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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.
Oral Arguments for the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
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 weeks guest is no stranger to danger. Having competed in the Downhill World Cup since 2021 and twice at Red Bull Hardline, Jess was ready to take her place at the very first women's edition of Red Bull Rampage, but sadly things haven't worked out quite the way she had hoped.We also discuss life in Morzine, adjusting to hitting the biggest jumps in the world, racing at the pinnacle of down hill mountain biking and much more.Note: Sadly the camera failed to focus for the first half of the video. Sorry Jess!Follow Jess on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jessblewitt_/Follow the channel on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/emtbpodcast/
On Episode 125 we welcome Amber Ferreira to the PodFamIn this engaging conversation, Eric and Erica discuss the exhilarating world of endurance racing with their guest Amber, not only a triathlete, but a badass athlete in general along with being a rock star mom to her two kids . They explore Amber's journey from being a dedicated athlete to balancing motherhood with her passion for sports. The discussion covers memorable race experiences, the challenges of training, and the sense of community within the endurance sports world. Amber shares her insights on competing at Kona, her experiences with snowshoe racing, and the importance of supporting one another in the athletic community. In this engaging conversation they discuss the importance of sleep and family time, share their experiences with mountain racing, and explore upcoming challenges and goals. They delve into humorous anecdotes about running mishaps, the significance of music in motivation, and the community aspect of running. During the tros, Erika recaps Reach The Beach from the past weekend. The discussion also touches on the Boston Marathon, its qualifying times, and the impact of charity runners, highlighting the complexities of participation in such a prestigious event.Ambers WebsiteAmber's InstagramGranite State Endurance ProjectChapters07:01 Introducing Amber Ferreira 12:10 Balancing Motherhood and Endurance Sports18:05 The Journey to Becoming a Triathlete29:05 Memorable Race Stories41:17 The Kona Experience49:19 Building Community in Endurance Sports01:03:30 The Importance of Sleep and Family Time01:06:08 Mountain Racing Adventures01:09:00 Upcoming Challenges and Goals01:09:57 The Code Brown Commandments01:11:56 Music and Motivation01:13:49 Everesting and Endurance Challenges01:18:09 Community and Connection in Running01:19:51 Reflections on the Podcast Experience01:22:06 Boston Marathon Insights and DiscussionsTakeawaysThe thrill of endurance racing is unmatched.Balancing motherhood and training is a challenge.Community support is vital in endurance sports.Kona is a unique and special experience for athletes.Training with children can be rewarding and fun.Memorable race stories often involve unexpected challenges.The journey to becoming a pro athlete is filled with ups and downs.Snowshoe racing offers a different kind of endurance challenge.Building a supportive community enhances the endurance experience. Sleep is essential for recovery and well-being.Family time is precious and should be cherished.Mountain racing offers unique challenges and experiences.Setting goals keeps you motivated and focused.Humor can help navigate the challenges of endurance sports.Music can enhance workout performance and motivation.Community support is vital in the running world.Sharing experiences fosters connections among runners.The Boston Marathon has complex qualifying criteria.Charity runners play a cruStrava GroupLinktree - Find everything hereInstagram - Follow us on the gram YouTube - Subscribe to our channel Patreon - Support usThreadsEmail us at OnTheRunsPod@gmail.com
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
Dianne Whelan was at a turning point in her life when she decided to travel across Canada — by bike, canoe and snowshoe — along the Trans Canada Trail. In February she spoke to Matt Galloway about what she learned and her documentary, 500 Days in the Wild.
Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. West Virginia's ski towns expand focus to year-round recreation…Get the scoop on Almost Heaven happenings--sign up for the daily304 newsletter…and Canaan Valley Resort hosts a “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” fall workshop…on today's daily304. #1 – From WV NEWS – Ski resort towns in West Virginia bustle during the winter season, but a new wave of four-season tourism has invigorated these locales with increased occupancy year-round. “Historically, winter has given us the bulk of our hotel/motel tax collections. But over the last few years, spring, summer and fall have been really healthy seasons for us,” said Pocahontas County CVB Executive Director Chelsea Faulknier. This increase in spring, summer and fall tourism has been particularly facilitated by the CVB's efforts to increase the quality of its biking trails. Snowshoe's Bike Park brings in thousands of guests annually to events like the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Shavers Lake at Snowshoe is also a prime location for swimming and paddleboarding, while the rest of the resort is a destination for horseback and side-by-side tours, as well as the 4848 Music Festival. Other summertime attractions in Pocahontas County include the Cass Scenic Railroad, the Green Bank Observatory, the Greenbrier River and the Allegheny Trail. Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/convention-and-visitors-bureaus-work-to-emphasize-year-round-visitation-in-west-virginia-counties-with/article_1f2a3d16-4a00-11ef-a28b-8fa5606f9d7e.html #2 – From DAILY304 – Get the scoop on all the great things happening in Almost Heaven with the daily304 -- curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Along with all the best news out of West Virginia, you'll also have access to our productions like “Innovators and Entrepreneurs,” “The History Project” and “What Makes You Wonderful.” Sign up for the daily304 e-newsletter and subscribe to our podcast today! Read more: https://daily304.wv.gov/?utm_source=daily304.com&utm_medium=referral #3 – From WVDNR – Attention, women: Have you ever wanted to immerse yourself in the great outdoors but felt unsure where to start? The Becoming an Outdoors Woman fall workshop is the perfect solution! Sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, this year's event takes place Sept. 13–15 at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. The program is specially designed to introduce women to hunting, fishing, and various outdoor activities in a supportive and encouraging environment. The heart of the BOW experience lies in its weekend workshops, tailored for beginners but open to all skill levels. It's more than just a getaway — it's a lifelong apprenticeship program that fosters confidence and skills for outdoor pursuits. Whether you're seeking a fresh experience or rekindling your love for outdoor activities, this workshop offers everything you need to embrace your inner adventurer. Register today! Read more: https://wvdnr.gov/embrace-your-inner-adventurer-at-bow-fall-workshop/ 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.
