Category Archives: Friendship

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Have a Bernie Bar and Relax

So, I opened up a box that came in the mail the other day and to my surprise, it was a box of Bernie Bars from my skiing friend Mark Hutchinson up in Vermont. Hutch is a retired postal service employee and ex-ski coach at Stowe, and knows Bernie from his routes around Randolph Center. I joked with Hutch about where my Bernie Bars were, and lo and behold- they showed up. LOL!! Hutch and his lovely wife Nancy are fun people to ski with, they are avid hikers, and enjoy everything about the Green Mountains of Vermont. In typical Vermont fashion, their political persuasions are more towards the left of center, and I have always admired their zeal to persuade folks towards their way of thinking.(Ethan Allen would be proud ) I personally am becoming more and more a-political, but Hutch keeps me informed on the happenings in the government world and relays his experiences to me. Rich Roll said the other day on his podcast that the most effective way of communication is to not give advice, but rather relay experiences. The Hutchinsons have lots of experience with Nancy and her avid hiking and writing, and Hutch with his ski racing and coaching background. And they are well read on the political scene in Vermont.

Mark and Nancy skiing with us in Bend last winter.

The cool thing about skiing and hiking is that both sports attract those of us who love the outdoors, no matter what we do for a living, what our political persuasions are, whether we have faith or no faith, and have different educational backgrounds. Rarely will you hear a heated political debate on the slopes or the trails. Rather the conversation tends to be about ski technique, ski areas, the conditions of the day, and in hiking, remarking on the beauty of the trails and the great day together. You make really good friends on the ski slopes and hiking trails, many of those friendships last a lifetime – like mine with Hutch and Nancy.

Hutch and I in Mammoth several years ago.

Nancy is a school teacher and a gifted writer and we have shared experiences with our passion for writing. Hutch is a real student of ski technique, and we have many conversations about that topic. He sends me videos all summer which I love to get, seeing that I can talk about skiing all summer too. But rarely do we get into a political discussion. My view is what do we really know? What is spin and what is not? On either side of the spectrum. I don’t get too excited because there is not much I can do about the world today other than perhaps cast my vote to get someone in or out of office. Also being kind to people helps, because you never know what they are going through. Kindness is definitely a way to make a difference- one person at a time, one neighborhood at a time. Politics is not really that important to me (maybe it should be?) – but Hutch keeps me in the game. I have learned things that I did not know before. And he sent me Bernie Bars!

Lifetime friends Eric and Hutch at June Mountain, California.

I have spent a lot of time skiing with Hutch, especially when our friend Eric was laid up and could not ski at times. Hutch and I would go out and ski and never look at a map. We just went wherever we felt like going. LOL! Hutch has a wonderful sense of humor and he makes me laugh when we ski and maneuver our way around a ski area. He finds the funny things about skiing and has me in stiches, as many times he was my room- mate on our guys ski trips – organized by Eric Durfee. I tend to think that Hutch missed his calling. I have videos of him commenting on camera up at Whiteface and at June Mountain out in California. He is so articulate on those videos and also humorous. I have posted them to the amusement of my ski friends.

So, the upcoming election cycle has a lot of people with their shorts in a wad. There is going to be a lot of political division even more so than what is taking place right now. It is good to educate yourself, but like Rich Roll says, just relay your experiences in conversation and don’t ruin a good friendship with a political discussion that will really not make much of a difference anyhow. Enjoy your friends. Eat a Bernie Bar and enjoy it as people all around you lose their heads. Ski with a friend, hike with a friend, and enjoy the outdoors because the older you get, those quality days left are really what is important anyhow. Thanks for reading.

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Neighbor Joe

My neighbor Joe

This past fall, my new neighbor Joe and I talked about skiing. Imagine that! Anyhow- he told me he used to ski and wanted to take it up again. Well, when someone says that to me, I light up like a 100 watt bulb and shine brightly. I told him about my friend Jim Jacobs who would take care of him from Peak Ski and Board and that his old equipment would no longer fit the bill. He had purchased some new boots but was in sore need of some new skis seeing that his were around 20 years old. He and his wife Chico went to see Jim and he bought a new pair of Volkls. He was happy and wanted to show me his purchase. I gave him a pair of straps to that he could avoid edge damage when traveling and he was excited to start after so many years away from the sport.

