Soft snow, and more of it than expected, brightened a gray day at Bolton Valley. Bolton is one of the "overlooked gems of Eastern skiing. (Josh Arneson photo)

Even though Bolton Valley is right in the heart of Vermont ski country and only a short drive from Burlington, skiing there gives you what I might call “hidden gem feeling.” It is off the beaten path, the skiing is great, and it feels like a much bigger mountain than it actually is. It’s the kind of middlin’ big ski area with huge character that we at Eastern Slopes love discovering, and love to keep rediscovering again and again with each visit.

I recently rediscovered Bolton after not having skied there since 1997. My mistake. The last time I was there, my dad, my brother and I had stayed in one of the slopeside condos and had awoken to a sunny, glistening powder morning. We must have skied every trail on the mountain that day, and most of the woods too, in snow up to our knees. My brother and I had spent the best part of that epic day in Devil’s Playground, a “steep and deep” glade area that compares very favorably to anything offered by more-famous Stowe and Jay Peak.

Sadly, the conditions were not supposed to be quite so good on this particular Monday afternoon when I drove up to Bolton to make a few tracks. The weather called for icy drizzle all day, but it wasn’t raining, I had a day off and make a policy of always trying to go skiing even if the weather looks slightly iffy. Usually, conditions are better than expected, and this day was no exception. Fortunately the rain decided to hold off and I enjoyed a warm day (for January in Vermont) with nice soft snow.

Only the Vista Peak chairlift was open, which is typical during non-vacation weeks. But there was still plenty of great skiing to be had. Normally, the top of Vista Peak (3,150 feet) offers a spectacular view of Camel’s Hump, but this day the peak only offered the kind of pea-soup fog that makes it difficult to tell which way is up and which way is down. Bolton is one of the few ski areas in the east to generate some of its own electricity with a giant wind turbine near the top of the lift. I could barely make out the blades, which were spinning at a good clip in the wind-blown fog.

Like almost everyone else I know (and maybe you are in this sad group), I have not skied as much as I would like to this winter. I was feeling a bit unsteady on my Telemark gear so started the day with a cruiser run down Alta Vista, to skier’s right from the top of the the Vista Peak chair. The snow was smooth and easy to edge, thanks to great grooming and some fresh snow over the past few days. From Alta Vista, I was able to cut over to several of the trails on Wilderness Peak, and had an absolute blast. Swing and Bull Run are marked as beginner trails, but they are relatively narrow, have a nice, sustained pitch for carving and twist and turn pleasantly through the trees. Nice, mellow warmup ride on Tele gear .

There was plenty of snow to allow you to sneak into and out of the woods at the edges of the trails, and even enough for some real glades skiing if you didn't mind the occasional rough spot. (Justin Jones photo)

On my next lift ride I took Mousehole to Fanny Hill, an even narrower and windier run. Suddenly I was reminded of what is so wonderful about Bolton—it’s pure old school. If you are a purist (like me) and judge a ski area primarily by its trails, you will find a lot to love about skiing at Bolton Valley. It feels like a step back in time.  The mountain has the kind of long, twisting runs that truly make for classic New England skiing. The trails are cut to follow the terrain, not the needs of a grooming machine, turning and dipping unexpectedly through the forest that, on this day seemed dark, ghostly. I was having fun skiing the little whoop-de-doos off the side of the trail ducking in and out of the woods and making turns on the berms on the side of the trail. I noticed other skiers and riders doing the same. Bolton allows its trails to stay a bit wilder than many areas, which makes the skiing a total blast. It feels like you are WAY out in the woods and then, all of a sudden, you are back at the base village.

After a few warm up runs, I had a great run down Showoff, a black diamond which more or less parallels the chairlift. Some of Bolton’s runs are really steep! Even on the steepest pitches the snow was great. In Northern Vermont, even on a year like this when the rain is outgunning the snow, Bolton still had great snow coverage. It really helps to have a few inches of snow every couple of days, which Bolton has had over the last few weeks. An inch or two of snow several times a week eventually adds up to serious snow cover, even without the big snow dumps that get people cranked.

I tried the glades off Vista Peak, and found that there was enough snow for fun, even if there were a few rough patches here and there. Cobrass, another fun trail that swoops out to skier’s left, had quite a bit of grass showing, but, personally,  I would rather see a couple bare spots on an open trail than a “closed trail” sign and a rope on a trail that’s mostly well-covered.

All in all, it wasn’t a blue sky, fresh powder kind of day, but it was still a perfectly enjoyable day on the slopes. Bolton is a charming area with a great base village, and some of the cheapest slopeside ski and stay packages around. It also has extensive night skiing for as little as $19 (on Saturdays). If you want a back-to-basics ski experience with great terrain and minimal crowds, well, Bolton is waiting. . . .