Planet Arcana presents The Network Defenders: the first instalment of our new mini-series entitled “A Fool's Errand”, a story built using our new game system of the same name. WHO DEFENDS THE REALM OF COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS?The Network Defenders have long been a subtle protective influence over the realm of dreams and data. Now, half the Network Defenders have gone missing. With KnightFall's most recent disappearance, can Snowshoe and his deadly crew find the missing Defenders and save themselves from the sleepwalkers, glitches, and their own worst memories?Starring:DRAKONIQUES (https://twitter.com/Drakoniques)SAMM STAR (https://twitter.com/Lusttforlifeex)NOORDIN ALI KADIR (https://twitter.com/WerewolfFeels)Narrators and game runners:B MARSOLLIER (https://www.instagram.com/mar.sol.lier/)J STRAUTMAN (https://twitter.com/strautmask)Tech produced:SHAUN OLDFIELD (https://www.instagram.com/sj.oldfield/)Edited, scored, and sound designed by:J STRAUTMANOriginal art, and additional music and lyrics by:B MARSOLLIERAdditional production help by:PETER MARSOLLIERSKYE WALLACE (https://www.skyewallace.com/)Content warning: swearing, violence, drug use.Our game, A Fool's Errand, is crowdfunding in late 2024! Sign up here so you don't miss it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/strautmaskreplica/a-fools-errandWant more from us? Visit our website at https://www.planetarcana.com/Or you can support us at https://www.patreon.com/planetarcana for early access and exclusive bonus content.Sound effects from Nikko Hunt's Cinematic Sound Pack [https://nikkohunt.gumroad.com/l/dpclP] used, under CC by 4.0 [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode]. Pitch modified lower from the original. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
Planet Arcana presents The Network Defenders: the first instalment of our new mini-series entitled “A Fool's Errand”, a story built using our new game system of the same name. WHO DEFENDS THE REALM OF COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS?The Network Defenders have long been a subtle protective influence over the realm of dreams and data. Now, half the Network Defenders have gone missing. With KnightFall's most recent disappearance, can Snowshoe and his deadly crew find the missing Defenders and save themselves from the sleepwalkers, glitches, and their own worst memories?Starring:DRAKONIQUES (https://twitter.com/Drakoniques)SAMM STAR (https://twitter.com/Lusttforlifeex)NOORDIN ALI KADIR (https://twitter.com/WerewolfFeels)Narrators and game runners:B MARSOLLIER (https://www.instagram.com/mar.sol.lier/)J STRAUTMAN (https://twitter.com/strautmask)Tech produced:SHAUN OLDFIELD (https://www.instagram.com/sj.oldfield/)Edited, scored, and sound designed by:J STRAUTMANOriginal art, and additional music and lyrics by:B MARSOLLIERAdditional production help by:PETER MARSOLLIERSKYE WALLACE (https://www.skyewallace.com/)Content warning: swearing, violence, drug use.Our game, A Fool's Errand, is crowdfunding in late 2024! Sign up here so you don't miss it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/strautmaskreplica/a-fools-errandWant more from us? Visit our website at https://www.planetarcana.com/Or you can support us at https://www.patreon.com/planetarcana for early access and exclusive bonus content.Sound effects from Nikko Hunt's Cinematic Sound Pack [https://nikkohunt.gumroad.com/l/dpclP] used, under CC by 4.0 [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode]. Pitch modified lower from the original. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We back to the basement after a short summer break. News and algos are changing, so not much in the way to share. Did have an awesome weekend with friends/fam at the beautiful Snowshoe resort. Recapping a not so successful golf tournament venture, but still one in the W column for spending time with friends and family. Summer is upon us here in WV. Get out there and enjoy folks! Happy 4th! moreforlesspodcast@gmail.com @moreforlesspodcast
How do we know it's all true? Creation, The Flood, Jonah and the Whale. There's one KEY in the Bible. If it's true, then it's all true! The Resurrection! Paul said “If Christ was not raised from the dead then our preaching is in vain.” Chapel service from Snowshoe unpacks the debate for Ultimate Truth.
Planet Arcana presents The Network Defenders: the first instalment of our new mini-series entitled “A Fool's Errand”, a story built using our new game system of the same name. WHO DEFENDS THE REALM OF COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS?The Network Defenders have long been a subtle protective influence over the realm of dreams and data. Now, half the Network Defenders have gone missing. With KnightFall's most recent disappearance, can Snowshoe and his deadly crew find the missing Defenders and save themselves from the sleepwalkers, glitches, and their own worst memories?Starring:DRAKONIQUES (https://twitter.com/Drakoniques)SAMM STAR (https://twitter.com/Lusttforlifeex)NOORDIN ALI KADIR (https://twitter.com/WerewolfFeels)Narrators and game runners:B MARSOLLIER (https://www.instagram.com/mar.sol.lier/)J STRAUTMAN (https://twitter.com/strautmask)Tech produced:SHAUN OLDFIELD (https://www.instagram.com/sj.oldfield/)Edited, scored, and sound designed by:J STRAUTMANOriginal art, and additional music and lyrics by:B MARSOLLIERAdditional production help by:PETER MARSOLLIERSKYE WALLACE (https://www.skyewallace.com/)Content warning: swearing, violence, drug use.Our game, A Fool's Errand, is crowdfunding in late 2024! Sign up here so you don't miss it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/strautmaskreplica/a-fools-errand Want more from us? Visit our website at https://www.planetarcana.com/Or you can support us at https://www.patreon.com/planetarcana for early access and exclusive bonus content.Sound effects from Nikko Hunt's Cinematic Sound Pack [https://nikkohunt.gumroad.com/l/dpclP] used, under CC by 4.0 [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode]. Pitch modified lower from the original. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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. 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Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Sue Fassler, Director of Sustainability at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry about Sustainability, Making Mistakes (and Owning Up To Them), and Snowshoe Racing. Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:43 Nic & Sam talk about post conference follow up6:06 Interview starts11:10 Making mistakes13:48 Sustainability34:49 Field Notes38:37 Snowshoe racingPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Sue Fassler at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-fassler-84351020Guest Bio: Sue serves as the Director of Sustainability at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She also leads closed loop, responsible purchasing efforts for the Center for Sustainable Materials Management, sits on the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust Board of Directors, co-chairs the United University Professions (UUP) Environmental Issues & Advocacy Committee, and serves on the SUNY Sustainability Advisory Council.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the Show.Thanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.
