Variable Conditions but Non-Variable Skiers

Transcription

T h e L e n g t h o f Ve r m o n t o n S k i s
Volume XXVIII Number 3
SPRING 2012
SHERI larsen
By Karen Heinzmann
T
hose of us who signed up for the
2012 Northern Tour knew we were
in trouble when we received an e-mail
from tour coordinator Pete Lane, entitled Truth in Advertising. He reported
that, “conditions have not improved.
Based on latest reports, there’s a lot
of hard-packed snow and ice, with
minimal cover at best...we strongly urge
everyone to bring traction.” In spite of
the dire forecast, sixteen die-hard skiers
showed up Saturday morning for the
first day of the tour.
Over the course of the following
week, an average of 19 skiers each day
tackled everything Vermont had to offer;
from grass and asphalt, water skiing on
Lake Hosmer, stampeding cattle, and
waxing for hemlock (is it really possible to wax for hemlock?), to a storm
that dumped 40 inches of snow on Jay
Peak the day we completed section 31.
However, battling the elements on skis
was nothing compared to the harrow-
The sermon on the mount by Jan Rozendaal.
ing drive at the start and finish of that
snowy day. The ride up to Jay Pass was
so slow that one driver’s GPS suggested
he go into pedestrian mode. When it was
time to retrieve the cars, we found that a
school bus had gone off the road, completely blocking the pass and complicating the car shuttle exponentially.
The following morning, the last of
the tour, dawned crisp and clear, with
more fresh snow on the ground than
most of us had seen all winter. The grass,
asphalt and ice of the first days were a
distant memory, and although the going
was slow setting tracks in the knee-high
powder, spirits were high as Joe Cook
became the 49th End-to-Ender.
Hello and Good-bye:
A New Office Administer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tele Turns Anyone!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Preserving the Bolton Backcountry. . . . . . . 16
The Newest Member of the CTA. . . . . . . . . 10
Southern Vermont Weekend Tour . . . . . . . . 17
Catamount Tales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
CTA Volunteer Work Weekends 2012. . . . . . 10
4th Annual GOBCSF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(continued on page 7)
Inside This Issue
For Successful Telemark Turns...
Use the Rear Foot Actively. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Riendeau Family Conserves Farm and
Ski Trail in Albany and Craftsbury . . . . . . . 6
CTA’s Newest End-to Enders. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2012 Trail Fund Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SkiCubs Get Creative This Winter. . . . . . . . 19
Thank You Volunteers! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Thank You for Your Gifts! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Vermont in the “Lyme” Light. . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Trail Chief Wanted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Lodging Members 2011/2012. . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink
The Catamount Trail News is published
by the Catamount Trail Association,
a member-supported, non-profit
organization dedicated to developing,
maintaining, and protecting the 300-mile
Catamount Trail and promoting
backcountry skiing in Vermont.
CTA Board of Directors
Tony Amenta, Waitsfiled
Moira Durnin Anderson, Stowe
Jill Aspinall, Montpelier
Paul Demers, South Burlington
Steve Fernandes, Rutland
Lynn Fisher, Bridgewater
Trina Hosmer, Stowe
Bob Jordan, Saxtons River
Paul Kendall, Braintree
Pete Lane, Marlboro, MA
Rich Larsen, Essex Junction
Bill Michels, Plymouth
Ed Miller, Stowe
Tyler Miller, Burlington
Kris Roomet, Burlington
Jan Rozendaal, South Burlington
Dagny St. John, So. Londonderry
Jason Wyman, Burlington
Arnold Ziegel, Stowe
CTA Staff
Jim Fredericks, Executive Director
Amy Kelsey, Trail Director
Matt Larson, Admin. Coordinator
Lauren Fereshetian, AmeriCorps
Member
CTA Office
1 Mill Street • Suite 350
Burlington, VT 05401
802-864-5794
email: [email protected]
Visit our Web Site at:
www.catamounttrail.org
jim fredericks
Hello and Good-bye:
A New Office Administrator
n December, Diana Vachon left the CTA office
staff after 4 years of dedicated service as the office
administrator. She is now pursuing her career in
acupuncture full time, splitting her time between practices
in Montpelier and Essex Junction. She is enjoying the job
shift which continues to keep her very busy.
While the CTA misses her cheery smile and hard
work, we are delighted for her to pursue her dream to
work full time as an acupuncturist. We are also very
grateful for all the extra help she was able to provide
Matt Larson at his new
during the transition and training of our new office
CTA work home.
administrator, Matt Larson. Thank you Diana!!
Fortunately, the CTA was able to hire skiing and
hiking enthusiast Matt Larson of Waterbury Center. Matt comes to the CTA with
10 years of experience working a variety of positions for the Green Mountain Club
such as, seasonal caretaker, developmental assistant, interim Executive Director, and
business manager. He is continuing to work part-time for the GMC while they
transition to a new business manager.
Raised in Ohio, Matt ventured westward after high school to the mountains of
Utah, skiing and working as a chef in Little Cottonwood Canyon. For many years,
he spent winters in Utah and summers in Vermont, working as a chef at The Inn
at Shelburne Farms and Leunig’s Bistro and Café in Burlington. When the crosscountry move became too much, Matt settled in Waterbury Center, Vermont with
his wife, Ann Beattie, a Kindergarten teacher from New Hampshire.
Matt and Ann have two kids; Ben, age 5, who loves to ski around the backyard
with dad, and Hannah, age 2, who enjoys dress-up and being pulled in a sled behind
dad when he is skiing. In his spare time, Matt enjoys hiking, paddling, camping,
photography, cooking, skiing (as long as it doesn’t include kick wax), and, of course,
foraging for wild mushrooms! His favorite section of skiing along the Catamount
Trail is taking the Michigan Valley trail south to Bolton Mountain and venturing
down towards Cotton Brook in the Mt. Mansfield State Forest.
Matt expressed that, “it is important for me to be involved with an organization
that supports the values I have about outdoor recreation and conservation. The
CTA offers free public access to skiing all over the state and provides a good
opportunity for families to be outside and active together.” In the coming months
and years, he hopes to spend more time out on the Catamount Trail and getting to
know the many members and supporters of the organization. The CTA is thrilled to
have Matt’s expertise, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective in the office.
The Catamount Trail News is published as
a benefit for CTA members. The Catamount
Trail Association encourages interested parties
to submit manuscripts, photos, and illustrations
for publication in the Newsletter. The opinions
expressed by contributors are not necessarily
those of the CTA. The CTA reserves the right
to refuse materials and advertising deemed
inappropriate for publication.
2
I
C a t a mount Tra i l N ew s • S p ri n g 2 012
Catamount Tales
by Jim Fredericks –
Executive Director
It Was One Of The Worst Winters
But the Best of Times
I
this event provided a much needed platform to introduce new Nordic women
skiers to the sport while rejuvenating
the passion of other more experienced
participants. The 4th Annual Get Out
and Backcountry Ski Festival also filled
to capacity and proved to be our best
event of its kind yet. Over 65 skiers of
various ages improved their backcountry skills under the watchful eyes of a
tremendous staff of volunteer instructors. Who wouldn’t have had a good
time on that glorious, sunny, winter day
with powder to abound? A big thanks
and congratulations goes out to the
almost 20 instructors who were key to
making these two events so successful.
All in all, I can’t help but think
that the winter was not that bad. The
passion for skiing has only broadened
as exhibited by the hundreds of positive emails from the tour and event
participants. The CTA membership
has grown to 2000+ members and
more people than ever have enjoyed
the various functions of our organization. And with this in mind, let’s
keep spreading our love for the sport,
the passion for the Trail, and sharing
new friendships with our fellow CTA
members.
jim fredericks
t’s been one of the worst of winters
but the best of times. Just as the winter of 2010/11 was a winter not to forget, so is the winter of 2011/2012, but
for the opposite reasons. Who would
have thought that one of the snowiest winters on record would be followed by one of the mildest and least
snowy winters? With little to no snow
in much of VT until late February,
many CTA day tours were either cancelled or postponed. Even the greatly
anticipated 1st Annual Romance Half
Marathon Race and Tour fell victim to
the extremely warm and dry winter.
When most people look back
on the winter of 2011/2012, a smile
won’t be the first expression to form on
their faces, unless they were fortunate
enough to participate in some of the
CTA tours and events. It seems like
when we have great snow conditions,
we tend to take it for granted, but
when the conditions are poor for much
of the winter, people tend to get very
excited about even marginal skiing.
This sentiment was echoed many times
throughout this winter as we had a few
days of marginal to excellent conditions and many days with little skiing
across much of VT. About 35% of the
CTA day tours, 100% of the multiday tours, the Ladies Nordic Ski Expo
and the Get Out and Backcountry Ski
Festival were still able to take place in
between our weekly thaws and other
variable conditions.
What seemed to be a little different this winter is that most participants of the various CTA tours and
events exhibited a tremendous amount
of enthusiasm. The excitement was
somewhat contagious for the Northern
Weeklong Tour as participants skied
and hiked in almost every type of
condition possible, from no snow on
some south facing slopes to three feet
of fresh powder at the end of the tour.
