Podcasts about snowshoes

Ep. 102 - Holiday Christmas Music Episode GIVE IT A LISTEN from: The Empty Pockets "Snow Shoes" Imogen Clark "Merry Christmas I Guess" Juliana Hatfield "Fall Apart" ****** MUSIC NEWS 2026 TOURS ****** NEW Holiday Music ****** Holiday Music Gifts ****** New to Me ... New to You? ******** KNOW GOOD MUSIC can be found on Podbean (host site), Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Iheart Radio, Pandora, YouTube  and almost anywhere you listen to podcasts. Links to more sources at Link Tree - www.linktr.ee/knowgoodmusic Help support our Podcast by purchasing some cool merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/knowgoodmusic Visit our YouTube Channel where you can see video segments from all of our interviews.  Just search "know good music" Please follow / subscribe & review Follow our Instagram & Facebook pages for info on upcoming podcasts and sometimes extra content Copyright Claims :  The song "Snow Shoes" by the Empty Pockets used with permission from The Empty Pockets / The song "Merry Christmas, I Guess by Imogen Clark used with permission from Monica Hopman (Thinkpress) / The song "Fall Apart" by Juliana Hatfield used with permission from American Laundromat Records.

Wisconsin will be making its debut as host to more than a thousand snowshoe enthusiasts from across the globe when a world champion snowshoe race meets in Calumet County later this month. The World Snowshoe Championships, U.S. Nationals Snowshoe Championships, and Open Championships will be held on Dec. 18-21 at the Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion, and organizers are excited about bringing the competition to a new audience in Wisconsin. “The Ariens Nordic Center truly is a remarkable venue, and we’re so excited to see the U.S. and World Snowshoe Championships come to such a welcoming community,” said Matthew Dougherty, executive director of North Country Sports Council. “Wisconsin and Brillion are opening up their arms to the world, and this event will bring wonderful energy and opportunity to the area while inspiring future generations of athletes.” The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is partnering with The Ariens Sports & Entertainment Foundation Inc. and North Country Sports Council to support the event with a $110,000 Opportunity Attraction Fund grant. The grant program supports high-profile community events aimed at attracting new residents to Wisconsin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Britz is a trail runner based in Bar Harbor, Maine. She spends half the year on Acadia National Park's rugged trails and the other half perfecting her craft on lightweight running snowshoes built for speed. Over the past decade, Britz has dedicated herself to mastering this niche sport, pushing her limits across varied terrain. In 2022, she earned gold at the World Snowshoe Championships in Argentina.Listen to: Camp MonstersFinding MasteryThank you to our sponsors: NikonCapital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Wednesday, November 26, 2025. #1 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Data Centers help build West Virginia's future West Virginia's robust energy capacity, reliable grid and strong infrastructure are helping position the state as a competitive destination for data centers. With abundant baseload power, large certified sites and business-friendly permitting, companies seeking speed and stability are taking a closer look at the Mountain State. Learn more: https://westvirginia.gov/industries/data-centers/   #2 – From WV NEWS - WV enjoys $9 billion winter sports boom A new report highlights how winter sports have become a major economic engine for West Virginia, contributing more than $9 billion to the state's economy and supporting jobs, tourism and year-round recreation. Investments at resorts like Snowshoe, Canaan Valley and Timberline continue to attract visitors from across the region. Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/statejournal/9-billion-and-growing-winter-sports-fueling-west-virginias-economic-boom/article_45aa83e6-19a2-45d7-a79b-077b3c7727d6.html   #3 – From WV DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - Agritourism expands rural opportunity Agritourism in West Virginia is growing as farms open their gates for tours, events, tastings and hands-on experiences. The state's agritourism directory highlights destinations offering everything from farm stays and u-pick orchards to maple production and farm-to-table events, supporting rural economies and local growers. Read more: https://agriculture.wv.gov/ag-business/agritourism/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

This week we bring you another talk from the series celebrating 250 Years of Catholicism in the United States. Dcn. Curtis Chambers takes the stage to present on the life of Bishop Frederic Baraga and his personal connection to this future saint of northern Michigan.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-171RR-DcnChambers-250.mp3

This week, we continue or re-airing of Fr. Scott's conversation with Curtis Chambers about snowshoeing in the footsteps of Bishop Baraga.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-111RR-Snowshoe_Madness-Pt2.mp3

Often over the years, this tune has conjured up a very specific gig memory for Floodsters.It dates back to a weekend when the band was invited to the top of West Virginia's Snowshoe Mountain to be part of a rather swank do (“a wine and cheese affair,” as the late Joe Dobbs liked to call such jobs).We were on a stage under a huge event tent on the grounds of Snowshoe ski resort in Pocahontas County. The summer evening breeze was sweet. The glasses were tinkling. Then, toward the end of the night, a jolly gypsy troupe of motorcyclists rolled and crashed the party.We didn't know what would happen next. For a moment there, it looked to some of us like that edgy turning point in a Tarantino picture.But just as suddenly, the guys in leather and the guys in suits started mingling together, laughing, drinking, swapping stories. Deep in The Flood's memory banks to this day are images of that eclectic crowd of bankers and bikers singing along as one on this song. “Ohhhhh, MAma! Ain't you gonna miss you best friend nowww!”About the SongAs reported in an earlier Flood Watch article, Bob Dylan's “Down in the Flood” was one of many songs that would fill the world's first great bootleg albums, like the unforgettable Great White Wonder, which made the rounds from 1969 onward. (Nearly all those tracks later were officially released by Columbia Records as The Basement Tapes.)It turns out that “Down In The Flood” (also known as “Crash on the Levee”) evolved during a specific 1967 jam session at the Woodstock, NY, in the house that the guys dubbed “Big Pink.”As The Band's Robbie Robertson remembers it, at that session Bob and the boys started fiddling with an old John Lee Hooker song called “Tupelo Blues,” about the historically devastating 1927 Mississippi River flood. That tune apparently triggered Dylan's memories of another song, one from his repertoire in the early years, called “James Alley Blues,” based on a 1927 Richard “Rabbit” Brown recording. Significantly, that song uses the phrase “sugar for sugar, salt for salt,” a line that would find its way into Bob's own lyric.For more on the song's history, click here to read that earlier article.Our Latest Take on the TuneBob Dylan once famously spoke in another 1960s song about “a thousand telephones that don't ring.” But that's hardly a problem for us in our new millennium. On the contrary, we're all walking around with phones in our pockets that are apt to sound off at the most inopportune moments. Like in the middle of this track from last week's rehearsal when Sam St. Clair's phone chimes in. But our Sam's an especially cool lad, so you'd that expect even his phone's ringtone would contribute something special. And it does. Wait for it: at 02:43, a nifty xylophone audition at mid-song!More Bobby? Step Right Up!The Flood does a lot of Bob Dylan tunes, of course. We even have a special playlist of them that we put together for a Dylan birthday observance a few years ago. Click below to read all about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 1937flood.substack.com

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Thursday, October 23, 2025. #1 – From IGNITE WV - IgniteWV Program Opens Doors for Entrepreneurs IgniteWV's “Compete” program invites West Virginians 18 and older to pitch business ideas in two tracks — Main Street or Tech & Innovation. Finalists receive coaching, training, and technical assistance funds — all aimed at helping local businesses start, scale, and thrive in the Mountain State. It's not just about money — it's about strengthening WV's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read more: https://ignitewv.com/compete #2 – From WV EXPLORER - WV Resorts Shine in Condé Nast's 2025 Readers' Choice West Virginia is getting national love: The Greenbrier, Stonewall Resort, and Snowshoe Mountain earned spots in Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. The Greenbrier ranked No. 4 among “Best Resorts in the South,” Stonewall followed at No. 5, and Snowshoe made the “Top 30 Ski Resorts” list. Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby says the recognition underscores WV's growing appeal and economic potential in travel.  Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2025/10/14/west-virginia-conde-nast-awards/   #3 – From WV SBDC - From Dream to Deer Farm: Pointed Acres Launches In Bruceton Mills, Jaelyn and Tyler Rohrbough took a leap: They launched Pointed Acres LLC, a deer farm — without any prior business background. They connected with a WV SBDC business coach, who guided them through planning, accounting, licensing, and other startup essentials. Their story shows how local support can turn an agricultural dream into a working enterprise. Read more: https://wvsbdc.com/pointed-acres-couple-launches-their-deer-farm-with-help-from-the-wv-sbdc/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

This week we re-present part 1 of an interview Fr. Scott recorded with a man who literally walked in the snowshoe prints of Bp. Frederick Baraga, (now-Deacon) Curtis Chambers.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-110RR-SnowshoesPt1.mp3

I put snowshoes to the ultimate test—breaking two pairs on my last three winter hunts. After finally finding a reliable pair with the Atlas Montane 35, I couldn't help but wonder: is there something even better? Enter the Atlas MTN Range 35. In this video, I run both snowshoes through a head-to-head comparison to see which one can handle extreme conditions. Can the Atlas MTN Range replace my trusted Montane? Watch now to find out which snowshoe reigns supreme for winter hunting and backcountry adventures.

Send us a textWhat if your great-grandfather's formula from 1927 turned out to be exactly what today's sustainability movement is searching for? Tiffany Huey never planned to become an entrepreneur, but after 25 years climbing the corporate ladder at companies like Starbucks, PepsiCo, and Nestle, she found herself drawn back to her family's legacy: Snowshoe Leather Care.When COVID hit and corporate America wanted her back in Seattle, Tiffany made a life-changing decision. She would revitalize the leather care business her family had maintained as a side hustle for generations. Now working from a barn workshop in Bend, Oregon, she hand-pours each tin using the original equipment and the exact same three-ingredient formula her great-grandfather created nearly a century ago.This episode explores the fascinating intersection of heritage craftsmanship and modern sustainability. As Tiffany explains, "There's this whole concept of upkeep culture and thrifting... thinking about how to buy higher-quality things and take good care of them." It's this cultural shift that makes Snowshoe suddenly relevant to a new generation, while still maintaining its devoted following among ranchers, saddle makers, and leatherworkers who've sworn by it for decades.The heart of this story lies in the voices of those who've built and preserved this legacy. We hear from Tiffany's father about the company's early days, her brother-in-law who kept the business alive when no one else could, and most memorably, from Richard Bryant, an elderly Texas rancher whose emotional testimonial about his lifetime using Snowshoe becomes the episode's most powerful moment.Through Tiffany's journey, we discover how entrepreneurship can honor the past while embracing the future, and how sometimes the most innovative act is preserving something of true value. Whether you're fascinated by family businesses, sustainability, or the courage it takes to leave corporate comfort for entrepreneurial uncertainty, this story will inspire you to look at legacy in a whole new light.The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon. Support The Circling Podcast:Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.comJoin the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazineCover Song by: @theerinsmusic Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com. BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.comBack Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.comStory Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.comRemember, the health of our community, relies on us!