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
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You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoJosh Jorgensen, CEO of Mission Ridge, Washington and Blacktail Mountain, MontanaRecorded onApril 15, 2024About Mission RidgeClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Larry ScrivanichLocated in: Wenatchee, WashingtonYear founded: 1966Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass – 2 days with holiday and weekend blackouts (TBD for 2024-25 ski season)* Indy+ Pass – 2 days with no blackouts* Powder Alliance – 3 days with holiday and Saturday blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Badger Mountain (:51), Leavenworth Ski Hill (:53) – travel times may vary considerably given weather conditions, time of day, and time of year.Base elevation: 4,570 feetSummit elevation: 6,820 feetVertical drop: 2,250 feetSkiable Acres: 2,000Average annual snowfall: 200 inchesTrail count: 70+ (10% easiest, 60% more difficult, 30% most difficult)Lift count: 7 (1 high-speed quad, 3 doubles, 2 ropetows, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Mission Ridge's lift fleet)View historic Mission Ridge trailmaps on skimap.org.About BlacktailClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Larry ScrivanichLocated in: Lakeside, MontanaYear founded: 1998Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass – 2 days with holiday and weekend blackouts (TBD for 2024-25 ski season)* Indy+ Pass – 2 days with no blackouts* Powder Alliance – 3 days with holiday blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Whitefish (1:18) - travel times may vary considerably given weather conditions, time of day, and time of year.Base elevation: 5,236 feetSummit elevation: 6,780 feetVertical drop: 1,544 feetSkiable Acres: 1,000+Average annual snowfall: 250 inchesTrail count: (15% easier, 65% more difficult, 20% most difficult)Lift count: 4 (1 triple, 2 doubles, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Blacktail's lift fleet)View historic Blacktail trailmaps on skimap.org.Why I interviewed himSo much of Pacific Northwest skiing's business model amounts to wait-and-pray, hoping that, sometime in November-December, the heaping snowfalls that have spiraled in off the ocean for millennia do so again. It's one of the few regions in modern commercial skiing, anywhere in the world, where the snow is reliable enough and voluminous enough that this good-ole-boy strategy still works: 460 inches per year at Stevens Pass; 428 at Summit at Snoqualmie; 466 at Crystal; 400 at White Pass; a disgusting 701 at Baker. It's no wonder that most of these ski areas have either no snowguns, or so few that a motivated scrapper could toss the whole collection in the back of a single U-Haul.But Mission Ridge possesses no such natural gifts. The place is snowy enough – 200 inches in an average winter – that it doesn't seem ridiculous that someone thought to run lifts up the mountain. But by Washington State standards, the place is practically Palm Beach. That means the owners have had to work a lot harder, and in a far more deliberate way than their competitors, to deliver a consistent snowsportskiing experience since the bump opened in 1966.Which is a long way of saying that Mission Ridge probably has more snowmaking than the rest of Washington's ski areas combined. Which, often, is barely enough to hang at the party. This year, however, as most Washington ski areas spent half the winter thinking “Gee, maybe we ought to have more than zero snowguns,” Mission was clocking its third-best skier numbers ever.The Pacific Northwest, as a whole, finished the season fairly strong. The snow showed up, as it always does. A bunch of traditional late operators – Crystal, Meadows, Bachelor, Timberline – remain open as of early May. But, whether driven by climate change, rising consumer expectations, or a need to offer more consistent schedules to seasonal employees, the region is probably going to have to build out a mechanical complement to its abundant natural snows at some point. From a regulatory point of view, this won't be so easy in a region where people worry themselves into a coma about the catastrophic damage that umbrellas inflict upon raindrops. But Mission Ridge, standing above Wenatchee for decades as a place of recreation and employment, proves that using resources to enable recreation is not incompatible with preserving them.That's going to be a useful example to have around.What we talked aboutA lousy start to winter; a top three year for Mission anyway; snowmaking in Washington; Blacktail's worst snowfall season ever and the potential to add snowmaking to the ski area; was this crappy winter an anomaly or a harbinger?; how Blacktail's “long history of struggle” echoes the history of Mission Ridge; what could Blacktail become?; Blacktail's access road; how Blacktail rose on Forest Service land in the 1990s; Blacktail expansion potential; assessing Blacktail's lift fleet; could the company purchase more ski areas?; the evolution of Summit at Snoqualmie; Mission Ridge's large and transformative proposed expansion; why the expansion probably needs to come before chairlift upgrades; Fantasy Lift Upgrade; and why Mission Ridge replaced a used detachable quad with another used detachable quad.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewWashington skiing is endangered by a pretty basic problem: more people in this ever-richer, ever more-populous state want to ski than there are ski areas for them to visit. Building new ski areas is impossible – you'd have better luck flying an American flag from the roof of the Kremlin than introducing a new mountain to Washington State. That shortage is compounded by the lack of slopeside development, which compels every skier to drive to the hill every day that they want to ski. This circumstance reflects a false commitment to environmental preservation, which mistakes a build-nothing philosophy for watching over Mother Earth, an outmoded way of thinking that fails to appreciate the impacts of sprawl and car culture on the larger natural ecosystem.Which is where Mission Ridge, with its large proposed ski-and-stay expansion, is potentially so important. If Mission Ridge can navigate the bureaucratic obstacle course that's been dropped in its path, it could build the first substantial slopeside village in the Pacific Northwest. That could be huge. See, it would say, you can have measured development in the mountains without drowning all the grizzly bears. And since not everyone would have to drive up the mountain every day anymore, it would probably actually reduce traffic overall. The squirrels win and so do the skiers. Or something like that.And then we have