties: her golden retriever, Vespi, or her boyfriend, Aaron. Some of their larger trips have been up to Big Jay and to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, but she skis whenever her schedule allows. Some days she can ski for eight hours, other days shell only have time for a few runs. The important thing, she says, is to get out and nd the snow, no matter where it is. If its going to be awesome out, then were going to go to where the awesome is, she says.
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26
Sharp matters:
By TONY CRESPI
Skis are expensive, but badly tuned skis can make the experience disastrous, notes former World Cup Ski Tuner, Mike DeSantis. One of an elite group of ski tuners on the East Coast who tuned skis on the World Cup, Mike DeSantis brings extraordinary skill and knowledge to tuning. The basic principle of tuning a ski edge is simple: A dull knife doesn't cut as well as a sharp knife, and a dull ski doesn't grab and edge-like a tuned ski! On the other hand, many skiers simply do not realize that even after a day of skiing on hard snow a skis performance degrades. A ski that looks good doesnt mean it skis good, emphasizes DeSantis, who presently tunes in his workshop, Ski MD, at Summit Ski & Snowboard in Framingham, Massachusetts. Heres an inside guide to tuning: Binding Removal: Mike begins by removing bindings. While many shops omit this step, Mike believes this adds accuracy as the machines no longer have a ski wobble. Side Edge Shaping: After carefully cutting the sidewall to better reveal the side edge, a side edge grinder and ceramic disk edge nisher prepare the side edge. Ultimately, this sets the side edge at a 3-degree bevel. Base Reconditioning: Mike reconditions the base using a stone grinder. After multiple passeson a carefully cleaned stone,the bases are clean and base edges at. Mike also adds a structure into the base to maximize glide. This can involve multiple turns on his machinery. Edge Shaping and Polishing: Using a ceramic edge nisher, Mike sets a half-degree base bevel to maximize turn entry while setting a 3-degree side edge bevel. Mike also polishes the edges using a ne polishing cloth and diamond to remove microscopic burrs. Waxing: Finally, the base is waxed with a wax jet machine, which uses a Scotchbrite belt to gently polish. At this point the base looks like new. Well, at least faster and sharper.
Ski tuning tips from a pro

ularly. Wiping skis following use minimizes corrosion and helps remove chemicals and pollutants. 2) Inspect the bases. Ski bases perform best when free of gouges. Either ll or have the shop ll major gouges. 3) Use a le guide to keep side edges smooth and sharp, Abasic "le guide" and diamond stone are key. First use a thick rubber band to holdthe brakes out of the way. Second, mark the edges with black magic marker. Work tip to tail to gradually remove the magic marker. Start with a diamond insert to remove major marks. Lightly le. Polish with a diamond. 4) Wax. Waxing protects the base and allows a ski to glide and turn. Unfortunately, hot waxing CAN damage a ski. Mike DeSantis likes the Wax Wizard. The skier simply rubs ski wax from a block onto the base and polishes the base with this tool, which melts the wax into the base using friction. Once that base edge is set, do not le that base edge, suggests Jed Duke, Division Manager for Blizzard Skis. File or stone the side edge. Use the guide to maintain that angle. For those interested in tuning, the good news is that a variety of effective tools are readily available. From a basic plastic guide with a variable side edge setting (one example is the FK Variable Sharpener from Reliable Racing), to a highly precise guide with wheels to avoid pressing cuttings into the base, this tool is critical. Uniquely, Edge Tune sells a dremel-powered edge guide that brings ceramic stone grinding technology to home tuning. Their web site also includes very helpful demonstrations to educate tuners. Helpful web sites include the following: Edge Tune; www.edgetune.com Reliable Racing: www.reliableracing.com FK Tools: wwwfktools-us.com Sun Valley Ski Tools: www.svst.com The Race Place: www.The-raceplace.com Ski Sharp (Wax Wizard)www.alpineskituning.com
Photos by Polly Lynn.
The views from the top of Killingtons Peak Lodge feature a 360-degree vista of three mountain ranges. The dining is upscale with a scramble-style restaurant and the bar offers stunning panoramoic views.
Killingtons Peak Lodge opens with 360-degree views on top

By KAREN D. LORENTZ
Three years in the making, the new 15,000-square-foot, two-story $7-million Killington Peak Lodge opened in December to a huge welcome, replacing the previous lodge that had served guests for 40 years. The state-of-the-art building features the highest-elevation dining in Vermont. With an abundance of natural light and amazing views, the lodge also offers a full-service bar, lounge areas with couches and coffee tables, seating for up to 300 guests, and an upscale dining experience featuring creative fare from Chef Eric Rusch. When built in the late 1960s, the peaks lodge was a dual function facility that served as the top terminal for the original Killington Gondola and as a warming hut. It offered rooftop viewing as well as a restaurant and bar, though the ambiance was what some might refer to as bunkeresque. Since the replacement Skyeship debuted (stopping at the Skye Peak terminal), a decision was made to replace the old peak lodge in 2010. Plans for the new lodge initially called for a threestory $7 million facility with bells and whistles like an indoor waterfall and glass elevator. During the summer of 2011 the historic old lodge was torn down and survey work began. But nature interfered. Tropical Storm Irene struck in August that year, so lodge construction plans were put on hold. Work resumed on the Peak Lodge in 2012 with footings, foundation, and bottom oor walls put into place. However, the original lodge plans were modied as an increased price tag made the three oors impractical at
BASIC OVERVIEW:
TUNING TOOLS
CLOSING THOUGHTS
TIPS FOR NANCE
HOME
MAINTE- East, even a single day on hard snow can degrade edges. Fortunately, a rag, plastic side edge guide, diamond insert, le insert, and wax can largely maintain your skis. If you are new to tuning both www.alpineskituning.com and www.precisiontuningcenter.com offer key information on tuning.
Tuned skis can maximize your day. In the
Interested in maintaining this world class tune at home? With a few simple tools and a minimum amount of time, skiers can maintain their skis. Consider these steps: 1) Wipe your skis. Skaters wipe edges reg-
Museum
PA G E 2 6
continued from page 23
VSSM. The project was spearheaded by Bill Henne, founder of the Antique Ski Race; Meredith
Scott, curator and director of VSSM in Stowe; and Jonathan Robinson, a ski historian and proprietor of Robinson Ski Archive Services. Anyone with questions about possible donations should call Bill Henne at 802-4841278.
the time when huge snowmaking investments were being made. The plans were revised and construction took place this year. Architects Dan Pratt and Jay White of Robert Carl Williams Associates in Pittseld designed the glass and concrete building to blend in with the mountain landscape and t the original buildings footprint as well as to withstand the weather including Category 3 hurricane force winds (reaching 200 mph). Plans for the Peak Lodge call for hosting functions as well as evening dinners at this top-of-the-peak location making it the highest lift served skiing in the state and now the highest dining experience as well. The peak lodge feature dining in what the resort calls an upscale e x p e r i e n c e . Director of Hospitality Scott Harrison notes, Weve crafted a unique, high-end scramblestyle restaurant. Once you enter the building, casual seating with leather couches and an assortment of table styles greets you. Every table has panoramic views of the Green, White, and Adirondack Mountains. The Peak Bar will offer ne wine, signature hot cocktails and local drafts as well as a small menu.
27
SOUTH
Resort
Address
Contact
Main Phone:
Stats
Total Trails................................................46 Total Lift ....................................................11 Total Acreage ....................................... 175 Vertical Drop .....................................1,334 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........144 in./12 ft.
802-824-5522
PO Box 1130 Manchester Center, VT 05255
Snow Phone:
802-824-5522
Reservations:
800-865-4786
www.bromley.com info@bromley.com
Main Phone:
802-824-5645
PO Box 396 495 Magic Mountain Access Road Londonderry, VT 05148
Reservations:
802-824-5600
www.magicmtn.com info@magicmtn.com
Main Phone:
800-245-SNOW
39 Mount Snow Road West Dover, VT 05356
Snow Phone:
802-464-2151
Reservations:
800-245-SNOW
www.mountsnow.com centralreservations @mountsnow.com
Total Trails................................................80 Total Lift ....................................................20 Total Acreage ....................................... 467 Vertical Drop .....................................1,700 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........166 in./14 ft.
Main Phone:
802-228-4041
Snow Phone:
77 Okemo Ridge Road Ludlow, Vt 05149
802-228-5222
Reservations:
800-78-OKEMO
www.okemo.com info@okemo.com
Alpine Resorts
Total Trails............................................. 119 Total Lift ....................................................19 Total Acreage ....................................... 632 Vertical Drop .....................................2,200 Avg Annnual Snowfall ........200 in./16 ft.
Main Phone:
800-787-2886
5 Village Lodge Road Stratton Mountain, VT 05155
Reservations:
800-STRATTON
www.stratton.com infostratton @intrawest.com
Total Trails................................................94 Total Lift ....................................................11 Total Acreage .................................... 625+ Vertical Drop .....................................2,600 Avg Annnual Snowfall .........264in./22 ft.
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Middleburys authentic charm