So, I took him during the week to Laurel Mountain which is a great place to ski here in the Laurel Highlands about an hour and a half from where we live. I ski there a lot and consider it my home area. I beat poor Joe’s ear all the way up because when the subject of skiing comes up, again, I go into high gear. I told him things he should know, and a lot of trivia that perhaps he did not need to hear. I also told him a lot of my stories from my skiing past and present and when we pulled into the lot at Laurel, he was ready to ski and not just listen to me anymore. LOL!!

Bluebird Day looking into the Ligonier Valley

It was a great day to ski, very scenic with fresh snow and a beautiful view into the Ligonier Valley. Joe loved it and after he got his feet under him again, he started to ski like he used to ski back in the day. He loved his new skis and all in all, it was a great first outing for a guy who hadn’t been on the slopes in quite some time.

Joe is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force( as is his wife Chico), and also a retired Delta Airlines pilot. Needless to say, Joe and his wife travel a lot and it was a little bit of time before I got him out again, back to Laurel, this weekend. Again, another bluebird day, and Joe loved it. I introduced him to a lot of people that are my friends and he asked me later if I knew everyone at Laurel. I said,” when you ski there a lot, you get to know people as the atmosphere at Laurel is conducive to that”. It is like a private ski club, in a way, and has a totally different feel from the other two resorts that Vail now manages and owns.

Sunset at Laurel Mountain- photo by Rob Slater

He skied mostly by himself as he wanted me to enjoy Wildcat like I usually do. (the steepest slope in Pa.) We connected from time to time but for the most part, Joe was enjoying all that Laurel had to offer, on his own terms without any interference from me. After a slice of home- made pizza at the Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown, ( he treated), we drove back through the scenic Ligonier Valley, talking about skiing and the possibility of him skiing with his buddy in Park City now that he has all his stuff, a military season pass from EPIC, and two days under his belt getting back into the swing of things.

I guess the thing I like the most about my time with Neighbor Joe, besides him being a good guy and enjoying his company, is that I could help him get re-acquainted with skiing. One of the things that I like to do most is just that……….get people into skiing,or back into skiing. When I used to teach, the greatest joy I had was to see someone “get it”, or improve, with a big smile on their face. I try to go out of my way to see that people get a good start, get the right equipment, and realize what great things the winter can provide. I also like to introduce them to my friends and people that I know in the sport that can become their friend too. Skiing is not only great sport in which to partake, but the people, the atmosphere of a great little ski area, and the whole feeling is something that one just has to experience. It is wonderful to see fresh snow on the ground and on the trees as you drive into Laurel. You park, walk across the street to the lodge and people are smiling. They greet you and everyone is excited for another great day. Everyone’s troubles, worries and concerns, melt like snow on a hot sunny day when you show up at a ski area ready to hit the slopes. It is an escape from politics, pressures of the job, and personal troubles. No matter what ski area you visit, there is a positive feeling that abounds. Laurel Mountain has a special feel and even though it doesn’t have the vertical of out west areas, or New England areas, for an hour or so from your house, it is a good place to go while you get ready to take your western or New England trips.

Joe not only got a chance to get another day in, but he also saw why I like Laurel Mountain so much. Not just the skiing close to home, but it is the people that make the place tick. The employees are really friendly, happy to see you, and work tirelessly to make the experience great. The regulars all greet you and you feel in a way that you are in your own private place of enjoyment. Joe found out what a wonderful place Laurel is, and he will be back as soon as possible. Think snow, go to Laurel Mountain, and thanks for reading.

Laurel Mountain buddies.

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The Older We Get- The Better We Were.

Howard Johnson’s at Tuckerman Ravine- 1984

So, I was surprised this week when my friend Eric, from Tahoe( formerly of Vermont), mailed me some pictures from way back when we skied Tuckerman Ravine together. Looking at these 40 year old photos, I thought back to a time when we laid down the only tracks one day in Dodge’s Drop ( and Eric had a cast on his wrist). We had some good times up there as we skied it many times together. But the thing that is amazing about this picture is the equipment we used. I mean, look at the skis. Probably 203 or 205 cm GS skis. Look how narrow compared to today’s equipment. 

External frame pack made for interesting attachments. 