Blacktail. Three-ish years ago, Mission Ridge purchased this little-known Montana bump, one of the West's few upside-down ski areas, an unlikely late addition to the Forest Service ski area network seated south of Whitefish Mountain and Glacier National Park. I was surprised when Mission bought it. I think everyone else was too. Mission Ridge is a fine ski area, and one with multi-mountain roots – it was once part of the same parent company that owned Schweitzer (now the property of Alterra) – but it's not exactly Telluride. How did a regional bump that was still running three Riblet doubles from the ‘60s and ‘70s afford another ski area two states away? And why would they want it? And what were they going to do with it?All of which I discuss, sort of, with Jorgensen. Mission and Blacktail are hardly the strangest duo in American skiing. They make more sense, as a unit, than jointly owned Red Lodge, Montana and Homewood, California. But they're also not as logical as New York's Labrador and Song, Pennsylvania's Camelback and Blue, or Massachusett's Berkshire East and Catamount, each of which sits within easy driving distance of its sister resort. So how do they fit together? Maybe they don't need to.Questions I wish I'd askedThere's a pretty cool story about a military bomber crashing into the mountain (and some associated relics) that I would have liked to have gotten into. I'd also have liked to talk a bit more about Wenatchee, which Mission's website calls “Washington's only true ski town.” I also intended to get a bit more into the particulars of the expansion, including the proposed terrain and lifts, and what sort of shape the bedbase would take. And I didn't really ask, as I normally do, about the Indy Pass and the reciprocal season pass relationship between the two ski areas.What I got wrongI said that Mission Ridge's first high-speed quad, Liberator Express, came used from Crystal Mountain. The lift actually came used from Winter Park. Jorgensen corrected that fact in the podcast. My mis-statement was the result of crossing my wires while prepping for this interview – the Crystal chairlift at Blacktail moved to Montana from Crystal Mountain, Washington. In the moment, I mixed up the mountains' lift fleets.Why you should ski Mission RidgeMission Ridge holds echoes of Arapahoe Basin's East Wall or pre-tram Big Sky: so much damn terrain, just a bit too far above the lifts for most of us to bother with. That, along with the relatively low snowfall and Smithsonian lift fleet, are the main knocks on the place (depending, of course, upon your willingness to hike and love of vintage machinery).But, on the whole, this is a good, big ski area that, because of its snowmaking infrastructure, is one of the most reliable operators for several hundred miles in any direction. The intermediate masses will find a huge, approachable footprint. Beginners will find their own dedicated lift. Better skiers, once they wear out the blacks off lifts 2 and 4, can hike the ridge for basically endless lines. And if you miss daylight, Mission hosts some of the longest top-to-bottom night-skiing runs in America, spanning the resort's entire 2,250 vertical feet (Keystone's Dercum mountain rises approximately 2,300 vertical feet).If Mission can pull off this expansion, it could ignite a financial ripple effect that would transform the resort quickly: on-site housing and expanded beginner terrain could bring more people (especially families), which would bring more revenue, which would funnel enough cash in to finally upgrade those old Riblets and, maybe, string the long-planned Lift 5 to the high saddle. That would be amazing. But it would also transform Mission into something different than what it is today. Go see it now, so you can appreciate whatever it becomes.Why you should ski BlacktailBlacktail's original mission, in the words of founder Steve Spencer, was to be the affordable locals' bump, a downhome alternative to ever-more-expensive Whitefish, a bit more than an hour up the road. That was in 1998, pre-Epic, pre-Ikon, pre-triple-digit single-day lift tickets. Fast forward to 2024, and Whitefish is considered a big-mountain outlier, a monster that's avoided every pass coalition and offers perhaps the most affordable lift ticket of any large, modern ski area in America (its top 2023-24 lift ticket price was $97).That has certainly complicated Blacktail's market positioning. It can't play Smugglers' Notch ($106 top lift ticket price) to neighboring Stowe ($220-ish). And while Blacktail's lift tickets and season passes ($450 early-bird for the 2024-25 ski season), are set at a discount to Whitefish's, the larger mountain's season pass goes for just $749, a bargain for a 3,000-acre sprawl served by four high-speed lifts.So Blacktail has to do what any ski area that's orbiting a bigger, taller, snowier competitor with more and better terrain does: be something else. There will always be a market for small and local skiing, just like there will always be a market for diners and bars with pool tables and dartboards hanging from the walls.That appeal is easy enough for locals to understand. For frequent, hassle-free skiing, small is usually better than big. It's more complicated to pitch a top-of-the-mountain parking lot to you, a probably not-local, who, if you haul yourself all the way to Montana, is probably going to want the fireworks show. But one cool thing about lingering in the small and foreign is that the experience unites the oft-opposed-in-skiing forces of novelty and calm. Typically, our ski travels involve the raucous and the loud and the fast and the enormous. But there is something utterly inspiring about setting yourself down on an unfamiliar but almost empty mountain, smaller than Mt. Megaphone but not necessarily small at all, and just setting yourself free to explore. Whatever Blacktail doesn't give you, it will at least give you that.Podcast NotesOn Mission Ridge's proposed expansionWhile we discuss the mountain's proposed expansion in a general way, we don't go deep into specifics of lifts and trails. This map gives the best perspective on how the expansion would blow Mission Ridge out into a major ski area - the key here is less the ski expansion itself than the housing that would attend it:Here's an overhead view:Video overviews:The project, like most ski area expansions in U.S. America, has taken about 700 years longer than it should have. The local radio station published this update in October:Progress is being made with the long-planned expansion of Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort.Chelan County is working with the resort on an Environmental Impact Statement.County Natural Resources Director Mike Kaputa says it'll be ready in the next