I really love this job because I am rarely told “No.” Within a few days I was signed up for the race and had wrangled my good friend, Jim, into being my partner. (It didn’t take a lot of work. He can be as foolish and impulsive as me at times.) We were both excited. As outdoor enthusiasts and avid runner/hikers we felt we had the stamina to complete the race. The question was: Did we have the skills to actually compete against experienced adventure athletes?

Lack of skill has never stopped us from trying anything before. .  . .

Teams gather for pre-race information. (Brett Lund photo)

The Frigid Infliction is put on by the Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association (GMARA). We would compete in mutiple events, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, postholing (hiking through deep snow without snowshoes), and a Tyrolean traverse (pulling oneself across a suspended rope) all while navigating by map and compass. Teams of two or three individuals (coed or not) compete in divisions. The risk in having a two-person team is that if one of us could not continue, we’d be out of the race because at least two team members had to complete the course. Jim and I were already placing bets as to which one of us would drop out, but I was pleased to read on the GMARA website that the race was well suited to beginner adventure racers. I hoped I would not have to increase my life insurance policy.

The race registration was on Friday night at Bolton Valley Nordic Center, and we drove the two hours up I-89 through impressively deep snow; 14 inches was sticking to the trees as we navigated up the access road to Bolton.

Friday night’s registration included an equipment check, last-minute compass and navigation training, and some pre-race information. The race would start promptly at 5:00 Saturday morning and teams were instructed to arrive a half hour earlier to receive maps and more instructions. The mandatory gear list was laid out for us, and safety was obviously the order of the day. If you became lost or hurt, you needed to be prepared to be in the woods for a while until help arrived. And since all teams were required to carry the same safety items, no one team would have a weight advantage.

Jim near the first checkpoint. (Brett Lund photo)

We had a comfortable room at Bolton’s slopesside Hotel, but we hardly saw the room. So-called “morning” (3:45, yikes!) came much too early. But the competitive juices kicked in, and we were wide awake and ready to race by the time we arrived at the Nordic Center to receive pre-race instructions. Not having done an adventure race before, I had no idea that there would be so little time to review the map prior to starting. Topographical maps and Bolton Valley Nordic Center maps were handed out with race instructions. At this point competitors were given about 10 minutes to develop a plan.

For the first leg, we would compete on snowshoes to find three check points designated on our maps in any order. Jim and I quickly decided to climb to the highest checkpoint first, so that we could move quickly downhill to the next two after locating the first.

Running between checkpoints would be our main advantage. (Brett Lund photo)

After the mass start, the pack quickly broke into three groups. A third of our group had a similar game plan. While out of practice with compass navigation, I knew enough to get us into the right area, then compared the topos of the Nordic Center to help us generalize the location of the checkpoint. Teams with strong compass skills had a distinct advantage in the dark: using observable topography was challenging at best. But as long as you can get close, being observant can help you find the checkpoint.

Checkpoint marker with hole punch dangling. Brett Lund Photo

Much of the traveling took place on Nordic Center trails, though finding the checkpoints would require off-trail navigation. When we felt we were in the right general location, we dove into the woods, and up a hill to eventually locate the first checkpoint. At each of these checkpoints there is an orange “box” flag suspended from a tree. Each has a unique hole punch tool to mark check cards and these are examined by race officials at the finish to determine what checkpoints were found. After checkpoint one, we sped off to the second and third. Running with snowshoes is not too difficult if you are a runner to begin with, and this worked to our advantage. While the second point took time to find, the third was easy as it was in a creekbed. After the three, we high-tailed it back to the start and the first of five transitions.

Transition area 1. Snowshoe to cross- country skis. (Brett Lund photo)

After lashing our snowshoes to our backpacks, we set out on cross-country skis to find three more checkpoints. Two hours had passed, and we were doing surprisingly well.

The next three points had to be found in order, and they would be just off of the cross-country trail system. Comparing topo to trail map made compass work almost unnecessary for this leg. However, these points were a greater distance apart, and we would need to make good course decisions to speed our team along. Again we reached the first point quickly, then prepared to race downhill and across some challenging ski trails to the second point. Cross country skiing on steep and tight terrain can be tough, but add a 25-pound pack to the mix, and it can be VERY challenging. Jim had warned me before the race that skiing would be his Achilles heel. But he showed a lot of grit and determination by repeatedly getting up and dusting himself off after numerous face plants (thank goodness for the 14 inches of new powder!) Made for some great laughs, though.