For a skier or snowboarder looking for an authentic Vermont experience, there is no better venue to explore. The Middlebury College Snow Bowl is the rd 3 oldest ski area in the state, with the first trails cut in 1934. With a legacy steeped in collegiate racing as well as a cozy family-friendly attitude, the Snow Bowl feels like a home away from home and is filled with memories and tradition. turesque rolling hills in the Green Mountains Rikert is an incredible gift not to be missed. outdoor adventures planned for winter. Addison County is quickly building a repu Blueberry Hill is another Nordic ski desti- tation around locally-made and internationally nation in Addison County with over 40 years recognized craft beer, wine and spirits. Otter of history. Located in the remote Moosalamoo Creek Brewery along with Shed, Wolavers, National Recreation Area of the Green Moun- and Long Trail make their home in Middletains and with over 70 kilometers of trails, bury, as does Vermont Hard Cider and the skiers can find a genuine sense of calmness Drop In Brewery. and quiet at this classic site. Blueberry Hill Inn is located onsite and offers a healthy relief Lincoln Peak and Shoreham Vineyards are from the typical bustle of life. two local wine producers in the county, and Champlain Orchards is another neighbor craft Middlebury village is alive with unique ing hard and iced cider from locally grown shops, locally run and sourced restaurants, apples. Whistle Pig whiskey touts itself as one high quality theater and live performance, and of the finest whiskeys in the world and makes character-filled inns, offering a balance to the its start on the farm in Shoreham.
Rikert Nordic Center is situated at Middlebury Colleges beautiful Breadloaf Campus, just down the road from the Snow Bowl. With 42 kilometers of trails as well as five kilometers of snow blowing, and some of the most pic-
For more information about Middlebury contact the Better Middlebury Partnership www.bettermiddleburypartnership.com info@bettermiddleburypartnership.com
802-388-4126

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Tasting Room & Growler Shop
w! eer NBe Appreciation
out Classes! Check or te our websi er. Drop In to regist
610 Route 7 South, Middlebury, VT www.dropinbrewing.com

Drop -In Brewing

802-989-7414
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Middlebury goes mobile

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Featuring all of Countys nest Restaurants & Shops will be able to locate businesses, maps, addresses, emails, Events & Attractions and websites, and enjoy one-touch phone calls with this dynamic mobile Middlebury App. Dandy. News Briefs Sports Schedules College News Nearby Locations Addison Addison County is going Mobile. Users of all abilities
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Powered by Addison Independent Route 802 Powered by Route 802
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reandicerestaurant.com 26 Seymour St. Middlebury, VT 802.388.7166
Rikertnordic.com
Cross Country Skiing Snowshoeing Snow Bike Rental Pulk Rental Day Passes
Join Us!
Snowmaking on 5km Private lessons Group lessons PSIA Instructors
The Snow Bowl has some of the best skiing & riding in the state!
500+ acres of trails, glades & woods with a border-toborder all-access terrain policy Lowest day rates to be found weekday passes only $30 Family-friendly atmosphere includes FREE access to our Sunkid Wonder Carpet, a cozy lodge with wireless internet, great food, and warm drinks.
Located at the Breadloaf Campus, Rt 125 in Ripton, VT 802-443-2744 rikertnordiccenter@middlebury.edu Open 7days a week 8:30 - 4:30, November March
Come visit Vermonts 3rd oldest ski area and learn why the Snow Bowl is beloved to all who know it!
www.middleburysnowbowl.com
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Snow
forms of precipitation that arent snow.) The day before New Years Eve this year, Sugarbush and much of Vermont experienced rain at its base area and snow at the summits of Mount Ellen and Lincoln Peak. Overnight, operations turned the guns on the lower mountain, and then ran groomers to create satiny corduroy. It was like night and day, says Candice White, Vice President of Marketing at Sugarbush Resort. Its absolutely amazing what the mountain operations crews can do to create good conditions.
While White agrees snowmaking is an important part of every resorts message, she notes the primary pitch is more about delivering a good product that is good snow conditions on a consistent basis. We want to start making snow on the rst weekend in November so we can open by Thanksgiving, says White. Its a key component to hitting that opening day and getting us off the best possible start. After that, its just piling more and more on the ground whenever possible to create good conditions throughout the typical January thaws and into the steadier snows of February and March, which is typically Vermonts snowiest month.
Adds Michael Joseph, director of public relations at Killington: Were not comparing to anyone, but ourselves. We guarantee a product and the investments we make are done to guarantee that product. When we start making snow, we do it to build up that base thickness so we wont have to lose terrain. At Cochrans Ski Area in Richmond, snowmaking is done with a small, but modern eet of HKD and SMI guns. The area lacks a reservoir but is permitted to draw 500 gallons per minute from the Winooski River. Jesse Paul, general manager for Cochrans, says while
SMALLER RESORTS
the area has much of the same equipment as many larger areas, the quality of water drawn from the river can affect the quality of the snow. Unpredictable levels of silt in the river can be drawn and turn the snow brown. Silt can clog lters, pumps and knobs. The river can change its course, which can affect the amount of water. Sometimes its perfect, Paul says. Other times you dont know what youre going to get. The current pump system was installed in 2007. Before then, Mickey Cochran ran a series of small diesel compressors and drew water from the number of springs on the hill. Paul says pumping the river was an excellent improvement and gave the mountain a reliable water supply, but snowmaking still represents the most expensive cost, more than labor lifts, insurance, grooming and repair. Last year, Snowmaking and grooming ate up a third of the $400,000 budget. In my mind, I would never make snow in weather above 22 degrees, Paul says. But youve got to do what you got to do. And what you need is snow. Geoff Hatheway, marketing director at Magic Mountain, says all three factors of making snow manpower, diesel fuel and electricity make snowmaking one of the most expensive operations. It costs $8,000 for Magic to ll their tank to run their compressor a supply which they can fully exhaust in one or two days of snowmaking, meaning the crew of ve to six snowmakers has to be judicious about when they decide to blow snow. We have 1,700 feet of vertical, says Hatheway. And the rst thing we have to do when we decide to make snow is to provide a reasonable way to get down that 1,700 feet. Since reopening in 2006, the majority of improvements done at the ski area have been to the pipe systems pumping snowmaking water uphill. The Magic Faithful Club has chipped in by raising $550,000, which they intend to spend on ten HKD mobile tower guns. Vermont in general does a great job of snowmaking. You cant beat the product that gets put out there. Vermonters are also tough skiers (and those who) ski at some of these smaller places, go there for a reason. As early as the 1930s, ski jumps and ice rinks were experimenting with methods in preserving or providing a minimal coverage when natural conditions wouldnt provide. One of the earliest experiments was in 1934, when the Toronto Ski Club faced opening a new ski jump with no natural snow in sight. A substitute was provided in the form of shaved ice, which was hauled in tons by the truckload to cover the jump and landing. In 1937, at the Boston Garden Ski Show, the snow was provided in the form of ground ice blown through a machine used for frosting the interiors of refrigerator freight cars. It used 100 tons of ice in about 13 hours for the rst coating. Later in the twentieth century, the equipment for fabricating snowy surfaces received improvements from a few unlikely places. In the 1940s, the Canadians, British and Americans were experimenting with de-icing