An infectious attitude of enthusiasm
seemed to manifest itself in the group
of 20-30 daily skiers who adapted to
any snow condition. New friendships
were forged and a spirit of camaraderie
arose that was fostered by overcoming
some days of less than favorable skiing. As it turned out, it was less about
the actual skiing and more about the
people. As I write this article, we are
already receiving the same type of
positive comments from people on the
rescheduled Central Weeklong Tour.
Fortunately, some of the CTA
events remained a resounding success
with good snow at the right time. The
Ladies Nordic Ski Expo, held at Trapp
Family Lodge and Touring Center on
January 7th filled up to capacity with
100 enthusiastic women. Once again,
Enjoying the camaraderie of fellow skiers on the weeklong tour.
www.cat am ounttrail. or g
3
For Successful
Telemark Turns...
Use the Rear Foot
Actively
by John Tidd
F
or many skiers, telemark turns represent the epitome of grace and flow
on skis. Yet finding that dance with gravity is elusive and frustrating for most.
Alpine skiers feel panic when their heels
can lift. Nordic skiers have the advantage
of knowing free heels from the start, but
even they are not used to pressuring and
steering with the rear foot.
This article is about learning a
strong stance for the telemark and then
exploring a variety of telemark turns
that work well for a smooth surface,
for narrow backcountry trails, and for
fresh, glorious powder.
The Stance
Alpine skiers are accustomed to having
both feet firmly attached to their skis
and using the outside ski as the primary
tool to create a turn. Just finding a
comfortable tele stance involves putting
at least half of the body weight on the
rear foot which has the heel lifted. This
is a totally foreign feeling for most skiers. The rear ski just feels too weird up
on the ball of the foot, so these skiers
generally do a “fake-a-mark” with a narrow stance and almost no weight on the
rear ski. Nordic skiers are accustomed to
striding, but may take this move too far
and stride through their turns instead of
steering both skis at once.
To overcome these sources of
imbalance, skiers must first gain confidence in a rock solid telemark stance
with equal weight on both skis. Here
are some things to help build this skill.
(These can be done on any kind of
Nordic equipment—beefier is better.)
4
To make the elegant arcs of performance telemark skiing, one must be much more
active with edging and steering of the rear ski. Photo by John Tidd.
Activities: Learning these moves is best
on smooth, wide, gentle terrain.
➊ Gently take sneaky steps backwards
on flat terrain. Stop when you’re just
moving onto the back foot and notice
the pressure on the ball of the foot and
how the rear foot stays directly under
the hips and torso. This is the “length”
of stride that you want to get to know
automatically.
➋ Shuffle on a flat area, then on a very
slight downgrade keeping even pressure on both skis. Stay low and move
smoothly.
➌ To check for equal weight, jump
up and land in the tele position on a
flat area. Jump off both feet and land
equally on both feet, changing the lead
ski in the air. If you land solidly, you’re
probably in a good tele stance.
Step On It
As mentioned above, putting pressure only on the ball of the rear foot
while the heel is elevated is foreign to
all skiers. It takes time and training to
achieve the muscle memory and comfort level to have a truly 50/50 weight
distribution between the front and rear
foot in the telemark stance.
Activities:
➊ While straight running on a gentle
grade, jump up and land softly in
the telemark position. You must land
equally on both feet or the feedback
will be immediate.
➋ Now try a hop between turns making
the lead change in the air. Using a double pole plant helps to get into the hop.
➌ In a traverse, try lifting and tapping
the front ski to assure you that you are
on the back ski (with the heel still up
off the ski).
➍ The “monomark” is a great exercise
to find rear foot pressure and a solid
stance. Put one ski forward and leave
it there. Make linked turns without a
lead change. One turn is a telemark,
the other is a “stretched alpine” turn.
It’s like water skiing on a single ski and
a bit like riding a snowboard.
Actively Edge and Steer with
the Rear Foot
Many telemarkers are able to get the
stance and pressure on the rear foot
and make decent turns. To make the
elegant arcs of performance telemark
skiing, one must be much more active
with edging and steering of the rear ski.
Activities:
➊ While traversing a slope, make turns
into the hill by steering only with the
rear foot.
➋ Do the “monomark” described above,
but this time create the shape of the turn
with the rear foot only. The back knee
will move right and left over the back ski
with foot pressure going from the little
toe to big toe side of your foot.
➌ In the middle of a turn, after the
lead change, get very bow-legged and
focus on using the little toe edge of the
rear foot to create the arc of the turn.
Varieties for Different Terrain
and Snow Conditions
The activities described above are great
for open, smooth slopes as found at
alpine ski areas or in meadows and
open woods. What we find in real-life
situations on a ski tour is often very
different. Here are some ways to cope
with the diversity of what eastern skiing
dishes out.
Crud/Crust
When the snow won’t let skis slide
gracefully through the turn, it is necessary to modify technique, sometimes
drastically. In rough snow you must
make strong, definitive moves. The
first would be the STEP-OVER TELE
or the TWO STEP. Instead of gently releasing the edges, take a good
stride with the uphill ski forward and
down the hill sort of angling across
the downhill ski. This gets the body
and one ski almost into the fall line.
All your weight goes onto this ski for
a second, then you step the other ski
right in place behind the front one and
immediately sink down into the 50/50
weighted and solid tele stance. This
lets you ride the remainder of the turn
through the crud. You’re down low and
stable, ready to leap into the next turn.
This can be done on narrow snowmobile trails or anywhere that you desperately need to make a turn. It isn’t really
pretty, but very functional. If this one
fails, resort to the JUMP TURN. Just
leap up off of both skis, turn them in
the air and land in a perfectly balanced
two-footed stance. Obviously, try this
one on an open slope first. It takes athleticism and getting used to it.
legs to “bounce” into and out of the
powder, turning with your feet buried
into the snow and rebounding up to
make the lead change to a new turn
in the lighter transitions. Again, the
pressure on the rear foot is key. Think
about pressing your rear ski into the
snow like a rudder. This is a down
motion, not a levering and leaning
back on the rear ski.
Powder
Summary
Powder is what the telemark turn
was made for, and what skiers thrive
on. Many of the moves for smooth,
groomed surfaces work for powder,
but a more fun way to enjoy it is to
add a vertical dimension to it all. Use
lots of flexion and extension of your
By focusing on the rear foot and
ski, the telemark turn becomes less
strange and much more stable. Skiers
who master the active steering of the
rear ski can feel the continuous, fluid
motion that is the signature of this
elegant turn.
Alpine Turns
Do remember that alpine turns work
great in tight spots, dangerous places
where you need to keep both ski
tips up out of the underbrush, and
when your legs are too tired to tele.
Sometimes the thigh’s the limit.
A Backcountry Skier’s Dream
Real Estate Opportunity
$35,000
2.2 acre approved building lot directly on the Catamount Trail and
the historic Bayley Hazen Military Road in Lowell, VT.
Build your Northeast Kingdom get away on this lot, which features:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stateapprovednewsepticsystem
State approved Spring water
Power on site
Justoffhardtoproad
20 minutes to Jay Peak and 10 minutes to the Long Trail
Vintage apple trees
Small brook
Direct Access to VAST trails
I would like to sell to a Catamount Trail enthusiast and will donate
10% of the purchase price to the CTA.
Contact Jan Rozendaal at: [email protected]
5
On The Trail
by Amy Kelsey–
Trail Director
Riendeau Family Conserves
Farm and Ski Trail in Albany
and Craftsbury
Albany and Craftsbury—Bernard
and Paulette Riendeau conserved 244
acres along Route 14 in Albany and
Craftbury by selling a conservation
easement to the Vermont Land Trust.
As a part of this conservation project,
the Riendeaus also sold a trail easement
on a half-mile of cross-country ski trail
to the CTA. The ski trail crosses the
upper hayfields to the west of Rte. 14
and travels along Wylie Hill Road (a
portion of the historic Bayley Hazen
Road) after crossing Rte. 14. If you’ve
skied the CT from Craftsbury to the
Lowell Mountains, you’ve probably
said hello to the Riendeau’s horses and
alpacca along the way.
Currently, over six continuous
miles of the Catamount Trail are protected from the base of Hazen’s Notch
to the top of the Lowell Mountains.
The Riendeau easement is a first step
in extending this corridor to the East
of the Lowell Mountains towards
Craftsbury. The next steps for CTA will
be to work with other landowners in
the area who may be interested in following the Riendeau’s example.
6
WLT skiers pass alpaccas on the Riendeau farm property. Photo by Sheri Larsen.
Located on the Black River, the
newly conserved land includes 119
acres of tillable land, with 110 acres of
high-quality agricultural soils. Bernard
has lived on the farm since his family moved there when he was 10 years
old. The Riendeau family operated the
farm as a dairy until 1987. Bernard and
Paulette now raise alpacas for yarn and
breeding stock, while their son Daniel
raises and breeds registered paints and
gypsies. The family also sells farm
equipment and gravel on nearby land.
The conservation of the farm also
has great ecological benefits. Almost
two miles of Black River frontage
within the Memphremagog watershed
received additional protections in the
conservation easement. The farm’s
47 acres of wetlands associated with
the Black River include a large cattail
marsh, shrub swamps, marshes, and
floodplain forest.