A fellow competitor checks his map at a transition. (Brett Lund photo)

While we were able to find our three points, we had lost some ground to iced-up bindings and a decision to try an untracked “shortcut” to the third point. Breaking trail can be exhausting, even when you share the task with other teams; by ourselves, it really slowed us down.

During the ski leg we saw much of the Bolton Valley Nordic Center’s expansive and varied trail system. They offer groomed terrain for skate skiers and narrow winding trails for backcountry enthusiasts. I found myself wishing we had more time to just explore.

Jim tackes the Tyrolean traverse. Holy burning forearms! - Brett Lund photo

The next transition put us back on snowshoes for the route to  the Tyrolean traverse (a rope strung tightly across a gulley). Required equipment included a climbing harness and two carabiners for each racer. Using the harness and carabiners, you clip yourself onto the rope, and pull yourself across upside down, with your pack on. This is easy to start, but after you reach the lowest point, you begin pulling uphill, which is a workout. The distance was relatively short, and both Jim and I were across in no time.

The next portion of the race was “postholing.”  Try walking through deep snow with no snowshoes and you get the idea. At times you stay on top, and at times you “post hole” when you break through up to your knees or even thighs. This is where it helped to be back in the pack—we had plenty of teams in front of us to make the travel easier. However, this is also the point in the race where fatigue had begun to set in, and even a simple task can seem difficult.

Once we collected markers from the next three checkpoints, we again transitioned to snowshoes to find the final five checkpoints. Now, time was the issue; we had to finish by 3 p.m, and a costly navigation mistake forced us to miss the last two checkpoints and make a beeline to the last transition area.

Do I have enough energy to chew? Fueling up at the final checkpoint. - Brett Lund photo

When we encountered other teams it was obvious that everyone was fatigued. After nine hours of practically non-stop exercise, my legs were heavy. For the last, long, uphill slog to the finish, Jim opted for snowshoes , while I hopped on my skis. There was no real feeling of “racing” at this point, just a need to finish. A lot of teams were bunched together. We would have no idea how many checkpoints our competitors had found until after the race. We would just have to hope that our combination of checkpoints and time on the course would give us a respectable finish. But truthfully, just finishing would give us plenty of self respect!

We crossed the line at just over 10 hours, and quickly realized that even walking to the car would be a challenge. Thankfully, a hot shower, a hot tub and a small bar awaited in the Nordic Center.

Finished!!! Can someone carry us to the car? Please. (Courtesy photo)

It’s true, this race can be completed by beginners in generally good physical condition. But Jim half jokingly told me not to bother calling in the next six weeks about any adventure races or he’d hang up on me. I think it was the lactic acid talking. Personally I wasn’t sure I would be able to walk for the next six weeks!

Despite the good-natured grumbling though, we both know we’ll be back for next year’s challenge. We’d like to extend a big thanks to GMARA for an exceptional job putting this race together, and to Bolton Valley, whose wondeful terrain and trail system  made for a perfect location.

Editor’s Note: What Brett is too modest to tell you is that Team EasternSlopes.com finished fourth out of 10 teams in their division with an adjusted time of 10:10:18. Congratulations Brett and Jim! For complete results of this year’s race, go here

Of course Killington will be open for Thanksgiving . . .they've been open a couple of weeks now. (Tim Jones photo)

It’s been frustrating . . . as usual.  Mother Nature is teasing us with colder temps and snow flurries, but refuses to let real winter settle in and make us happy. So please, get out and do your sacrifices to Ullr and dances for snow or, at least,  cold weather so the resorts can make snow.

While Sunday River in Newry, Maine and Killington in Killington, Vermont have been open for awhile now (some people already have 10 or more days on snow this season!)  and even tiny Woodbury Ski Area in Hotchkissville, Connecticut managed to get open for five days last week,  other areas have been waiting for the magic words “extended cold spell” to fire up their snowmaking systems.

On Thursday morning, November 18, Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley, Maine started blowing snow.  They turned their first lift, the SuperQuad   Sunday, November 21. Read what the conditions were like on Opening Day here (the ES team skied Sunday River, too!). Bretton Woods in Bretton Woods, N.H., opened Monday, November 22.  Okemo Mountain Resort,  in Ludlow, Vermont opened Tuesday, November 23

Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, N.H. is making snow and plans to open on Tuesday, November 23. Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe, Vermont is blowing snow and will open on November 24, the day before Thanksgiving.and Stratton Mountain Resort (1-800-787-2886; ), in Stratton, Vermont are  also blowing snow and trying for a pre-T-Day opener.

