Category Columns

Last week’s weather resulted in three consecutive days of lifts on wind-hold and provided a great set-up for this week’s column. Over the next couple of columns, I’m going to compare the challenges of skiing in frigid weather in the… Continue Reading →

 Aspen’s skiing history began long before there were any lifts. In the late 1800s, immigrant Norwegians came to work in the silver mines and brought their skis along with them. After working in the mines on winter days, they would… Continue Reading →

There was an old joke that went something like this: A skier passed away and was awaiting St. Peter’s approval to get into heaven when he spotted what looked like Stein Eriksen carving beautiful arcs on the side of a… Continue Reading →

Last week’s trivia asked what do Deer Valley and Sugarbush have in common. The answer I was looking for was that both have a trail named after Stein Eriksen! Sugarbush has Stein’s Run and Deer Valley has Stein’s Way. Both… Continue Reading →

Mount Snow celebrated its 70th anniversary on December 12th! Several readers recognized the chain driven chairlifts in last week’s trivia question as part of Mount Snow’s history! David Carter had the answer and also knew how Mount Snow got its… Continue Reading →

Last week’s trivia question asked what U.S. ski area installed the highest capacity ski lift in 1954. The answer was the original Big Spruce double chair!! That may seem hard to believe for those of us who are more familiar… Continue Reading →

Stuart “Stu” Ireland moved to Vermont in 1962. He settled in Stowe and built the original Town and Country Resort (now Outward Bound) on the Mountain Road. In 1964 Ireland would purchase a swimming club with an indoor swimming pool… Continue Reading →

I’m back for another season of Retro-Ski nostalgia and history. I hope to both test and trigger your skiing memories! Throughout my years of doing this column, one topic that has always generated reader reaction is Spider Sabich. Last season… Continue Reading →

This brings another Retro-Ski season to an end. Thank you to all my readers. I appreciate your feedback, it keeps me going! This year I’ll wrap up the season with a quote from 104 year old Klaus Obermeyer: “The longer… Continue Reading →

The Mountain Road here in Stowe is known for its après ski establishments! A skiing buddy of mine, the late John Fox, had been on the ski patrol at Glen Ellen before joining the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol. He always… Continue Reading →