Well, you've come to the right place. Here you'll find information and views about Vermont skiing and riding, powder dumps, Vermont ski resort reviews, ski travel tidbits and all-around snow culture from a Vermont skiing enthusiast. I don't work in the ski industry, so what you read in this ski blog is from someone who just loves to get out on the snow! This Vermont skiing blog covers alpine, backcountry and cross-country skiing.
Magic Mountain ski area in southern Vermont made the front page of today's Boston Globe.
This small ski area is selling shares in an attempt to become a cooperatively owned ski area, much like Mad River Glen. Magic's owner believes this is the only way that skiers will see the lifts turning beyond this ski season.
Here's a link to the article.
Monday, February 8, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Magic
This morning I had the opportunity to enjoy a sunny ski morning at Jay Peak Resort.
When I got out of my car, the wind whipped through the parking lot and I decided it would be prudent to throw on an extra layer. This layer would come in handy on the Green Mountain Flyer, which always seems to be blasted with wind at the top.
But by the time I hit the entrance to the glades, I had been warmed up by playing in soft powder on the sides of the trails. Then, there were some very nice powder...[Read more]
Friday, February 5, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Jay Peak
Vermont ski resorts are reporting between one to 8 inches of fresh snow this morning — the farther north you go, the higher the total. Some resorts have been getting a little bit of snow every day this week.
This will be an exciting weekend around Stowe, Vermont. The University of Vermont Winter Carnival takes place Friday to Sunday with both alpine and nordic ski racing.
The alpine events are at Stowe Mountain Resort, while the cross-country races are at Trapp Family Lodge. We're planning...[Read more]
Thursday, February 4, 2010 1 Comment Filed in: Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
I don't know if you call it cabin fever or just plain old work stress, but by mid-afternoon today I needed to get outside and exercise! I convinced the Skimeister to join me for an end-of-the-afternoon classic ski at Bolton Valley Nordic Center.
We arrived and saw that we would not be alone in our late-day ski. Ski team members from the University of Vermont and Colchester High School were on the trails, too. We set out for a nice loop out on Maple Loop and only passed a handful of kids.
An...[Read more]
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing
I'd say it was about 5 degrees (F) on Saturday when we clicked into our skis in the Sterling Valley area of Stowe, Vermont. Needless to say, it was not a day for dallying about. We selected a backcountry ski tour so that we'd keep moving and generate our own heat on this clear but cold day.
I had been eyeing a section of the Catamount Trail in Stowe ever since our summer hike up in the Upper Sterling Valley. The Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowshoe Waterproof Trail Map (you can buy it at the...[Read more]
Sunday, January 31, 2010 2 Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Stowe
Well surprise, surprise! Northern Vermont ski resorts are reporting up to 12 inches of snow has fallen on their slopes in the last 24 hours. Yippee!
We knew there was going to be light snow this week, but this is much more than expected.
Thank you, Mother Nature, for exceeding our expectations on this one!
Check out Vermont ski resort conditions here.
Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort.[Read more]
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 4 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Mt. Mansfield, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush
The kids that go to Middlebury College have it good. They can ski at the Middlebury Snow Bowl and the Rikert Ski touring Center; both are owned and operated by the college.
To get to Rikert from Middlebury, we drove Route 125 up and along the Middlebury River, through the micro-village of Ripton, and then to the college's scenic Bread Loaf Campus. Rikert nordic center is based in one of the barns on this historic summer campus known for its writers' conference. The mustard-colored historic...[Read more]
Monday, January 25, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après, Rikert
I absolutely hate it when it rains in the middle of winter. It feels like we took two steps forward to only take one step back. Aargh!
It is indeed raining in Vermont today. The temperatures will drop through the week, however, and will be accompanied by some snow. In fact, the lows will be in the single digits in many places by Thursday evening. Go figure.
We'll see what Mother Nature has to offer over the next few days. Let's hope for a strong rebound in the snow department.[Read more]
Monday, January 25, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
What a great weekend it was to be a skier in Vermont!
Knowing that this weekend was going to be sunny and warm with good driving conditions, I schemed up a plan to ski at two areas that were new to me: the Middlebury Snow Bowl and the Rikert Ski Touring Center.
Have you heard of the Middlebury Snow Bowl? I knew it was small and owned by the college, which has a strong skiing program, but other than that I was not sure what to expect.
Turns out it was a bunch of fun and wasn't even...[Read more]
Sunday, January 24, 2010 2 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Middlebury Snow Bowl
Gorgeous day here in Vermont's Champlain Valley. Bright sun, blue skies. The snow had frost on top of it this morning at Catamount cross-country ski center, making for some fast skiing. We stayed on the meadow trails to make the most of the sunshine. Here are a few shots from the ski.
What's on tap for this weekend? We're going to mix it up by doing some nordic skiing and some alpine skiing.
Saturday looks like it will be a gorgeous, sunny day in the 20s or so, and Vermont ski resorts were...[Read more]
Friday, January 22, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Catamount, Cross-country skiing
If you read this ski blog enough, you might get the idea that I like pairing a skiing outing with food or drink. Yes, I'm a sucker for après ski. When you read some of these reviews you can see why; in Vermont we've got a plentiful selection of places to tempt a skier after hitting the hill.
These recent articles don't cover the entire state, so feel free to chime in with some of your favorite places to eat and drink après skiing.
1. This Seven Days article gives the skinny on some...[Read more]
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 1 Comment Filed in: Food, coffee & après
When it comes to skate skiing, I'm sure glad that I had years of experience as an instructor of first-time alpine skiers. Why? Because long before I tried skating, I had already mastered climbing up hills quickly — with skis on — using a herringbone.