Send us a textAudio only, see YouTube for VideoCraig the Natural Medic explores the Tennessee Pass Trailhead where the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail intersect. He takes a short snowshoe trek at over 10,000 feet elevation, sharing trail insights and snowshoeing tips during his adventure.• Snowshoeing at Tennessee Pass near Ski Cooper and the 10th Mountain Memorial• The trail serves as a junction for both the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail• Well-marked trail with blue markers and occasional CDT or Colorado Trail markers• Trail surface is packed enough that regular hiking boots might work, but snowshoes prevent occasional post-holing• Important reminder: "They're called snowshoes, not dirt shoes" - avoid walking on dirt patches to protect your equipment• High elevation (over 10,000 feet) makes even casual hiking more strenuous• Area offers longer hiking opportunities: 6.5 miles to Holy Cross Wilderness and 115 miles to Hagerman PassIf you enjoyed this video, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel for more unique outdoor adventures!Support the show

He threw up in his helmet to win the toughest GNCC. Now he's racing Southwick on Saturday and a National Enduro on Sunday. Jason Weigandt chats with a versatile warrior. Josh Toth gave it everything he had...and more...to win the grueling Yamaha Snowshoe GNCC over the weekend in West Virginia. In this podcast with Jason Weigandt, the Rocky Mountain/Red Bear Kawasaki rider describes that victory, where he bested his teammate (and team owner) Stu Baylor by about three seconds after three hours of racing. He was throwing up in his helmet on the last lap while still pushing for the win! As soon as that was over, he drove from Snowshoe back to Connecticut to prepare for this weekend's Southwick National, where he hopes to score a point at a motocross track that sits 30 minutes from where he grew up. Then he's racing an AMA National Enduro in Ohio on Sunday! Enjoy this tale of a rider once labeled as the next big thing in GNCC, who later had to rebuild himself as Mr. Versatility to find his true calling. The Racer X Exhaust podcast is presented by Yoshimura, Insta360 Cameras, and OnTrack School. Plus RacerXBrand.com!

Big Rig Craig and Big Tom join us to chat about last weekends results and storylines in the off-road world. Brody and Jonathan Johnson join us as well to talk about Brody's XC2 podium and Jon's XC3 win. https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/?ref=1090&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=onthepipepodcast&utm_campaign=influencer https://linktr.ee/onthepipepodcast Also give us a follow to stay up to date! Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/onthepipepodcast/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/On-The-Pipe-Podcast-1474683515925676/?ref=bookmarks TikTok- @onthepipepodcast Apple Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/on-the-pipe-podcast/id1295853841

As New England warms, snowshoe hares are increasingly finding themselves the wrong color for camouflaging with their environment. New England scientists are looking at some promising ways to help.

As New England warms, snowshoe hares are increasingly finding themselves the wrong color for camouflaging with their environment. New England scientists are looking at some promising ways to help.

Winter Study at Isle Royale National Park has a decades long history, but just a few scientists ever get the chance to spend time on this isolated archipelago in Lake Superior. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with one of those fortunate ones, Johnathan Pauli, Professor in the Department of Forest & Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin Madison. From tracking foxes and martens to unraveling a centuries-old survival story, Johnathan shares how studying this wilderness in winter reveals secrets a summer visitor would never experience. Join us for a conversation about science, survival, and what makes Isle Royale National Park a critical refuge for wildlife.Key Takeaways:Winter Study at Isle Royale has been going on for over 60 years, originally launched to monitor moose and wolf populations and now expanded to include other animals such as martens, foxes, and snowshoe hares.Winter presents extreme challenges and rich insights, including long days in deep snow, cold exposure, and tracking animals over miles of off-trail terrain.Snowshoe hares follow a 10-year boom-and-bust cycle, which helped explain the survival story of Angelique Mott in 1845, when she struggled to trap hares during a population crash.Isle Royale functions as a modern-day “refugium,” because it is more buffered from human development and invasive species, making it an ideal site for long-term conservation and research.Notable Quotes:“Winter is a period of nutritional and resource deficits.  It's a really important time to study these winter-adapted organisms.”“I love to say that there's no anonymity in winter.”“Refugia is something near and dear to my heart. These islands, Isle Royale and the Apostle Islands, really represent these interesting test beds for the concept of refugia.”“It's really important work. It's really hard work. But it's also really exciting. There's a lot of complexity of emotions you have while you're skiing these trails.”“Sometimes what you see in the tracks can be almost as exciting as seeing some of these critters in person.”Resources:Jonathan Pauli's Research Group – Learn more about his work at UW–Madison:https://pauli.russell.wisc.edu/Isle Royale National Park – Explore the park and its natural history: https://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htmApostle Islands National Lakeshore – Discover another key research site: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htmConnect With Us:Website: https://nplsf.org/podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundationSponsors:Cafe Imports – Supporting environmental sustainability in coffee-growing regions since 1993.  Learn more at https://cafeimports.com.National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Support vital projects by donating at: https://nplsf.org/donateBe sure to tune in to this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast to hear Jonathan Pauli's firsthand stories of survival, science, and what Isle Royale reveals in the silence of winter.

For three days in the summer of 2018 we worked on this mark-recapture survey along a pipeline access road in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska, gathering data that would help scientists at the nearby Gates of the Arctic National Park estimate snowshoe hare population numbers for this year. Our opinion? The population was high. Almost every trap was full, which meant a delayed lunch, and that sense of relief to find an empty trap.

Snowshoe Mountain, Inc. v. Ruby Dog Holdings, LLC

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. A tech center in Buckhannon offers a series of workshops to help you bone up on your employment skills…Snowshoe Mountain Resort celebrates its 50th anniversary with a look to the past and big plans for the future…and the WV Hive honors Wild Blue Adventure Company's owners as entrepreneurs of the year…on today's daily304. #1 – From MY BUCKHANNON – Are you searching for a new job, looking to amp up your employability factor or even kickstart your own small business? Well, you're in luck because the Fred W. Eberle Technical Center in Buckhannon will soon kick off a 10-week series of workshops to educate the local community on a variety of skills employers are looking for in an effort to create a more employable workforce. The workshops take place on Tuesday evenings starting March 11 beginning with Resume Building. Additional classes include subjects like CPR/First Aid Certification, Food Handler's Card, OSHA 10 Certification and more. Following the 10-week workshop series, participants and the local community can register to attend a Job Fair on May 22 with area businesses who currently (or will soon) seek personnel in a variety of industries.  Tap here to register for one or more “How To” Workshops at FETC. Read more: https://www.mybuckhannon.com/register-now-fred-eberle-to-host-free-workshops-to-develop-hirable-employees/   #2 – From CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL – Fifty years ago, during Snowshoe Mountain Resort's first ski season, it took more than four hours to make the drive from Charleston to the state's newest ski area, accessed by following a series of twisting two-lane highways to a gravel road at Slatyfork leading to the top of Shavers Mountain. In its early years, the nearest available lodging was in Marlinton, 23 miles away. Patrons could look forward to libations at the Last Run Bar, Snowshoe's lone watering hole at the time Today, the resort's winter operation now includes 60 trails served by 14 lifts, hosting more than 300,000 skier/snowboarder visits annually. Lodges and rental condos on the mountaintop make more than 2,000 beds available to overnight guests and Snowshoe Mountain's Village encompasses 20 restaurants and bars and nearly a dozen shops. The resort now operates year-round with the addition of activities like mountain biking, while concerts and festivals bring in guests from near and far. As the resort celebrates its 50th anniversary, Snowshoe looks back on its early days while it continues to make exciting plans for the future.  Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/outdoors/snowshoe-mountain-resort-reaches-50-year-milestone-makes-plans-for-the-future/article_5f8f6038-dcd7-11ef-85c1-db328d7bcbb4.html   #3 – From WV HIVE – Bill and Ashley Chouinard of Wild Blue Adventure Company and Aviator's Lounge at the Fayette Airport want you to not only fly with them, but also to stay at their grand three-bedroom residence available to rent for vacations and specialty events. In December 2024, the Chouinards were selected by a panel of judges as the WV Hive Entrepreneurs of the Year. Wild Blue Adventure Company was also one of 60 rural businesses selected by the Goldman Sachs 10KSB Program to participate in the Rural Advocacy Conference at the U.S. Capitol.  The parents of three started their aviation business venture with a smaller company in 2015, offering introduction to flight lessons and tailwheel endorsements. In 2019, the owner of another sightseeing flight company — Wild Blue Adventure Company — approached the Chouinards about acquiring his company. The deal included a vintage World War II Stearman biplane.  Ashley said one of the major initiatives this year is to promote the Aviator's Lounge so that the space can be utilized year-round. The setting is just minutes away from the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.  Read more: https://wvhive.com/2025/02/owners-of-wild-blue-adventure-company-in-fayetteville-want-you-fly-and-stay-with-them/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Late season snowshoe hare hunting is a bit different than early season snowshoe hunting. Here are a few pointers for adding a hare or two to your game bag during the tail end of winter.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. An old industrial site in Huntington will soon see new life as a manufacturing hub…West Virginia produces two more chef nominees for the prestigious James Beard Award…and plan a winter getaway to one of Almost Heaven's charming mountain towns…on today's daily304.   #1 – From HERALD-DISPATCH – A renovation two years in the making, the former ACF property and its last remaining building that served Huntington's old generation will now serve the new. The Huntington Municipal Development Authority board of directors voted to award two contracts for the infrastructure work on The Foundry (former ACF Industries site) and the renovation of the ACF machine shop, which is the last standing building on the property. HMDA bought the property in February 2020 and has been planning for this project for two years. The next step is getting approval from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to give the contractor the release to begin. One of the contracts will be to renovate the former machine shop to be the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center's welding and robotics laboratory--a prospect that has city officials excited.  Read more: https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/acf-property-building-construction-awarded/article_eb25c85a-d9b5-11ef-87b9-4bb7662eac1a.html   #2 – From WOWK-TV – The 2025 James Beard Award nominations are out, and West Virginia is featured in some of the categories! Chef Chase Collier at Ristorante Abruzzi is in the running for the Southeast's Best Chef category, and William Dissen, who is originally from Charleston and is at The Market Place in Asheville, North Carolina, is in the Outstanding Chef category. This isn't the first time a West Virginia chef has been nominated for a James Beard Award. Chef Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge was nominated twice in the same category and won in 2024. Read more: https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/kanawha-county-wv/west-virginia-chefs-nominated-for-james-beard-awards/   #3 – From MLIVE – Winter in Almost Heaven mountain towns is unlike anything else you could ever experience. From snowy, scenic overlooks to cozy cabin stays, West Virginia is the perfect winter wonderland with its snow-covered mountains and warm small towns. If you're craving an Appalachian adventure, these charming mountain towns -- Morgantown, Davis, Fayetteville, Princeton and Snowshoe -- are perfect for a winter getaway. From outdoor adventures to cozy lodging and delicious local dining, you're sure to find plenty to do in West Virginia's mountain towns.  Read more: https://www.mlive.com/sponsor-content-n/?prx_t=taEJAR35tAI8ILA&ntv_acpl=770595&ntv_acsc=2&ntv_avcsc=2&ntv_ot=2&ntv_plt=770595_34486&ntv_pcc=zccdPiDzBMrwMpTvwT2yyUNS8TvBfQkqsaIUli0m5iE80IlFmrWz7XfSvNl6i1Fy&ntv_ui=d771cb57-94ed-4ee2-a25b-f409ee153454&ntv_ht=QUOTZwA   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

(Jan 31, 2025) A break from the busy news cycle today with two fun stories. A beautiful snowshoe around a frozen, remote Adirondack lake. And a preview of the Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival this weekend.

In episode 115 of the Backpacking Light podcast we're going to learn how to size snowshoes, minimize sinkage, and save energy for your next winter adventure in deep snow. To view the shownotes for this episdoe, click here.  