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HISTORY LESSON
See Snow on page 31

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Snow
equipment on airplanes and needed to produce eld conditions at the testing facilities to properly assess the effectiveness of de-icing methods. As a result, various nozzles were fabricated in an effort to generate freezing rain, fog and sleet. The output from the nozzles was described in study literature as snow. In 1950, in Florida, orange growers developed a system to apply steam to prevent frosts from killing whole crops, the design for which was suggested to ski developer Walt Schoenecht as a means of snow production at his rst mountain in
Cornwall, Connecticut. The rst patent for snowmaking equipment (patent number 2676471) was granted in 1954 to the Tey Manufacturing Company and the rst major installations of snowmaking equipment were completed in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. By 1958, 18 out of 104 ski areas, including Mount Snow, were using snowmaking equipment. Killington installed its rst snowmaking system in 1963 at its Snowshed Lodge. The system was 3700 linear feet, with a 1800 foot pipe to water supply to the stream coming off Killington; water was pumped from there to the top of Snowshed, then owed by gravity into the system.
A snowmaker at Mount Snow and one of the resorts 250 fan guns.
In partnership with:
OLD STONE HOUSE
With support from:
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Breweries & Wineries

1. Lawsons Finest The Warren Store 4. Boyden Valley Winery
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VBA and Vermont Grape & Wine Council initiate Passport programs for guests who visit Vermonts breweries and wineries.
If youre a lover of micro-
brews and wines, the Vermont Brewers Association and Vermont Wine and Grape Council have developed Vermont Passport Challenge prgrams for guests who visit breweries and wineries in the state. Those who visit four breweries, get a Drink Vermont Beer bottle opener; those who visit 10 breweries earn a Drink Vermont Beer t-shirt; and those who visit all the breweries get the grand prize: a Collectors Set of Vermont Beer Gear. The rules are simple: Visit a brewery or brewpub that is part of the challenge (listed on the Vermont Brewers Association website (www. vermontbrewers.com); enjoy a glass or pint and get your passport stamped at that brewery with their official VBA symbol. (The passport card is available on the VBA website or at most of the breweries.) Prizes are given out when the passport is mailed into the Vermont Brewers Association, 142 Kirk Meadow Rd., Springeld, Vt. 05156. (Be sure to indicate your shirt size if you qualify. The offer is valid while supplies last and is good only for breweries & brewpubs, not at wineries or cideries.) A similar program is being run through the Vermont Grape & Wine Council. For info on rules go to www. VermontGrapeandWineCouncil. com.
284 Main St. Warren, Vt 05674 802-496-3864 www.warrenstore.com Lawsons Finest Liquids Warren, VT 05674 802-272-8436 www.lawsonsnest.com The Warren Store is open 7 days/week, 8 a.m. 6 p.m, bringing in a rotating line-up of bottles delivered every Friday. Straight from the Green Mountains to your head! The Warren Store is the best location to nd Lawsons beer, a small batch artisanal microbrewery. Lawsons goal is to provide local brews of the highest quality and freshness, while crafting unique new recipes and emulating the best of widely appreciated styles.
6308 Shelburne Road Shelburne, Vt 05482 802-985-8222 www.shelburnevineyard.com Open 7 days/week, 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Tastings and Tours Taste our internationally recognized, awardwinning red, white, rose and dessert wines; tour our state-of-the-art winery; picnic & stroll through our vineyard and discover how we make world-class wines from regionally grown grapes.
2. Shelburne Vineyard
64 Vt Route 104 Cambridge, Vt 05444 802-644-8151 www.boydenvalley.com Open May December, 7 days/ week, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Jan April, Friday Sunday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Wine Tasting ($6+tax) all day, Tours (FREE) 11:30am & 1:00pm, French Gourmet Cheese Plates ($19.95+tax) seasonally 10am-4pm Boyden Valley Winery, a fourth generation family farm, produces international awardwinning Vermont wines; bold red wines, elegant white wines, light and avorful rose and fruit wines, Vermont Ice: the premier line of Vermont ice wines, and the NEW Vermont Ice Apple Crme and Vermont Ice Maple Crme liqueurs. We offer tastings daily from 10am5pm, French Gourmet cheese plates seasonally from 10am-4pm, and FREE tours daily at 11:30am and 1:00pm.