eight months or so."We are getting closer and closer to having a draft Environmental Impact Statement and I think that's probably, I hate to put a month out there, but I think it's probably looking like May when we'll have a draft that goes out for public comment."The expansion plan for Mission Ridge has been in the works since 2014, and the resort brought a lawsuit against the county in 2021 over delays in the process.The lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year.Kaputa gave an update on progress with the Mission Ridge expansion before county commissioners Monday, where he said they're trying to get the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement right."You want to be as thorough as possible," Kaputa said. "You don't want to overdo it. You want to anticipate comments. I'm sure we'll get lots of comments when it comes out."In 2014, Larry Scrivanich, owner of Mission Ridge, purchased approximately 779 acres of private land adjacent to the current Mission Ridge Ski and Board Resort. Since then, Mission Ridge has been forging ahead with plans for expansion.The expansion plans call for onsite lodging and accommodations, which Mission Ridge calls a game changer, which would differentiate the resort from others in the Northwest.I'm all about process, due diligence, and checks-and-balances, but it's possible we've overcorrected here.On snowfall totals throughout WashingtonMission gets plenty of snow, but it's practically barren compared to the rest of Washington's large ski areas:On the founding of BlacktailBlacktail is an outlier in U.S. skiing in that it opened in 1998 on Forest Service land – decades after similarly leased ski areas debuted. Daily Inter Lake summarizes the unusual circumstances behind this late arrival:Steve Spencer had been skiing and working at Big Mountain [now Whitefish] for many years, starting with ski patrol and eventually rising to mountain manager, when he noticed fewer and fewer locals on the hill.With 14 years as manager of Big Mountain under his belt, Spencer sought to create an alternative to the famous resort that was affordable and accessible for locals. He got together with several business partners and looked at mountains that they thought would fit the bill.They considered sites in the Swan Range and Lolo Peak, located in the Bitterroot Range west of Missoula, but they knew the odds of getting a Forest Service permit to build a ski area there were slim to none.They had their eyes on a site west of Flathead Lake, however, that seemed to check all the right boxes. The mountain they focused on was entirely surrounded by private land, and there were no endangered species in the area that needed protection from development.Spencer consulted with local environmental groups before he'd spent even “two nickels” on the proposal. He knew that without their support, the project was dead on arrival.That mountain was known as Blacktail, and when the Forest Service OK'd ski operations there, it was the first ski area created on public land since 1978, when Beaver Creek Resort was given permission to use National Forest land in Colorado.Blacktail Mountain Ski Area celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, it is still the most recent in the country to be approved through that process.On Glacier National Park and Flathead LakeEven if you've never heard of Blacktail, it's stuffed into a dense neighborhood of outdoor legends in northern Montana, including Glacier National Park and Whitefish ski area:On WhitefishWith 3,000 skiable acres, a 2,353-foot vertical drop, and four high-speed lifts, Whitefish, just up the road from Blacktail, looms enormously over the smaller mountain's potential:But while Whitefish presents as an Epkon titan, it acts more like a backwater, with peak-day lift tickets still hanging out below the $100 mark, and no megapass membership on its marquee. I explored this unusual positioning with the mountain's president, Nick Polumbus, on the podcast last year (and also here).On “Big Mountain”For eons, Whitefish was known as “Big Mountain,” a name they ditched in 2007 because, as president and CEO at the time Fred Jones explained, the ski area was “often underestimated and misunderstood” with its “highly generic” name.On “upside-down” ski areasUpside-down ski areas are fairly common in the United States, but they're novel enough that most people feel compelled to explain what they mean when they bring one up: a ski area with the main lodge and parking at the top, rather than the bottom, of the hill.These sorts of ski areas are fairly common in the Midwest and proliferate in the Mid-Atlantic, but are rare out west. An incomplete list includes Wintergreen, Virginia; Snowshoe, West Virginia; Laurel, Blue Knob, Jack Frost, and Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania; Otsego, Treetops, and the Jackson Creek Summit side of Snowriver, Michigan; and Spirit Mountain and Afton Alps, Minnesota. A few of these ski areas also maintain lower-level parking lots. Shawnee Mountain, Pennsylvania, debuted as an upside-down ski area, but, through a tremendous engineering effort, reversed that in the 1970s – a project that CEO Nick Fredericks detailed for us in a 2021 Storm Skiing Podcast.On LIDAR mappingJorgensen mentions LIDAR mapping of Mission Ridge's potential expansion. If you're unfamiliar with this technology, it's capable of giving astonishing insights into the past:On Blacktail's chairliftsAll three of Blacktail's chairlifts came used to the ski area for its 1998 opening. The Crystal double is from Crystal Mountain, Washington; the Olympic triple is from Canada Olympic Park in Alberta; and the Thunderhead double migrated from Steamboat, Colorado.On Riblet chairliftsFor decades, the Riblet double has been the workhorse of Pacific Northwest skiing. Simple, beautiful, reliable, and inexpensive, dozens of these machines still crank up the region's hills. But the company dissolved more than two decades ago, and its lifts are slowly retiring. Mission Ridge retains three (chairs 1, 3, and 4, which date, respectively, to 1966, 1967, and 1971), and has stated its intent to replace them all, whenever funds are available to do so.On the history of Summit at SnoqualmieThe Summit at Snoqualmie, where Jorgensen began his career, remains one of America's most confusing ski areas: the name is convoluted and long, and the campus sprawls over four once-separate ski areas, one of which sits across an interstate with no ski connection to the others. There's no easy way to understand that Alpental – one of Washington's best ski areas – is part of, but separate from, the Summit at Snoqualmie complex, and each of the three Summit areas – East, Central, and West - maintains a separate trailmap on the