We start the show talking about cold and winter weather, and quickly jump into Todd's recent ski trip in PA. We completely change gears (26:00) and jump into some "Sibling Dribblings" with an NBA 'blind' quiz for Todd...it's fun! I talk quickly about the SLC airport (47:30), kids' birthdays, and how to convert my basement into a usable room. Sponsors: ScottyJ's album, AppleTV+, Build-a-Bear Scotty Js YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV3WWSlwDKYf7P5k4XdP3zA IG & Twitter: the_bro_pod, littleBquotes E-mail the show!: thebropodnetwork@gmail.com Buy Merch!!: thebropod.threadless.com Our Website: www.bropodnetwork.com #skitrip #weatherchat #Snowshoe #coldhands #SiblingDribblings #Mormons #kidsbirthday #BuildaBear #roomconversion #Severance #podcasts #bropod #bropodnetwork

https://slasrpodcast.com/      SLASRPodcast@gmail.com   Welcome to episode 182 of the Sounds like a search and rescue podcast. This week we are joined by the NH Wild Crew - Nichole and Paul. They are avid white mountain hikers who focus on fun, photography and friends. They are here this week to share some stories, give us some info on their favorite hikes, tips on gear and photography. Plus we give a run down on proposed projects in the White Mountain National Forest including updates on Sawyer River road, Lincoln Woods, Hermit lake shelter and others. Stomp shares a story about Mt. Everest climbers using performance enhancers to increase their odds of finishing, butt sledding accidents, a review of some winter clothes from US Sherpa, a discussion about Snowshoe etiquette and butt sledding safety and a recent close call rescue off the greenleaf trail.  This weeks Higher Summit Forecast   About NH Wild NH Wild Instagram NH Wild Facebook   Topics The Stomp crew was hit Plymouth, NH is the Nacho capital of NH White Mountains Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) National news - hikers getting shot near the southern border Two Butt (or Bum) sledders injured in Canada Performance Enhancers for Mount Everest Wind Chill - Snow in Florida US Sherpa Clothes Burton - longboarders Skiing in the Dry River Dave Shits in the Woods is on the PUDS Podcast this week  Hiking the Wildcats, Mike, Nichole and Paul Notable Hikes Welcome Paul and Nichole from NH Wild  Snowshoes - when to use, tips and tricks Butt Sledding - advice and safety Recent Search and Rescues   Show Notes Apple Podcast link for 5 star reviews SLASR Merchandise SLASR LinkTree MWRR registration Northern Extremes Snowmobile Plymouth kills it for best nachos in NH Current Schedule of Proposed Actions in the WMNF Current Schedule of Proposed Actions in the WMNF Sawyer River 2 Bridge Replacement Lincoln Woods New single track bike trail at Great Glen Outdoors Center Hermit Lake Shelters - Current accommodations Huntington Ravine Winter Access Bridge Replacements AMC Galehead Hut is proposing to install Solar Panels Campton Dam Sale,  - potential buyer - Mad River Power Fabyan Cabin - Rental camp Falling Waters Trail Relocation  Hiker shot by cartel, Southern border  A spike in butt sled incidents Xenon assist up Everest Xenon Gas banned in professional cycling after use by Russians in Sochi Olympics Nationwide windchill map 9 inches of snow in Pensacola  US Sherpa clothing Khumjung Hat  Burton finally listens to the longboarders PUDS for a discussion about bushwhacking the NH Highest Hundred & the NHI69  Ken McGray's recent article on snowshoes PCT Mystery BC skiers lost of Spruce Peak, rescued by Stowe Mountain Rescue Hikers assisted on Greenleaf Trail More details on the rescue   Sponsors, Friends  and Partners Wild Raven Endurance Coaching CS Instant Coffee 2024 Longest Day - 48 Peaks Mount Washington Higher Summits Forecast Hiking Buddies  Vaucluse - Sweat less. Explore more. – Vaucluse Gear Fieldstone Kombucha

Winter goat hunting isn't for the faint of heart, and this trip proved why. From 60mm of freezing rain to failed sleep systems and broken snowshoes, this hunt was a brutal test of both gear and grit. As miserable as it was, I learned a ton and put some new gear through its paces—some of it held up, and some didn't. In this episode, I break down the highs and lows of the trip, share what worked (and what didn't), and offer tips for planning your own winter hunt. Tune in for hard-earned insights and a look at what it takes to chase goats in the harshest conditions.     Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools

In a new comic series project called Messages of Our Lady, Philip Koslowski is excited to announce the release of the first in the series on Our Lady of Mount Carmel. + Executive Director of the Bishop Baraga Association, Lenora McKeen speaks about the canonization process for Bishop Frederick Baraga, also known as "The Snowshoe Priest".

Tom and Noelle Crowe tell you the American Catholic History of the Snowshoe priest, Venerable Fedrick Baraga.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Winter is here, and it's the perfect time to try snowshoeing! Contributor and outdoor enthusiast Heath Druzin has ideas for beginner-to-more-adventurous types. Plus, host Lindsay Van Allen is gathering budget-friendly gear suggestions. Whether you're looking for a peaceful trek near Bogus Basin or a picture perfect journey to a snowy hot spring, there's lots of ways to give this low-key winter activity a try. Want some more winter activity inspo? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you'll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning. Interested in advertising with City Cast Boise? Find more info HERE. Reach us at boise@citycast.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rocket and Stump take over Hiker Trash Radio for a special episode about a true legend from the Sierras, Snowshoe Thompson! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Check out eight amazing destinations in Almost Heaven where you can experience an unforgettable winter getaway…Did you make a New Year's resolution to start your own business in 2025? Learn how the WV SBDC can help you achieve your dream…and anglers, it's time to read up on West Virginia's updated fishing regulations…on today's daily304. #1 – From WORLD ATLAS – West Virginia's scenic beauty, historic charm, and outdoor adventures make it an ideal state for a magical winter getaway. From the quaint streets of Lewisburg to the rugged outdoor adventures in Fayetteville and the snow-covered slopes of Snowshoe, the Mountain State promises an unforgettable winter experience.  Nicknamed “Almost Heaven” for its breathtaking landscapes, towering peaks, and crisp mountain air, West Virginia invites visitors to enjoy a truly serene winter escape. Check out the story in World Atlas highlighting eight destinations in West Virginia that offer endless opportunities for a memorable winter vacation -- from skiing down the Appalachian Mountains to savoring local cuisine. Read more: https://www.worldatlas.com/destination/8-best-destinations-for-a-winter-vacation-in-west-virginia.html   #2 – From WV SBDC – Since 1983 the West Virginia Small Business Development Center and its network of partners has helped construct a statewide ecosystem to foster the spirit, support, and success of thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators. The WV SBDC provides tools, training and connections for successfully starting and growing a small business.    Are you interested in starting a small business or growing your existing small business in #YesWV? Contact the WV SBDC to learn how they can assist you in achieving your dream. Just visit wvsbdc.com and click on “Become a client.” Learn more: https://wvsbdc.com/about-wv-sbdc/   #3 – From WVDNR – Every year, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources releases an update to the state's fishing regulations. While most regulations remain consistent from year to year, occasional changes are implemented to better maintain the health of our state's fisheries, protect game fish species and their habitats, and enhance the angling experience.  On their website, the WVDNR will walk you through updates to the 2025 Fishing Regulations Summary, show you how to navigate them easily, and explain how to use them to plan your next fishing adventure. Read more: https://wvdnr.gov/2025-fishing-regulations-guide/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Happy holidays and welcome to Get Up in the Cool: Seasonal Music with Cameron DeWhitt and Friends. This week's friends are Kate Gregory and Jonathan Craig Roberts, which makes this a Church for Dogs Christmas Special! We recorded this Monday night at Jonathan's home in Portland, OR. Tunes in this episode: * Breaking Up Christmas (1:12) * Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (18:05) * Some Children See Him (35:03) * O Come O Come Emmanuel (45:19) * Snowshoes (54:33) * Bonus Track: Frosty Morning Follow Kate on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/katevezin/) Follow Church for Dogs on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/churchfordogs/) Study music with Jonathan Craig Roberts (http://jonrobertsmusic.com/) Sign up for Cameron's Ear Training for Old Time workshop series (https://www.camerondewhitt.com/store) Support Get Up in the Cool on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/getupinthecool) Send Tax Deductible Donations to Get Up in the Cool through Fracture Atlas (https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/get-up-in-the-cool) Sign up at Pitchfork Banjo for my clawhammer instructional series! (https://www.pitchforkbanjo.com/) Schedule a banjo lesson with Cameron (https://www.camerondewhitt.com/banjolessons) Visit Tall Poppy String Band's website (https://www.tallpoppystringband.com/) and follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tallpoppystringband/)