The other interesting thing about these pictures was the external frame packs we used. We added cross bars with latches and wingnuts to secure the skis to the frame. He was from Vermont and naturally used wood. I was from the steel city and with the help of my dad, we used aluminum cross bars. All in all, with the boots secured in the bindings, our clothing and food for the week, sleeping bag and mat, the pack weighed in at around 85 pounds which was a pretty good load to haul to the shelters where we stayed. One year, I thought I would save some time and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ahead of time. By the time the week ended, that package of sandwiches had been slept on, eaten from, and generally the once nice, neat stack of sandwiches had turned into a peanut butter dough ball. Lots of memories came flooding back to me as I opened the envelope this week from my friend. 

In today’s world, people who climb and ski as we did, use internal frame packs. There are slots in the side of the packs that allow easy placement of the skis and the internal frames are much better suited to securing a lot of cargo. Lots of guys today use skins on their skis for climbing, and AT equipment to hike and ski to their destinations. Eric and I basically hauled our alpine equipment up to the shelter, and from there basically climbed up in our ski boots with our skis over our shoulders. Equipment surely changes and evolves over the years and skiing is no exception. 

Pro Skier Cody Townsend climbing with his internal pack and AT gear. 

The other things that evolve over time are the stories that we tell about the old days. Sure, there are embellishments, the runs are bigger and badder than perhaps they were, and the stories that we tell each other evolve with the passage of time. But like my friend Paul Vey still says many years later, our trip down Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole, was the highlight of his athletic career. He played Div 1 basketball at UVM and that is still saying something. Somehow the beers taste better when the stories start cranking up. Eric’s wife Helen usually disappears when she starts hearing the old stories. She has heard them way too many times. But when pictures like these start showing up again, they remind me of a time gone by and the good times that we had. I mean, we are still at it – 40 years later. Maybe not camping and hiking Tuckerman Ravine anymore, but still skiing in some pretty good places and having a pretty good time. And still skiing relatively well. 

Eric and our other skiing pal Hutch at June Mt., California. Yes, the beer tastes better when the stories start flowing. 

So, if you get a chance, go look in your old photo boxes and take some time to review your old times with great friends. They will remind you that friendships are important and like equipment and stories, they evolve over time. Having friends that you can still do things with after many years is a true blessing. Encourage each other to stay in shape, stay at it, and make the effort to get together whenever you can. And always remember- the older we get……………the better we were. Thanks for reading. 

40 years later at Mammoth Mountain, California. 

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The Headwall at Tuckerman Ravine

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Age Fluid

I was headed to the mountains this weekend and was listening to the Rich Roll Podcast as per my usual custom. It keeps me entertained on my way up and I heard an interesting comment from Rich’s guest- Chip Conley. Chip is a noted author, speaker, hotelier, and founder of the Modern Elder Academy. His purpose is to create awareness of the benefits of aging and how to best utilize the tools that we have acquired as we age. He spoke about being age fluid which basically means that if you have a meaningful purpose in life- career, hobbies, faith, outdoor activities, you can have a lot of friends that are from all different ages. He says most people really don’t care how old you are chronologically if you are able to be a vibrant member of that particular community. Rich Roll even stated that most of his friends are 10 years younger than him because he is involved in fitness, and he is age fluid. His chronological age of 57 doesn’t matter. He just does his thing ,and he is involved in a younger community of fitness enthusiasts. 

My MTB group in West Virginia 

Chip also said another interesting thing when he referred to the three stages of life being like the life of a butterfly. In the caterpillar stage, which typically is in our 20s and 30s, we are consuming. Attaining knowledge and skills, like a caterpillar is consuming to grow. In our 40s and 50s, we are in the chrysallis stage where we are transforming to what will become the final outcome- a butterfly. Finally, when we are in our 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond, we are in our butterfly stage, having transformed from the caterpillar and flying freely and pollinating as we spread our experience and knowledge and enthusiasm to others in an age fluid atmosphere. 

I reflected on my drive as I heard this and thought about my life stages and where I am, and where I want to be. Interesting that on my Garmin Fenix fitness watch, which takes in lots of data from my exercising, it says that my biological age is 57. When I look at that I think that yes, I am aging chronologically, but as far as how I feel, I am not anywhere near my chronological age. My neighbor, who recently retired said to me not to attach a number to my stage in life. He says that it is all in how you feel. I am in agreement with that because as I assess my fitness and overall well- being at the beginning of a new year, I think- “can I still do the things I like to do?” Then of course I get out there and just have at it and don’t think much more about it as I ride my mountain bike and ski. I don’t feel any different and am thankful to the good Lord that I am still able to participate in these things and not show off……… but show up. And like the butterfly, I can share some knowledge and experience when asked. 

