Features

Test Your Skiing Knowledge

Test Your Skiing Knowledge

Each issue of SeniorsSkiing.com has a picture to help test your skiing knowledge. The pictures are from collections in a variety of participating ski museums, which we encourage readers to visit. This big time skier was hardly stilted when it came to skiing or to publicity stunts. He was ski school director of the ski school of a New England[Read More…]

The Skiing Weatherman-October 29, 2021

The Skiing Weatherman-October 29, 2021

Mother Nature picks up the pace… Halloween is upon us and it’s now reasonable to think snow. In the past week we have seen some major amounts of snow fall in the West, particularly in the Sierras of California. After a very dry summer, a veritable firehose of moisture pointed at the coastal ranches and let fly. Thankfully, there was[Read More…]

by October 28, 2021 1 comment Skiing Weatherman
Tips to Buy New XC Ski Gear for This Winter

Tips to Buy New XC Ski Gear for This Winter

Last winter XC ski gear was in demand like never before and all segments of cross country ski equipment sold out, with few or no options for retailers to reorder. There also was an uptick for backcountry gear and snowshoes. Retailers are still experiencing demand and supply issues. Coupled with global supply chain challenges, everything from the components that complete[Read More…]

by October 27, 2021 1 comment Boots, Skis, Make More Tracks
The Skiing Weatherman-October 15, 2021

The Skiing Weatherman-October 15, 2021

A bit of a false start… In the past week, some significant early season snow has fallen over portions of the western U.S. and far western Canada.  The season is off and running…at least for now…as Wolf Creek Pass in southern Colorado will open this weekend with limited terrain.  I wish I could say that it is a sustainable plan[Read More…]

by October 14, 2021 2 comments Other News, Skiing Weatherman
SOURCE: YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITIONS

Yellowstone’s Winter Magic

In 1991, while guiding a small group in Yellowstone National Park, I tried to describe walking outside as the sun rose one February morning near Old Faithful: “Morning light pours over the hills, reflecting off the frost in a blinding cloud of diamonds. Elk and bison shake snow off their backs, stirring after a long night’s chill. Duck and geese[Read More…]

by October 11, 2021 1 comment Make More Tracks, West, Home Top Box 2
Skiing Weatherman: 2021-22 Outlook

Skiing Weatherman: 2021-22 Outlook

Even though we are just a few days past the first day of astronomical summer, I find myself already taking a peek at the northern Rockies when I am working on forecasts for my golf course clients. Why? The skier/weather nerd in me comes out as I look for the first weather station reporting snow in the air. Like you,[Read More…]

by September 29, 2021 0 comments Home Top Box 2, Skiing Weatherman
The Year in Review

The Year in Review

El Nino, Stay South. La Nina, Go North. If you haven’t already done so, it’s close to the time when the skis and snowboards get tucked away for summer hibernation.  Between Covid-19 restrictions, National Forest leases, and Old Man Winter calling it quits prematurely in much of North America, forces have conspired to end the season for the majority of[Read More…]

by April 14, 2021 7 comments Skiing Weatherman
Dawn, Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA. Credit: NSNA

Make More Tracks: A Personal Note At The End Of The Season

XC Has Grown In Participation. Hopefully, Make More Tracks Played A Role. The Make More Tracks Resource Guide and series of articles in each issues since October was conceived to provide readers of SeniorsSkiing.com with information to expand their options in the winter of the pandemic. It was intended to provide info and perspectives about mostly XC skiing. As someone[Read More…]

by April 13, 2021 2 comments Make More Tracks
Ski resorts took COVID compliance seriously, allowing the season to happen. Credit: Pat McCloskeu

Look Back: US Season Wrap

A Wide Lens View Of How Large And Small Resorts Managed To Deal With Restrictions And Constraints. [Editor Note: Pat McCloskey is a regular contributor to SeniorsSkiing.com.  This article first appeared in Chronicles of McCloskey.] First, let me say I was glad that we HAD a ski season. From changing my boots in the lot at Laurel Mountain to the[Read More…]

by April 12, 2021 2 comments Features
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (April 9)

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (April 9)

Spot-That-Resort, Top To Bottom Telluride, Skiing Weatherman, Question: Buy Now?, Cycling Lessons, XCSkiResorts, Focus Mindset, Killington In Spring, Ski Club Prep In Oz. Emily Dickinson said: “A little Madness in the Spring / Is wholesome even for the King.”  So here’s a little quiz that might drive you a little nuts. See how you do in this exercise in pattern[Read More…]

by April 9, 2021 1 comment Features
Skiing Weatherman: West Still Strong, East Hanging In

Skiing Weatherman: West Still Strong, East Hanging In

Some Powder. Trail Counts Good. The weather pattern that dominated the month of March in the eastern half of the country has continued right into April…unfortunately.  I communicated with a resort manager in Vermont last week and found out that the mountain, which has a high base elevation…had received exactly one inch of snow last month.  One %#$$@*& inch!  A[Read More…]

by April 8, 2021 0 comments Skiing Weatherman
Question For You: Buy Now Or Wait?

Question For You: Buy Now Or Wait?

To Buy Or Not To Buy (Yet): That Is The Question. It should be clear by now that if you intend to ski more than two or three times a season at mid-large resort, a season pass is required. Basically, walk-up tickets are major resorts are in the $15o to $200+ range which is fine if you have limited interest,[Read More…]

by April 6, 2021 23 comments Features
Trek Navigator allows a comfortable, upright riding position. A fat seat helps.