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5. Vermont Pub & Brewery
3. Harpoon Brewery
336 Ruth Carney Drive Windsor, Vt 05089 802-6475491 www.harpoonbrewery.com Open daily, Sun-Weds 10am-6pm, Thurs-Sat 10am-9pm. We started the Harpoon Brewery in 1986 becauselike todaywe loved beer and wanted more quality choices, and we have spent as much time spreading the joy of beer drinking as we have focusing on recipes, ingredients, and brewing equipment. Hopefully our sense of gratitude is reected in both the quality of the beer and the spirit of fun and enjoyment surrounding our beer and breweries. We invite all of you to visit our beautiful brewery in Windsor, Vermont.
144 College St. Burlington Vt, 05401 802-865-0500 www.vermontbrewery.com Open 7 days/week, 11:30 a.m. 1 a.m. (ThuSat open until 2 a.m.) Vermont Pub & Brewery is Vermonts original brewpub. Opened in 1988, it continues to be a celebrated landmark and produce world-class beer selections, which are all unltered with no preservatives.
6. Otter Creek Brewing Company
793 Exchange St. Middlebury, Vt 05753 802-388-0727 www.ottercreekbrewing.com Open 7 days/week , 11 a.m. 6 p.m. Offers self-guided window tours and great food. Founded in 1991, Otter Creek is one of the oldest craft breweries in the State. We brew all of our beers in small batches to ensure freshness, using Vermont water, the best domestic malts and hops, and our own top fermenting yeast. Otter Creek is also home to Wolavers Fine Organic Ales and The Shed. Wolavers
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was the rst USDA-certied brewer, leading the industry since 1997. The Shed has been a Vermont staple for generations and a local secret that is now available region-wide.
5520 US Route 4 Bridgewater Corners, VT 05035 802-672-5011 www.longtrail.com Open 7 days/week, 10 a.m. 7 p.m. Sales and sampling and self-guided tours at the visitor center. Enjoy Vermonts #1 selling craft beer at one of the most popular destinations in the state, the Long Trail Visitors Center. Whether you are interested in enjoying some of our yearround, seasonal, cask-conditioned or limited pilot brew releases, you will nd there is a avor for everyone!
7. Long Trail Brewing Company
E. Calais Vt 05650 802-456-7012 www.grandviewwinery.com Open May October 7 days/week, 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Tours, tastings and retail store Grand View Winery specializes in non-grape wine produced with character and not sweet. It won a double gold award for its Cranberry wine, gold for its Strawberry Rhubarb wine, and silver for its Pear wine this year at the Finger Lakes Intl Wine Competition among other awards.
here at the farm. We also offer delicious local cheese plates to enjoy with the wines as well as unique and locally selected gifts. Check our website for hours and different events like live music, sushi, and yoga happening throughout the year. Open Wed-Fri 11-7, Sat & Sun 11-6.
17. Jasper Murdocks Alehouse at The Norwich Inn
14. Lincoln Peak Vineyard
11. Magic Hat Brewery and Artifactory
8. Rock Art Brewery
632 Laporte Rd./Rt. 100 Morrisville, Vt 05661 802-888-9400 www.rockartbrewery.com Open Monday Saturday, 9 a.m. 6 p.m. Tasting daily until 5:30 p.m. (with purchase of $4 souvenir glass) Tours run at 2 & 4 pm daily and you are welcome to watch from the viewing window on your own ANYTIME! We are celebrating 15 years! Enjoy samples of our beers during your visit and have a growler lled to take home and enjoy later. We have the best selection of our bottled beers and we also have several local Vermont foods and cheeses to pair nicely with the beers.
5 Bartlett Bay Road South Burlington, Vt 05403 802-658-BREW MagicHat.Net Winter Hours: Winter Tours Mon-Thurs 10-6, Thurs-Fri 3,4,5; Fri-Sat 10-7, Sat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Sun 12-5, Sun 1:30 Where ancient alchemy meets modern-day science to create the best tasting beer on the planet. Come watch our spores dance and play! Visit the Artifactory for FREE samples, FREE Tours and the most unusual shopping experience!
142 River Rd New Haven VT 05472 802-388-7368 www.lincolnpeakvineyard.com Nov-Dec: Wed-Sun 11-5 Jan-May: Sat 11-5, M-F by chance or appt Jun-Oct: Daily 11-5 Tastings; wine by the glass Wethe Granstrom familygrow 12 acres of grapevines, make wine right here from our own grapes, and love to share how grapes grow in Vermont. Come taste our wines, enjoy a glass by the cozy wood stove or on the winery porch, and walk around the vineyard. Our wines have won three best-inshow awards at the Intl Cold Climate Wine Comp in recent years. 3 miles north of Middlebury, just off Rte 7.
325 Main Street Norwich, VT 05055 (802) 649-1143 www.norwichinn.com Yearly Hours: Monday 5pm-9pm Tuesday Thursday 11:30am - 9pm Friday & Saturday 11:30am - 9:30pm Sunday 12pm - 9pm Jasper Murdocks Ales are crafted from ne English malts, with hops grown in England, locally, and in our own hop garden at the Inn. Our beer is pumped underground from the beer cellars to our pub at the Inn. Our brewery is not open for tours but the Alehouse is open for you to wet your whistle during the above hours. Our ales have won 4 silver medals and 1 gold medal in the last three years at the Great International Beer Competition and are sold only at The Norwich Inn.
18. East Shore Vineyard
15. Champlain Orchards
12. Woodchuck Cidery
9. Zero Gravity
American Flatbread 115 St. Paul St. Burlington, VT 05401 802-861-2999 www.americanatbread. com Zero Gravity Craft Brewery is located inside American Flatbread Burlington Hearth where you will nd 10-15 house brews on tap all year long. Beers that are brewed for food are our main focus and German and Czech-style lagers and a variety of Belgian styles are usually well represented. Our TLA I.P.A. is a crowd favorite as is our medieval style Gruit ale, released twice a year on the summer and winter solstices.
153 Pond Lane, Middlebury, VT 05753 802-388-0700 www.woodchuck.com Facility not set up for public tours Cider can be purchased in all 50 states The Vermont-based, independently owned and operated cidery is now leading Americas fastest growing alcohol beverage category, through its visionary mix of innovation and tradition. Their signature high quality production is naturally gluten-free, which is something that sets them apart.
3597 Route 74 West Shoreham, VT 05770 802-897-2777 w w w.champ lainorchards.com Open daily 10-4 November-June Open daily 9-6 July-September Please call ahead if possible. We offer guided tastings of our Pruners Pride, Pruners Promise, Semi-Dry, and Cranberry Hard Ciders, as well as our Sparkling and Honeycrisp Ice Ciders - all made onsite with our ecologically grown apples. Picnic or take a short walk for stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.
Sugarbush - Lincoln Peak Sugarbush Access Rd. Warren, VT 05674 and 28 Church St Burlington, VT 05401 877-ESV-VINO www.eastshorevineyard.com. Sugarbush Tasting Room: Open Friday-Sunday Noon to 6PM. Burlington Tasting Room: Open Everyday except Tuesday - Noon to 6PM, open later weekends Call for details. Wine tasting ($7+tax) receive complimentary glass. Join us at our two premier tasting rooms for tastings and pairings with some of Vermonts nest chocolates and cheeses. East Shore Vineyard produces a variety of international award-winning Vermont made wines including: Traminette, Summer Snow, Cab Franc, Marquette, and Vidal Ice Wine.
16. Saxtons River Distillery
13. Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery

4373 VT Route 12 Berlin, VT 05602 802-223-1151 www.freshtracksfarm.com Come visit our beautiful and sustainable tasting room just 3 miles south of Montpelier. Sit and enjoy sampling and sipping our selection of wines all grown and produced on premise
10. Grand View Winery

Max Gray Road
485 West River Rd. Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-246-1128 www.saplingliqueur.com Tasting room hours: Tues-Friday 9-5, Saturday 10-5. Saxtons River Distillery is the home to Sapling Vermont Maple Liqueur. We will be adding new products soon, so stop by and see what has just been bottled!
19. Trapp Lager Brewery
700 Trapp Hill Road Stowe, Vermont 05672 802-253-5705 www. trappfamily.com The Trapp Lager Brewery offers a selection of authentic Austrian lagers. Stop by for a pint and enjoy our mountaintop views in our DeliBakery, lounge, or dining room. The Trapp Family Lodge is a mountain resort in the European tradition by the family that inspired The Sound of Music
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CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREAS

N RTHERN VERM NT
Bolton Valley XC
Nordic and backcountry skiing are hallmarks of Bolton Valley Ski Resort. The highest elevation of Vermonts cross-country ski areas ensures great snow, usually from early November well into April. With over 100 km of Nordic trails, Bolton is considered by many to be the best backcountry in Vermont. The Nordic Center offers both Classic and Skate skiing lessons as well as guided tours and ski clinics. Snowshoeing is another popular activity; the resort uses Tubbs Snowshoes as rentals. Nordic ski and snowshoe packages with lodging are available. CONTACT: 4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd., Bolton Valley, VT 05477 Main phone: 802.434.3444 Phone 2: 877.9BOLTON Fax: 802.329-6871 nordiccenter@boltonvalley.com STATS: Typical season:..............................................December - early April Total Terrain........................................................................................88 km Machine-tracked.............................................................................26 km Skating Terrain..................................................................................26 km dom on over 400 private acres has offered outdoor activities for the whole family. In 2008, it was re-organized as a non-prot entity whose mission focuses on lifelong sports, stewardship and sustainability. Members (both day or annual) and winter time guests can enjoy 85k of groomed nordic ski trails, snowshoeing, orienteering, ice-skating, backcountry tours, biathlon programming, and more. The Center has space for up to 90 houseguests in its variety of trailside accommodations. Choose from private cabins to comfortable lodges - all room prices include your meals in their Vermont Fresh Network Member dining hall. Youll enjoy lots of fresh, local ingredients with every meal! If youre ready for some indoor time, guests have access to amenities such as free wi, massage therapists, sauna and tness room - plus homey public spaces. Babysitting can be arranged with advance notice. CONTACT: 535 Lost Nation Rd, Craftsbury Common, VT 05827 Main phone: 802.586.7767 Fax: 802.586.7768 www.craftsbury.com STATS: Typical season.............................................mid December - March Total Terrain ...................................................................................135 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................85 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................85 km
Jay Peak Nordic and Snowshoe Center

The Jay Peak Nordic and Snowshoe Center is located in the Golf Clubhouse and offers 20km of groomed and tracked terrain for beginners and experts alike. Pristine winding trails that amble through unspoiled wilderness coupled with unparalled mountain views are the hallmarks of our trail network. Snowshoers are welcome to experience the backcountry by day or be guided in the evenings on our reside tours. A true destination resort, Jay Peak also offers ice skating, curling, lodging , dining, an indoor water park and plenty of night life. CONTACT: 830 Jay Peak Road, Jay, Vermont 05859. Main Phone (802) 988-2611 x4653 Reservations 1-800-451-4449 Fax (802) 988-4049 info@jaypeakresort.com. STATS: Typical season..........................................Thanksgiving - mid-April Total Terrain........................................................................................25 km Snowshoeing trails.............................................................................5 km
Morse Farm Ski Center

Visit Vermonts newest, family friendly cross-country touring center, with views of Camels Hump and the Hunger Mountain range. Professionally designed scenic trails offer a diverse choice of terrain, through softwood forests, sugarbush and across gently rolling open pastures. Suitable for all skill levels, from rsttimers to seasoned experts, who will appreciate the banked turns on our many challenging downhill slopes. CONTACT: PO Box 1200 1168 County Rd., Montpelier, VT 05601 Main phone: 800-223-0090 www.skimorsefarm.com STATS: Typical season.......................................................December - March Total Terrain ......................................................................................20 km. Machine-tracked ............................................................................20 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................15 km
Burke XC/Kingdom Trails

Two centers located on Darlng Hill and near Burke Mountain offer something for everyone. At Kingdom Trails the atmosphere is noncompetitive, our focus is the quality of skiing and your awareness of the surrounding countryside. Eight main loops make up 50 km of trails to accommodate all skiing abilities. At the two Nordic centers on Darling Hill and Burke XC you can warm your feet and enjoy the splendid views. CONTACT: PO Box 204, East Burke, VT 05872 Main phone: 802.626.0737 Phone 2: 802.535.5662 info@kingdomtrails.org STATS: Typical season:............................................mid December - March Total Terrain........................................................................................80 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................50 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................35 km
Hazens Notch
Located at the top of Vermont in the Covered Bridge Town of Montgomery near Jay Peak Resort, Hazens Notch is on the western edge of the snowy Northeast Kingdom. 70 Kilometers of groomed and marked trails pass through mixed maple, birch and evergreen forest and across gentle, open meadows. There are spectacular views of Hazens Notch and numerous peaks over 3,000 in elevation in the Jay Range and Cold Hollow Range of the Green Mountains, which completely encircle the trail system. 30 trails for all abilities provide loops of different lengths for classical cross-country skiing and or snowshoeing. Trail difficulty is evenly divided between easy, moderate and difficult. CONTACT: P.O. Box 478, Montgomery Center, VT 05471 Main phone: 802.326.4799 Fax: 802.326.4966 www.hazensnotch.org STATS: Typical season...........................................................December - April Total Terrain ......................................................................................70 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................60 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................20 km
Sleepy Hollow Inn & Bike Center

Come cross-country ski or mountain bike with us! Our trails are challenging and great fun. Visit Butternut Cabin, with a stunning view of Camels Hump and Vermonts rolling Green Mountains. Our eight bedroom newly renovated country inn is gaining a reputation for great service and hospitality. We offer skiing, iceskating, night skiing, snowshoeing, single-track mountain biking, and hiking. Our full line of rentals will surely make your visit hassle-free and memorable. CONTACT: 1805 Sherman Hollow Rd, Huntington, VT 05462 Main phone: 802.434.2283 Phone 2: 866.254.1524 info@skisleepyhollow.com www.skisleepyhollow.com STATS: Typical season.......................................................December - March Total Terrain ......................................................................................40 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................30 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................25 km
Catamount Family Center

All year long enjoy recreating on our trails as you discover the four corners of our beautiful family farm. Go at a leisurely pace, taking time to enjoy yourself and your family. You can pull off the trails at scenic points to soak up memorable views of Mt. Manseld or Camels hump to the east or Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks to the west. This farm is rich in history. The rst governor of Vermont, Governor Chittenden, built the main house in 1798 for his son Giles. It has since passed to our family and is in its 6th generation of ownership. CONTACT: 592 Governor Chittenden Rd, Williston, VT 05495 Main phone: 802.879.6001 Phone 2: 888.680.1011 Fax: 802.879.6066 www.catamountoutdoor.com STATS: Typical season.............................................mid December - March Total Terrain........................................................................................35 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................35 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................35 km
Highland Lodge & XC Center

Ski through elds and valleys, delineated by rows of trees and sugar bushes, with stunning views over open pasture lands of Mount Manseld to the west, Burke Mountain to the east, the Lowell Mountain Range to the north and Caspian Lake below. There is no ner place for spring skiing and picnics. CONTACT: Caspian Lake, 1608 Craftsbury Rd., Greensboro, VT 05841 Main phone: 802.533.2647 Fax: 802.533.7494 www.highlandlodge.com STATS: Typical season.......................................................December - March Total Terrain ......................................................................................60 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................60 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................40 km
Smugglers Notch Cross Country

Smugglers Notch Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Adventure Center is conveniently located at the center of this year-round resort, providing a host of exciting activities for every member of the family. PSIA-Certied instruction in both classical and skate skiing;
Craftsbury Outdoor Center