A little anniversary trip and some Christmas shopping on this weeks toppings! Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/ill-buy-the-popcorn-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #469 Winter Training Series Sunday, May 24, 2020 6:59 AM Welcome Welcome to Episode #469 of the 303 Endurance Podcast. We're your hosts Coaches Rich Soares and April Spilde. Thanks for joining us for another week of endurance news, coaching tips and discussion. Today we are continuing our Winter Training Series theme with a discussion on Snowshoe Running.    Shoutouts to: @genucan @ironmantri @coloradosride @ @303triathlon @tridottraining @tridottrainingsystem #ironmantri #cycling #triathlon #swimbikerun #Iamtridot #tridotambassador #tridotcoach #303EndurancePodcast   Show Sponsor: UCAN UCAN created LIVSTEADY as an alternative to sugar based nutrition products. LIVSTEADY was purposefully designed to work with your body, delivering long-lasting energy you can feel. Whether UCAN Energy Powders, Bars or Gels, LIVSTEADY's unique time-release profile allows your body to access energy consistently throughout the day, unlocking your natural ability to finish stronger and recover more quickly!    In Today's Show Announcements Ask A Coach - Snowshoe Running 101 Triathlon News/Updates - Taupo 70.3 World Championships   Announcements: Upcoming Programming in December - As we head into December, we are going prime you for your best season ever. As you will hear in our upcoming interview with Coach Mark Allen, this is the time of year to take a break from the training and do other things that keep you active.   We are going to explore a different winter sport or activity each week in December. Dec 6: Skiing; downhill, cross country classical, skate skiing, skimo Dec 13: Indoor Cycling and FulGaz Group Rides Dec 20: Hiking and snowshoeing Dec 27: Indoor rowing and wall climbing   Indoor Cycling with FulGaz - December 17th we are gearing up for winter training. Bec Burns from FulGaz to share how athletes can seamlessly sync their TriDot workouts to any of their 100+Official IRONMAN Courses so they can be studying the course whilst getting their bike sessions done.   Virtual Group Ride Schedule Dec. 21 - IM Kona 8am MT Dec. 28 - IM Cozumel 8am MT Jan. 4 - IM Nice 8am MT   Ask A Coach:   Guide to Snowshoe Running: Benefits, Gear, and Getting Started When the trails turn white and the temperatures drop, don't let your running routine hibernate—embrace the snowy landscape with snowshoe running! This invigorating winter activity offers a plethora of benefits for triathletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. The Benefits Snowshoe running is a powerhouse workout that combines cardio, strength, and endurance. The added resistance of trudging through the snow increases the intensity of your runs, making it a phenomenal cardiovascular exercise that boosts your aerobic capacity. The uneven terrain challenges your stabilizer muscles, enhancing strength and coordination. Plus, it's a low-impact activity that reduces the risk of injuries typically associated with running on harder surfaces. Snowshoe running also works your core and legs harder than traditional running, promoting muscular and tendon development while improving overall athletic performance. Essential Gear Getting started with snowshoe running requires some specialized equipment, but don't worry—it's straightforward. Here's what you'll need: Snowshoes: Opt for running-specific snowshoes which are lighter and more streamlined than their hiking counterparts. Brands like Atlas and MSR offer excellent options. Running Shoes: Wear your regular trail running shoes, paired with gaiters to keep the snow out. Apparel: Dress in moisture-wicking, breathable layers to stay warm and dry. Don't forget gloves and a hat to protect against the cold. Poles (Optional): Some runners prefer using poles for added stability, especially on uneven or steep terrain. How to Get Started Starting your snowshoe running journey is easier than you might think. Follow these steps to hit the snow-covered trails with confidence: Find a Trail: Look for local parks or dedicated snowshoe trails. Many ski resorts also offer groomed trails perfect for beginners. Warm-Up: Just like any workout, start with a dynamic warm-up to prepare your muscles and prevent injuries. Pace Yourself: Snowshoe running is more challenging than regular running, so begin with shorter distances to build your endurance. Focus on Form: Keep a shorter stride and lift your knees higher to navigate through the snow effectively. Use your arms to maintain balance. Stay Hydrated: Cold weather can be deceiving; you still need to stay hydrated, so bring water and hydrate regularly.   5 Best Trails to Check Out in Colorado according to All Trails:   #5. Nymph Lake Trail: Head out on this 5.0-mile out-and-back trail near Estes Park, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 34 min to complete. Before heading out on a winter hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, it is a good idea to have experience hiking in winter conditions. It is advised to keep your eye on weather and avalanche conditions.    #4. Lost Lake via Hessie Trail: Located near the small town of Eldora west of Nederland, this 4.0 mile route starts at the Hessie Trailhead off County Road 130 and leads to the Devil's Thumb Trail. This great trail is a perfect option for a day trip with an incredible destination. Keep an eye out for moose which are commonly seen along this trail!   #3. Saint Mary's Glacier: Explore this 1.6-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. This is a very popular area for cross-country skiing, fishing, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are April through October. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.  #2. Royal Arch Trail: Try this 3.3-mile out-and-back trail near Boulder, Colorado. Generally considered a challenging route. This is a very popular area for hiking, snowshoeing, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.   #1: Emerald Lake Trail: Try this 3.2-mile out-and-back trail near Estes Park, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 39 min to complete. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.   Snowshoe running is not just a winter substitute for your regular runs; it's a unique and effective way to enhance your overall fitness. So, strap on your snowshoes, and get ready to explore the serene, snowy wilderness while taking your training to the next level. Your future triathlete self will thank you! Ready to take on the snowy trails? Remember, the only limit is the one you set yourself. Happy snowshoe running!   303Triathlon News and Updates:   IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2024: PRO Women predictions, podium picks and ones to watch 2024 has featured an everlasting gobstopper of a race calendar, with the T100 Series really kicking things off back in March. And now, finally, the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo finishing up what has got to be the busiest year of PRO triathlon racing in recent history. With a world title, and the last chance to grab valuable (literally) IRONMAN Pro Series points on the line, the PRO women's start list is stellar. So as some of the world's fastest female triathletes line up for one last dance before the year is out, who are the top contenders for the win? For the last time in 2024, it's time to dust off my crystal ball and attempt to bring you my pre-race predictions.   There are a number of names on the 62-strong PRO women's start list who could certainly contend for the podium at the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. And with the race coming so late in the year, and happening almost on the other side of the world for a large number of the athletes. If there was ever a race where ‘anything could happen' this is probably it.    April's Women's Picks: Taylor Knibb Kat Matthews Paula Findlay April's Men's Picks: Mathis Margirier Matt Dubrick Matt Hanson Rich's Women's Picks: Taylor Knibb Julie Derron Ashleigh Gentle Rich's Men's Picks: Hayden Wilde Kyle Smith Leo Bergere   https://proseries.ironman.com/stories/start-list-pro-field-2024-vinfast-ironman-703-world-championship Is IRONMAN reconsidering Kona / Nice World Championship split as new survey drops fresh hint? It's been a hotly-debated topic ever since the rotation with Nice was announced and it seems all options are now open for the IMWC.   The future location and format of the IRONMAN World Championship would appear to be more up in the air than ever judging by the latest development from the M-Dot brand.   Rumours have been swirling around for much of the second part of this year as to whether the current rotation between the spiritual home of Kona and Nice will see out its four-year cycle.   The IMWC had always been held in Hawaii, with the men and women racing on the same day. That was until 2022 when they were each given their own day in Kona, with the pro women racing on the Thursday that year and the men on the Saturday.   From a pro racing perspective the hugely important benefit of that was that the women had their own day of racing and all the coverage that entailed.   However at that point it proved too much for the islanders, with the then mayor saying: “We learned that more than one race day during IRONMAN week is too many for the community to manage.”   But with a steadfast commitment now in place for separate race days for men and women, IRONMAN decided a dual location system was the next best solution – so for 2023 they announced that the women would race in Kona and the men in Nice around a month before, which would then rotate for the next four years through to 2026.   We're only halfway through that process and it's far to say it continues to split opinion more than virtually any other topic in triathlon – with huge implications for age-groupers and pros alike.   It's a burning issue for Scott DeRue, who this year took over from long-term incumbent Andrew Messick as IRONMAN's CEO and inherited the rotation format.   Another potentially significant recent change is a new mayor in Hawaii – so could two days in Kona now be back on the table?   ‘Listening and learning' Judging by a survey that IRONMAN have sent out to sections of the media (and plenty of others by the sounds of it, including the all-important athletes) it would appear that all options are again up for discussion.   The email introduction to the survey we received read as follows: “Respected Members of the Media – Two years ago, we split the IRONMAN World Championship, spanning both Kona and Nice, and we are incredibly proud of all that our athletes have achieved in both of these historic and beautiful locations.   Email/Survey Two years ago, we split the IRONMAN World Championship, spanning both Kona and Nice, and we are incredibly proud of all that our athletes have achieved in both of these historic and beautiful locations. During these two years, we have sought and received feedback from diverse stakeholders to help us better understand the important role of the IRONMAN World Championship within our community. One thing is clear – the IRONMAN World Championship is the pinnacle of our sport, a celebration of human achievement, and a testament to the passion and commitment of our IRONMAN community.   As we look to the long-term future of the IRONMAN World Championship, we are committed to listening to and learning from our community. In this spirit, we would like your input as a valued member of our IRONMAN `ohana. Your feedback will form part of the ongoing inputs we will continue to collect as we envision the long-term future of the IRONMAN World Championship.    Would You Rather? -  Colorado Triathlete Edition   1. Bike the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway (and call it "leg day x10") or Bike through Garden of the Gods (while dodging tourists with selfie sticks)?   2. Train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center or train in Aspen with a pro?   3. Do a winter triathlon (rocking three layers of thermal spandex like a high-altitude marshmallow) or  race the Colorado Triathlon in the summer?     4. Race in Boulder where a 70-year old passes you on a carbon fiber bike while drinking kombucha or race in Colorado Springs with the Academy cadets yelling “Go faster old man!” like your life depends on it?     5. Run in Crocs because you forgot your running shoes or bike in a ski jacke that you can't take offt?     6. Join a relay team with a local pro triathlete and do your strongest discipline or join a team with your friends and you each have to do your weakest discipline?       Closing: Thanks again for listening this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey! Train With Coach Rich: Coach Rich Soares Rich.soares@tridot.com Rich Soares Coaching TriDot Signup - https://app.tridot.com/onboard/sign-up/richsoares RunDot Signup - https://app.rundot.com/onboard/sign-up/richsoares   Train with Coach April: Coach April Spilde April.spilde@tridot.com Grit2Greatness Endurance Podcast Podcast Series - Apple Podcasts TriDot Signup - https://app.tridot.com/onboard/sign-up/aprilspilde  

It's become a monthly tradition around here to answer the question:Is this stuff Overrated, Underrated or is it Properly Rated? Where our resident gear expert, Justin Housman, rules FOR ALL TIME on the status of some specific pieces or categories of gear. A ruling that cannot be undone!On this edition, compiled with the help of emails we've received from our G&B listeners, Justin and Colin judge snowshoes, Solo Stove, and the category of stuff that is Made In The USA. And when it comes to this weeks beer pairing, our Gear & Beer certified beer expert (that would be Justin) wanted to pair the perfect winter or holiday beer with today's gear. So Colin went out and found one that he thinks could Stump our Cicerone.Did it work? Was Justin stumped? Are these gear items Over, Under, or Properly Rated? You need to listen to find out.Hurricane Helene Relief Links:Fuel GoodsOutdoor Business Alliance Hurricane Relief FundGoFundMe for Bubba O'LearysWestern North Carolina Hurriance Helene Resource GuideEast Tennessee Foundation Relief FundPlease follow and subscribe to Gear & Beer and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.Gear & Beer is part of the Rock Fight podcast network. Be sure to check out THE ROCK FIGHT for the best outdoor industry commentary on Apple or Spotify.Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!Have a question you want answered on Gear & Beer? Send your feedback and suggestions to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.Thanks for listening! Gear & Beer is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Nothing gets my blood flowing more than hunting upland birds in November and accidentally flushing a snowshoe hare. Each fall, early season snowshoe hare hunting catches me off guard. Seldom am I ready for those first wild flushes that mark the beginning of hare season. Snowshoes are commonly found in the same places as ruffed grouse and spruce grouse. To top it off, they will test your shooting capabilities to their fullest. You think shooting a ruffed grouse busting through the alders is tough? Try hitting a snowshoe hare that's just as fast but sprints across the ground. Increase the odds of adding a hare to your game bag before the snow comes with these tips.

On this episode of Flirtations, we welcome Tal Fish to the show, a licensed mental health counselor, to have a conversation with us about trauma. In this complex, sometimes misunderstood, and yet highly relevant topic, we hold the space to go deep and talk about trauma, which many of us will experience at some point in our lives. And when a trauma happens, whether it's a single event or something we experience multiple times, often we feel like something changes within us. We may feel unsure about how to move forward or what happens next. When it comes to dating, making connections, and forming relationships, trauma can show up in unexpected ways and make it difficult to open up. Today, we hope to make this a little bit easier. We start by defining trauma and recognizing how we may respond to it. What happens to the brain and body when we experience trauma? What are some ways that we naturally cope? Does the body hold on to (or store) trauma? How can we begin to release and heal? Our conversation also addresses how trauma influences our choices and behaviors in dating, including having difficulty trusting others and building intimacy. Here, we strategies for learning to trust again (speaking to hypervigilance here) while maintaining your boundaries and protecting yourself. Finally, we offer guidelines for healing from trauma, remaining hopeful, and moving forward with optimism and an open heart. I hope you'll join us for this very powerful conversation! *This episode contains potentially sensitive dialogue about trauma. If you need to come back and listen at another time, please know this episode will always be here for you.* Then don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Flirtations on your favorite podcast platform, and share this episode to spread BFE - big flirt energy, all over the world! Enjoying the show and want to support my work? Buy the Flirt Coach a coffee! About our guest:  Tal Fish (he/him) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. He is also an actor, singer, and hopeless romantic. He's a part time professor in addition to being a full-time clinician and loves to perform in his spare time. He is passionate about mental health and social justice, and loves being a cat dad to his Snowshoe kitten.  About your host:  Benjamin is a flirt and dating coach sharing his love of flirting and BFE - big flirt energy, with the world! A lifelong introvert and socially anxious member of society, Benjamin now helps singles and daters alike flirt with more confidence, clarity, and fun! As the flirt is all about connection, Benjamin helps the flirt community (the flirties!) date from a place that allows the value of connection in all forms - platonic, romantic, and with the self - to take center stage and transform lives for greater healing and deeper connections. You can connect with Benjamin on Instagram, TikTok, stream the Flirtations Flirtcast everywhere you listen to podcasts (like right here!), and find out more about working together 1:1 here.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Now at Noon headlines. Guests include MMAC Senior Advisor Tim Sheehy and the Owner of the Hounds and Tap Leah Neuroth. We wrap up with some of the most popular retirement destinations.