“The Riendeaus deeply love
their land,” said Tracy Zschau of the
Vermont Land Trust. “This was a tremendous opportunity to conserve family land, and to protect a rich mosaic
of productive farmland, river frontage,
and wetlands for the future.”
The conservation of the farmland was funded by The Freeman
Foundation. The purchase of the
Catamount Trail Easement was made
possible with the support of the Fields
Pond Foundation, the Windham
Foundation, Former Governor Howard
Dean, and the Vermont Land Trust.
(continued from page 1)
With illness and questionable conditions decimating our
ranks, some drastic measures were required; Margo Krasnoff
found herself recruiting CTA members over dinner at the
Craftsbury Outdoor Center. In fact, she did not really have
to try too hard. Her enthusiasm was simply infectious, and
inspired Southerners Bill Branson and Randy Kerr to join us
Thursday for the duration of the tour. With Team Canada
(Gail Tedstone, Joanne Hayes and Maria Corinthios) down
from Quebec for the first five days, Doug Bonoff up from
Connecticut, and many familiar faces, skiers tackled the
varying conditions with good humor. However, none more
so than Julie Higgins, who always had a smile on her face
whether she was climbing Lowell Mountain, stepping over
(yet another) barbed wire fence, or coming up for air after
falling in deep snow.
We were in awe of Day Leader Jan Rozendaal; through
his tireless efforts on behalf of the CTA, he has contributed
immeasurably to protecting the Catamount Trail in the
Northeast Kingdom. In a speech that will surely go down in
the annals of CTA lore, Jan gave us his own version of the
“Sermon on the Mount”. He exhorted us to invest in a small
parcel of heaven, the plot he purchased in Lowell to protect
the CTA right of way on that section of the trail. He’s ready
to sell it now, but only to someone who has the best interests
of the Catamount at heart!
Jan knows the Northern sections of the trail better than
anyone, and it seemed he had a story about an easement
secured or another person to thank, around every corner. As
we skied past active beaver dams, wild turkeys, moose bedding sites and alpacas, it was easy to understand his passion.
You feel it in the beauty on every inch of the trail. He and his
wife Mary Jane not only hosted us for a lovely dinner Friday
night, they also provided housing, at one point or another, to
well over half the skiers on the trip. Their generosity was, and
is, an inspiration.
Other day leaders who helped us along the way were
Rick Molz (section 24), Jill Aspinall (section 25), John
Broadhead (section 28), and Sam Nelson (section 30). David
Stackpole provided housing in Lowell for ten skiers. Sheri
Larsen documented the entire week with a series of expert
photos. And of course, the tour could not have happened
without Pete Lane’s seamless organization. He managed car
shuttles in the midst of driving snowstorms, spent his rest day
baking for thirty hungry skiers, and met each and every one
of us at the end of the day with a high five and a warm smile.
Pulling off an eight-day, back-country ski tour in the
middle of the worst winter ever is no mean feat. Somehow
New snow greets WLT skiers as they ascend Lowell Mountain.
Photo by Sheri Larsen.
Pete made it all look easy, even summoning a blizzard on
the final weekend to wrap things up. Most of all, though,
his good humor set the tone; what we occasionally lacked in
snow, we made up for with laughter, helping hands, and good
times. The skiing was fun, but it was the skiers, following
Pete’s lead, who made the trip memorable.
With thanks to Paul and Lee Adams, and Rich and Sheri
Larsen, who contributed many of the ideas for this article over
breakfast near the end of the tour.
7
Joe Cooke
Lee and Paul Adams
Bill Michels
CTA’s Newest End-to-Enders
By Lauren Fereshetian
C
ongratulations are in order for four
ambitious and dedicated skiers who
were able to complete their 300-mile
ski journey this winter over Vermont’s
challenging terrain. Bill Michels, Joseph
Cook, Paul Adams, and Lee Adams
became the 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st
End-to-Enders this February.
Bill Michels, a CTA Board member, started his journey in 2008 as a part
of the Northern Weeklong Tour. Over
the past five years, he completed the
Catamount Trail mostly as a part of the
various tours that the CTA offers during
the winter. As a member of the Tours
Team, Bill plays an instrumental role
in both coordinating and leading tours
along the Catamount Trail. Thanks to
his hard work and passion for skiing,
many other ski enthusiasts are able to
enjoy the beauty and surprises that
Vermont winters have to offer.
Joe Cook started his trek along
the length of Vermont in 1984, skiing
the popular Bolton to Trapps section
as CTA’s founders were in the process
of forming the Catamount Trail. Until
2010, Joe skied the Catamount Trail
8
on his own, with friends and family.
Joe finished his journey as a part of
this year’s Northern Week-long Tour
amidst blizzard conditions and new
friends. After completing his final section, he wrote in his End-to-Ender
journal, “we had not planned on ~ 40"
of new snow. The weather cleared, and
it warmed up somewhat. Although
the snow was terrific, it was also a lot
of work. Fortunately there were 16 of
us, and we all took turns. I was offered
the chance to break trail for the last
few yards, and declined. To congratulate me, a number of skiers held their
poles up to make a bridge for me to
ski under. I enjoyed sharing my champagne with everyone who helped to
make my trip possible.”
Paul and Lee Adams of Sutton,
Massachusetts started skiing the
Catamount Trail in 1994 and have
consequently experienced the many
changes of the organization over the
past 18 years. Lee is a Manager with
the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection and Paul is a
management consultant and owner of
Lakehouse Consulting. Paul wrote that
when they started skiing the trail, ”the
sections were not as well maintained
or blazed as they are today. Often we
would start out following the blue
blazes until they would simply stop.
We would make a guess and continue
as best we could.“ As the organization grew and gained more support
around Vermont, Paul wrote that they
decided to “join John Stearns and the
month-long end-to-enders for four of
their tours. The spirit and energy of
this group was very contagious and
we realized it was possible for us to ski
the whole trail.” The two did just that!
On March 4th, Paul and Lee skied
their last section from Lincoln Gap to
the Sugarbush Golf Course, finishing
their 300-mile long journey together.
They’ve also hiked New England’s 100
highest peaks and are avid cyclists,
boaters, and alpine skiers.
For more information about
how to become an honored Endto-Ender, check out the Skiing
the Trail section on our webpage:
www.CatamountTrail.org
Tele Turns Anyone!
P
SIA instructor John Tidd performed his instructional magic
on 14 enthusiastic skiers of all ages
and abilities at the 2nd Annual
CTA Telemark Clinic. Held at Pico
Mountain on Feb 12th, the event was
organized by CTA board member Bob
Jordan. Geared for beginner to intermediate skiers, the clinic attracted a wide
range of people with everything from
straight side cut touring skis with metal
edges to full lift service telemark equipment. They all had one goal in mind
and that was to master the famed telemark turn. This graceful technique of
turning first originated in 1868 in the
Telemark region of Norway and was a
predecessor of the stem Christie and the
most commonly used parallel turn.
This event was organized to
give backcountry skiers another skill
for descending on narrow trails and
through gladed trees. “For some of us,
the most fun on a CTA tour is skiing a
downhill section of the Catamount trail
from one side to the other by linking a
few turns”. The Clinic was designed to
help people enjoy making a few turns
on the down hills rather than snowplowing or sidestepping,” remarked
Bob Jordan.
After some basic instruction, the
group broke up into two sections giving
the more advanced skiers the opportunity to learn some of the finer nuances
of the telemark turn from the telemeister, John Tidd. While John was attending to the more advanced skiers on the
steeper and longer slopes, Bob Jordan
and Betsy Gaiser helped the beginners
do what John had already demonstrated
utilizing the beginner chair lift.
“By the end of the day everyone
had shown improvement, particularly
John Tidd demonstrates proper tele
technique.
some of the beginners. Two were actually linking turns all the way down
the beginner slope, very impressive on
straight skis with little side cut,” commented Bob Jordan.
If you missed out on this year’s
Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival
or the Pico Telemark Clinic, don’t fret
because there will be plenty of opportunities next year with the 2013 CTA
winter events.
9
CTA Volunteer Work Weekends
Summer 2012
C
TA will again host 3 volunteer work weekends during the summer to help complete trail projects. Recruit
your friends or bring your family to enjoy a weekend in the
Vermont woods. Join us for a day or for the whole weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday we will work on the trail. Saturday
evening, we will share a group camping area and a meal
around the campfire. For those who prefer more luxurious
accommodations, we are happy to provide lodging suggestions.
CT South, July 14 & 15: Sections 4 & 5 (Stratton)
CT Central, August 11 & 12: Sections 11 & 12
(Plymouth/Shrewsbury)
CT North, September 15 & 16: Sections 26 & 27
(Wolcott/Craftsbury)
Cost: There is no fee to participate.
Meals: Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch
will be provided.
Bridge Building with the Experts,
Summer 2012 (midweek)
The Newest Member
of the CTA
July 2 & 3: Section 11 Bridge Construction (Plymouth)
August 15 & 16: Sargent Brook Bridge Construction
(Shrewsbury)
O
n December 13th, Trail Director, Amy Kelsey,
still sat on the yoga ball at her desk, diligently
working and awaiting the arrival of her baby. Just one
day later, Amy and her husband Anton were holding
their dear son, Henry Zellner Kelsey. 21 inches long,
weighing 7lbs. 5oz., Henry sported a full head of hair
and made happy parents of both Amy and Anton.