For over 35 years, this year-round resort in the Northeast KingPA G E 3 4
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daily guided snowshoe treks and night tours on 24 kilometers of dedicated snowshoe trails; ice skating on a natural outdoor rink. With over 100 pair of Red Feather Snowshoes and plenty of skis, boots, poles and ice skates, Smugglers can outt age 5 and older. CONTACT: 4323 VT Route 108 South, Smugglers Notch, VT 05464 Main phone: 802.644.1173 Phone 2: 800.451.8752 Fax: 802.644.2713 smuggs@smuggs.com www.smuggs.com STATS: Typical season.........................................................December April Total Terrain ......................................................................................34 km. Machine-tracked ............................................................................23 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................28 km with good snow conditions all season long. The center offers 55 km of groomed trails that are interconnected to the Stowe Mountain Resort, Topnotch and Edson Hill ski touring centers, making a trail network of 120 km groomed trails and another 100 km of back country trails. The center has a complete retail store with accessories, clothing and equipment, a repair shop, a ski school and rentals of all kinds. CONTACT: 700 Trapp Hill Rd, Stowe, VT 05672 Main phone: 802.253.8511 Phone 2: 800.826.7000 Fax: 802.253.5757 info@trappfamily.com www.trappfamily.com STATS: Typical season.........................................................December April Total Terrain ...................................................................................100 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................55 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................55 km CENTRALR EGION STATS: Typical season.........................................December to mid-March Total Terrain ......................................................................................65 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................25 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................25 km
Blueberry Lake
The Snow Bowl of Sugarbush. For the last two years, we have skied everyday of the season after opening. The ski area offers 31 km of trails all of which are groomed. Some of the trails are lit for night skiing. CONTACT: 424 Robinson Road, Warren, VT 05674 Main phone: 802.496.6687 Fax: 802.496.5198 STATS: Typical season.........................................December to mid-March Total Terrain ......................................................................................31 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................31 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................31 km
Stowe XC
Stowe Mountain Resorts 35 kilometers of groomed and 40 kilometers of backcountry trails are the highest in Stowe. Also available are 5 kilometers of trails specically for snowshoeing. Theyre all part of the largest connected cross-country trail network in the East... a nordic skiers dream, that also connects with the Trapp Family Lodge XC Center, Topnotch and Edson Hill ski touring centers. CONTACT: 5781 Mountain Rd., Stowe, VT 05672 Main phone: 802.253.3688 Phone 2: 800.253.4754 * Fax: 802.253.3406 info@stowe.com www.stowe.com STATS: Typical season.................................................December - late April Total Terrain ......................................................................................70 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................35 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................35 km
CENTRAL VERM NT
Blueberry Hill
Trapp Family Lodge Cross Country Center

Located on the spine of the Green Mountains, they are blessed
Blueberry Hill Blueberry Hill is continually expanding its trail network and maintaining high grooming standards. The ski lodge sits at just over 1,600 feet, ensuring a fair dumping with any snowstorm. 65 kilometers of groomed and wilderness trails spread across the beautiful Vermont countryside, with connections to the Catamount Trail and Vermonts Long Trail. The Halfdan Khlune Trail climbs to 2,800 feet, making it the highest maintained ski trail in Vermont. The rental shop offers a full line of touring, backcountry and skating skis on a rst come, rst served basis. We also have 40+ pairs of snowshoes, for both adults and children. CONTACT: RFD 3, Goshen, VT 05733 Main phone: 802.247.6735 Phone 2: 800.448.0707 Fax: 802.247.3983 info@blueberryhillinn.com www.blueberryhillinn.com
Catamount Trail Association

The Catamount Trail is a 300-mile public cross country ski trail that spans the length of Vermont. It offers a mixture of ungroomed backcountry terrain and groomed trails - a ski experience for everyone. Guidebook available. Maintained by the member-supported nonprot Catamount Trail Association. CONTACT: Main phone: (802) 864-5794 info@catamounttrail.org www.catamounttrail.org
Mountain Meadows XC Area

Located in the heart of the Green Mountains, Mountain Meadows cross-country ski area has been attracting skiers from all over the world for the past 35 years. Snowmaking, new trail marking system, improved trails through spectacular meadows and hard woods.
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CONTACT: 209 Thundering Brook Rd, Killington, VT 05751 Main phone: 802.775.7077 Phone 2: 800.221.0598 Fax: 802.747.1929 www.xcskiing.net STATS: Typical season........................................................ November April Total Terrain ......................................................................................57 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................57 km Skating Terrain..................................................................................57 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................22 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................22 km
Three Stallion Inn Touring Center

Come and enjoy the Sporting Life on 35 km of x-c skiing and snowshoeing trails that criss-cross our 1,300 wooded acres and open pastures. CONTACT: Three Stallion Inn, Randolph, VT 05060 Main phone: 802.728.5656 Phone 2: 802.728.5575 www.3stallioninn.com STATS: Typical season..................................................... December March Total Terrain ......................................................................................50 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................35 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................17 km
Oles Cross Country Center

The combination of snow and scenery at Oles Cross Country Center in the Mad River Valley is perfect for skiing and snowshoeing. Discover 30 miles (50K) of moderately rolling trails groomed for classic skiing and ski skating. All abilities can ski to panoramic views of Sugarbush or into the rare quiet of the deep woods. Rent cross country ski gear and snowshoes at Oles, including skating skis. Learn to cross-country ski better. We offer fun lessons for beginners to coaching for racers. We love to share our favorite sport. Adventure with us on a guided ski or snowshoe tour. CONTACT: PO Box 1653, Waitseld, VT 05673 Main phone: 802.496.3430 Phone 2: 877.863.3001 Fax: 802.496.3089 www.olesxc.com STATS: Typical season........................................................ November April Total Terrain ......................................................................................50 km. Machine-tracked ............................................................................50 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................45 km
Mountain Top Inn and Resort

Eleven miles from Killington, 60km trails (40km groomed) classic, skate and pristine backcountry for skiing or snowshoeing on 350 of acres at elevation up to 2,100 ft. Varied terrain for all skill and age levels. Private or group lessons, rentals, snowmaking, daily grooming, ski shop (Rossignol demo equipment & rentals, Tubbs snowshoe rentals), snack bar. Designated pet friendly trails. Nordic ski and other seasonal packages available. CONTACT: 195 Mountain Top Rd, Chittenden, VT 05737 Main phone: (802) 483-2311 Phone 2: (802) 483-6089 Reservations: (802) 483-2311 Fax: (802) 483-6373 stay@mountaintopinn.com STATS: Typical season.................................................................late Nov.-April Total Terrain ......................................................................................60 km. Machine-tracked ............................................................................40 km. Skating Terrain .................................................................................60 km
Woodstock Nordic Center

Just out from the ski center are 10 km of gentle meadow skiing that connect to our tness center and the 20 km of woodland trails on Mt. Peg. There are also 30 km of trails located across the village green on Mt. Tom and these quite often become the favorites of those who discover them. Skiing or snowshoeing Mt. Tom puts you on century old carriage roads in the midst of Vermonts rst tree farm and Vermonts rst National Park site. CONTACT: Route 106, Woodstock, VT 05091 Main phone: 802.457.6674 Phone 2: 800.448.7900 Fax: 802.457.6699 email@woodstockinn.com www.woodstockinn.com STATS: Typical season..................................................... December March Total Terrain ......................................................................................60 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................50 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................20 km SOUTHERNR EGION
Rikert Nordic Center