https://slasrpodcast.com/      SLASRPodcast@gmail.com   This week we are joined for a listener spot spotlight with Chris Gothberg. Chris is a hiker, trail runner and photographer who will share some stories of his recent hikes in and around the Whites. I'm going to ask him to highlight some areas of Western NH that we don't often talk about. Stomp gives his tips on Self Rescue - when should you and when should you not. Also sitting in with us is one half of the popular PUDs Podcast - Nick Sidla. Nick is going to add his perspective on a variety of topics including - NH trails get overrun with poorly behaving tourists during leaf season and it is all Stomps fault, plus snow has arrived on the higher summits this week, Moose safety tips, Space and Alien news, Safety courses in Avalanche and Snowmobiles, some history segments - Stomp looks back at the case of a Dartmouth Student who went missing on an outing club hike in 2019, I'll share an AMC snowshoe trip itinerary from February of 1908 and we will review a trip report to the site of the Old Man on Cannon from the Summer of 1908. Plus Stomp hikes Lafayette, and we will cover recent search and rescue news.   This weeks Higher Summit Forecast   Donations + Guests Go Fund Me - Peter Gibney About Chris Chris Instagram PUDS Podcast   Donations to Hurricane Helene Care of: Stacey Manney 942 Yorktown Dr,  Charleston SC 29412   Topics Stomp the smoker Happy 8th Anniversary to Redline Guiding Artist Bluff is overrun with leaf peepers Snow on Mount Washington Hurricane Helene Donations Welcome back Nick Sidla from PUDs Podcast Moose encounters, dead horses, Yosemite Death Space Rockets and Alien Radio Signals Cold weather classes History Segments - Dartmouth Rescue - Trip reports from 1908 One Direction, Dad Jokes, Coffee, Beer, Recent Hikes, Notable listener hikes Guest of the Week - Chris Gothberg Stomp's guidance on balancing self rescue with calling for help Recent Search and Rescue on Mount Lafayette Show Notes Apple Podcast link for 5 star reviews SLASR Merchandise SLASR LinkTree Redline Guiding Artist Bluff - Safety concerns raised as peak foliage draws crowds in NH, officials report several rescues Friends clean up litter left behind by tourists Legislative changes? 2 more storms to keep an eye on Notable Moose of the week?  Tips for safe moose encounters A moratorium on blowing up dead horses.  Yosemite hiker crushed by tree Congrats to Elon Breakthrough Listening Project Wind Chill calculator Eastern Snow & Avalanche Workshop Snomo safety courses are back. Northern Extremes Reflecting on the lost Dartmouth student, May 2019. A one week Snowshoe trip hosted by the AMS in February of 1908 An early assessment of fissures and cracks from a 1908 climb to the Old Man site on Cannon Hiker rescued on Mt. Lafayette Sponsors, Friends  and Partners 24th Annual Seek the Peak Fieldstone Kombucha CS Instant Coffee 2024 Longest Day - 48 Peaks Mount Washington Higher Summits Forecast Hiking Buddies  Vaucluse - Sweat less. Explore more. – Vaucluse Gear White Mountains Endurance Coaching

For episode 180 we have Charles Evans. Charles is the Trail Maintenance Coordinator for the Snowshoe Highlands Area Recreational Collaborative. The Snowshoe Highlands Region has nearly 400 miles of trail, is a IMBA Silver Level Ride Center, and is the region that has hosted Several World Cup Mountain Bike Races and Championships. We covered the ever-popular topic of Trail Maintenance, along with the Federal Reserve, and even talked a little bit about listening for aliens. Ultimately Charles provides a ton of insight around why The Snowshoe Highlands Area is an incredible place to ride you mountain bike. Topics Include: How Charles got into the world of Trail Maintenance The region of Pocahontas County, West Virginia Trails and types of trails found in the region The Greenbank Observatory IMBA Silver Level Ride Center, and steps towards becoming a Gold Level Ride Center Monday Lick Trail System The role as the Trail Maintenance Coordinator How the Trail Maintenance is funded in this region Partnering with West Virginia University Generating Interest from the Federal Reserve What the lodging and other amenities for going to ride in this region Future Projects in the region The importance of Trail Maintenance What Charles looks for in a Trail Community Closing Comments Trail EAffect Show Links: Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center: https://ridesnowshoehighlands.com/ Pocahontas County, WV: https://pocahontascountywv.com/ Pocahontas Trails: https://pocahontastrails.com/   Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/ Loam Pass Affiliate Link: https://www.loampass.com?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=track&utm_campaign=traileaffect Loam Pass – Free Pass Protection Code: TAPOD Trail One Components 20% off Coupon Code: trailpod Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/?ref=XavfBrRJfk4VOh Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

This week, we continue or re-airing of Fr. Scott's conversation with Curtis Chambers about snowshoeing in the footsteps of Bishop Baraga.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-111RR-Snowshoe_Madness-Pt2.mp3

 his week we re-present part 1 of an interview Fr. Scott recored with a man who literally walked in the snowshoe prints of Bp. Frederick Baraga, Curtis Chambers.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-110RR-SnowshoesPt1.mp3

TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association through this crosspost of their Episode #6. Thank you for being a listener and thank you for supporting USARA. Episode Details Below: Welcome to Episode 6 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast. In this episode, Brent speaks with Allen Wagner of Broad Run Off Road Racing about his upcoming Fall Foliage Adventure Race. An increasingly popular race, the Fall Foliage is a great race for beginners and veterans alike. Our second segment is a deep dive into past USARA National Championships with Stephanie Ross and Tray Farrar. Packed with stories, adventures, and the challenges of presenting a national championship, this episode is a great way to prepare for next month's USARA National Championship Race in Snowshoe, West Virginia. Thanks to Brian Gatens of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast for his assistance.Be sure to visit the United States Adventure Racing Association at www.usara.comThank you for stopping by The Checkpoint. Don't stay here too long. There's training and racing to get to! Shownotes:https://www.usara.com/www.ardarkzone.com

A mysterious road trip/A man's faith is tested by a dream demon   Fan Art Friday by Caffeine Roulette   Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/user?u=18482113 PayPal Donation Link https://tinyurl.com/mrxe36ph MERCH STORE!!! https://tinyurl.com/y8zam4o2 Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28CIOGSFRUXAD?ref_=wl_share   Help Promote Dead Rabbit! Dual Flyer https://i.imgur.com/OhuoI2v.jpg "As Above" Flyer https://i.imgur.com/yobMtUp.jpg “Alien Flyer” By TVP VT U https://imgur.com/gallery/aPN1Fnw “QR Code Flyer” by Finn https://imgur.com/a/aYYUMAh   Links: EP 1314 - The Snuff Film Killer (Milk episode) https://deadrabbitradio.libsyn.com/ep-1314-the-snuff-film-killer EP 1310 - The Black Society: Do Ghost Hunters Rule The World? (Black Society Government Uses Paranormal Stories To Map Active Areas) https://deadrabbitradio.libsyn.com/ep-1310-the-black-society-do-ghost-hunters-rule-the-world EP 10 - Chop Shop (Nicotine episode) https://deadrabbitradio.libsyn.com/ep-10-chop-shop EP 64 - Starship Athena (Nicotine episode) https://deadrabbitradio.libsyn.com/ep-64-starship-athena EP 228 - The Devil's Tree (Nicotine episode) https://deadrabbitradio.libsyn.com/ep-228-the-devils-tree EP 433 - The Portal To The Past https://deadrabbitradio.libsyn.com/ep-433-the-portal-to-the-past [Serious]Eerie Towns, Disappearing Diners, and Creepy Gas Stations....What's Your True, Unexplained Story of Being in a Place That Shouldn't Exist? (Snowshoe, West Virginia Green Bank Radio Telescope Mountain Bikers Town With No People Road Worker story) https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/95bsre/comment/e3st1po/ Archive https://archive.ph/qM5bV Green Bank Telescope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bank_Telescope Creepy, Weird and Unexplainable one-off occurrences (Bunk Bed Dream Hissing Voice Reject Jesus Bathroom Light Changes story) https://archive.ph/3WIAv   ------------------------------------------------ Logo Art By Ash Black Opening Song: "Atlantis Attacks" Closing Song: "Bella Royale" Music By Simple Rabbitron 3000 created by Eerbud Thanks to Chris K, Founder Of The Golden Rabbit Brigade Dead Rabbit Archivist Some Weirdo On Twitter AKA Jack Youtube Champ Stewart Meatball The Haunted Mic Arm provided by Chyme Chili Forever Fluffle: Cantillions, Samson Discord Mods: Mason, HotDiggityDane, Carson http://www.DeadRabbit.com Email: DeadRabbitRadio@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeadRabbitRadio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DeadRabbitRadio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deadrabbitradio Dead Rabbit Radio Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadRabbitRadio/ Paranormal News Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalNews/     Mailing Address Jason Carpenter PO Box 1363 Hood River, OR 97031   Paranormal, Conspiracy, and True Crime news as it happens! Jason Carpenter breaks the stories they'll be talking about tomorrow, assuming the world doesn't end today. All Contents Of This Podcast Copyright Jason Carpenter 2018 - 2024