Amy enjoyed her time at home the past few
months with Henry; going to story hours, play dates,
walking the dog, occasionally visiting the CTA office,
and even getting him out for a few skis. She returned
to the CTA office in the beginning of March. Luckily
for the CTA, Henry’s smiling face will be a frequent
visitor of the CTA and its events in the furture.
10
CTA will be working with Timber and Stone, LLC to build
two bridges this summer. Timber and Stone will provide leadership and bring a few skilled staff members to each project.
CTA will provide 4 additional volunteers for each project. This
is an excellent opportunity to learn about bridge construction
by working side by side with the experts. Volunteers should
be prepared to work hard and to learn some useful new skills.
Sign up now, as space is limited.
Registration: For more information or to sign up for a
Volunteer Work Weekend or Bridge Building with the Experts,
contact Amy at [email protected] or 802-864-5794.
For a list of other projects planned for the Trail this coming
summer, please see the Trail Fund letter on the next page.
2012 Trail Fund Appeal
What’s Ahead on the Cat
amount Trail Depends on
You!
Jim fredericks
Sargent Brook Bridge
Built in 2010
Bill Herrington
For the CTA, this season’s
lack of snow was part two
of an
unusually dramatic year.
Part one featured Tropical
Storm
Irene, which was due to hit
Vermont the same day we
planned to host our larges
t fundraising effort, the FJG
Race
to the Top of Vermont. Fo
rtunately, with some courag
e and
unparalleled support from
our volunteers and sponso
rs, we
were able to hold the 4th
annual FJG Race To The
To
p Of
Vermont one day early. We
were not so fortunate with
the
Trail. The Trail lost 8 major
bridges (20' or more in len
gth)
and more than 10 minor
bridges (12' or less in length
).
Numerous other bridges mu
st be repaired due to dama
ge
caused by floodwaters and
debris. CTA’s partners and
vo
lunteers made a substantial eff
ort to repair the CT before
the ski
season, and that effort will
continue this summer.
Although we’ve lacked sno
w this season, we continue
to look
ahead to future snowy winte
rs and unforgettable adven
tures
skiing the Catamount Tra
il. In order for this to happ
en
,
the
CTA and its volunteers ha
ve much on their plate thi
s
summer and fall. Along with the
bridges that need to be rep
laced
or repaired, we are always
working to improve and pro
tect
the trail. To do so we need
your help! Our goal this yea
r
is to raise $30,000 for our
Trail Fund to support these
and
other important projects:
Sargent Brook Bridge
destr
oyed by Irene in 2011.
• Drainage Improvements:
Improve drainage south of
Grout Pond, Section 4
• McCartney Relocation:
Move 0.5 miles of trail off
private lands and onto GM
• Round Top Bypass: Move
NF lands, Section 7
trail from private lands on
to Coolidge State Forest lan
• Rebuild 5 Bridges and Re
ds, Section 11
pair Many Others
• Polish Sections 10 and 15
: Minor improvements to
5 miles of new trail built in
• Route 73 Bypass: Move
summer 2011
trail into woods on North
side of Route 73 to elimina
• Drainage Improvements
te road walk, Section 15
in the Phen Basin, Section
19
• Scout new route within
Camels Hump State Park,
protecting the trail on publi
from the Burrows Trail pa
c lands and creating access
rking area, Section 20.
• Complete Pion Easemen
ts in Lowell, VT, protectin
g 0.6 miles of trail on privat
• Continue Trail Protectio
e lands, Section 29
n work by pursuing new eas
ements, particularly in No
• Continue to post trail sig
rthern Vermont
ns at high-use trail heads
Please consider giving as gen
erously as possible to make
permanent this unique ba
the length of Vermont. Yo
ckcountry ski trail runnin
u might also want to consid
g
er a Charitable Gift Annu
through the Vermont Comm
ity with the Catamount Tra
unity Foundation. Please
il
go to www.catamounttrail.
org for more information.
Sincerely,
Jim Fredericks, Executive
Director
11
THANK YOU Volunteers!
W
e depend heavily on and are grateful to our many volunteers. Thank you for all you do to help us keep the Trail
and the CTA in good shape! Our volunteers help with mailings, assist at events, clear trail, fix bridges, post blazes,
monitor easements, lead tours, stuff envelopes, and so much more. We’ve done our best to list all the people who have
helped us in the last year, but we know we may have missed a few of you. If your name is not on this list, let us know, and
be assured we are equally grateful for your help.
Paul Adams
Lee Adams
Betsy Allen
Tony Amenta
Gar Anderson
Jay Appleton
Jill Aspinall
Russ Ayer
Bonnie Ayer
Ryan Baker Dunn
Erica Bareuther
Sam Bartlett
Marie Bartlett
Lynda Baydin
Jeff Baydin
Rick Biddle
Jody Biddle
Jonathan Bigelow
Seth Bigelow
Eric Bishop
Ed Blackwell
Dean Bloch
Micah Botkin-Lvevy
Dave Boucher
Ellie Bouffard
MacKenzie Bowker
Grant Braddish
Colleen Bramhall
Pat Branch
Nick Branch
Dave Brautigam
Jim Briggs
Mary Lou Briggs
John Brodhead
Berne Broudy
12
Keith Brown
Allie Brown
Liz Brown
Seb Brown
Cyril Brunner
Lenore Budd
Dave Burns
Henry Busetti
Canoe Imports
Charles Capaldi
Xavier Capaldi
Priscilla Carr
Anne Case
Arlon Chaffee
Champlain College
Lauren Chicote
Casey Coddaire
Sarah Coe
Bobby Connelly
Hilary Coolidge
Peter Cottrell
George Critides
Ursula Currie
George Darling
Pam Darling
Donna Dearborn
Colin Delaney
Paul Demers
Liz Dickson
Murray Diner
Mike Donohue
Debby Dorsett
Lee Droste
Kim Dunklee
Hoffman
Lane Dunn
Moira Durnin
Anderson
Kit Emery
EMS, South
Burlington
Sally Fellows
Lauren Fereshetian
Steve Fernandes
Bernadette Fernandes
Jim Fischer
Maria Fischer
Lynn Fisher
Mark Flinn
Tom Furland
Karen Furland
Brigitte Gagne
Betsy Gaiser
Poppy Gall
Diane Gayer
Maurine Gilbert
Marc Gilbertson
Sarah Gillett
Tyler Gillingham
Beth Gilpin
Anida Gionti
David Goodman
Cindy Gray
Jen Green
Sierra Guay
Melissa Haberman
Craig Hadden
JoAnn Hanowski
Andrew Harper
Larry Heath
Bill Hegman
Karen Heinzmann
Bruce Hennessy
Bruce Herforth
Bill Herrington
Des Hertz
Mike Hitelman
Trina Hosmer
Dave Hosmer
Alayna Howard
Phil Howard
Audrey Huffman
Phil Huffman
Cathy Hunter
Jeff Hurlburt
Emily Johnson
Bob Jordan
Robert Joyce
Joe Kassay
Katlyn Keene
Anton Kelsey
Paul Kendall
Deedle Kiley
Priscilla Kimberly
Phil Kivlin
Sarah Kresser
Jeremy Krohn
Kristen Kropp
Susan Kueffner
Jen Lamphere
Amelia Landay
Elizabeth Landell
Peter Lane
Rich Larsen
Sheri Larsen
Lew Lasher
Jerry Lasky
John Lepinski
Jean Lewis
Bob Lindemann
Rose London
Shelley Lutz
Keith Macchione
Ray Mainer
Pat Mainer
Justin Maldonado
Lee Mallory
Steve Marcotte
Linda Markin
Marlboro College
Timothy Marr
Terry Marron
Dave Martorana
Katie McAllister
Peggy McGrath
Andrew McIntosh
Scott Meyer
Nika Meyers
Bill Michels
Kim Mihan
Ed Miller
Tyler Miller
Brian Mohr
Rick Molz
Laurie Morrison
Jeff Mullen
Diane Murh
Sam Nelson
Nancy Nesbitt
Phyl Newbeck
Jan Noskey
Cody O’Leary
John Ogden
Onion River Sports
Mary Ormrod
George Orsula
Outdoor Gear
Exchange
Kestrel Owens
Adrian Owens
Debbie Page
Steve Page
Mari Palace
Martha Pearson
Pam Pedersen
Jim Peters
Fred Pond
Beck Powers
Chris Quinn
Erica Raff
Pennie Rand
Beth Rawson
Steve Reed
Dee Reever
Betsy Richert
Kip Roberts
Sue Robinson
Kristina Roomet
Corina Rose
Armand Roy
Jan & Mary Jane Rozendaal
Beth Rutila
Jim Sadler
Jonathan Sands
Wendy Savoie
Ann Schaffner
Darren Schibler
Mark Schwabe
Dave Scott
Melinda Scott
Michael Scronic
Sigh Searles
Melanie Simon
Todd Sisco
Ann Sisco
Lauren Slater
Geoff Slater
Sid Smidt
Tony Smith
Elaine Soto
Cindy Sprague
Dagny St. John
Mike Stafford
Judy Stearns
Sterling College
Tove Stigum
Andy Strauss
Paul Terwilliger
George Terwilliger
Marianne Thomson
John Tidd
Joel Tilley
Amalia TorresFranchesci
Ernie Tracy
Hazel Tracy
Mary Twitchell
UVM Outing Club
UVM Trek
Orientation
Emily Voci
Stephen Waite
Richard Werner
Karen Westervelts
Emily Wheeler
Cathie Wheeler
Eben Widlund
Valerie Wilkins
Martin Wolf
Jason Wyman
Mary Yates
Arnie Ziegel
Hot
Chocolate
to warm
the soul.