Located 12 miles east of Middlebury on Route 125 in Ripton, VT - 2 miles west of the Middlebury Snow Bowl. Situated on the Bread Loaf Campus of Middlebury College bordered by the Green Mountain National Forest and the Robert Frost Homestead, the center offers 50 km of carefully groomed trails for classic and skate skiing and snowshoeing for all abilities. Included in this terrain is a new world class 5km FIS sanctioned race course that was built this fall. The newly renovated shop offers rental equipment, repairs and maintenance and is fully ADA accessible. A staff of instructors offer both private and group lessons. CONTACT: Route 125 Middlebury College Bread Loaf Campus, Ripton,VT Phone: 802 - 443- 2744 mhussey@middlebury.edu www.rikertnordic.com STATS: Typical Season: ...................................................December - March Total Terrain: ....................................................................................50 km Machine Tracked:...........................................................................50 Km Skating Terrain:.................................................................................40 km
Okemo Valley Nordic Center

Okemo Valley Nordic Center features 22 km of traditional Nordic track trails and skating lanes that wind their way through pristine meadows and Nordic hillsides and along the Black River. The Nordic Center also has an additional 13 km of dedicated snow-shoe trails. Okemo Valley features modern trail grooming and terrain ideally suited for all ability levels. Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals are available, along with group and private lessons. CONTACT: 77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow, VT 05149 Main phone: 802.228.1396 Phone 2: 800.78.OKEMO Fax: 802.228.7095 info@okemo.com www.nordic.okemo.com STATS: Typical season.........................................................December April Total Terrain ......................................................................................22 km
S UTHERN VERM NT
Brattleboro Outing Club
The BOC Ski Hut is the place to cross-country ski in Brattleboro. Its so close and convenient, its practically XC in your backyard! Just two miles from town, the Ski Hut is where friends and family gather to make the most of winter. Learn-to-ski programs after school, ski and snowshoe rentals on weekends, special events that celebrate the gift of winter. We maintain trails for all tastes- Classic-only trails meander through the woods, while our fairway trails are groomed wide with both skating lanes and stride & glide tracks. In elds adjacent to the fairways, our Hunde-loipes (Hound loops) for dog-lovers and their pets are groomed regularly.
Enjoy 60km 25km of groomed groomed trails, trails, rated rated as as some some of the nicest trails in New England! Enjoy lunch at the Ski Center and and stay stay in one of Vermonts most scenic and historic inns tucked in the Vermonts most scenic heart of of Robert RobertFrost Frostcountry countrywith withexquisite exquisite dining. dining. heart For For more more information information go go to to www.blueberryhillinn.com www.blueberryhillinn.com
Blueberry Hill Ski Center

Goshen,Vermont Vermont 802-247-6735 Goshen, 802-247-6755
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CONTACT: 348 Upper Dummerston Rd. PO Box 335 Brattleboro, VT 05302 Main phone: 802.254.4081 Contact our web page at BrattleboroOutingClub.org xc@brattleborooutingclub.org STATS: Typical season...........................................mid December March Total Terrain ......................................................................................33 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................25 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................20 km Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center Grafton Ponds focuses on cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice Skating (no ice skating) Biathlon, and tubing on a 600-foot hill. There are 15 km of Nordic trails groomed with a snow-cat and a tiller (which includes 5 km with snowmaking) and 15 km of back-country trails, along with another 10 km of snowshoe trails. They offer a wide variety of terrain and a full service cross country center including rental, retail and snacks. A series of winter activities, including family and kids programs, demos, clinics and races, take place throughout the season. Grafton Ponds is part of the Grafton Inn, which offers special ski & stay packages. CONTACT: 783 Townshend Road, Grafton, VT 05146 Main phone: 802.843.2400 Reservations: 800.843.1801 Fax: 802.843.2245 info@graftonponds.com www.graftonponds.com STATS: Typical season..........................................December Mid-March Total Terrain........................................................................................45 km Machine-tracked.............................................................................15 km Skating Terrain..................................................................................15 km STATS: Typical season........................................................ November April Total Terrain ......................................................................................35 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................35 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................30 km long day of skiing you can enjoy a hearty cup of soup in our Olympic Caf; or bring your own lunch for a picnic at our warming hut overlooking Vermonts Stratton Mountain. CONTACT: 615 Little Pond Rd, Londonderry, VT 05148 Main phone: 802.824.3933 Fax: 802.824.4574 www.vikingnordic.com STATS: Typical season..................................................... December March Total Terrain ......................................................................................40 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................35 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................30 km
Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

Stratton Mountain Nordic Center is located out of the Sunbowl Lodge at Stratton Mountain Resort. We offer 10 km for cross country skiing and for snowshoeing. The beautiful wooded trails are groomed for both classical and skate skiing. The terrain offers something for novice to advanced skiers. Inside the base lodge we have a full service rental and retail shop. Open daily from 8-5. Lessons available. CONTACT: RR 1 Box 145, Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 Main phone: 802.297.4114 Phone 2: 800.STRATTON www.stratton.com STATS: Typical season..................................................... December March Total Terrain ......................................................................................10 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................10 km Skating Terrain .................................................................................10 km
Wild Wings Ski Touring Center

Classic skiing at its best. Family skiing or ski to train. Tracks set with Piston Bully they last longer. Ski through the woods or along the brook. The animal tracks we see regularly include bobcat, rabbit and deer. Rental and lessons available. CONTACT: Box 132, Peru, VT 05152 Main phone: 802.824.6793 wwxcski@sover.net www.wildwingsski.com STATS: Typical season..................................................... December March Total Terrain ......................................................................................25 km Machine-tracked ............................................................................25 km Skating Terrain ....................................................................................0 km
Timber Creek Cross Country Ski Area

Across from Mount Snow, cradled by the Green Mountains, is Timber Creek a very high quality cross country ski area. With a dependable mountain climate and a high elevation, an abundance of snow becomes a way of life at Timber Creek. The skier has a choice of adventures on a trail system that meanders and explores where you can ski the forested hills or reach up to the high Green Mountain ridges. CONTACTS: Route 100 North, West Dover, VT 05356 Main phone: 802.464.0999 Fax: 802.464.8308 www.timbercreekxc.com STATS: Typical season..................................... December March Total Terrain......................................... 14 km Machine-tracked.............................. 14 km Skating Terrain .................................. 14 km
Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

Hildene is a historic house built by Robert Todd Lincoln primarily as a summer home. It is open year-round and includes the mansion and gardens, farm and restored Pullman palace car. In the winter months, we offer ski and snowshoe rentals for children and adults, and lessons by appointment. CONTACT: 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester, VT 05254 Main phone: 802.362.1788 Fax: 802.362.1564 www.hildene.org STATS: Typical season..................................................... December March Total Terrain........................................................................................14 km Machine-tracked.............................................................................14 km Skating Terrain.....................................................................................0 km
Prospect Mountain Cross Country Ski Center