The cannons began firing the first salvos of winter at Sugarloaf in Maine this past Thursday. The lifts will be turning by the time you read this, (

Sugarbush in Warren, Vermont and Mount Snow in Dover, Vermont, started blowing snow last week and plan to open on Thanksgiving Day.

Cannon Mountain in Franconia, N.H., Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, N.H., Gore Mountain in North Creek, New York, Smugglers’ Notch in Jeffersonville, Vermont, Waterville Valley in Waterville Valley, N.H., and Whiteface near Lake Placid, New York are all blowing snow and all planned to open the day after Thanksgiving but the weather didn’t cooperate at all and at least some had to postpone until Saturday

Jay Peak in Jay, Vermont. is blowing snow on Stateside and has six inches of natural on the ground.  They are looking to open Saturday, November 27.

Attitash (603-374-2368; ) in Bartlett, N.H, and Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Mass haven’t actually fired their snowguns yet, but they are ready and are hoping to offer skiing for the Thanksgiving weekend. Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, Connecticut had hoped to open for Thanksgiving, but temperatures just haven’t cooperated . . .

As always, at this time of year, call ahead or check the website before you leave the house. Mother Nature can still be cranky and shut things down in a heartbeat. But right now, there’s snow on the slopes. What are you waiting for?

Other Projected Openings (Weather Permitting, of course . . .) :

December 3:  Bromley Mountain in Peru, Vermont; Gunstock in Gilford, N.H..

December 4: Hunter Mountain in Hunter, New York, Pats Peak in Henniker, N.H.; Wildcat Mountain in Pinkham Notch, N.H.

December 10: Bolton Valley (1-877-9BOLTON,  ) in Bolton, Vermont; Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass.

December 11: Burke Mountain in East Burke, Vermont, Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme Center, N.H.; Saddleback in Rangeley, Maine; Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine

A Different Drummer . . .

To prepare this story, I contacted every ski resort in New England, New York and Quebec asking if they were blowing snow and when they planned on opening. The reply from Eric Friedman at Mad River Glen in Fayston, Vermont (which, of course, does not make snow or allow snowboarders on its slopes) is a classic:

“Ummm, we’re  not exactly ‘blowing snow,’ but it is spitting a bit here and there and the slopes are in fact white! We plan to open anytime Mother Nature allows from Thanksgiving weekend on. THINK SNOW!!!!”

Good advice!

Less than a week ago, we were running UP that trail; now, we can almost ski DOWN it! (Stratton photo)

Yes, it’s true; snow has been sighted in Vermont!  This wild mess of a storm that’s dumping inches of rain on the coast has decided to bless the mountains with the first signs of winter to come.  Last year at this time, Sunday River was skiing on T2, so we’re a little behind, but still…it’s snow!  This year, Vermont takes the lead, with both Stratton Mountain and Bolton Valley reporting snow, and sending us photos…take a look!

So, start planning.  Have your skis been tuned, sharpened, waxed?  If not, better get moving; you might need them anytime!  And, of course, as the snow comes, people who haven’t been thinking about it suddenly realize that they need THEIRS done; would you rather be leaving your skis at a shop for 3 days because they’ve had hundreds of people drop skis off, or be out on the slopes laughing at them for being behind the times?

A view from the top; looking down at Bolton's first snow of 2010 (Bolton Valley photo)

Get our your ski clothes.  Make sure they fit; yes, as much as we hate to admit it, some of us gain weight.  Make sure the zippers work, the buckles buckle.  Put on your helmet and goggles, make sure the lenses aren’t scratched.  It’s early season so you won’t need hand or toe warmers, but it’s not a bad idea to get stocked up.  Or, to buy a bunch to put in Christmas stockings!

Especially, put on your boots.  Find the same socks you used last winter so you get the same fit.  Get them buckled correctly, and once you’re sure they still fit right and all buckles and straps work, note where you have the buckles set; when you take them off, buckle them back up the same way so the shell will take a “set” that matches your leg and foot dimensions; you’ll be more comfortable when you put them back on.

Now, finally…go say your prayers, and they’d better include more snow!

Mount Snow pulling out all the stops to make great conditions (Mount Snow photo)

Well, in a word…weather.  It’s been warm and rainy there, and Cypress Mountain has been closed to the public, with muddy, bare slopes.  The Olympic organizing committee is talking about bringing in hay bales and wood to build a substructure that they can then cover with trucked-in snow.  And, of course, they’re hoping the weather will change just in time to add some of the natural stuff, right when and where they need it.  It’s cold enough…but they don’t have the snowmaking capacity to  make all the snow that they need.