After I did a snowplow demonstration or chased down a wayward student, I would head uphill to regroup with the class — stepping from ski to ski in a wide "V." I put these hard-earned skating skills to work today as we explored Blueberry Lake...[Read more]
Sunday, January 17, 2010 1 Comment Filed in: Blueberry Lake, Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après
I had a couple of hours to ski with a friend this morning at Smugglers' Notch. I knew it would be a rather warm day and was hoping (naively) for some sun.
Well, no sun but we skied on some nice, soft snow. I enjoyed the runs that had bumped up, including Harvey's, Full Nelson, Lower Doc Dempsey's and the edges of FIS and Treasure Run.
And I felt like a hero arcing some turns on the groomed corduroy. Father Bob's and Lower Exhibition were some of the best places to do that.
The trees on the...[Read more]
Friday, January 15, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Smugglers' Notch
We did some skating at Catamount nordic center today in Williston. It was our version of a jog.
We skied on about 1.5 inches of new snow. The temperatures were warmer today, so the snow was quite soft.
We skied on the hill on the south side of the cross-country center and only passed one person. The coverage was good and we were out among the milkweed.[Read more]
Thursday, January 14, 2010 1 Comment Filed in: Catamount, Cross-country skiing
Are you BC-curious?
Two upcoming events in northern Vermont will get skiers out into the backcountry to introduce them to backcountry skiing or improve the skills they already have. The venue for both of these events is the terrific Bolton Valley nordic and backcountry trail network. And both events have limited enrollment, so check 'em out now.
"Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival"Sunday, January 24 at Bolton Valley
This event is put on by the Catamount Trail Association — the keepers of...[Read more]
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
Judging by the "groomed" nature of the Overland Ski Trail this afternoon, I'd say it was a busy weekend on the west side of Mt. Mansfield!
This backcountry trail is accessed from Stevensville Road in Underhill. You start up as if you were hiking the Nebraska Notch Trail, but then at the first fork in the trail you go left. It was evident that many backcountry snowshoers, dogs and skiers had been on the trail, and in fact we met several people on the trail.
The trail was very packed for the...[Read more]
Sunday, January 10, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Mt. Mansfield
I skied this afternoon at Bolton Valley in some super-light snow that had fallen in the last 24 hours -- and it was as tasty a treat as a Fluffernutter sandwich.
In fact, light, fluffy snowflakes were falling the whole time I was skiing; it seemed to make each run a little better. On the less-traveled trails and in the glades off of the Timberline Chair, I was playing in some fun powder. I noticed at times that I wasn't able to see my skis as I made a small wake through the snow. I'd guess...[Read more]
Friday, January 8, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
Remember that snowstorm a few days ago? Well it dumped a lot of snow on the cross-country ski trails at Catamount Outdoor Center in Williston, Vermont.
We took a late lunch break and hit the trails for some skate skiing. It was our first this season so we just did one big loop. We skied Night Trail to 3 Rivers to Sandman's.
I felt really out of balance to start. I laughed a lot as I nearly wiped out a few times! The snow was soft so I wasn't feeling super steady until the end of the...[Read more]
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Catamount, Cross-country skiing
It's time for all you cross-country skiing and snowshoeing never-evers to hit the trail!
Nearly a dozen Vermont nordic ski centers are offering free introductions to these winter sports on Saturday, January 9. Now there is no excuse not to try them!
I've grown to love nordic skiing and snowshoeing over the years. It's a quieter scene than downhill skiing, and it can be a wonderful workout. There's nothing like quietly gliding or walking through a winter wonderland.
Follow this link to read...[Read more]
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Highland Lodge, Mountain Top, Smugglers' Notch, Ticket discounts
Don't you hate how work gets in the way of skiing?
Well, we had to work the past couple of days — have to pay the bills — so we couldn't ski in this weekend's new snow until this morning. This was a monster storm in Burlington and the Champlain Valley, dropping about two feet of snow and breaking a record in Burlington with 33 inches! But strangely enough it was not quite as intense elsewhere.
The Skimeister and I were checking the snow reports and decided that Smugglers' Notch may have...[Read more]
Monday, January 4, 2010 No Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Smugglers' Notch, Ticket discounts
How many ways do you know how to say "snow"?
Perhaps la neige (French)?
la neve (Italian)
śnieg (Polish)
der Schnee (German)
снег (Russian)
sněhu (Czech)
la nieve (Spanish & Portuguese)
雪 名 (Japanese)
muruaneq (Yup'ik Eskimo - Specifically soft, deep fallen snow on the ground)
Or how about pow-pow (American skier dialect)?
Any way you say it, we are currently getting slammed with it in Vermont this weekend! Here's what the NWS had to...[Read more]
Saturday, January 2, 2010 2 Comments Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
The Skimeister and I met up with friends Thursday night at Vermont's Bolton Valley Resort. We wanted to take in the ski resort's New Year's Eve festivities, which included a torchlight parade and fireworks.
The evening was rather warm and a pretty good crowd had gathered for night skiing. The tavern on the second floor of the base lodge was full of hungry and thirsty skiers and families. We were able to get a table and have a beer before the skiers schussed down the trail holding red flares --...[Read more]
Friday, January 1, 2010 1 Comment Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley
Click here to be a Facebook fan of Skimaven ski blog.
Home | Advertise on this site | Privacy | © 2010 Skimaven. All rights reserved. | Skimaven is a trademark of Ecopixel, LLC