63 Church St. Burlington
750 Pine St. Burlington
Route 100 Waterbury Center
www.LakeChamplainChocolates.com
13
Vermont in the “Lyme” Light
Why is Lyme Disease on the Rise?
By Dr. George
Terwilliger
V
ermont could now be the Lyme
Disease (LD) capital of the U.S.
The rapid rise of LD in Vermont
is stunning. Twenty years ago, LD
was almost unknown in Vermont.
In 2006, Vemont had the thirteenth
highest rate of LD in the U.S. By
2010, Vermont had 356 cases, the
fifth highest rate of LD in the U.S.
In 2011, preliminary statistics from
the Vermont Health Department
show a dramatic rise with 615 cases
of LD contracted in Vermont in
2011. Depending on the patterns of
disease elsewhere in U.S., Vermont
may now have the highest LD
incidence in the U.S. It is for this
reason that I have updated my 2008
article on Lyme disease and present this topic again. It has become
a much more serious concern for
Vermonters engaged in an outdoor
lifestyle.
LD exists throughout much
of the world including Canada,
Europe, Japan, and China. LD is an
infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacterium that is
spread by the bite of infected ticks.
Untreated, the bacteria can travel
through the bloodstream infecting
various organs. While Catamount
Trail skiers cannot catch LD during
the winter, those who spend time
on outdoor trails in the off-season
are at risk of contracting it. Having
a clear picture of LD can help minimize the risks of getting it.
14
The dramatic rise of LD in Vermont
seems to center on the ecology of
our forests where LD is contracted.
The main hosts of both Borrelia (the
LD bacteria) and the deer tick which
spreads it here are the white-footed
mouse and the white-tailed deer. In
large, intact forests, the populations
of ticks, mice, and deer are controlled and are not highly infected by
Borrelia. However, in forests that are
fragmented, such as areas with a lot of
development and farming, mouse and
deer populations are high with high
rates of Borrelia infection. It is thought
that fragmented forests have fewer
predators allowing higher mouse and
deer tick populations and, thus, much
more tick infestation.
Deer ticks are also more prevalent
in areas with invasive shrubs such as
barberry, honeysuckle and buckthorn.
There are studies correlating
increased tick infestations one and two
years following cyclic years of abundant
acorn and other nut production.
More speculative, are links to
global climate change.
How Can I Lower My Risk of
Getting Lyme Disease?
Geography matters. Southwestern
Vermont has higher rates of LD than
the rest of the state. There is some
evidence that infected ticks are less
common at higher altitudes. It is also
known that ticks become inactive at
temperatures below 35°F. Spring and
summer are the most dangerous seasons, with 80% of LD cases contracted
in the months May through August.
The studies showing more ticks in
invasive plant-infested area should give
impetus to further Vermont’s war on
invasive species. Avoid these areas during tick season. Better yet, join efforts
to eradicate these and other harmful
invasive efforts. (see: http://www.vtinvasives.org/)
To minimize tick bites while recreating and working in infested areas,
the Vermont Department of Health
advises:
 Wear long pants and long-sleeved
shirts to minimize skin exposure to
ticks.
 Tuck your pants into your socks to
form a barrier to tick attachment.
 Wear light-colored clothing to make
ticks on your clothing easier to see.
 Check for ticks, looking particularly
for what may look like nothing more
than a new freckle or speck of dirt.
 Bathe promptly after exposure.
 Use tick and insect repellents:
 DEET is safe and effective against
ticks. Other repellants include:
• Picaridin
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Permethrin is an insecticide and
insect repellent that can be used
on clothing, shoes, bed nets,
and camping gear. It should
never be applied to skin.
Deer ticks are tiny and often go
unnoticed. For example, nymphal deer
ticks, the most common transmitters of
Lyme disease, are about 2mm, or the
size of this dot (·); see photo below. If
you get bitten by a tick, follow these
steps to safely remove it:
 Using a pair of pointed precision
tweezers, grasp the tick by the head
or mouthparts right where they enter
the skin. DO NOT grasp the tick by
the body. Alternatively, there are plastic tick removal devices commercially
available.
 Without jerking, pull firmly and
steadily directly outward. DO
NOT twist the tick out or apply
petroleum jelly, a hot match, alcohol
or any other irritant to the tick in an
attempt to get it to back out.
 Clean the bite wound with disinfectant.
 After removal, a small red spot may
appear. This is just an allergic reaction to the bite, nothing to be concerned about.
An infected tick does not transmit
the bacteria until it has been attached
for about 36-48 hours. Therefore, one
of the best defenses against infection
when you have been in a risky environment is to examine yourself at least
once daily and remove any ticks before
they become engorged (swollen) with
blood. Generally, if you discover a deer
tick attached to your skin that has not
yet become engorged, it has not been
there long enough to transmit the LD
bacteria. If a tick has been attached
for 36 hours or more, a single dose of
antibiotic is very effective at preventing
disease if started within 72 hours of discovery and removal of the tick. After a
tick-bite be alert in case any symptoms
do appear.
What are the Symptoms of
Lyme Disease?
The first symptom is usually an
expanding rash called erythema
migrans (EM). It has the following
characteristics:
 Usually starts at the tick-bite
S olid red expanding blotch or central
spot surrounded by clear skin that is
in turn ringed by an expanding red
rash (like a bull’s-eye)
 Appears about 7 days (range 3-32
days) after the bite
 Average diameter 5 to 6 inches
 Lasts
about 3 to 5 weeks
 Usually not painful or itchy
For photos of this rash, guide your
web browser to: http://www.aldf.com/

EMPoster.shtml
Other symptoms which could
signal first stage LD, even if the rash
never developed, include headache,
fever, fatigue, or joint pains in the first
month following the deer tick bite.
If you think you have LD contact your physician immediately. The
EM rash, which occurs in up to 90%
of reported cases, is a specific feature
of LD and requires immediate treatment. Even in the absence of an EM
rash, diagnosis of early, or Stage 1,
LD should be made on the basis of
symptoms and evidence of a tick bite.
Blood tests can often give false results
if performed in the first month after
initial infection; later on the tests are
somewhat more reliable, though not
perfect. If diagnosed and treated early
with antibiotics, LD is readily cured. In
its later stages LD can also be treated
effectively, but some patients may have
Deer ticks
From left to right: adult female, adult male, nymph, larvae (scale in cm)
symptoms that linger for months or
even years following treatment. Rarely,
LD causes permanent damage. Later
stages of LD have varied symptoms:
Stage 2 (weeks to months):
wo or more rashes not at site of bite
T
Migrating joint pains
 Headache
 Stiff, aching neck
 Facial paralysis
 Tingling or numbness in extremities
 Large lymph nodes
 Abnormal heart beat
 Fever
 Severe fatigue


Stage 3 (months to years):
ain and swelling of one or two large
P
joints
 Disorientation, confusion, dizziness,
short-term memory loss, inability to
concentrate
 Numbness in arms/hands or legs/feet

Don’t forget your pets
LD is not limited to humans. An ongoing study of dog exposure to Lyme as
shown that over 16% of Vermont dogs
have serologic evidence of Lyme infection in 2010. This is a drastic rise from
2001 when it was less than 2%. It is
important to help your pets to avoid
tick bites and receive prompt treatment
for Lyme disease. Check your pets
regularly for ticks. Use tick medicine or
collars on dogs and cats.
Bottom-line
The risk of contracting LD in Vermont
is a real and increasing threat. So, when
you are outdoors during non-winter
months, take the above precautions to
avoid LD and stay healthy. See you on
the trail.
Reference: http://healthvermont.gov/
prevent
1
2
15
Lodging Members 2011/2012
Touring the backcountry of Bolton Valley.
Preserving the
Bolton Backcountry
Passing through Craftsbury on the Weeklong Tour.
Black Bear Inn
Blueberry Hill Inn
Bolton Valley Resort
Churchhill House Inn
Commodores Inn
Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Edson Hill Manor
Golden Eagle Resort
Green Mountain Inn
Inn at the Mountain at
Stowe Mountain Resort
Inn at Weston
Mountain Top Inn & Ski Touring Center
Stowe Motel & Snowdrift
Top Notch Resort & Spa
Town & Country Resort
Trapp Family Lodge
16
www.blkbearinn.com
www.blueberryhillinn.com
www.boltonvalley.com
www.churchillhouseinn.com
www.commodoresinn.com
www.craftsbury.com
www.edsonhillmanor.com
www.goldeneagleresort.com
www.greenmountaininn.com
www.stowe.com
www.innweston.com
www.mountaintopinn.com
www.stowemotel.com
www.topnotchresort.com
www.townandcountrystowe.com
www.trappfamily.com
O
n March 9, 2012, The Vermont Land Trust
(VLT) announced that it has signed a contract to purchase 1,161 acres that are home to the
Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry trails.