Now, if the 2010 Winter Games  were in an earlier Olympic venue, Whiteface, why, they’d just need to turn on some more snowmaking (although not at this moment, as they have already 68 trails open in a not-great natural snow year).  In really horrible situations, they might need to move some snow from one trail to another, not from one mountain to another.  The concern would be what was the easiest way to do it, not whether it was possible or not.

Mounds of manmade snow, waiting to be turned into fun moguls at SkiBromont (Francios Senecal photo)

The fact is, Eastern ski areas have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to bring in the finest snowmaking that exists IN THE WORLD.  Case in point: even a little family resort like Black Mountain was able to recover from a crushing winter rainstorm in only 4 days to provide great conditions for their 75th anniversary party…and they probably have less snowmaking capacity than 90% of their Eastern brethren.  A few weeks ago, I saw mounds at SkiBromont that were probably 30 feet high, being stockpiled to create a mogul run for the weekend.  This isn’t making snow for survival…this is making snow to create a varied, excellent experience for their customers.

Even on a sunny day, it "snows" for skiers at Bolton (Bolton Valley photo)

You can argue that Western resorts offer more powder, and they certainly can . . . sometimes. . . . But would you rather have a vacation scheduled for right now at a Western mountain that’s muddy and bare, or for an Eastern mountain that’s got 30, 40, 70, 100 trails open with consistent manmade snow?  As we found in “The Guns Of Attitash“, the quality as well as the quantity of manmade snow has increased dramatically in recent years…and we’ve enjoyed the benefits of snowmaking every time we’ve been out on Eastern Slopes.  Greater base depths, more runs open…the areas are giving us good skiing in lousy times, and spectacular skiing when Mother Nature cooperates.

So, the next time someone brags about their multi-thousand-dollar 5-day trip to Aspen, or Whistler, or wherever…think about your 40 days of skiing on great surfaces in the East, plus enough money left over to buy new skis . . . If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, nothing will!

The slopes and the views are beautiful at Burke Mountain in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

widely varied terrain; lots of fast lifts, snowmaking and grooming; an array of lodging and restaurant options nearby. It’s a complete package all laid out for you—sort of Disneyland in white.

But those aren’t your only option. There are also what I call the “defining mountains,” hills so iconic that if you haven’t skied or ridden them you can’t say you’ve truly sampled eastern slopes.

Then, there are lots of, for want of a better word, “local” hills sometimes near cities, sometimes near areas with lots of second homes, where families gather, kids learn to ski and ride and tear up the slopes in happy packs, adults join race leagues and challenge their friends. Great fun for all.

Lost in among all these options are what I call the “forgotten” hills. Sure, they have a following of regulars—that’s how they stay in business. And for some lucky people, these are their “local” hill. But they don’t have the cachet and all the extras of a “glam” resort, they don’t have big advertising budgets, and very few people put them on their “defining mountains” list.

I’m an adventurer and an explorer by nature. I love to see/try different places. My suggestion: at least once or twice this winter, get out and try sliding on a “forgotten” hill. You may find a gem you’ll treasure forever.

Maine:

Mount Abram (207-875-5000) in Locke Mills, Maine. A wonderful family hill with nicely balanced terrain with some serious steeps, lost in the shadow of nearby Sunday River.

Saddleback (866-918-2225) in Rangeley, Maine. Saddleback is growing rapidly, with a beautiful new base lodge, new lifts  and sprouting development. Get there and explore its twisting trails before it changes completely.

Massachusetts:

Berkshire East (413-339-6617) in Charlemont, Mass. Plenty of good terrain for skiers and riders of all ability levels to enjoy for a day or two—try it when Mount Snow and Jiminy are crowded

Catamount (413-528-1262) in South Egremont, Mass. Lots of cruising terrain with a separate beginner lift and some fairly serious steeps. If you are looking for mellower, try nearby  Ski Butternut (413-528-2000) in Great Barrington, Mass

New Hampshire

Driving to The Balsams in far northern New Hampshire means having your own private ski resort. Just look at the crowds on a warm, blue-sky Saturday with fresh powder.

The Balsams (800-255-0600) in Dixville Notch, N.H. Your own private ski area—miles from nowhere!

Black Mountain (800-475-4669) in Jackson, N.H. Faces south and the perfect refuge when the wind is blowing at Wildcat.

Dartmouth Skiway (603-795-2143) in Lyme Center, N.H. Friendly, fun, with two separate peaks to explore—surprisingly easy to access off I-91

Tenney Mountain (888-289-1020) in Plymouth, N.H.
Hasn’t changed much since I first skied it in 1967. Beautiful twisting trails designed for the contours of the hill, not for easy grooming.

New York

Titus Mountain looks out onto the low hills which roll away to Lake Ontario. This was taken on a weekday when we were among ony a handful of skiers and riders there to enjoy perfect conditions.