Keep it going!!! 

So being age fluid, is a positive way to live life. It not only exists for outdoor activities, but also for other walks of life that include career, and worthy causes, sharing some of the knowledge and experience like the pollinating butterfly. I do realize that chronologically I am moving down the road, but I do think that as we all age, we can continue to be a vibrant contributor to the world around us by volunteering, and helping people in many ways through our experience and our enthusiasm. Some of my best conversations are on mountain bike rides, on chairlifts, and sharing a meal with friends who generally are younger than me. I learn from them for sure, and they, in turn, enjoy some of the stories and experiences I have had. I rarely am asked how old I am. That is because maybe I am…………age fluid. Thanks for reading and keep on keeping on. 

Jan and I enjoying a laugh and being ………….fluid. 

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Accountability

Even when it is nasty

This is the time of year when people make resolutions for a healthier life. Among other things, the beginning of a new year is filled with promise, hope, and thoughts of making one’s life more productive and more enjoyable. One way to start that process is perhaps a new diet or way of eating, and sometimes a new exercise program. For those who have not done one for a while, it is a good idea to check with your doctor before embarking on a new program, especially if you have been a little sedentary. But nonetheless, a new exercise program or a return to former exercise program is great for anyone at any age. 

The woods are my gym. 

For me, I always like to have a goal to work towards. It doesn’t have to be anything big at my age, but a goal is always a good program for a new year. I am not a gym guy, so I am always doing outside things like mountain bike riding and hiking all year, and skiing when the season is upon us. I like fresh air and being outdoors and never really took to the gym. However, for a lot of people, the gym is a good place to start especially in the winter when the weather gets inclement. I see a lot of people walking and jogging in our local parks this time of year. I call them the New Years resolution crowd because many of them will begin, but then the numbers dwindle off as the year goes on. But for many of them, if they ease into it, start slowly, and be consistent, it can be part of their lifestyle that can make the resolution a reality. I can’t emphasize enough to start out easy and build up slowly. 

The Endura MT500 Riding Outfits. 

One thing that helps if you want to begin an outdoor exercise program is to get the right clothes. My friend the Shark always says,” no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.” If you have the right clothing that keeps you dry and keeps the wind at bay, you can go out in the lousiest of weather and have a good workout and enjoy the ride. My Endura MT 500 jacket and pants are the ticket (us.endurasport.com) and when it gets real wet and nasty, I turn to a similar outfit made by Frogg Toggs (available at Dick’s Sporting Goods in the hunting department) that basically sheds water. But for the most part, the Endura outfit is the way to go. Ski socks, a wool skull cap under the helmet, and warm gloves are also key. 

But perhaps the most important thing to make an exercise program stick are friends who want to do the same thing. My best friends are my mountain bike and skiing friends, and we all hold each other accountable. Some days we may not feel like going out into the cold, nasty weather, especially at night, but our friends hold us accountable, and we bring the lights, the outfits, and have at it. At the end of the session, we may have a beverage, talk about the ride or the ski day, and then figure out when the next outing is. The best motivators are your pals who love to do the same thing as you do. So if you do not have a posse to hang out with and hold you accountable to show up……… find one. It is pretty easy if you join a group either found on -line, or recommended by shops, or simply showing up where people start their rides or programs in your local park. If you make the effort, you can really have some fun with a lot of people who eventually become your best friends in the world. No one beats my mountain bike clan or my ski pals. But the big thing about a group or a couple of friends, is that they hold you accountable. I will tell you that I have been doing this stuff for a long, long time and I really don’t need much encouragement or motivation. I have no issue skiing or riding in the rain. But I like to get people into these sports, and I welcome them and hold them accountable to show up. Most of the time it is successful, and our groups have welcomed a lot of newcomers over the years who now are motivating others. 

The Night Riders
Ski pals forever- we lost Proctor a couple of years ago on the right. Cherish your friends.  
The Mountain Bike Clan at Penn State
The local ski guys at Holimont. Been skiing with them for a lot of years. Andy, Hiller, Porter and Jamie.

So, if you are new to a sport and you want to have a resolution this year to get involved, find your group. The right ones will drag you out in the worst weather, drag you to the most challenging events, in rain, snow, sleet, hail, and make you smile the whole time. Ease into it, make your resolution stick, and get ready to be with a group who will be your best friends forever. Thanks for reading. 