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on July 7. It dropped for free subscribers on July 14. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoChip Chase, Founder and Owner of White Grass Ski Touring Center, West VirginiaRecorded onMay 16, 2024About White Grass Touring CenterClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Chip ChaseLocated in: Davis, West VirginiaYear founded: 1979 (at a different location)Pass affiliations: Indy Pass and Indy+ Pass: 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Canaan Valley (8 minutes), Timberline (11 minutes)Base elevation: 3,220 feet (below the lodge)Summit elevation: 4,463 feet (atop Weiss Knob)Vertical drop: 1,243 feetSkiable Acres: 2,500Average annual snowfall: 140 inchesTrail count: 42 (50 km of maintained trails)Lift count: NoneWhy I interviewed himOne habit I've borrowed from the mostly now-defunct U.S. ski magazines is their unapologetic focus always and only on Alpine skiing. This is not a snowsports newsletter or a wintertime recreation newsletter or a mountain lifestyle newsletter. I'm not interested in ice climbing or snowshoeing or even snowboarding, which I've never attempted and probably never will. I'm not chasing the hot fads like Norwegian goat fjording, which is where you paddle around glaciers in an ice canoe, with an assist tow from a swimming goat. And I've narrowed the focus much more than my traditionalist antecedents, avoiding even passing references to food, drink, lodging, gear, helicopters, snowcats, whacky characters, or competitions of any kind (one of the principal reasons I ski is that it is an unmeasured, individualistic sport).Which, way to squeeze all the fun out of it, Stu. But shearing off 90 percent of all possible subject matter allows me to cover the small spectrum of things that I do actually care about – the experience of traveling to and around a lift-served snowsportskiing facility, with a strange side obsession with urban planning and land-use policy – over the broadest possible geographic area (currently the entire United States and Canada, though mostly that's Western Canada right now because I haven't yet consumed quantities of ayahuasca sufficient to unlock the intellectual and spiritual depths where the names and statistical profiles of all 412* Quebecois ski areas could dwell).So that's why I don't write about cross-country skiing or cross-country ski centers. Sure, they're Alpine skiing-adjacent, but so is lift-served MTB and those crazy jungle gym swingy-bridge things and ziplining and, like, freaking ice skating. If I covered everything that existed around a lift-served ski area, I would quickly grow bored with this whole exercise. Because frankly the only thing I care about is skiing.Downhill skiing. The uphill part, much as it's fetishized by the ski media and the self-proclaimed hardcore, is a little bit confusing. Because you're going the wrong way, man. No one shows up at Six Flags and says oh actually I would prefer to walk to the top of Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger. Like do you not see the chairlift sitting right f*****g there?But here we are anyway: I'm featuring a cross-country skiing center on my podcast that's stubbornly devoted always and only to Alpine skiing. And not just a cross-country ski center, but one that, by the nature of its layout, requires some uphill travel to complete most loops. Why would I do this to myself, and to my readers/listeners?Well, several factors collided to interest me in White Grass, including:* The ski area sits on the site of an abandoned circa-1950s downhill ski area, Weiss Knob. White Grass has incorporated much of the left-over refuse – the lodge, the ropetow engines – into the functioning or aesthetic of the current business. The first thing you see upon arrival at White Grass is a mainline clearcut rising above a huddle of low-slung buildings – Weiss Knob's old maintrail.* White Grass sits between two active downhill ski areas: Timberline, a former podcast subject that is among the best-run operations in America, and state-owned Canaan Valley, a longtime Indy Pass partner. It's possible to ski across White Grass from either direction to connect all three ski areas into one giant odyssey.* White Grass is itself an Indy Pass partner, one of 43 Nordic ski areas on the pass last year (Indy has yet to finalize its 2024-25 roster).* White Grass averages 95 days of annual operation despite having no snowmaking. On the East Coast. In the Mid-Atlantic. They're able to do this because, yes, they sit at a 3,220-foot base elevation (higher than anything in New England; Saddleback, in Maine, is the highest in that region, at 2,460 feet), but also because they have perfected the art of snow-farming. Chase tells me they've never missed a season altogether, despite sitting at the same approximate latitude as Washington, D.C.* While I don't care about going uphill at a ski area that's equipped with mechanical lifts, I do find the notion of an uphill-only ski area rather compelling. Because it's a low-impact, high-vibe concept that may be the blueprint for future new-ski-area development in a U.S. America that's otherwise allergic to building things because oh that mud puddle over there is actually a fossilized brontosaurus footprint or something. That's why I covered the failed Bluebird Backcountry. Like what if we had a ski area without the avalanche danger of wandering into the mountains and without the tension with lift-ticket holders who resent the a.m. chewing-up of their cord and pow? While it does not market itself this way, White Grass is in fact such a center, an East Coast Bluebird Backcountry that allows and is seeing growing numbers of people who like to make skiing into work AT Bros.All of which, I'll admit, still makes White Grass lift-served-skiing adjacent, somewhere on the spectrum between snowboarding (basically the same experience as far as lifts and terrain are concerned) and ice canoeing (yes I'm just making crap up). But Chase reached out to me and I stopped in and skied around in January completely stupid to the fact that I was about to have a massive heart attack and die, and I just kind of fell in love with the place: its ambling, bucolic setting; its improvised, handcrafted feel; its improbable existence next door to and amid the Industrial Ski Machine.So here we are: something a little different. Don't worry, this will not become a cross-country ski podcast, but if I mix one in every 177 episodes or so, I hope you'll understand.*The actual number of operating ski areas in Quebec is 412,904.What we talked aboutWhite Grass' snow-blowing microclimate; why White Grass' customers tend to be “easy to please”; “we don't need a million skiers – we just need a couple hundred”; snow farming – what it is and how it works; White Grass' double life in the summer; a brief history of the abandoned/eventually repurposed Weiss Knob ski area; considering snowmaking; 280 inches of snow in West Virginia; why West Virginia; the state's ski culture; where and when Chase founded White Grass, and why he moved it to its current location; how an Alpine skier fell for the XC world; how a ski area electric bill is “about $5 per day”; preserving what remains of Weiss Knob; White Grass' growing AT community; the mountain's “incredible” glade skiing; whether Chase ever considered a chairlift at White Grass; is atmosphere made or does it happen?; “the last thing I want to do is retire”; Chip's favorite ski areas; an argument for slow downhill skiing; the neighboring Timberline and Canaan Valley; why Timberline is “bound for glory”; the Indy Pass; XC grooming; and White Grass' shelter system.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewI kind of hate the word “authentic,” at least in the context of skiing. It's a little bit reductive and way too limiting. It implies that nothing planned or designed or industrially scaled can ever achieve a greater cultural resonance than a TGI Friday's. By this definition, Vail Mountain – with its built-from-the-wilderness walkable base village, high-speed lift fleet, and corporate marquee – fails the banjo-strumming rubric set by the Authenticity Police, despite being one of our greatest ski centers. Real-ass skiers, don't you know, only ride chairlifts powered from windmills hand-built by 17th Century Dutch immigrants. Everything else is corporate b******t. (Unless those high-speed lifts are at Alta or Wolf Creek or Revelstoke – then they're real as f**k Brah; do you see how stupid this all is?)Still, I understand the impulses stoking that sentiment. Roughly one out of every four U.S. skier visits is at a Vail Resort. About one in four is in Colorado. That puts a lot of pressure on a relatively small number of ski centers to define the activity for an enormous percentage of the skiing population. “Authentic,” I think, has become a euphemism for “not standing in a Saturday powder-day liftline that extends down Interstate 70 to Topeka with a bunch of people from Manhattan who don't know how to ski powder.” Or, in other words, a place where you can ski without a lot of crowding and expense and the associated hassles.White Grass succeeds in offering that. Here are the prices:Here is the outside of the lodge:And the inside:Here is the rental counter:And here's the lost-and-found, in case you lose something (somehow they actually fit skis in there; it's like one of those magic tents from Harry Potter that looks like a commando bivouac from the outside but expands into King Tut's palace once you walk in):The whole operation is simple, approachable, affordable, and relaxed. This is an everyone-in-the-base-lodge-seems-to-know-one-another kind of spot, an improbable backwoods redoubt along those ever-winding West Virginia roads, a snow hole in the map where no snow makes sense, as though driving up the access road rips you through a wormhole to some different, less-complicated world.What I got wrongI said the base areas for Stowe, Sugarbush, and Killington sat “closer to 2,000 feet, or even below that.” The actual numbers are: Stowe (1,559 feet), Sugarbush (1,483 feet), Killington (1,165 feet).I accidentally referred to the old Weiss Knob ski area as “White Knob” one time.Why you should ski White GrassThere are not a lot of skiing options in the Southeast, which I consider the ski areas seated along the Appalachians running from Cloudmont in Alabama up through Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. There are only 18 ski areas in the entire region, and most would count even fewer, since Snowshoe Bro gets Very Mad at me when I count Silver Creek as a separate ski area (which it once was until Snowshoe purchased it in 1992, and still is physically until/unless Alterra ever develops this proposed interconnect from 1978):No one really agrees on what Southeast skiing is. The set of ski states I outline above is the same one that Ski Southeast covers. DC Ski includes Pennsylvania (home to another 20-plus ski areas), which from a cultural, travel, and demographic standpoint makes sense. Things start to feel very different in New York, though Open Snow's Mid-Atlantic updates include all of the state's ski areas south of the Adirondacks.Anyway, the region's terrain, from a fall line, pure-skiing point of view, is actually quite good, especially in good snow years. The lift infrastructure tends to be far more modern than what you'll find in, say, the Midwest. And the vertical drops and overall terrain footprints are respectable. Megapass penetration is deep, and you can visit a majority of the region with an Epic, Indy, or Ikon Pass:However. Pretty much everything from the Poconos on south tends to be mobbed at all times by novice skiers. The whole experience can be tainted by an unruly dynamic of people who don't understand how liftlines work and ski areas that make no effort to manage liftlines. It kind of sucks, frankly, during busy times. And if this is your drive-to region, you may be in search of an alternative. White Grass, with its absence of lifts and therefore liftlines, can at least deliver a different story for your weekend ski experience.It's also just kind of an amazing place to behold. I often describe West Virginia as the forgotten state. It's surrounded by Pennsylvania (sixth in population among the 50 U.S. states, with 13 million residents), Ohio (8th, 11.8 M), Kentucky (27th, 4.5 M), Virginia (13th, 8.7 M), and Maryland (20th, 6.2 M). And yet West Virginia ranks 40th among U.S. states in population, with just 1.8 million people. That fact – despite the state's size (it's twice as large as Maryland) and location at the crossroads of busy transcontinental corridors – is explained by the abrupt, fortress-like mountains that have made travel into and through the state slow and inconvenient for centuries. You can crisscross parts of West Virginia on interstate highways and the still-incomplete Corridor H, but much of the state's natural awe lies down narrow, never-straight roads that punch through a raw and forgotten wilderness, dotted, every so often, with industrial wreckage and towns wherever the flats open up for an acre or 10. Other than the tailgating pickup trucks, it doesn't feel anything like America. It doesn't really feel like anything else at all. It's just West Virginia, a place that's impossible to imagine until you see it.Podcast NotesOn Weiss Knob Ski Area (1959)I can't find any trailmaps for Weiss Knob, the legacy lift-served ski area that White Grass is built on top of. But Chip and his team have kept the main trail clear:It rises dramatically over the base area:Ski up and around, and you'll find remnants of the ropetows:West Virginia Snow Sports Museum hall-of-famers Bob and Anita Barton founded Weiss Knob in 1955. From the museum's website:While the Ski Club of Washington, DC was on a mission to find an elusive ski drift in West Virginia, Bob was on a parallel mission.  By 1955, Bob had installed a 1,200-foot rope tow next door to the Ski Club's Driftland.  The original Weiss Knob Ski Area was on what is now the "Meadows" at Canaan Valley Resort.  By 1958, Weiss Knob featured two rope tows and a T-bar lift.In 1959, Bob moved Weiss Knob to the back of Bald Knob (out of the wind) on what is now White Grass Touring Center.According to Chase, the Bartons went on to have some involvement in a “ski area up at Alpine Lake.” This was, according to DC Ski, a 450-footer with a handful of surface lifts. Here's a circa 1980 trailmap:The place is still in business, though they dismantled the downhill ski operation decades ago.On the three side-by-side ski areasWhite Grass sits directly between two lift-served ski areas: state-owned Canaan Valley and newly renovated Timberline. Here's an overview of each:TimberlineBase elevation: 3,268 feetSummit elevation: 4,268 feetVertical drop: 1,000 feetSkiable Acres: 100Average annual snowfall: 150 inchesTrail count: 20 (2 double-black, 2 black, 6 intermediate, 10 beginner), plus two named glades and two terrain parksLift count: 4 (1 high-speed six-pack, 1 fixed-grip quad, 2 carpets - view Lift Blog's inventory of Timberline's lift fleet)Canaan ValleyBase elevation: 3,430 feetSummit elevation: 4,280 feetVertical drop: 850 feetSkiable Acres: 95Average annual snowfall: 117 inchesTrail count: 47 (44% advanced/expert, 36% intermediate, 20% beginner)Lift count: 4 (1 fixed-grip quad, 2 triples, 1 carpet - view Lift Blog's inventory of Canaan Valley's lift fleet)And here's what they all look like side-by-side IRL:On other podcast interviewsChip referenced a couple of previous Storm Skiing Podcasts: SMI Snow Makers President Joe VanderKelen and Snowbasin GM Davy Ratchford. You can view the full archive (as well as scheduled podcasts) here.On West Virginia statisticsChase cited a few statistical rankings for West Virginia that I couldn't quite verify:* On West Virginia being the only U.S. state that is “100 percent mountains” – I couldn't find affirmation of this exactly, though I certainly believe it's more mountainous than the big Western ski states, most of which are more plains than mountains. Vermont can feel like nothing but mountains, with just a handful of north-south routes cut through the state. Maybe Hawaii? I don't know. Some of these stats are harder to verify than I would have guessed.* On West Virginia as the “second-most forested U.S. state behind Maine” – sources were a bit more consistent on this: every one confirmed Maine as the most-forested state (with nearly 90 percent of its land covered), then listed New Hampshire as second (~84 percent), and West Virginia as third (79 percent).* On West Virginia being “the only state in the nation where the population is dropping” – U.S. Census Bureau data suggests that eight U.S. states lost residents last year: New York (-0.52), Louisiana (-0.31%), Hawaii (-0.3%), Illinois (-0.26%), West Virginia (-0.22%), California (-0.19%), Oregon (-0.14%), and Pennsylvania (-0.08%).On the White Grass documentaryThere are a bunch of videos on White Grass' website. This is the most recent:On other atmospheric ski areasChase mentions a number of ski areas that deliver the same sort of atmospheric charge as White Grass. I've featured a number of them on past podcasts, including Mad River Glen, Mount Bohemia, Palisades Tahoe, Snowbird, and Bolton Valley.On the Soul of Alta movieAlta also made Chase's list, and he calls out the recent Soul of Alta movie as being particularly resonant of the mountain's special vibe:On resentment and New York State-owned ski areasI refer briefly to the ongoing resentment between New York's privately owned, tax-paying ski areas and the trio of heavily subsidized state-owned operations: Gore, Whiteface, and Belleayre. I've detailed that conflict numerous times. This interview with the owners of Plattekill, which sits right down the road from Belle, crystalizes the main conflict points.On White Grass' little shelters all over the trailsThese are just so cool:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 46/100 in 2024, and number 546 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