Belleayre Mountain (845-254-5600) in Highmount, New York. The quietest of the Catskill areas—a gem mid-week.

Titus Mountain (518-483-3740) in Malone, New York. Friendly mountain, great daytrip for a change of scenery from Lake Placid/Whiteface.

Vermont

Bolton Valley (1-877-9BOLTON) in Bolton, Vermont. A seriously fun and challenging hill that spawned the DesLaurier brothers of Warren Miller fame.

Bromley Mountain (800-865-4786) in Peru, Vermont. Faces south, great terrain, quiet most weekdays.

Burke Mountain (802-626-7300) in East Burke, Vermont. A Big mountain with lots of variety, gorgeous views  and a beautiful base lodge

Magic Mountain (802-824-5645) in Londonderry, Vermont. This is where instructors and ski atrollers from Stratton and Okemo go to find more challenging terrain on their day off . . .

Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356) in Hancock, Vermont. This gem has terrain for everyone, isn’t crowded even on powder mornings.

Welcome to Bolton Valley!  I skied there a number of years ago, and remembered that I’d had a lot of fun.  So, when I found myself with a day free in Vermont in January, I decided to check it out again.  It turns out that it’s the same old Bolton…and more.

So, what’s the same old Bolton?  It’s a mountain that’s easy to reach, just a few minutes off I89 between Montpelier and Burlington.

It's all right here, in one compact space, at Bolton (Bolton Valley photo)

It’s a resort that has parking right by the base lodge, and all the amenities in a compact space right there…park your car, carry your things inside, start skiing.  The slopeside hotel is attached to the base lodge (I did say “compact”), and offers good value.

It’s a mountain where the lifts feed back into the same base area, so you can stand at the bottom and watch for your kids.  Yes, there’s one lift that feeds down to the condominiums …but your kids would have to work at it to end up over there, and even that area isn’t far from the base lodge.

And, for aficionados of the Warren Miller movies, it’s the mountain where Eric and Rob DesLaurier learned their craft (you may have heard Rob’s name in the last couple of years…

Bolton's high altitude makes for great glade skiing (Bolton Valley photo)

he and his wife Kit climbed up Mt. Everest and then skiied down it!  If they could enjoy skiing at Bolton…there’s room for the rest of us!

Okay, now you know the old Bolton…here’s the “upgraded.”  A few years ago, they added a new chair that goes from the base to the summit in one run.  No more short-chair-to-another-chair-to the top…get on, ride up, get off, ski down.  Last time I went, I didn’t have a full day to spend…family obligations…so, it was perfect.  In a minimum time, I got in the maximum number of runs, had a blast, and went home happy!  In 2008-2009, they had a major snowmaking upgrade; they upgraded their pipes for more consistency, plus added new fan guns.  Result…more snow, better surface, more runs open more often.  And, they added a new Prinoth Bison groomer…that’s a mouthful, but it’s designed for varying terrain, including terrain parks, giving them a lot more flexibility in their grooming.

Of course, the powder isn't ONLY in the glades! (Bolton Valley photo)

Other things to know about Bolton include a great 64 trail system (12 of them for night skiing Wednesday-Saturday); three terrain parks for skiers and snowboarders; lots of bumps, glades and hidden tree shots for the hard core; the highest base elevation of any resort in Vermont (that means SNOW); several restaurants; and a good little deli/sundries store if you want to camp out in your room.  It’s a compact version of a Swiss ski village, without leaving the Northeast!  There’s also their Nordic trail system, which runs to about 100 kilometers…see if you can get bored doing that in a weekend.

While we’re at it, Bolton added a BIG wind turbine…it’s expected to produce around 300,000 kilowatt hours each year.  That offsets a LOT of their energy use.  They’re only the second ski

But it's not ALL serious skiing at Bolton! (Bolton Valley photo)

area in the country to put one of these beasts up (Jiminy Peak in MA was the first).  Very cool…just think, by skiing there, you’re supporting environmental initiatives!

Get out to Bolton, preferably for a couple of days or more, and enjoy the snow!

Actually, if Pico were placed anywhere other than in Killington’s shadow, it would probably be famous in its own right. It’s a big mountain with 1,967 feet of vertical drop, 6 lifts including 2 high-speed quads, 214 skiable acres, a terrain park and 75% snowmaking coverage.

It was still below zero when we pulled into Pico’s parking lot on a recent Monday morning. Pico is only open Thursday through Monday, and it rocks with lots of locals on weekends, But it was almost empty on this cold Monday. The trails were all freshly groomed and in perfect shape, the sun was shining and you could see Mount Washington in New Hampshire from Pico’s summit. It was, in other words, a beautiful morning for skiing.