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Support Your Local……..

Frick Park winter ride with Jeff Chetlin. 

Tired of the limited ski terrain due to terrible weather, and the huge “EPIC” crowds at our local ski resorts for the Holidays, our posse called an audible and met our pal Jeff and his wife Julie for a winter ride in Frick Park in the city of Pittsburgh. We included what I call the Tour de Death through Homewood Cemetery and it was a truly pleasant outing in the city with very little mud. We like to support our friend Jeff who has made nothing short of a miraculous recovery from a stroke. In fact, he bought a new E-Bike and re-assumed his role at the front of the pack, smiling like a butcher’s dog.( Thanks Mike Lange) He has appreciated the support while he has been recovering and is now fully on his way to living his life the way he wants to live it with his ever- energetic wife Julie. The key is support of friends. He would do the same for all of us and it was truly our pleasure to see him relish in the support of all his “outdoor type” friends. 

Bob K up and over the roller in Frick Park. Yes- literally an old cement roller that the local “Slagforce” installed for all of our enjoyment. 

Jeff always says that the mountain bike crowd is the most friendly and supportive group of people whom he knows. That is saying something seeing that he is a skier, mountain biker, snowmobiler, and avid, all -around outdoor sportsman. I would tend to agree. 

Thinking about support, especially locally, our favorite ski area of Laurel Mountain has had a rough start with the weather as well as some mechanical issues due to a power surge which damaged the chair lift motor and the snowmaking pump motors. Not to mention that during a recent storm, RT 30 was closed due to an accident and nobody could get to the resort. Our crowd has made it a mission to support Laurel during this time and show up even if all the terrain is not open. The folks on the staff there work extra hard to make Laurel a viable option during the winter, and it is a shame that they have been dealt a tough hand of cards in this early season. But again, our ski crowd,( many of whom are also in the mountain bike crowd), actively support what is going on in our local little ski area. We want to see it thrive and therefore show up even when conditions are not optimal. Happy to report that Laurel got a nice snowfall New Years Eve. Things are looking up. 

Hoping Laurel Mountain looks like this again soon. 

I think a lot about the slogan- ” Support Your Local…….” Every time I see a police officer, I thank them for their service. They have a tough job “protecting and serving” all of us in these tumultuous times. I thank anyone who has or is currently serving all of us in the military. Lots of local people who selflessly serve all of us. I support our local church as being part of a community of believers is important to me. John Guest, the famous evangelist, always says that you need not go far to support someone in need. The elderly in your neighborhood, local charities, a friend who is down. John says you don’t have to be a missionary overseas. Just look around your local neighborhood, workplace, school, and you will see opportunities to ” support your local…….” Give the local store support instead of spending your money in some big box store. Support the local businesses as they are trying hard to make it in this world today. There are so many opportunities to ” support your local……” I listened to the latest Rich Roll Podcast and his guest, Simon Hill, ( noted Australian health and fitness expert), said a very interesting thing. He was talking about service and serving others and said that one of the number one ways to lower stress and reduce blood pressure markers is to be of service to others. It has been clinically proven in testing individuals for health markers ,( cholesterol, blood pressure, VO2 max, etc.) that lifestyle changes like service can actually improve a number of markers in individuals who are looking to improve their health.

Darrell Porter and Ozanam helping us support Ronald McDonald House Charities. 

As we move towards 2024, Janet and I are trying to make more of an effort to support worthy local causes. Not that the big ones are not important, but keeping it local among business support, church support, charity support, is critical to keeping in touch with the local community. We are all in this together. 

Gretl Dupre restored Camp Soles. An outdoor camp for kids. Locally in our Laurel Highlands. 
The always smiling Gretl at her beloved Camp Soles. A wonderful opportunity for local kids to experience the great outdoors. 

Think about supporting your local friend, neighbor, family member, business, ski area, camp, and so many other opportunities in 2024. My mother always said…..” Happiness is like a perfume that you can’t sprinkle on others without getting a little on yourself.” So true mom. Happy New Years to all and enjoy the outdoors. Thanks for reading. 

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Shine Your Light

You know this time of year, you notice a lot of pine trees which turn into Christmas trees. Take the beautiful one that made its way from the Monongahela National Forest to the White House. An amazing journey and a fitting tribute to the season once it was erected in Washington, D.C. I think a lot about our Christmas tree. We have it adorned with ornaments that my mother and dad collected over all the years. They had the foresight to collect two each year from the Danbury Mint and Lennox China. One each for me and my sister Molly. We have them still today and the gold and the china ornaments look absolutely radiant on our tree each year- again, thanks to the thoughtful actions of my parents over all the years. 