website, in spite of the fact that the three are interconnected by ski trails. It's all just very confusing. The ski area's website maintains a page outlining how these four ski areas became one ski area that is still really four ski areas. This 1998 trailmap gives the best perspective on where the various ski nodes sit in relation to one another:Because someone always gets mad about everything, some of you were probably all pissed off that I referred to the 1990s version of Summit at Snoqualmie as a “primitive” ski area, but the map above demonstrates why: 17 of 24 chairlifts were Riblet doubles; nine ropetows supplemented this system, and the mountain had no snowmaking (it still doesn't). Call it “retro” or whatever you want, but the place was not exactly Beaver Creek.On Vail and Alterra's Washington timelineI mentioned Washington's entrance onto the national ski scene over the past decade. What I meant by that was the addition of Summit and Crystal onto the Ikon Pass for the 2018-19 ski season, and Stevens Pass onto the Epic Pass the following winter. But Washington skiing – and Mt. Baker in particular – has always been a staple in the Temple of the Brobots, and Boyne Resorts, pre-Ikon, owned Crystal from 1997 to 2017.On Anthony LakesJorgensen mentioned that he applied for the general manager position at Anthony Lakes, a little-known 900-footer lodged in the western Oregon hinterlands. One triple chair serves the entire ski area: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 33/100 in 2024, and number 533 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. 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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.
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You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoSteve Paccagnan, President and CEO of Panorama Mountain, British ColumbiaRecorded onMarch 27, 2024About PanoramaClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Panorama Mountain Village, Inc., a group of local investorsLocated in: Panorama, British Columbia, CanadaYear founded: 1962Pass affiliations:* Ikon Pass: 7 days, no blackouts* Ikon Base Pass: 5 days, holiday blackouts* Mountain Collective: 2 days, no blackouts* Lake Louise Pass: view details hereClosest neighboring ski areas: Fairmont Hot Springs (:45), Kimberley (1:43), Kicking Horse (1:54) – travel times will vary considerably depending upon road conditions and time of yearBase elevation: 3,773 feet/1,150 metersSummit elevation: 8,038 feet/2,450 metersVertical drop: 4,265 feet/1,300 metersSkiable Acres: 2,975Average annual snowfall: 204 inches/520 centimetersTrail count: 135 (30% expert, 20% advanced, 35% intermediate, 15% beginner)Lift count: 10 (1 eight-passenger pulse gondola, 2 high-speed quads, 2 fixed-grip quads, 1 triple, 1 double, 1 platter, 2 carpets – view Lift Blog's inventory of Panorama's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himU.S. America is making a mistake. In skiing, as in so many other arenas, we prioritize status quo protectionism over measured, holistic development that would reorient our built environments around humans, rather than cars, shrinking our overall impact while easing our access to the mountains and permitting more people to enjoy them. Our cluttered and interminable western approach roads, our mountain-town housing shortages, our liftlines backed up to Kansas are all the result of deliberate generational decisions to prioritize cars over transit, open space over dense walkable communities, and blanket wilderness protection over metered development of new public ski areas in regions where the established businesses - and their surrounding infrastructure - are overwhelmed.I write about these things a lot. This pisses some of you off. I'm OK with that. I'm not here to recycle the broken ideas that have made U.S. skiing into the mess that (in some fundamental ways, in certain regions) it is. I'm here to figure out how it can be better. The skiing itself, mind you, tends to be fabulous. It is everything that surrounds the mountains that can spoil the experience: the cost, the hassle, the sprawl. There are better ways to do this, to get people to the mountains and to house them there, both to live and to vacation. We know this because other countries already do a lot of the things that we ought to be doing. And the most culturally similar and geographically cozy one is so close we can touch it.U.S. America and U.S. Americans are ceding North American skiing's future to British Columbia. This is where virtually all of the continent's major resort development has occurred over the past three decades. Why do you suppose so many skiers from Washington State spend so much time at Whistler? Yes, it's the largest resort in North America, with knockout terrain and lots of snow. But Crystal and Stevens Pass and Baker all get plenty of snow and are large enough to give most skiers just about anything they need. What Whistler has that none of them do is an expansive pedestrian base village with an almost infinite number of ski-in, ski-out beds and places to eat, drink, and shop. A dense community in the mountains. That's worth driving four or more hours north for, even if you have to deal with the pain-in-the-ass border slowdowns to get there.This is not an accident, and Whistler is not an outlier. Over the past 30-plus years, the province of British Columbia has deliberately shaped its regulatory environment and developmental policies to encourage and lubricate ski resort evolution and growth. While all-new ski resort developments often stall, one small ski area after another has grown from community bump to major resort over the past several decades. Tiny Mount Mackenzie became titanic Revelstoke, which towers over even mighty Whistler. Backwater Whitetooth blew upward and outward into sprawling, ferocious Kicking Horse. Little Tod Mountain evolved into Sun Peaks, now the second-largest ski area in Canada. While the resort has retained its name over the decades, the transformation of Panorama has been just as thorough and dramatic.Meanwhile, in America, we stagnate. Every proposed terrain expansion or transit alternative or housing development crashes headfirst into a shredder of bureaucratic holdups, lawsuits, and citizen campaigns. There are too many ways to stop things, and too many people whose narrow visions of what the world ought to be blockade the sort of wholesale rethinking of community architecture that would make the mountains more livable and accessible.This has worked for a while. It's still sort of working now. But each year, as the same two companies sell more and more passes to access a relatively stable number of U.S. ski areas, the traffic, liftlines, and cost