Pico is giant Killington's shy little sister--but she's still beautiful in her own right.

We hit the slopes flying on perfect soft, packed powder corduroy. I was on Tele gear, and was grateful that Marilyn slowed down to let me keep up with her.

Two trails on Pico, Ka and 49er, both off the summit, stand out in my mind as perfect New England ski trails. Both long, they twist and turn, roll and drop exactly the way trails should. Upper Ka is rated a black diamond, but 49er and Middle Ka are both perfect blue square intermediate trails.

I have to admit there are lots of trails on Pico I’ve not gotten to ski because conditions haven’t been right. I hear Giant Killer is savage, and that the new glades trails are excellent on a powder morning. Good excuse to go back!

More Shy Sisters

Pico isn’t the only mountain that gets overshadowed by something bigger nearby. Do yourself a favor and go exploring. These areas are always less expensive than their more famous neighbors.

In Massachusetts, Jiminy Peak is the big guy in the Berkshires, but Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, and Catamount in South Egremont, quietly offer great value, good snow and fun trails.

Everyone passes by Berkshire East in Charlemont, Mass. on their way to Mount Snow; it’s well worth a stop to explore the lovely, old-fashioned trail network.

In Vermont, Magic Mountain in Londonderry, with its marvelous steeps, and friendly Bromley Mountain in Peru, are both  too close to glamorous Stratton for their own good. Ascutney in Brownsville, is sometimes forgotten because it’s too close to Okemo. Mount Ellen at Sugarbush in Warren, is a stand-alone, value-priced mountain that’s overlooked just because it’s joined at the hip to the larger, more famous Lincoln Peak. And too many people turn north off I-89’s Exit 10 for Stowe without ever turning south and then west to Bolton Valley in Bolton.

In New Hampshire, beautiful, family-friendly, old fashioned Black Mountain (800-475-4669) in Jackson, N.H. hides in the shadows of nearby and more-famous Attitash, Wildcat and Cranmore. The same can be said for Tenney Mountain (888-289-1020) in Plymouth, N.H.—everyone drives by it on their way to Waterville Valley.

Mount Abram (207-875-5000) in Locke Mills, Maine, is very near near to Sunday River–perhaps too close. It’s  a perfect family mountain, very friendly with terrain to challenge anyone.

So if you are looking for great skiing and riding, look beyond the glitz and glamor of the bigger hills, you might find a shy sister that’s worth dating, maybe even settling down with.

Thanks to the New England ski industry and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, Brendan got his wish . . . (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

If you are reading this, you are probably wishing for more snow. Be patient, it’s coming.

But if you are really into seeing wishes come true, check out the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions. The stated goal of Make-A-Wish is “to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” Most of these kids need all the joy, strength and hope they can get to help them though unimaginable times.

The ties between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the New England ski industry are deep and profound. Did you know, for example, that every current  “Wisher”

So did Rosie . . . (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts receives a VIP pass which entitles them and an accompanying adult to a full day on the slopes with lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons at one of 32 different resorts across New England. That’s offered with the cooperation of Ski NH, Ski Vermont, Ski Maine, and the New England Ski Areas Council.

Ski NH adopted the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire as its official charity four seasons ago. They donate $5 from every $20 Ski NH Fifth Grade Snowsports Passport directly to Make-A-Wish.  On November 19, 2009 at the Ski NH Boston Media reception, Ski NH presented the Make-A-Wish

And "wisher," Michael (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

Foundation of New Hampshire with a check for more than $10,000 from the winter 2008-09 passport sales.  Over the past three seasons, Ski NH and families of fifth graders have donated more than $20,000 in total. That kind of money makes a lot of wishes come true—and some of those wishes are for time on the slopes.

Here’s a list of the participating ski resorts. Wish them a prosperous New Year the next time you visit:

Massachusetts : Ski Blandford ,
Ski Butternut, Catamount, Jiminy Peak, Nashoba Valley, Wachusett.

Maine : Black Mountain of Maine, Lost Valley, Mt. Abram, Saddleback, Shawnee Peak.
New Hampshire: Attitash, The Balsams, Black Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Cranmore Mountain Resort, Crotched Mountain, Dartmouth Skiway, Gunstock Mountain Resort, King Pine, Loon Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Pats Peak, Ragged Mountain, Waterville Valley, Wildcat Mountain.

Vermont: Bolton Valley, Burke Mountain, Jay Peak, Magic Mountain, Mount Snow, Okemo.

New glades are on tap at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont for the 2009/10 season. photo courtesy of Ski Vermont.