The property is adjacent to Mt Mansfield
State Forest and attracts more than 15,000 people
every year who recreate on the land. The land
is also in the center of the Chittenden County
Uplands Conservation Project (CCUCP) area, an
area that has been a focus for forestland and habitat protection for more than 10 years.
Over the next 15 months, VLT, the Friends
of Bolton Valley Nordic, and community members who care about the land, will work together
to raise the $1.85 million necessary to complete
the sale, protect the land, and keep it open
for public use. VLT is applying for a grant of
$800,000 over 2 or 3 years from the Vermont
Housing and Conservation Board, and the
remaining $1 million must be raised privately.
Raising these funds will be no small feat, and
will require the participation and support of
everyone who loves the property and appreciates
the unique natural resources and beauty of the
Uplands region.
3.5 miles of the Catamount Trail were protected by easement across this parcel in 2008
and the CTA is thrilled that the surrounding
land may also be protected thanks to its conservation-minded owners. Please stay tuned for
project updates via the CTA’s print and online
publications. You can also sign up for alerts
and to volunteer at www.vlt.org/bolton. If you
have questions, contact Milena Zuccotti at
[email protected] or 802-223-5234.
❆❅
Southern Vermont Weekend Tour January 20-22:
A Few Snowy Days Made for Great Skiing and Camaraderie!
by Dean Bloch (Tour Coordinator/Sweep) and Valerie Wilkins (Ghost Writer)
I
n the days leading up to the tour,
there was a lot of uncertainty about
whether we’d be able to ski due to the
shortage of snow in January. Tour leaders Dagny St. John, Andrew Harper,
and Jonathan Bigelow were out
scouting the trails in Winhall, Peru,
Landgrove and Weston to assess the
snow situation, and it was not sounding good. When we received the e-mail
mid-day on Thursday that some new
snow had fallen and more was in the
forecast, we all breathed a collective
sigh of relief! Hooray—the trip was a
go!
Thursday night more snow fell.
When we gathered on Friday morning
to ski Section 6 from Kendall Farm
Road to South Road, there were several
inches of fresh powder and everyone
was excited to hit the trail! For many of
us, this was only the 2nd or 3rd time
on skis this winter. The idea of being
out for a whole day on the snow was
almost too good to be true!
Skiers gathered from many corners
of the state—and the country—for
the weekend. Some were veterans of
previous CTA tours, and some were
newcomers to the CTA. Marilyn (MG
for short) won the prize for coming
the farthest—all the way from Arizona.
She arrived safely on Thursday, but alas
her skis did not! The airline located
and delivered her skis to her lodging
in Londonderry around 3:30 AM on
Friday, and MG was at the trailhead
and ready to go for the start of the tour
at 8:30 AM Friday morning!
Tom from Maine was a newcomer
to the CTA, but an experienced skier,
hiker, and rock climber, including a
recent climbing trip in Iran (that MG
was also on). Tom swore by his 220 cm
Asnes wooden skis that a friend had
picked up for him at a yard sale. With
his trusty skis well-coated with blue
wax, Tom had little trouble going up
the hills (while the rest of us used lots
of triceps wax!)—and he glided nice
and straight down the hills! Tom also
had his camera handy to capture some
wonderful photos along the trail that
we’ve all been enjoying.
David from Boston persevered
despite some equipment challenges.
At some point during the morning of
day two, while we were skiing Section
7 from South Road to Danby-Mt.
Tabor Road, the bottom of one of his
skis started to delaminate. By lunch
time, it was almost totally detached.
With some duct tape to hold the bottom in place, he finished the day. That
night, he applied Barge Cement to the
ski (something Tom had picked up at
the hardware store in Londonderry for
another repair!). The next morning, the
repair was deemed a success, and David
was off and skiing!
Charlene, Margo, Sara, Limey,
Bart, Debbie, Phyllis, Ragnar, and
Phil were all veterans of previous CTA
tours. Some were trying to check off a
few sections in their quest to become
end-to-enders. Others were just out to
enjoy a few days on the trail!
The trail in this neck of the woods
travels over a combination of back
country trails, national forest roads,
and snowmobile trails. The Trail Chiefs
for these sections (Dagny St. John,
Debby Dorsett, Jonathan Bigelow,
Grant Braddish, and Michael Scronic)
and many other hard-working volunteers do a fabulous job scouting and
maintaining the trail. We got a sense of
❄
how trail clearing can be a year-round
endeavor when we skied through a
few recent blow downs. Andrew, who
clearly has trail-work bred deeply in
his soul, had a trusty handsaw securely
strapped to his backpack (stored in
the leg of an old pair of jeans). He put
the saw to good use several times, with
assistance from other multi-tasking skiers eager to do their part to clear the
way.
On Saturday evening, many of us
gathered at Dagny’s house for a chili,
salad, and cornbread supper, with tiramisu and brownies for dessert. Sitting
near the fireplace, we sipped Andrew’s
home-made vin chaud (French mulled
wine) to ease our tired muscles and
shared stories of other sections of the
trail we’ve skied or plan to ski, other
outdoor adventures we’ve been on,
family and work life, current events,
and more.
Jonathan led us on the third day,
Section 8 from Danby-Mt. Tabor
Road to Greendale. His knowledge
of the trail and enthusiasm for skiing made for a great outing. Plus, we
got to meet his lovely mother, May,
and Norwegian wife, Tove, both avid
skiers themselves, who helped make
the morning car shuttle a breeze. We
enjoyed hearing Jonathan and Ragnar
speaking Norwegian on the trail as they
talked about their families and trips to
Norway.
As with many Catamount trips,
the people were a big part of what
made this outing so special. On
Sunday afternoon, we finished the
tour, packed up our ski gear, gave
hugs good-bye, and vowed to meet up
again on the Catamount trail before
too long!
17
Backcountry participants getting psyched up for a great day in the powder. Photo by Jim Fredericks.
Fresh Powder, Sunny Skies, and New Skills;
A Successful Day for the 4th Annual GOBCSF
T
he snow gods were kind to all those
who attended the 4th Annual Get
Out and Backcountry Ski Festival at
Bolton Valley on Sunday, January 22.
Under sunny skies and temperatures in
the mid 20’s, participants were treated
to a day of fun and adventure on 8” of
new powder covering a firm base. Sixty-five participants were eager
to learn new backcountry skills from
the nine expert instructors who volunteered their time for this event. Skiers
were divided up into groups based on
ability, learning everything from the
basic downhill snowplow turn to how
to carve linked telemark turns in steep
18
terrain. After a fun morning of lessons,
skiers congregated for talks on equipment and safety in the backcountry by
CTA Executive Director Jim Fredericks
and CTA Trail Director Amy Kelsey. The afternoon’s program consisted
of guided tours and lessons throughout
the extensive backcountry of Bolton
Valley followed by a very informative
and interesting multi-media presentation by David Goodman, author of
the Best Backcountry Skiing in the
Northeast: 50 Classic Ski Tours in
New England and New York. All participants were treated to beverages and
snacks provided by Cabot Creamery
and Vermont Smoke and Cure. The
clinic ended with a drawing for over
$1000 in raffle prizes, which was a
delightful end to a perfect day. A special thanks goes out
to Canoe Imports, EMS South
Burlington, Onion River Sports,
and Outdoor Gear Exchange for providing great demo equipment and
prizes for the raffle. Turtle Fur provided
hats for all the volunteer instructors
and Bolton Valley Resort provided
another fantastic day on some of the
best backcountry trails in the East.
SkiCubs Get Creative
This Winter
By Lauren Fereshetian
S
now was not a frequent visitor to the Burlington
area this winter. Between rain, minimal snowfall,
and consistently shifting temperatures, the SkiCubs
program virtually became the DryLandCubs program.
Despite these unfavorable conditions, there was still
plenty of fun and outdoor activity to be had this winter.
The weekly sessions with after-school programs were able to explore some trail systems in
Huntington and in Burlington by walking with
poles and participating in nature scavenger hunts.
When a dusting of snow graced the Recreation
Field in Huntington, 27 intrepid kids laced up
their Rossignol ski boots or strapped on some TSL
Snowshoes, circling the fields with diagonal technique and double pole relays.
As the winter progressed, Executive Director Jim
Fredericks noted how thick the ice was on the surrounding ponds and lakes. This gave way to the idea
of Broomball. An entertaining afternoon ensued on
the ice at Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain where
kids were slipping, falling, and laughing while trying
to shoot a playground ball into a goal with brooms
in lieu of hockey sticks.
With the help of generous sponsors, the program
was able to purchase 10 Garmin GPS units. When
these units arrived, kids were given a lesson in how
to implement them. Then, they worked together in
small groups to complete scavenger hunts with the
given coordinates and directions from the GPS units.