The Blade Dive - Episode 49, we are joined by Ken Gaitor who was Brighton Resort's Terrain Park Manager in 1997, and just like every other park builder in that era, was responsible for carving out a reputation for his program through failures and successes as the golden era of park riding took off.In the early 2000s, he headed east to join the team at Mt. Snow and was theTerrain Park Manager as well as the Project Manager that spearheaded the planning and launch of Mt. Snow's all mountain park portion of the resort, Carinthia. In 2010, he returned to his home state of West Virginia to over see the the Terrain Park, Grooming and Snowmaking department and would eventually assume the role of VP of Operations at Snowshoe. Not only has Gaitor been impactful in operations and terrain parks, but he has worked on sustainability initiatives and has been an instructor at Cutter's Camp since it began.Episode 49 is a really fun dive into the life and career of Gaitor through a long list of special guest questions from Elia Hamilton who knows Gaitor incredibly well. We discuss what it's like to involve conflict within your management style, the power that your co-workers have to influence you as a  leader and that you should allow them to remind you of why you started on this journey. We discuss the biggest career mistakes as well as best career decisions, the value in being able to talk professionally about money when it comes time to budget for your department, and yes, there are some great stories and big laughs in this one!Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!Follow us on:https://www.instagram.com/thebladedive/https://www.facebook.com/thebladedive