If you look at all that’s new on the slopes for the coming season, you’d never know that there’s been a recession that was supposed to hurt the ski industry. Take a peek and start salivating.  Snow season is just a cold snap away . . . So, what will you see new on the slopes of the Green Mountain State once the green turns  white? Take a look !

Ascutney Mountain Resort (1-800-243-0011) in Brownsville, Vermont has affiliated with the Holiday Inn Club to market their mountain as a vacation destination. Last year, Ascutney received town approval for its master development plan and big changes are in store for the future.

Bolton Valley (1-877-9BOLTON) in Bolton, Vermont. is extending snowmaking on the popular Cobrass trail that connects the main mountain with the Timberline area. And, they are  retrofitting snow guns to improve efficiency. Making more snow with less energy is good.  Speaking of energy, Bolton’s new wind turbine is up and running, near the Vista Quad lift.  This thing will produce enough power to run between 30-45 households!

Bromley Mountain (800-865-4786) in Peru, Vermont, has completed a two-year, $1.1 million upgrade to its snowmaking system which has increased capacity by 30 percent.

Jay Peak (800-451-4449) in Jay, Vermont: will re-open the  Tram Haus Lodge in February. It’ll have 57 unites: studios,  and 1- and 2-bedroom suites, plus a new restaurant and bar (with actual windows and a view of the slopes!)  and a rental, repair and demo center.

Killington (800-621-6867) in Killington, Vermont has more and better snowmaking in store for the season—as if they couldn’t blow more snow than anyone else already!

Mad River Glen (802-496-3551) in Fayston, Vermont, hasn’t changed anything,

Nothing ever changes at Mad River Glen, and that's the way it should be at Vermont's quirkiest resort

which is exactly the way it should be. The “new” single chair (now several years old) looks exactly like the “old” single chair and is still the single best chairlift ride in the world.

Magic Mountain (802-824-5645) in Londonderry, Vermont is attempting to follow Mad River Glen’s successful model by going co-op. If you’ve always wanted own a piece of your favorite ski area, you can at Magic. But they aren’t sitting around either. This season they’ve repaired and upgraded their snowmaking for more efficiency and added more gladed terrain for prime tree skiing.  They’ll be open Friday-Monday for the ’09-’10 season.

Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356) in Hancock, Vermont, is right in the middle of replacing their  40-year-old Worth Mt. double chair with a Doppelmayr/CTEC fixed-grip triple. If you’ve never explored the Snow Bowl, this is obviously the year to do it.

Mount Snow (1-800 245-7669) in Dover, Vermont, was the first resort in Vermont to turn its lifts this season they’ve upgraded their grooming fleet and made improvements to their already-awesome snowmaking system. They’ve also taken the already-legendary Carinthia snow park to the next level.

Okemo Mountain Resort (1-800-786-5366) in Ludlow, Vermont, has pumped up its  snowmaking and grooming this winter with the addition of a second Prinoth BR500 grooming machine, affectionately referred to as “The Beast,” which sports a 24-foot-wide tiller and a 20-foot-wide blade. They’ve also reconfigured the snowmaking system to  enhanced resurfacing response time.

Pico (1-866-667-7426) in Rutland, Vermont, has also upgraded snowmaking with particular emphasis on Upper Pike,  which completes years of improvements on this signature trail.

Smugglers Notch (1-800-451-8752) in Jeffersonville, Vermont. has extended the expert Full Nelson trail from above mid-point to the base on Sterling Mountain, which now has 12 expert trails on a supposedly “intermediate” mountain.

Stowe Mountain Resort (1-800-253-4754 ) in Stowe, Vermont, took a bit of a

Stowe took a well deserved break after revamping the entire Spruce Peak area with new lift, a new base lodge and an amazing slopeside hotel. Photo courtesy of Stowe.

breather this summer after completely revamping the entire Spruce Mountain area with new lifts, trails, snowmaking, base lodge and the most amazing luxury hotel at any ski resort in New England. They deserve the rest . . .

Stratton Mountain Resort (1-800-787-2886;  ), in Stratton, Vermont has upgraded its freestyle terrain yet again with an “Adventure Zone” in the Sunbowl area (already home to the US Open Snowboarding Championships!) and a new Jib Park on Lower Middlebrook, Boarder-Cross on East Byrneside and beginner mogul areas on White Birch and Daniel Webster.

Sugarbush (1-800-537-8427) in Warren, Vermont, added 75 acres of new wooded terrain on both Mt. Ellen and Lincoln Peak for your woods-skiing pleasure.

Don’t take my word for it, get out and check all these improvements for yourself this winter. Winter’s too short! What are you waiting for?