Today I learned that Backcountry opened a new showroom in Chicago. That's good news if I ever need to do an in-store return or gear tweak. I've had great luck with their house brand ski attire (base layers and an insulated knicker for under my wind pants.) It's located at 1571 N Kingsbury, which they …
Southern Vermont, Feb 2022 Day 2 – Okemo
After my family went home, the next day (Friday 2/11/22) I skied Okemo, about 45 minutes from my hotel in Manchester, VT. I drove to the Jackson Gore base to avoid crowds. I was able to park in the first row of the lower-level parking by getting there before 9am.After evaluating the crowds that were …
Southern Vermont – Bromley Mountain
I visited Beaver Creek again in January 2022. I was really craving another ski trip a few weeks later. After a Vermont local made the suggestion of Bromley to me, I discussed the idea of skiing in Southern Vermont with my Philadelphia-area-based sister and dad. I flew in from Chicago via Albany Wednesday and drove …
Beaver Creek, Day 3-4
I enjoyed the easy hike out to the skiway from The Pines Lodge and headed over to the Strawberry Park Express chair to noodle around on that side of the mountain again. I was experiencing some anxiety on the second day of skiing, but regained my confidence later in the day and by the third …
Beaver Creek, CO March 2021
In February, I was able to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Once I had the appointment for the second shot, I immediately began planning a ski trip to occur at least 10 days after the second dose. Last year, since I had purchased lift tickets for two days at Heavenly, and because they wanted people to …
End of an Era in Tahoe
I was reading a newsletter about casino opening plans in the midst of COVID-19, and came across the sad news that Lakeside Inn and Casino in South Lake Tahoe (Stateside, NV) is closing permanently. I only got to visit them twice, on my Feb 2020 ski trip to the area. The food at The Timbers …
Tahoe, May 2019 Part 3
I woke to continuing light snowfall and made my way to 8AM Mass at Corpus Christie Catholic Church in Tahoe City. The priest even had his (very good) dog in church! Pup guarded the tabernacle through the liturgy! I then followed the advice of the Tahoe City t-shirt shop manager I met on day 1, …
Tahoe/Mammoth May 2019
My subconscious made up its mind and roused me from sleep at 5:30am! The plan was to drive to Mammoth Mountain, near Mammoth Lakes, Ca. for a day skiing in blue skies, then head back, stopping at a natural hot spring, and then visit the sights of South Lake Tahoe (tentatively for dinner) before cruising …
My First Trip to Tahoe, May 2019 Part 1
I had turned 50 earlier in the month. As I follow snow and ski resort updates, I noticed that Squaw Valley was still open and getting a decent amount of snow in late May. They had been walloped with TOO MUCH snow earlier in the season, actually. I did some quick research, and found a …
Dillon, CO May 2019 Part 2
(Part 1 found here)I woke up the next morning and enjoyed an extensive complimentary breakfast buffet at the Best Western Ptarmigan Lodge while marveling at the gorgeous view from their breakfast room of Dillon Reservoir and mountains in the distance. Motel with terrific breakfast and great views! Due to feeling quite beat up from challenging …