I think a lot about those gold and china ornaments and how they shine when we turn on the lights for the tree. I think about how we are like those trees that we erect in our homes. The ornaments that signify memories from the past, the good years, the not so good years, the tough years, the absolutely joyful years, and times that have molded our personalities and character. We are building a display of that each year we get older. Life as a kid, school, sports, marriage, family, all contribute to the fabric of our lives and in many ways- those experiences are like the ornaments on our tree. 

But what highlights those ornaments? Light!! When we turn on the lights to the trees, the gold ornaments shine and reflect the light from all of the little white bulbs. Kind of like the Christmas story and how it lights up our lives. Imagine the darkness of the night in Bethlehem for the shepherds and all of a sudden- brilliant light when the angel Gabriel brought the good news. The bible refers to the heavenly light as Shekinah glory. A light that we cannot imagine here on earth. Part of that light was shown that night in Bethlehem and we are called to shine a light of our own when we interact with friends, strangers, and family this Christmas season. Jesus came to show us all how to shine our light and be the best version of ourselves – not only at Christmas but at all times of the year. We stop and pause to think about the significance of the Christmas story. The love and light that was shown to us so that we in kind might show that love and light to others. When we turn on our light, we illuminate our lives, experiences, and our hopes, dreams and faith for others to enjoy.

So this Christmas season, when we remember the birth of Christ and the significance of his life, death and resurrection for us ,we can be grateful. We can think about how we can make a difference for others throughout the New Year coming our way. Whatever you celebrate this season, the message is still the same. Be the light for others. Thanks for reading. 

” Therefore the Lord Himself will show you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and he shall be called Emmanuel- God with us.”  Isaiah 7-14. 

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The Drive South

Snow in them thar hills. 

You know, it might seem counter intuitive, in a slow starting local season, to drive south to ski. But that is exactly what my pal Porter Scott and I did to try to break the seal on the new ski season- at least here in the mid-Atlantic. Tucker County, West Virginia is higher than our local Laurel Highlands and Timberline Mountain is roughly 4500 feet in elevation. Snowshoe is a little higher but for the most part, this elevation difference makes for more natural snow conditions, and good snowmaking where maybe locally we may be a little shy for the moment.  

Porter and yours truly. 

I had not skied Timberline in the past, and my only experience there was riding in the 24 Hours of Canaan mountain bike race back in the mid-90s. At that time, Timberline seemed a little tired and in need of a serious upgrade. Enter the Perfect North company who are from the mid-west and own several areas there. The Perfect family has invested over 15 million in Timberline and in short, have made it, well, perfect as a local ski option for the tri- state area. The installation of a new 6 pack ,high speed, chairlift and upgraded state of the art snowmaking, have made this a great option for anyone who wants to drive to Davis, West Virginia and experience what Tucker County has to offer. Another selling point to this place is the fact that most of the runs are over 1000 vertical feet as opposed to the 700 + vertical at local Pa resorts. That little bit of extra vert is certainly welcomed, especially in the early season when you are anxious to get out and ski. Porter and I rallied 21,000 vertical there, and the conditions could not have been better. Good natural snow, good machine made snow, and excellent grooming with their fleet of Pisten-Bully groomers. 

Nice to see snow at this time of year. 

Ok- enough of the statistics. Let me tell you why we decided to go. Porter and I are avid skiers. We have skied together for over 50 years and we always talk skiing and make opportunities to ski together whenever we can. He is enthusiastic about skiing, like I am, and the thought of a day trip to West Virginia was appealing. Even though it is three hours driving time down and three hours back. We anticipated good skiing this time of year, coupled with the fact that both of us really like the Mountain State. He went to school down there, and I always have enjoyed my time there mountain biking. I have skied Snowshoe, but had never skied Timberline and I always get this warm feeling whenever I see the sign for Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia when we cross the border. Probably best to stay over a night or two instead of the drive all in one day. But really the conversation with Porter up and back made the time go quickly. People in Davis are friendly and the folks at Timberline could not have been more customer service oriented and just plain nice. Everyone says hello, has a smile on their face, and to hear a southern twang in a ski lift line is kind of amusing. Most people would not associate the south with skiing, but there are great options in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. The elevation helps and it seems like the people of Davis really like their outdoor opportunities and love their local Timberline Mountain. 