In addition, the SkiCubs provided free ski demos
at the Stowe Tour de Snow, Winter Adventure Camp
at Camp DREAM in Fletcher, and the TD Bank
Kids Ski Day at Jay Peak. Over 100 youths and family members were reached throughout the winter and
surprisingly, 75% of these participants were able to
ski at least one day!
A GIANT thank you to all of the participating
after-school programs, outreach event coordinators,
volunteers, sponsors, and of course, the many kids
that enthusiastically stuck with the program. The
events that took place this winter would not have
been possible without their support!
Let’s just hope for some more snow for next
year!
Catamount Cubs on the prowl. Photo by Jim Fredericks.
19
THANK YOU for Your Gifts!
E
ach year, CTA asks its members for financial support of our mission above and beyond their membership dues. Gifts to
our year-end Annual Fund appeal help cover our general operating expenses, and gifts to our spring Trail Fund appeal
are used to support the program costs of our Trail Conservation Program. We are extremely grateful for the following gifts
received at the CTA between Jan 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. If we missed anyone in this list, we sincerely apologize.
Up to $99
Bruce Acciavatti
Renate Adamowicz
Addison County Regional
Planning Commission
Pam & Louis Ahlen
AIG Matching Grants
Program
Steve Aikenhead
Richard & Lucille Allen
Anonymous
Donna Arbas
Jonathan Avery
Russell & Bonnie Ayer
Richard Baker
Barbara J. Baker
Jane & Murray Banks
Barb Barber
Ms. Elizabeth Bassett
Robert Bast
Lynda & Jeff Baydin
Nancy & Malcolm Bell
Iris Berezin
Lisa Bernardin
Mary Bernstein
Jonathan Bigelow
Dean Bloch
Lawrence & Fern Ellen
Blood
Gail & Steve Blumsack
Tom Bolmer
Douglas Bonoff
Michael Borovicka
Michael Bosworth
Thomas Bowker
Wayne Boynton
Steven P. Braff
Mary & Gerald Brown
Francois Brunelle
Barbara Bull
Mrs. Sara Burchard
Marilyn & Bruce Butler
Kim Callahan
Michael Caminiti
Raymond & Catherine
Canning
Roberta Carnwath
Brian & Anna Carroll
Sarah F Carter
John Chard
Mr. & Mrs. Judy Chaves
Margaret Clement
Sarah Coe
20
Scott Cole
David Comeau
Fritz Coonradt
Katherine L. Coppock
David Corbishley
Brian & Rebecca Cordeiro
Maria Corinthios
Anne Corley
Christina Cotnoir
Jeff Cunningham
Judy Daloz
Derrick & Lynn Davis
Linda DeNering
David Dickson
Elaine Dill
William Donahue
Lane Dunn
Rebecca Ellis
Todd Emerton
Sue & Bob Emmons
Young Eng
Leila English
Caryn Etherington
Donna & Jim Ewald
Jonathan & Louise
Fairbank
Sylvia Fjeld
Dr. Robert Paul Forte
Sylvia Geiger
Joyce Gallimore
Barbara Gameroff
Sarah Gant
Paul & Michelle Gass
Carlie Geer
Don Gehring
Sandi Geller
Marilyn Geninatti
Michele Gerin-Lajoie
Sue & Don Gilbert
Ana Silvana Giner
Linda Gionti
Jane Carol Glendinning
Barry & Catherine Glick
Emily Glines
Mr. Richard Goldsmith
Amy Golodetz
Edward Gomeau
Jim Goodine
Wes & Judy Goodwin
Daniel & Amanda
Goossen
Celeste Grace
P. Alex Graham
Douglas Graver
Linda Greenbaum
Lelia & Gavin Greenewalt
Lucy Guillet-Boyden
Craig Hadden
Stephen & Lynne Hale
George & Charlotte Hall
Paul Hansen
James Harris
Andy & Lynn Harvey
Susan Harvey
Joanne Hayes
Richard Heilemann
Craig Heindel
Robert Heiser
Paul A. Hemmerich
Julie Higgins
Ann & Frederick Hiltz
Todd Hobson
Clem & Sylvia Holden
Mr. & Mrs. David & Kathy
Hooke
Bradford Howe
Rick Hubbard
Phil & Audrey Huffman
IBM Matching Grants
Program
Paul P. Ives
Marilynne Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. John Kaeding
Robert & Sue Kancir
John B. Kassel
Jason Kelley
Tom Kennedy
Bob Kesner
Hilary Kilcullen
Russell Kinaman
John King
Deb Kirchwey
Ted & Jessica Klick
Marvin Klikunas
Nancy Knox
Aleksey Kovalyov
Max & Lois Kraus
Gina Kurrle
Thomas Kurtz
Rick LaDue
Mr. John Lane
Susan Latchem
Howard LeVaux
Meredith & David Liben
George & Mary Ellen Linton
Ed Linton
Margaret Lipscomb
Tom & Julie Longstreth
Martin & Arlyne Luloff
Ted Lyman
Denny Lyster
Ray & Pat Mainer
Jeanette Malone
Nancy Manley
Stephen Marcotte
David Martin
Jake & Sue Martin
Geoffrey Matter
Thomas Mattson
Patricia McGivern
Mr. & Mrs. Tim & Betsy
McKay
Lucinda & Jeffrey
McKechnie
Ursula McVeigh
Deri Meier
David Merfeld, CPA
Tyler Merritt
Robert & Louise Messner
Mark Messier, MD
Laura & Stuart Meyer
William Michels
Lynn Miles
Ted Milks
Melinda Mingus
Steven Minkwitz
R. John & Dorothy
Mitchell
Anne, Mary & Hulbert
Morehouse
Laurie Morrison
Doug Muth
Kathleen Nano
Robert & Dorsey Naylor
Nancy J. Nesbitt
Phyl Newbeck
Sen. Alice W. Nitka
Hubie & Sherry Norton
Carrie Nourjian
Jeff Nugent
Andrew & Reidun Nuquist
Elizabeth O’Connor
Herbert G. Ogden
Lyla O’Neil
William P. O’Neill
Diane Orecchio
Wendy Ormond
Barbara Gibb Otsuka
Pamela Overstrom
Mr. Matthew & Barb Paggi
Lonnie & Susan Parrish
Bob Pasco
Bonnie & Brian Pease
Randy Pebbles
Pam Pedersen
Joseph Perella
Paul Pilcher
Walter Pomroy
Don Post
David Poulin
Robert F. Provencher
Heidi Racht
Scotty & Sara Rappaport
Daniel & Elizabeth
Reardon
Robert & Mary Roger
Reiber
Katharine Reichert
Ernie & Bette Reuter
Jennifer & Justin Robbins
Dale & Peg Rodgers &
Family
Kris Roomet
Lewis & Claudia Rose
Judy Rosovsky
Carolyn Ruschp
Elisabeth W. Russell
Rebecca Ryan
Mary Ann Samuels
Jonathan & Peggy Sands
Jeff & Beth Schoellkopf
Anneka Scranton
Mr. John Seibert
Jamie Shanley
Leslie Shedlin
Huntington Sheldon
Eugene Shlatz
Ms. Mary Simons
Richard Sirola
Sally Sise
Donna Smyers
Dave Starr
Jay Stearns
Dr Irwin & Wilma Steuer
Judith & William Stevens
Stoner & Andrews
Daniel Streeter
John Sullivan
Sam Swanson
Gail Tedstone
W. Miller Templeton
George & Faith Terwilliger
Bruce Thompson
Tim Thompson
Phyllis Tiffany
Mr. David Tilgner
Joel Tilley
Beth & Bernie Tolmie
Town of Huntington
Inge & Heinz Trebitz
John & Allison Turkowski
Eric Wales
Rob Wardwell
Bernard Webber
Thomas & Rita Weidman
David Weinstein
Wolfgang Weise
Jake & Cathie Wheeler
Jane B. Williams
Alex & Jerelyn Wilson
Paula Wilson
Marilyn & Bob Wilson
Martin Wolf
Dan & Mary Wyand
Judy Yang
Judith Yogman
Peter & Rosemary Zamore
Anne K. Zopfi
$100 to $499
Bonnie Acker
Jim & Jennifer Adkisson
Hans Ahlgren
Andrea & Theodore
Ambros
Ed Amidon
Thomas Amidon
Ampersand Properties
Lori Arczynski
Julie Arnold
Ken Austin
Elizabeth & Edmund
Bacon
Eric Bakeman
Stan Baker
Mike & Theresa Barry
Sam Bartlett
Adam Bates
Alan Binnick
Eric Bishop
Black Bear Inn
Peter Blum
Charles & Judy Bond
Michael Boyle
Helene Ruby Brezinsky
Karen & Ken Britting
Don & Sally Brunjes
Lenore Budd
Brian Burchell
Patrick & Kimberly Burke
David B. Caplan
Priscilla Carr
Holly Chase
John Chassard
Gretchen Cherington
William Chester
Dr. David Chipman
Matthew A Cole
David & Carol Conard
Peter Cottrell
Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Anne Cramer
Tim Crowell
Walter & Helene Danco
George & Pam Darling
Judy Davis
Peter Davis
Donna Dearborn
Jean DeCell
Paul Demers
Harvey & Jeanne
DeMovick
Sharon & Doug Dennett
John Dieckmann
JoAnne Diller
Edee Edwards
Beth Eliason
Environmental
Management Strategies,
Michael J. Skinner
Consulting
Gary Farrell
Madeleine Fay & Family
Barry & Susan Feinberg
Sarah Fellows
Steve & Bernadette
Fernandes
Sten Fersing
Lynn Fisher
Robert Fiske, Jr
Jim & Liz Foster
Milton, Carolyn & Krysta
Frye
Karl Garen
Charlene Gates
Kurt & Patricia Giavara
Ronald Gingerich
Cheri Giroux
Ann Goering
Dr. Ronald & Lena
Goldberg
Goodhue Land Design
David Goodman
Bob Gray
Cynthia Gray