of visiting these large resorts grows. Locals will find a way, pick their spots. But destination skiers with a menu of big-mountain options will eventually realize that I-70 is not a mandatory obstacle to maneuver on a good ski vacation. They can head north, instead, with the same ski pass they already have, and spend a week at Red or Fernie or Kimberley or Revelstoke or Sun Peaks or Kicking Horse.Or Panorama. Three thousand acres, 4,265 vertical feet, no lines, and no hassle getting there other than summoning the patience to endure long drives down Canadian two-laners. As the U.S. blunders along, Canada kept moving. The story of Panorama shows us how.What we talked aboutA snowmaking blitz; what happened when Panorama joined the Ikon Pass; how Covid savaged the international skier game; Panorama in the ‘80s; Intrawest arrives; a summit lift at last; village-building; reviving Mt. Baldy, B.C.; Mont Ste. Marie and learning French; why Intrawest sold the ski area; modernizing the lift system; busy busy Copper; leaving for Kicking Horse; Resorts of the Canadian Rockies arrives; who owns Panorama; whether the resort will stay independent; potential lift replacements and terrain expansions; could we ever see a lift in Taynton Bowl?; explaining those big sections of the trailmap that are blocked off with purple borders; and whitebark pine conservation.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewIt wouldn't be fair to call Panorama a Powder Highway sleeper. The place seems to be doing fine as a business, with plenty of skier traffic to support continuous expansive infrastructure upgrades. But with lower average annual snowfall totals than Revy and Whitewater and Fernie and Red, Panorama does tend to get fewer shout-outs through the media and social media megaphones. It's Northstar to Palisades Tahoe, Keystone to A-Basin, Park City to the Cottonwoods: the less-snowy, less-intense neighbor that collects families in wholesome Build-A-Bear fashion.But Panorama is wrapping up its second full season on the Ikon Pass, and its second winter since Canada finally unlocked its Covid-era borders. What impact, if any, would those two developments have on Panorama's famously uncrowded slopes? Even if Colorad-Bro would never deign to turn his Subaru north, would Kansas Karl or North Dakota Norman load the kids into the minivan for something farther but less annoying?Not yet, it turns out. Or at least, not in great enough numbers to wreck the place. But there is another angle to the Panorama story that intrigues me. Like Copper Mountain, Mountain Creek, and Whistler, Panorama once belonged to Intrawest. Unlike Winter Park, Steamboat, Stratton, and Snowshoe, they did not remain part of the enterprise long enough to live second lives as part of Alterra Mountain Company. But what if they had? Our big-mountain coalitions have somewhat ossified over these past half-dozen years, so that we think of ski areas as Ikon mountains or Epic mountains or Indy mountains or independent mountains. But these rosters, like the composition of sports teams or, increasingly, leagues, can fluctuate wildly over time. I do wonder how Whistler would look under Alterra and Ikon, or what impact Mountain Creek-as-unlimited-Ikon mountain would have had on the megapass market in New York City? We don't really know. But Panorama, as a onetime Intrawest mountain that rejoined the family through the backdoor with Ikon membership, does give us a sort-of in-between case, a kind of What If? episode of skiing.Which would be a fun thought experiment under any circumstances. But how cool to hear about the whole evolution from a guy who saw it all happen first-hand over the course of four decades? Who saw it from all levels and from all angles, who knew the players and who helped push the boulder uphill himself? That's increasingly rare with big mountains, in this era of executive rotations and promotions, to get access to a top leader in possession of institutional knowledge that he himself helped to draft. It was, I'm happy to say, as good as I'd hoped.What I got wrongI said that Panorama was “one of the closest B.C. ski areas to the United States.” This is not quite right. While the ski area is just 100 or so miles from the international border, more than a dozen ski areas sit closer to the U.S., including majors such as Kimberley, Fernie, Whitewater, and Red Mountain.Why you should ski PanoramaLet's acknowledge, first of all, that Panorama has a few things working against it: it's more than twice as far from Calgary airport – most skiers' likely port of entry – than Banff and its trio of excellent ski areas; it's the least powdery major ski resort on the Powder Highway; and while the skiable acreage and vertical drop are impressive, skiers must ride three lifts and a Snowcat to lap much of the best terrain.But even that extra drive still gets you to the bump in under four hours on good roads – hardly an endurance test. Sure, they get more snow in Utah, but have you ever been in Utah on a powder day? Enjoy that first untracked run, because unless you're a local who knows exactly where to go, it will probably be your only one. And lapping multiple lifts is more of a psychological exercise than a practical one when there are few to no liftlines.And dang the views when you get there:There are plenty of large, under-trafficked ski resorts remaining in the United States. But they tend to be hundreds of miles past the middle of nowhere, with 60-year-old chairlifts and little or no snowmaking, and nowhere to sleep other than the back of your van. In BC, you can find the best of America's Big Empties crossed with the modern lift fleets of the sprawling conglomerate-owned pinball machines. And oh by the way you get a hell of a discount off of already low-seeming (compared to the big-mountain U.S.) prices: an American dollar, as of April 16, was worth $1.38 Canadian.Podcast NotesOn IntrawestPanorama, as a former Intrawest-owned resort, could easily have been part of Alterra Mountain Company right now. Instead, it was one of several ski areas sold off in the years before the legacy company stuffed its remainders into the Anti-Vail:On Mont Ste. MarieMont Ste. Marie is one of approximately 45,000 ski areas in Quebec, and the only one, coincidentally, that I've actually skied. Paccagnan happened to be GM when I skied there, in 2002:On Kicking HorseIt's incredible how many U.S. Americans remain unaware of Kicking Horse, which offers what is probably the most ferocious inbounds ski terrain in North America, 4,314 vertical feet of straight down:Well, almost straight down. The bottom bit is fairly tame. That's because Kicking Horse, like many B.C. ski areas, began as a community bump and exploded skyward with an assist from