Three Bicycling Lessons Relearned

Reflection On The Past Before Starting This Year’s Biking Season. With gyms closed to Covid, way back in August 2020, I started riding my bicycle five days a week as a way to get ready for the ski season. I live in North Texas where the terrain is relatively flat. We don’t have hills or mountains, we have rises. I[Read More…]

by April 6, 2021 8 comments Features
XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr and wife Kimberly at Bretton Woods.

Make More Tracks: XCSkiResorts.com Saw Boost

Increased Interest In Nordic Makes XC Site A Place For Information. XCSkiResorts.com was established in 2003 as a major source of information for recreational and travel-oriented cross country skiers and snowshoers and it entered uncharted waters when the pandemic hit. Would anyone want to travel to go cross country skiing? According to site founder and editor Roger Lohr, “The response[Read More…]

by April 6, 2021 1 comment Make More Tracks
Ski Coach Bob Trueman (r) puts emphasis on the mental aspects of skiing.

Add Insult, Avoid Injury

“Your Problem Is, You Don’t Know What You’re Doing”. In modern times this sentence wouldn’t score well on the “how to make friends” scale. And yet it is in reality very informative. You just have to look at the real meanings of the words used, and not the colloquial inference. In fact, from the view point of performance enhancement it[Read More…]

by April 5, 2021 6 comments Ask An Expert
Happy Spring To All

Happy Spring To All

Passover, Easter, Baseball Opening Day, Spring Rituals: All Welcome As The Year Moves On. SeniorsSkiing.com is taking a break for the holiday week.  We wish all our readers a safe and healthy time, especially if you’re Zooming with friends and family or venturing out for the first time in a while.  To our amazing contributors to our recent fundraiser:  All[Read More…]

by April 2, 2021 6 comments Features
Sign of spring: Tuckerman Ravine, 1938. Credit: Mt. Washington

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (March 26)

Spring Is Here, Quitting Time? Corn or Mashed? Beech Top-to-Bottom, Diggins World Cup, Ski Art III, Skiing Weatherman. Spring: Time for renewal. Time for change. New directions. “It was such a spring day as breathes into a [person] an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes [them] stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out[Read More…]

by March 26, 2021 1 comment Features
Skiing Weatherman: West Strong, Last Call East

Skiing Weatherman: West Strong, Last Call East

Bluebird Days. Light Snow. The weather pattern hasn’t changed much in the past week as the jet stream set-up has continued to feature a cold trough over the western half of the country and a milder to warm ridge over the eastern half.  It has been another snowy week in the West, although amounts of fresh snow have been a[Read More…]

by March 25, 2021 2 comments Skiing Weatherman
Question For You: When Do You Quit?

Question For You: When Do You Quit?

Stay Till The Final Melt, Or Had Enough Already? We know skiers who save up their skiing days until springtime. Fair weather skier, they are.  March is when they go out in earnest, conditions permitting. And there are others who decide to bag the season after President’s Day. Or St. Patrick’s Day. Still others make the weekend trek to the[Read More…]

Spring brings corn for a few precious hours. Credit: Jans

Corn Snow And Mashed Potatoes: Know The Difference.

One Fun, The Other Not So Much. We’re nearing that time of year in New England and the upper Midwest where the snow melts a little during the day and freezes at night. The repetitive process creates tiny balls of ice. In the morning, they’re rock hard but as the sun comes up, they melt a little and turn into[Read More…]

by March 23, 2021 7 comments Features
Ski Art III

Ski Art III

Don Burch Offers Another Intriguing View Of The World Of Skis And Snow. Don’s been experimenting with various techniques to take ski videos into an aesthetic direction.  His third offering combines a haunting melody and moody visuals.  Music is Gravitated by Edgar Hopp. Click on the image below to watch the video.

by March 22, 2021 2 comments Features
Make More Tracks: “When All Else Fails, We Still Have Trails”

Make More Tracks: “When All Else Fails, We Still Have Trails”

A Network Of Trails Run By Community Foundation Offers Multi-Use Recreational Activities. The motto above is the moniker of one of the most interesting trail systems I have seen to date. Round Valley, near Park City, UT, is a paradise for cross country skiers, fat bikers, hikers, and dog walkers. The well groomed trails encourage multi- use and 25 kilometres[Read More…]

by March 22, 2021 0 comments West, Make More Tracks
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (March 19)

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (March 19)

ISHA Treasure Chest, Wildcat Polecat Run, Hemingway Excerpt, Jan’s Series Wrap, Gift From COVID Year, Shared House Tips, Nordic Colorado. “There Is Much Weather In A March Day”: Irish Proverb. Indeed, March has us betwixt and between. We had some beautiful mid 60s to 70 degree days early on in New England, then an abrupt switch to zero degrees and[Read More…]

by March 19, 2021 1 comment Features
Skiing Weatherman: Season Rolls On in West, New Snow Scarce in East

Skiing Weatherman: Season Rolls On in West, New Snow Scarce in East

Fresh Snow in the Wasatch. Spring Conditions Reign East. This week’s message is quite simple: If you want fresh snow, head west.  If you enjoy spring skiing, the upper Midwest and East will sport those conditions much of the time through the end of the month.  That said, I do expect the East to turn a little colder early in[Read More…]

by March 18, 2021 1 comment Skiing Weatherman
Breckenridge lift line in Dec 2020 when the resort had "significantly reduced capacity."

Question For You: The Best Of The Virus Year?

One Year On, It Is Time For Reflection. This year of sudden shut down when everything about lives has changed has thrown a lot of plans out the window. While many readers have found a way to get out in the snow, others have given this season a bye, and still others have taken up alternative snow sports, like cross-country,[Read More…]

by March 18, 2021 16 comments Features