“Perfect” grooming and nice views of the Canaan Valley. 

The day was “perfectly” sunny, and Porter and I ripped off a lot of runs. We were so happy to be skiing, and I picked up right where I left off at Mammoth Mountain, California, in May. Working on some technique changes that were suggested by my friend from Tahoe when we skied together, along with associated thoughts by the legendary Harald Harb who I have been following on You Tube. Look him up. Great tips from a great coach. In any event, it was great to get a good start to hone my technique and feel pretty good on a pair of skis again. But then again, what about West Virginia? 

Great Views from the Salamander Trail- a long cruiser. The south’s longest run. Lots of beautiful homes being built along this trail. 
The friendly and very capable staff at the base of their new 6 pack chairlift. 

I guess the experience is best described when you stop after skiing and have a cold beer in one of Davis’s breweries like Stumptown Ales, followed by an always enjoyable Italian meal at Sirriani’s right in the middle of town. Happy people, talking skiing and mountain biking, and in general, just enjoying the vibe of a little town dedicated to health, exercise, and good friends with an outdoor oriented community. West Virginia is great, and the town of Davis personifies the vibe of the Mountain State. I am so happy my friend Chris Huffman suggested that we try Timberline. We will be going back for sure. I love riding my mountain bike down there and now have another ski option a little closer to home. Thanks Chris and thanks to Timberline for a really enjoyable experience. Think snow, go ski Timberline, and thanks for reading. 

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The Skiing is Good to Excellent

Kinda looks like this in early season.

This cartoon always cracks me up because in a lot of ways, it describes early season skiing anywhere, but particularly here in the Mid -Atlantic. The title line above is what I heard from the former Director of Skiing at Seven Springs Mountain Resort- Lars Skylling, when I would call the ski report incessantly as a kid. ” The skiing is good to excellent with a few izzzzzzzzzy spots.” This time of year, I still look at the ski reports and hope for the best to get an early start around here. People ask me all the time why I ski locally when I get the opportunity to take several trips out west during the season. I tell them that I live and work in the Mid-Atlantic, and if I only skied out west, I would only have a few weeks a year to make turns. Maybe someday I will spend more of the season out west, but for the time being, I ski here and look forward to our trips.

Yours truly at Seven Springs Mountain Resort as a kid. Wooden skis, cable bindings, and leather, lace, boots with the old ski lodge in the background.

So back to local skiing. Typically, whenever anything is open at our local resorts, I will make the trip up to ski. I am a turnpike pounder and could drive that in my sleep. Generally speaking, it has been a good 7-8 months since I have last made a turn and I miss the feeling. Last season, I finished in May at Mammoth, so my time off skis is a little less. But as soon as anything is open, I will go and make some turns. Yes- with the popularity of season passes by Epic and Ikon, a lot of areas look like the cartoon in early season. But I try to get out locally, really early, and when the throngs come crashing in, I leave and wolf down a sandwich on the way home. If it rains, and the cover is good at the areas, I will don the Gore Tex and ski in the rain. Around here, if you don’t ski in foul weather, you don’t ski much. My western friends laugh at me when I say I ski in the rain, but I do what I have to do to get my limited days in during the season. I have really good foul weather skiing and MTB clothing. I ride in the winter too. This is my 62nd year of skiing and my protocol has not changed much at all.

One of my oldest skiing buddies- Dixon Rich. We are still skiing Laurel Mountain together after all these years.
Jan and I on a nice day at Laurel Mountain.

Like mountain biking, I have my local crowd and we all look forward to the season opener. The camaraderie and the nice feeling of seeing your posse for another ski season is always gratifying. Sure, in the beginning of the season, you tend to ski on limited terrain with big crowds. You head is on a swivel as you make endless laps on only a couple of slopes and trails. When it becomes unbearable, the best thing is to leave so you don’t get creamed by an out- of -control yahoo. People get a little crazy at the beginning of the year- new equipment, frenzy to get out, and oftentimes out of control. Janet will only ski during the week, so we will take some days locally to get her ready for the west, but during the week, you pretty much have the areas to yourself. The weekend crowds are the killer- but again, get out early and make those early season turns, and then make like a tree and leave. Once you get your turn fix, you are good. Even if you are there for only a short time.