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on June 4. It dropped for free subscribers on June 11. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:Who* Scott Bender, operations and business advisor to Blue Knob ownership* Donna Himes, Blue Knob Marketing Manager* Sam Wiley, part owner of Blue Knob* Gary Dietke, Blue Knob Mountain ManagerRecorded onMay 13, 2024About Blue KnobClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Majority owned by the Wiley familyLocated in: Claysburg, PennsylvaniaYear founded: 1963Pass affiliations: Indy Pass and Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackouts (access not yet set for 2024-25 ski season)Closest neighboring ski areas: Laurel (1:02), Tussey (1:13), Hidden Valley (1:14), Seven Springs (1:23)Base elevation: 2,100 feetSummit elevation: 3,172 feetVertical drop: 1,072 feetSkiable Acres: 100Average annual snowfall: 120 inchesTrail count: 33 (5 beginner, 10 intermediate, 4 advanced intermediate, 5 advanced, 9 expert) + 1 terrain parkLift count: 5 (2 triples, 2 doubles, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Blue Knob's lift fleet)Why I interviewed themI've not always written favorably about Blue Knob. In a state where shock-and-awe snowmaking is a baseline operational requirement, the mountain's system is underwhelming and bogged down by antiquated equipment. The lower-mountain terrain – Blue Knob's best – opens sporadically, sometimes remaining mysteriously shuttered after heavy local snows. The website at one time seemed determined to set the world record for the most exclamation points in a single place. They may have succeeded (this has since been cleaned up):I've always tried to couch these critiques in a but-damn-if-only context, because Blue Knob, considered purely as a ski area, is an absolute killer. It needs what any Pennsylvania ski area needs – modern, efficient, variable-weather-capable, overwhelming snowmaking and killer grooming. No one, in this temperamental state of freeze-thaws and frequent winter rains, can hope to survive long term without those things. So what's the holdup?My goal with The Storm is to be incisive but fair. Everyone deserves a chance to respond to critiques, and offering them that opportunity is a tenant of good journalism. But because this is a high-volume, high-frequency operation, and because my beat covers hundreds of ski areas, I'm not always able to gather reactions to every post in the moment. I counterbalance that reality with this: every ski area's story is a long-term, ongoing one. What they mess up today, they may get right tomorrow. And reality, while inarguable, does not always capture intentions. Eventually, I need to gather and share their perspective.And so it was Blue Knob's turn to talk. And I challenge you to find a more good-natured and nicer group of folks anywhere. I went off format with this one, hosting four people instead of the usual one (I've done multiples a few times before, with Plattekill, West Mountain, Bousquet, Boyne Mountain, and Big Sky). The group chat was Blue Knob's idea, and frankly I loved it. It's not easy to run a ski area in 2024 in the State of Pennsylvania, and it's especially not easy to run this ski area, for reasons I outline below. And while Blue Knob has been slower to get to the future than its competitors, I believe they're at least walking in that direction.What we talked about“This was probably one of our worst seasons”; ownership; this doesn't feel like PA; former owner Dick Gauthier's legacy; reminiscing on the “crazy fun” of the bygone community atop the ski hill; Blue Knob's history as an Air Force station and how the mountain became a ski area; Blue Knob's interesting lease arrangement with the state; the remarkable evolution of Seven Springs and how those lessons could fuel Blue Knob's growth; competing against Vail's trio of nearby mountains; should Vail be allowed to own eight ski areas in one state?; Indy Pass sales limits; Indy Pass as customer-acquisition tool; could Blue Knob ever upgrade its top-to-bottom doubles to a high-speed quad?; how one triple chair multiplied into two; why Blue Knob built a mile-long lift and almost immediately shortened it; how Wolf Creek is “like Blue Knob”; beginner lifts; the best ski terrain in Pennsylvania; why Mine Shaft and Boneyard Glades disappeared from Blue Knob's trailmap, and whether they could ever return; unmarked glades; Blue Knob's unique microclimate and how that impacts snowmaking; why the mountain isn't open top-to-bottom more and why it's important to change that; PA snowmaking and how Blue Knob can catch up; that wild access road and what could be done to improve it; and the surprising amount of housing on Blue Knob's slopes.    Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewSo here's something that's absolutely stupid:That's southeastern Pennsylvania. Vail Resorts operates all of the ski areas in blue font. Ski areas in red are independent. Tussey, a local bump serving State College and its armies of sad co-eds who need a distraction because their football team can't beat Michigan, is not really relevant here. Blue Knob is basically surrounded by ski areas that all draw on the same well of out-of-state corporate resources and are stapled to the gumball-machine-priced Epic Pass. If this were a military map, we'd all say, “Yeah they're fucked.” Blue Knob is Berlin in 1945, with U.S. forces closing in from the west and the Russians driving from the east. There's no way they're winning this war.How did this happen? Which bureaucrat in sub-basement 17 of Justice Department HQ in D.C. looked at Vail's 2021 deal to acquire Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Laurel and said, “Cool”? This was just two years after Vail had picked up Whitetail, Liberty, and Roundtop, along with Jack Frost and Big Boulder in eastern Pennsylvania, in the Peak Resorts acquisition. How does allowing one company to acquire eight of the 22 public ski resorts in one state not violate some antitrust statute? Especially when six of them essentially surround one independent competitor.I don't know. When a similar situation materialized in Colorado in 1997, Justice said, “No, Vail Resorts, you can not buy Keystone and Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin from this dog food company. Sell one.” And so A-Basin went to a real estate conglomerate out of Toronto, which gut-renovated the mountain and then flipped it, earlier this year, to Vail arch-frenemy Alterra. And an independent ski area operator told me that, at some point during this ongoing sales process, the Justice Department reached out to ask them if they were OK with Alterra – which already operates Winter Park, owns Steamboat, and has wrapped Copper, Eldora, and the four Aspen mountains into its Ikon Pass – owning A-Basin (which has been on the Ikon Pass since 2019). Justice made no such phone call, Blue Knob officials tell me on this podcast, when Vail was purchasing the Seven Springs resorts.This is where Colorad-Bro reminds me that Pennsylvania skiing is nothing compared to Colorado. And yes, Colorado is unquestionably the epicenter of American skiing, home to some of our most iconic resorts and responsible for approximately one in four U.S. skier visits each winter. But where do you suppose all those skiers come from? Not solely from Colorado, ranked 21st by U.S. population with just 5.9 million residents. Pennsylvania, with Philly and Pittsburgh and dozens of mid-sized cities in-between, ranks fifth in the nation by population, with nearly 13 million people. And with cold winters, ski areas near every large city, and some of the best snowmaking systems on the planet, PA is a skier printing press, responsible not just for millions of in-state skier visits annually, but for minting skiers that drive the loaded U-Haul west so they can brag about being Summit County locals five minutes after signing their lease. That one company controls more than one-third of the ski areas – which, combined, certainly account for more than half of the state's skier visits – strikes me as unfair in a nation that supposedly maintains robust antitrust laws.But whatever. We're locked in here. Vail Resorts is not Ticketmaster, and no one is coming to dismantle this siege. Blue Knob is surrounded. And it's worse than it looks on this map, which does not illuminate that Blue Knob sits in a vast wilderness, far from most population centers, and that all of Vail's resorts scoop up skiers flowing west-northwest from Philadelphia/Baltimore/D.C. and east from Pittsburgh.  So how is Blue Knob not completely screwed? Answering that question was basically the point of this podcast. The mountain's best argument for continued existence in the maw of this Epic Pass blitzkrieg is that Blue Knob is a better pure ski area than any of the six Vail mountains that surround it (see trailmap above). The terrain is, in fact, the best in the State of Pennsylvania, and arguably in the entire Mid-Atlantic (sorry Elk Mountain partisans, but that ski area, fine as it is, is locked out of the conversation as long as they maintain that stupid tree-skiing ban). But this fact of mountain superiority is no guarantee of long-term resilience, because the truth is that Blue Knob has often, in recent years, been unable to open top to bottom, running only the upper-mountain triple chairs and leaving the best terrain out of reach.They have to fix that. And they know it. But this is a feisty mountain in a devilish microclimate with some antiquated infrastructure and a beast of an access road. Nothing about this renovation has been, or likely will be, fast or easy.But it can be done. Blue Knob can survive. I believe it after hosting the team on this podcast. Maybe you will too once you hear it.What I got wrong* When describing the trail network, I said that the runs were cut “across the fall line” in a really logical way – I meant, of course, to say they were cut down the fall line.* I said that I thought the plants that sprouted between the trees in the mothballed Mine Shaft and Boneyard Glades were positioned “to keep people out.” It's more likely, however, based upon what the crew told us, that those plants are intended to control the erosion that shuttered the glades several years ago.* I mentioned “six-packs going up in the Poconos at the KSL-owned mountains.” To clarify: those would be Camelback and Blue Mountain, which each added six-packs in 2022, one year before joining the Ikon Pass.* I also said that high-speed lifts were “becoming the standard” in Pennsylvania. That isn't quite accurate, as a follow-up inventory clarified. The state is home to just nine high-speed lifts, concentrated at five ski areas. So yeah, not exactly taking over Brah.* I intimated that Blue Knob shortened the Beginners CTEC triple, built in 1983, and stood up the Expressway triple in 1985 with some of the commandeered parts. This does not appear to be the case, as the longer Beginners lift and Expressway co-exist on several vintage trailmaps, including the one below from circa 1989. The longer lift continues to appear on Blue Knob trailmaps through the mid-1990s, but at some point, the resort shortened the lift by thousands of linear feet. We discuss why in the pod.Why you should ski Blue KnobIf we took every mountain, fully open, with bomber conditions, I would rank Blue Knob as one of the best small- to mid-sized ski areas in the Northeast. From a rough-and-tumble terrain perspective, it's right there with Berkshire East, Plattekill, Hickory, Black Mountain of Maine, Ragged, Black Mountain (New Hampshire), Bolton Valley, and Magic Mountain. But with its Pennsylvania address, it never makes that list.It should. This is a serious mountain, with serious terrain that will thrill and challenge any skier. Each trail is distinct and memorable, with quirk and character. Even the groomers are interesting, winding nearly 1,100 vertical feet through the trees, dipping and banking, crisscrossing one another and the lifts above. Lower Shortway, a steep and narrow bumper cut along a powerline, may be my favorite trail in Pennsylvania. Or maybe it's Ditch Glades, a natural halfpipe rolling below Stembogan Bowl. Or maybe it's the unmarked trees of East Wall Traverse down to the marked East Wall Glades. Or maybe it's Lower Extrovert, a wide but ungroomed and mostly unskied trail where I found wind-blown pow at 3 p.m. Every trail is playful and punchy, and they are numerous enough that it's difficult to ski them all in a single day.Which of course takes us to the reality of skiing Blue Knob, which is that the ski area's workhorse top-to-bottom lift is the 61-year-old Route 66 double chair. The lift is gorgeous and charming, trenched through the forest on a narrow and picturesque wilderness line (until the mid-station, when the view suddenly shifts to that of oddly gigantic houses strung along the hillside). While it runs fast for a fixed-grip lift, the ride is quite long (I didn't time it; I'll guess 10 to 12 minutes). It stops a lot because, well, Pennsylvania. There are a lot of novice skiers here. There is a mid-station that will drop expert skiers back at the top of the best terrain, but this portal, where beginners load to avoid the suicidal runs below, contributes to those frequent stops.And that's the reality when that lift is running, which it often is not. And that, again, is because the lower-mountain terrain is frequently closed. This is a point of frustration for locals and, I'll point out, for the mountain operators themselves. A half-open Blue Knob is not the same as, say, a half-open Sugarbush, where you'll still have access to lots of great terrain. A half-open Blue Knob is just the Expressway (Lift 4) triple chair (plus the beginner zone), mostly groomers, mostly greens and blues. It's OK, but it's not what we were promised on the trailmap.That operational inconsistency is why Blue Knob remains mostly unheralded by the sort of skiers who are most drawn to this newsletter – adventurous, curious, ready for a challenge – even though it is the perfect Storm mountain: raw and wild and secretive and full of guard dog energy. But if you're anywhere in the region, watch their Instagram account, which usually flashes the emergency lights when Route 66 spins. And go there when that happens. You're welcome.Podcast NotesOn crisscrossing chairliftsChairlifts are cool. Crisscrossing chairlifts are even cooler. Riding them always gives me the sense of being part of a giant Goldbergian machine. Check out the triple crossing over the doubles at Blue Knob (all videos by Stuart Winchester):Wiley mentions a similar setup at Attitash, where the Yankee Flyer high-speed quad crosses beneath the summit lift. Here's a pic I took of the old Summit Triple at the crossover junction in 2021:Vail Resorts replaced the triple with the Mountaineer high-speed quad this past winter. I intended to go visit the resort in early February, but then I got busy trying not to drop dead, so I cancelled that trip and don't have any pics of the new lift. Lift Blog made it there, because of course he did, and his pics show the crossover modified but intact. I did, however, discuss the new lift extensively with Attitash GM Brandon Swartz last November.I also snagged this rad footage of Whistler's new Fitzsimmons eight-pack flying beneath the Whistler Village Gondola in February:And the Porcupine triple passing beneath the Needles Gondola at Snowbasin in March:Oh, and Lift 2 passing beneath the lower Panorama Gondola at Mammoth:Brah I could do this all day. Here's Far East six-pack passing beneath the Red Dog sixer at Palisades Tahoe:Palisades' Base-to-Base Gondola actually passes over two chairlifts on its way over to Alpine Meadows: the Exhibition quad (foreground), and the KT-22 Express, visible in the distance:And what the hell, let's make it a party:On Blue Knob as Air Force baseIt's wild and wildly interesting that Blue Knob – one of the highest points in Pennsylvania – originally hosted an Air Force radar station. All the old buildings are visible in this undated photo. You can see the lifts carrying skiers on the left. Most of these buildings have since been demolished.On Ski Denton and LaurelThe State of Pennsylvania owns two ski areas: Laurel Mountain and Ski Denton (Blue Knob is located in a state park, and we discuss how that arrangement works in the podcast). Vail Resorts, of course, operates Laurel, which came packaged with Seven Springs. Denton hasn't spun the lifts in a decade. Late last year, a group called Denton Go won a bid to re-open and operate the ski area, with a mix of state and private investment.And it will need a lot of investment. Since this is a state park, it's open to anyone, and I hiked Denton in October 2022. The lifts – a double, a triple, and a Poma – are intact, but the triple is getting swallowed by fast-growing trees in one spot (top two photos):I'm no engineer, but these things are going to need a lot of work. The trail network hasn't grown over too much, and the base lodge looks pristine, the grasses around it mowed. Here's the old trailmap if you're curious:And here's the proposed upgrade blueprint:I connected briefly with the folks running Denton GO last fall, but never wrote a story on it. I'll check in with them soon for an update.On Herman Dupre and the evolution of Seven SpringsBender spent much of his career at Seven Springs, and we reminisce a bit about the Dupre family and the ski area's evolution into one of the finest mountains in the East. You can learn more about Seven Springs' history in my podcast conversation with the resort's current GM, Brett Cook, from last year.On Ski magazine's top 20 in the EastSki magazine – which is no longer a physical magazine but a collection of digital bits entrusted to the robots' care – has been publishing its reader resort rankings for decades. The list in the West is fairly static and predictable, filled largely with the Epkonic monsters you would expect (though Pow Mow won the top place this year). But the East list is always a bit more surprising. This year, for example, Mad River Glen and Smugglers' Notch claimed the top two spots. They're both excellent ski areas and personal favorites, with some of the most unique terrain in the country, but neither is on a megapass, and neither owns a high-speed lift, which is perhaps proof that the Colorado Machine hasn't swallowed our collective souls just yet.But the context in which we discuss the list is this: each year, three small ski areas punch their way into an Eastern lineup that's otherwise filled with monsters like Stowe and Sugarbush. Those are: Seven Springs; Holiday Valley, New York; and Wachusett, Massachusetts. These improbable ski centers all make the list because their owners (or former owners, in Seven Springs' case), worked for decades to transform small, backwater ski areas into major regional destinations.On Vail's Northeast Value Epic PassesThe most frightening factor in the abovementioned difficulties that Blue Knob faces in its cagefight with Vail is the introduction, in 2020, of Northeast-specific Epic Passes. There are two versions. The Northeast Value Pass grants passholders unlimited access to all eight Vail Resorts in Pennsylvania and all four in neighboring Ohio, which is a crucial feeder for the Seven Springs resorts. It also includes unlimited access to Vail's four New Hampshire resorts; unlimited access with holiday blackouts at Hunter, Okemo, and Mount Snow; and 10 non-holiday days at Stowe. And it's only $613 (early-bird price was $600):The second version is a midweek pass that includes all the same resorts, with five Stowe days, for just $459 ($450 early-bird):And you can also, of course, pick up an Epic ($1,004) or Epic Local ($746) pass, which still includes unlimited Pennsylvania access and adds everything in the West and in Europe.Blue Knob's season pass costs $465 ($429 early-bird), and is only good at Blue Knob. That's a very fair price, and skiers who acted early could have added an Indy Pass on at a pretty big discount. But Indy is off sale, and PA skiers weighing their pass options are going to find that Epic Pass awfully tempting.On comparisons to the liftline at MRGErf, I may have activated the Brobots at Mad Brother Glen when I compared the Route 66 liftline with the one beneath their precious single chair. But I mean it's not the worst comparison you could think of:Here's another Blue Knob shot that shows how low the chairs fly over the trail:And here's a video that gives a bit more perspective on Blue Knob's liftline:I don't know if I fully buy the comparison myself, but Blue Knob is the closest thing you'll find to MRG this far south.On Wolf Creek's old summit PomaHimes reminisced on her time working at Wolf Creek, Colorado, and the rattletrap Poma that would carry skiers up a 45-degree face to the summit. I was shocked to discover that the old lift is actually still there, running alongside the Treasure Stoke high-speed quad (the two lifts running parallel up the gut of the mountain). I have no idea how often it actually spins:Lift Blog has pics, and notes that the lift “very rarely operates for historic purposes.”On defunct gladesThe Mine Shaft and Bone Yard glades disappeared from Blue Knob's trailmap more than a decade ago, but this sign at the top of Lower Shortway still points toward them:Then there's this sign, a little ways down, where the Bone Yard Glade entrance used to be:And here are the glades, marked on a circa 2007 trailmap, between Deer Run and Lower Shortway:It would be rad if Blue Knob could resurrect these. We discuss the possibility on the podcast.On Blue Knob's base being higher than Killington'sSomewhat unbelievably, Blue Knob's 2,100-foot base elevation is higher than that of every ski area in New England save Saddleback, which launches from a 2,460-foot base. The five next highest are Bolton Valley (2,035 feet), Stowe (2,035), Cannon (2,034), Pico (2,000), and Waterville Valley (1,984). Blue Knob's Vail-owned neighbors would fit right into this group: Hidden Valley sits at 2,405 feet, Seven Springs at 2,240, and Laurel at 2,000. Head south and the bases get even higher: in West Virginia, Canaan Valley sits at 3,430 feet; Snowshoe at 3,348-foot base (skiers have to drive to 4,848, as this is an upside-down ski area); and Timberline at 3,268. But the real whoppers are in North Carolina: Beech Mountain sits at 4,675, Cataloochee at 4,660, Sugar Mountain at 4,100, and Hatley Pointe at 4,000. I probably should have made a chart, but damn it, I have to get this podcast out before I turn 90.On Blue Knob's antique snowmaking equipmentLook, I'm no snowmaking expert, but some of the stuff dotting Blue Knob's slopes looks like straight-up World War II surplus:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 41/100 in 2024, and number 541 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Today, we're joined by the one and only Oisin O'Callaghan. Oisin was thrust into the limelight when he joined the YT Mob and took the big win at the first time of asking, becoming your 2020 junior world champion in Leogang. From then on, Oisin's been on a bumpy road of ups and downs which would definitely be enough to rattle most people's confidence. However, Oisin has stuck to the process and shown what he's capable of by taking his first elite World Cup win in Snowshoe last season. Oisin is loving life and represents a bright future for our sport. So, it's time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Oisin O'Callaghan. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. Don't forget to complete our listener survey here to be in with a chance of winning some Magura MT7 HC3 brakes. You can follow Oisin on Instagram @oisinocallaghandh. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners We Are One Composites If you want to get your hands on the best riding and most robust wheels you'll ever own, then you can do so right now with 20% off all wheelsets for Downtime listeners. Just head over to weareonecomposites.com and use the code 'DowntimeMay20' at the checkout. Magura Magura's fully adjustable HC3 lever, once an aftermarket gem, is now available straight from the factory with MT7 brakes. This means you can fine-tune your braking experience like never before, adjusting braking force on the fly to match the trail conditions perfectly. Exciting news doesn't stop there – for a limited time, you can snag a full set of MT7 HC3 brakes and Storm HC brake discs, front and rear, for just 399 Euro. But hurry, prices may vary in other regions. Head to magura.com now. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo - Rick Schubert

Sarah chatted with Christopher Blevins right after he got back from his whirlwind of a trip to Brazil where he won the first Olympic cross-country race of the season. The 26-year-old American former Short Track World Champion last won a World Cup XCO back in 2021 in Snowshoe, but he came out with all cylinders firing in Brazil with the goal of qualifying for the Paris Olympics and getting as many points for the United States to secure two spots for the men's team. From getting stung by the most poisonous caterpillar in the world, to recovering on downhills, dealing with cramps, life on Specialized Factory Racing, to what he thought of the cross-country race courses in Brazil, this was a really interesting conversation. We also got into why he switched to mountain biking from BMX, his creative pursuits outside of cycling, and being a mountain biker right now in the US.