Michael Green
Green Mountain Inn
Betsy Gregory
Hobart Guion
Bogdan Gutowski
Rami Haddad
Robert Hagen
Robert & Donna Hamill
Kara Hankes
Susan & Perry Hanson
Joe & Kimberly Harris
Peter & Louise Harris
Richard & Susan Hart
Joshua Hastings
Bill Hegman
Nancie Heinemann
Karen Heinzmann
Sharon Henry
Bill Herrington
Heidi Hertel-Therrien
Mary Joan Hiltz
Dr. Edgar Holmes
Joe Hovious
Jeffrey Hurlburt
Jason Ingle
Inn at Weston
Woody & Ingrid Jackson
Sandy Jacobs
Paula Jones
Robert Jordan
Timothy Jursak
Amy & Anton Kelsey
Barb Kennedy
Mark Keydel
Priscilla Kimberly
Peter Kinder
Bill & Kate Koch
Margo Krasnoff
Peter Lane
Mark Langan
Gregory Larkin
Rich & Sheri Larsen
Ms. Gertrude Lepine
Allison Loebs
Jason Longo
David E. Lynch
Debra & James Lyneis
John MacVarish
Perky & Don Maddocks
Mr. Douglas Manning
Timothy Marr
Ed & Lisa Matson
John & Patricia McAllister
Nancy McClellan
Andrew & Laura McIntosh
McKee, Giuliani &
Cleveland
Peter & Bunny Merrill
Barbara Meyer
Ragnar Meyer-Knutsen
Karen & Peter Monsen
Alison Montgomery
Mountain Top Inn & Resort
Mary Muse
Sam & Elizabeth Nelson
Mary & Donald Newey
Ward & Lois Nial
Peter Oliver
Amy Otten
Outdoor Gear Exchange
Debbie & Steve Page
Karen, Kevin & Eileen
Parks
Steve Patch
Perkins Charitable
Foundation
Leigh Perkins, Jr.
Scott & Sharon Perry
John Peterson
Nicole Pfister
Jack & Joyce Phillips
Aimee Picchi
William Pinchbeck
Pizzagalli Construction
Company
Merle Pomroy
Bill Pope
Daniel Raleigh
Linda Ramsdell
Mr. & Mrs. W. Clinton
Rasberry
Andrew Raubvogel
Cathie Redpath
Michele Richardson
Susan Ridzon
John & Ellen Riley
Janine Roberts
Ben Rose
Wendy Savoie
Paul G. Schaberg
Ann & Stuart Schaffner
Mr. John Schmidt
Jeremy Schrauf
Suzannah Schroeder
Collins & Gail Seitz
Ms. Sandra Sharp
Sandra Shenk
Mr. & Mrs. Marshall
Simonds
Sims Family
Robert & Judith
Sinsheimer
Diane Sinski
Jenny Smith
Christopher Smith
William & Sandra
Spalding
Dagny St. John
Robert Starbuck
Judy Stearns
Al & Barbara Stiles
Stowe Motel & Snowdrift
Stowe Tree Experts
Andrew & Tamara Strauss
Sugarbush Resort
James Sullivan
Pierre Swick
Diana & Allen Terrell
Paul Thabault
Courtney Thompson
Thread Rolling Inc.
Charlie & Mima Tipper
Ernie & Hazel Tracy
Sharonlee & Jonathan
Trefry
Peter Treiber
Carol Tremble
Pam Turci
George Turner
Mary Twitchell
Cornelieus & Barbara
Ulman
Lori K. van Handel
Carroll O. & James D.
Veltrop
Vermont Country Store
Ted Vogt
Richard & Rachel Wagle
Cynthia Ward
David Westcott
Ann S. Wittpenn
Jennifer Wood
Rob & Meg Woolmington
Jason Wyman
Ed Ziedins
Arnold Ziegel
$500 Plus
Anonymous
Jill Aspinall
Jodi & Rick Biddle
Stephen Boyle
Jim & Mary Lou Briggs
Chartis/Stowe Mountain
Resort
Charles F. Christ
Concept 2, Inc.
Joseph Cook
Bob Cooper
Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Lee
Dillard Adams
Mr. Richard Dreissigacker
The Fairbanks Family
Charitable Foundation
Mitchell R. Fleischer
Jim Fredericks &
JoAnn Hanowski
Richard Grubman
Andrew P. Harper
Trina & David Hosmer
Philip & Barbara Howard
Peter & Cynthia Kellogg
Paul Kendall
Phil & Barbara Kivlin
Kroka Expeditions
William C. Michels
John & Tashia Morgridge
Llu Mulvaney-Stanak
Onion River Sports
Paul Frank & Collins
Jeff Prescott
Patrick Robins
Jan Rozendaal
Elizabeth Steele
Gerry & Paul Sweterlitsch
Peter Swift
Mr. & Mrs. Jim & Lyn
Taylor
Lee & Diana Todd
Grants
Anonymous
Governor Howard Dean
Fields Pond Foundation
Larsen Fund
Oakland Foundation
U. S. Forest Service
Vermont Community
Foundation
Vermont Department
of Forests, Parks, &
Recreation
Vermont Housing &
Conservation Board
Windham Foundation
21
d
e
t
n
a
W
!
f
e
i
h
C
l
i
a
Tr
Section 31
Jay Country Store to the Quebec Border
(Jay/North Troy)
T
he CTA’s Trail Chiefs make the Trail possible. Here
in the office, we rely on their expertise gained by
acting as the liaisons between their local communities,
landowners, and the CTA. Right now, the CTA is in need
of a new Trail Chief for Section 31 of the Catamount Trail,
between the Jay Country Store and the Quebec Border.
If you are looking for a way to support the Catamount
Trail, get to know your local trails, and work with your
community, this is the perfect opportunity. We also
welcome Co-Trail Chiefs – this is a great way to share the
22
fun and responsibility of maintaining the Trail.
As a Trail Chief, you would be responsible for working with the landowners, posting blazes, scouting re-routes,
brushing, and removing deadfall on this 6-mile portion of
the Trail that is entirely on private lands. You don’t need
to know how to do all these things, but you do need to
be interested in recruiting and working with people who
do. The CTA staff and past Trail Chiefs will help you get
started by walking or skiing the trail with you. We also provide resources such as landowner information, maps, a list
of local volunteers, and tools for trail maintenance.
In the fall, Trail Chiefs organize one or more trail
workdays to get the CT in shape for the upcoming ski season. In the winter, most Trail Chiefs plan and lead tours of
their section or other events along the Trail. They help us
keep our landowner database up to date, secure landowner
permission for the Trail, monitor trail easements, and send
an annual thank you to landowners. They are an energetic
and enthusiastic bunch, and the trail could not be maintained without their effort!
If you are interested in learning more about this
opportunity, please contact Amy Kelsey at [email protected], or 802-864-5794.
23
Non-Profit Rate
Catamount Trail Association
1 Mill Street, Suite 350
Burlington, VT 05401
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #421
Burlington, VT
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW!
The Catamount Trail exists thanks to the generosity of ski enthusiasts like you. If you plan on skiing
on the Trail next winter or just want to know that it will be there waiting for you, renew your
membership today. We really can’t keep it going without you. THANK YOU!
❯ Membership Application for 6/1/12–5/31/13
Name (please print)
Membership categories
Address
City
StateZip
Benefactor. . . . . . . . . . . . . $100*
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350*
Patron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75*
Protector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250*
Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50*
Lodging Membership. . . . . . $100*
Individual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
* Receive two (2) membership booklets and cards
Telephone ( )
E-mail
I am a new member.
I am willing to volunteer for events.
Membership Dues
Payment:
I am willing to help with trail maintenance.
Card No.
I am willing to help lead weekend ski tours.
Exp. Date
If you do not want us to share your name with other groups, please initial here. _____
Catamount Trail Association is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization.
Questions? Please call us at 802.864.5794
$________
I want to support the CTA even more. Enclosed is my additional tax deductible
contribution for
Trail Conservation
Annual Operating Costs$________
Total Enclosed: $________
VISA
MasterCard
Check
3 Digit Code
Signature
Mail to ❯ T he Catamount Trail Association
1 Mill Street, Suite 350, Burlington, VT 05401

Variable Conditions but Non-Variable Skiers

Transcription

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