the province. Here's what the ski area, then known as “Whitetooth,” looked like circa 1994:This sort of transformation happens all the time in British Columbia, and is the result of a deliberate, forward-looking development philosophy that has mostly evaporated in the U.S. American West.On the Powder HighwayPanorama lacks the notoriety of its Powder Highway size-peers, mostly because the terrain is overall a bit milder and the volume of natural snow a bit lower than many of the other ski areas. Here's a basic Powder Highway map:And a statistical breakdown:On the Lake Louise PassI already covered this one in my podcast with Red Mountain CEO Howard Katkov a couple months back:Katkov mentions the “Lake Louise Pass,” which Red participates in, along with Castle Mountain and Panorama. He's referring to the Lake Louise Plus Card, which costs $134 Canadian up front. Skiers then get their first, fourth, and seventh days free, and 20 percent off lift tickets for each additional visit. While these sorts of discount cards have been diminished by Epkon domination, versions of them still provide good value across the continent. The Colorado Gems Card, Smugglers' Notch's Bash Badge, and ORDA's frequent skier cards are all solid options for skiers looking to dodge the megapass circus.On Panorama's masterplan:On Mt. Baldy, B.C.Paccagnan helped revitalize a struggling Mt. Baldy, British Columbia, in the 1990s. Here was the ski area's 1991 footprint:And here's what it looks like today – the ski area joined Indy Pass for the 2023-24 ski season:On Panorama's evolutionPanorama, like many B.C. ski areas, has evolved significantly over the past several decades. Here's what the place looked like in 1990, not long after Paccagnan started and before Intrawest bought the place. A true summit lift was still theoretical, Taynton Bowl remained out of bounds, and the upper-mountain lifts were a mix of double chairs and T-bars:By 1995, just two years after Intrawest had purchased the ski area, the company had installed a summit T-bar and opened huge tracts of advanced terrain off the top of the mountain:The summit T ended up being a temporary solution. By 2005, Intrawest had thoroughly modernized the lift system, with a sequence of high-speed quads out of the base transporting skiers to the fixed-grip Summit Quad. Taynton Bowl became part of the marked and managed terrain:On Whitebark Pine certificationA bit of background on Panorama's certification as a “whitebark pine-friendly ski resort” – from East Kootenay News Online Weekly:The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada has certified Panorama Mountain Resort as a Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Area, the first resort in Canada to receive this designation.The certification recognizes the resort's long and continued efforts to support the recovery of whitebark pine within its ski area boundary, a threatened tree species that plays a critical role in the biodiversity of mountain ecosystems. ,,,Found across the subalpine of interior B.C., Alberta and parts of the U.S, this slow growing, five needle pine is an integral part of an ecosystem that many other species depend on for survival. The tree's cones hold some of the most nutritious seeds in the mountains and sustain Grizzly bears and birds, including the Clark's nutcracker which has a unique symbiotic relationship with the tree. The deep and widespread roots of the whitebark pine contribute to the health of watersheds by stabilizing alpine slopes and regulating snowpack run-off.Over the past decade, whitebark pine numbers have fallen dramatically due in large part to a non-native fungal disease known as white pine blister rust that has been infecting and killing the trees at an alarming rate. Since 2012, the whitebark pine has been listed as endangered under the Government of Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA), and was recently added to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service's threatened species list.Panorama Mountain Resort has collaborated with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada to facilitate restoration projects including cone collection and tree plantings within the resort's ski area.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 31/100 in 2024, and number 531 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
Moving up to Elite Downhill racing from Juniors is hard, but Rónán Dunne made that leap in 2021, and promptly started getting great results — despite only racing a handful of World Cups as a Junior and never even making it out of qualifying. After three strong years racing for Nukeproof, Rónán has moved to the new Mondraker Factory Racing team for 2024 and beyond, so we sat down with him to hear all about it, including how he started putting together such strong results so quickly; the state of DH racing in general; Hardline and its new two-race mini-series; and a whole lot more.RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ MembershipBLISTER+ Real World TestimonialsBlister LabsThis Week's Gear GiveawayBlister Mountain Bike Buyer's GuideTOPICS & TIMES:Rónán's introduction to racing DH (2:11)Joining the Nukeproof team (3:36)Rónán's breakout 2021 season (5:21)Putting together consistent results (6:57)The Snowshoe 2023 race (12:31)Leaving Nukeproof (16:06)The team landscape for 2024 and beyond (19:03)Joining Mondraker Factory Racing (21:39)Hardline (25:31)Rónán's track preferences (27:04)The state of DH racing & what Rónán would change (28:42)The semifinal format (30:04)Rónán's 2024 goals (33:24)Working toward a World Cup win (34:29)OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister CinematicCRAFTEDGEAR:30Blister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today on the Podcast, we chat about Liam's recent trip to Snowshoe for the World Cup DH race as well as Jared's hellacious and questionable trail run race before discussing Zipp's new MTB wheels & jumping into a dazzling array of listener questions ranging from handlebar sweep to training regiments, chamois butter and everything in between. Tune in! Breck Epic Video: https://youtu.be/XJdKnZqCffY?si=sG8jBvjMM9nJzLid Neko Mulally YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NekoMulally Pinkbike Frameworks Enduro Bike Review: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-frameworks-racing-trail-bike-prototype.html Submit any and all questions to podcast@worldwidecyclery.com Our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxZoC1sIG-vVtLsJDSbeYyw Worldwide Cyclery Instagram: www.instagram.com/worldwidecyclery/ MTB Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/mtbpodcast/ MTB Podcast Website: https://www.mtbpodcast.com/
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