Prospect Mountain Cross-Country Ski Center is located on Route 9 in Woodford, Vermont, just 7 miles east of Bennington. At the highest base elevation of any ski area in the state, Prospect Mountain has earned its reputation of being the snow magnet. Prospect has over 35 km of expertly groomed ski trails, and offers excellent skiing to everyone from racers to families. The full service ski shop includes a heated waxing room and a professional waxing service. Adult and childrens skis, snowshoes and baby sleds are available for rent. The spacious Base Lodge Restaurant is open 7 days/week. Open everyday from 9 am to 5 pm. CONTACT: Route 9, Woodford, VT 05201 Main phone: 802.442.2575
Viking Nordic Center

Viking Nordic Centre is one of the oldest cross-country ski centers in North America. With 40 kilometers of trails we offer something for every skier. From the rolling gentle terrain of our inner trail system to the long loops through the woods of our outer trail system, beginners and experts can nd terrain that will both please and challenge them. After a
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Ascutney Resort sells; hints of re-opening

By EVAN JOHNSON
WEST WINDSOR After years of closure due to bankruptcy, thousands of pages of documents and court hearings, AscutneyMountain Resort in West Windsorhas a new owner. At an auction on Nov. 4, 2013,Dan Purjes, an investment banker with MFW Associates LLC, placed the lone bid of $1.5 million. The ski resort that once attracted thousands of guests with 200 acres of terrain and 57 trailsclosed in 2010. Everyone would love to see it reopen again, says Martha Harrison, Zoning Administrator for the town. It would make a huge difference in the local economy and those of us who ski would really love to be able to ski some more. The sale of the resort comes at the end of a long history of economic woes. Steven and Susan Plausteiner bought it out of bankruptcy in the early 1990s for $1.1 million. In 1998, the Plausteiners organized as Snowdance LLC were the majority owners of the resort while Dan Purjes and Myles Wittenstein were the minority owners. In 2005, the Plausteiners took out a $4.5 million promissory note from PRIF Ascutney LLC, a New Jersey-based investment company, to make improvements but the investments didnt pan out and three years later defaulted on the loan. Purjes and Wittenstein formed a new company, MFW Associates, and purchased the promissory note for $850,000 and shortly after, started foreclosure proceedings, citing $1.8 million in debt. While the two parties debated which had priority interest, condo prices at the mountain dropped signicantly and local retailers and business owners were directly affected by the decline in tourist traffic. Last year, the town held an appraisal, which decreased condominium values further. The previous appraisal was in 2006. Annie Burke, Town Lister, says that in the event of the resort reopening, the town could complete another partial appraisal, but no plans have been announced by either the town or Mr. Purjes. Craig Carmody, owner of Great River Outtters in West Windsor, describes the news of the possible reopening as fabulous. After the closure in 2010, his shop experienced a drop in sales of 20 percent in the summer and 12 percent in the winter. Carmody says the shops ability to offer dogsledding and sleigh rides helped keep the business open. In the winter, thats the only thing that makes it happen, he says. Its been rough.

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Parting Thoughts...
an
I looked up to see a large dog bounding into view, alone. It was a stunning sight at that late afternoon, black-andIt was the end of a workday, a couple white hour, deep in the snowy winter forest; we were an hour of hours before dusk, and a full-on blizor more into the woods, above 3,000 feet, not a person or a zard. The snow was coming down in track in sight. At rst I thought it was a coyote or even a small thick, heavy akes. It was already up to wolf, and just as I called out hey! I caught sight of a man folmy shins when I stepped out of the car. lowing the dog on a snowboard. He was using poles to push Oliver had picked me up in the village himself through the snow. Hi! he replied with a note of familand wed driven up a valley wed been iarity, as if greeting us on a village street. eyeing for a ski outing. We exchanged a few words about where wed come from We set out, breaking trail in the new snow, Oli out front, his and where we were headed, and he indicated the direction of a pace a bit faster than mine. I am steady, even plodding; hes just good way down. So we headed off together. a touch ahead of that. He led us into a few tight turns in the spruce, which Mind you, Oli isnt the fastest; that would be any opened up into wider-spaced hardwoods. The snow number of endurance athletes around here who run Somewhere on these outings I always find myself was deep and forgiving. It was a nice descent, all the marathons in less than three hours and make it to the down to the car in the fresh snow. Magic, really. reviewing the steps and chapters of my life that it way Slayton Pasture Cabin at Trapps on cross-country skis Somewhere on these outings I always nd myself in less than 25 minutes. Some of these speedsters comtook to be out here, to find that tingle of discovery, reviewing the steps and chapters of my life that it took pete at going uphill in the snow in winter. Keeping up be out here, to nd that tingle of discovery, fear and fear and euphoria, and recognizing, quite sud- to with companions in the mountains generally doesnt euphoria, and recognizing, quite suddenly, my altered bode well for a long day. But Im with Oli and the pace denly, my altered frame of mind, the heightened frame of mind, the heightened awareness, the welcome is ne. Anyway, this would all be over in less than an lightness. awareness, the welcome lightness. hour and a half. By the time we threw our gear in the car it was comWe switched the lead a few times on the way up, pletely dark. back and forth, doing this without the need for any The guy with the dog introduced himself as John Theres tension. You might get lost, you might miss the turn, discussion. Wed never explored on skis this wooded slope, the right tree or dip in the ridge that will enable you to nd Wulf, a science teacher at Champlain Valley Union High south and west of Stowe, though wed been up on the ridge what youre hoping for. In a blizzard in a slightly unfamiliar School. We talked backcountry skiing a bit. Hed been the high where we were headed. Hed hunted the area and Id climbed place, the edge of anxiety and anticipation is a little sharper. school teacher for one of our reporters at this paper. It was one around it in the summer. After switching back and forth for an hour, we pushed of those classic mountain-town moments. His call had come in the morning. I scooted home mid after- through the spruce line and onto the summit ridge. Content, I dont think Oli and I said much on the way home. noon and grabbed my gear. Half an hour later, Oli and I were in Oli had an idea about a possible clearing and an open way We probably discussed stopping for a beer, and I considered a blizzard, following one another, a little chatter now and again, down. His memory was triggered by a line of large spruce trees how that might prolong the good feeling. At home, the inevibut mostly silence as we searched the forest for cues on where and a clearing marked by a stand of old birch. I had my doubts, table question from my all-knowing, skiing wife: Whereve you to go up and where we might come down. but when your partner gets a notion, and you have none, you been? Olis an easy guy to be in the woods with. Hes not in any par- just follow. We removed our skins, stashed them away and Skiing in the woods with Oli. ticular rush, and if we ran into trouble he wouldnt panic; hed began our descent. How was it? know what to do. Not that our level of concern is particularly Great. After a few turns we emerged into a small, at clearing where
By BIDDLE DUKE
high in the Vermont backcountry, but Ive gotten lost for hours and hours and was glad at those times to be with understanding mates. Oli also reads wild signs: wildlife tracks, deer and bear rubs; he can distinguish bear and moose and coyote scat; he knows when a trail is actually a wispy deer track that will soon lead nowhere as opposed to a trail someone, sometime, might have cut. Mostly, though, he likes the quiet. You can only be silent with your closest companions. The thing about a ski climb in a storm in the dead of winter, even a modest uphill New England plod, is the anticipation of the summit and the descent.
ftern
in the
Woods
oon
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