Dixon, Melissa and Jaime- the Laurel regulars
Tina, Shark and John. Mountain bike and ski pals
Porter and Hiller at Holimont. Have skied with these guys for years and we always make the treks to Western New York to ski the Lake Erie Fluff. Especially when it is not quite ready around here.

You know, the older I get, the more I appreciate the camaraderie of the local crowd at ski season time. It is great to see everybody again especially if you have not seen them all summer. Yes- climate change and global warming is a real thing. We don’t have the snow around here like we had as kids, but we all make the best of it. The skiing may be limited, but the apres’ is never limited with a beverage or two to celebrate the day. I talk about skiing year- round- even on mountain bike rides. You either are hooked or you are not. I have been hooked since I was seven years old and hammering the phone for the ski report. I couldn’t wait for Mr. Rose to call and tell me he was picking me up for the weekend. What a great way to grow up. On the floor of the Rich’s cabin, in sleeping bags, every weekend. I have always felt so fortunate to be able to ski and at least have some local options. People bad mouth local skiing but what the heck, it is better than sitting on the couch moaning about the weather. Ski local, ski in the shitty weather, and when you are finished, you will be glad you made the effort. Skiing is social also, so if nothing else, it is cool to hang with your buds and talk…………..skiing.

So, here we are. Anxiously awaiting another season. Hoping that the crowds are not as bad as the cartoon above, but so what!! I will be there – rain or shine, head on a swivel, happy to once again make those arcs in the snow. Thanks for reading and think snow.

Lets Goooooooooo!!!!!!!!

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Norm!!!!!

Norm Dick on the right in yellow ball cap. The Armada Supply Chain Solutions Colorado Relay Team

Back in the day, I was manager of the customer service department and the field service department and traveled a lot with my job for Armada Supply Chain Solutions. I am in my 25th year with Armada but in a different capacity now with very little traveling. But going back a few years, I was on the road working with suppliers and distribution centers. I always had my toys with me and either took some time to ride my road bike or mountain bike or ski in a lot of the areas where I traveled. When that was not possible, I always went for a run. But I always made it my business to do something fun and enjoy the places where I went for work. Business first, but always enjoyed something outdoors in the local area.

Crystal Mountain, Washington – one of my favorite ski areas to visit when visiting the Portland, Oregon, and Sumner, Washington DCs.
My old pals from the neighborhood- the Nicolette brothers. My guests at a Chipotle outing at A Basin, Colorado.

For two years, I was assigned to travel with our VP Norm Dick. I wasn’t too sure what to think because I had been pretty much on my own in my travels for the company. But Norm and I started to communicate, and it didn’t take too long to see that he and I were very compatible. Norm knew everyone in the McDonald’s system and introduced me to the real players in the world of the red headed clown. I, in turn, introduced him to my friends in the DCs and we got along just fine. You see, Norm liked to have a good time- business first, but have a good time for sure while traveling. He would take me to Ronald McDonald House golf outings as he was an excellent golfer and me……..not so much. I took my clubs one time to an outing in California and brought my father in law’s old golf shoes that I found in his basement. Norm took one look at them and threw them out the window on I-5 and said………” we need to get you new shoes.” My father- in- law asked where the shoes were, and I sheepishly replied, on my return, that they were on the freeway in California.

Norm and I went to Deer Valley to ski with our pal Chris Snelten who is the GM of the Salt Lake DC. We actually made our presentation in our ski gear and then hustled up to Deer Valley to ski with Chris who said that from now on, we need to do these presentations on the chair lift. Save some time. We all laughed. Norm made fun of my duct taped ski pants and said you can’t ski at Deer Valley with duct taped pants. I told Norm that I have skied in 111 different ski areas in my life and never got a blink on my clothes. We all laughed at that one too. I may not have been a good golfer, but I can ski, and Norm and I had a great time on the slopes as well as in the DCs making the pitch for managed freight and other customer related issues.

Scheming another trip with Norm.

When we had a team in the Colorado Relay, which was a 24- Hour trail running race to benefit Outward Bound, Norm was our driver and manager. He made sure we all were on time for our legs and if that meant kicking us in our sleeping bags on the lawn of a school, he did it. Wake up dummies. He met me at a bar in Copper Mountain at the end of one of my legs. He looked at me and said…..” you look like shit.” I laughed and said ” no kidding- I just ran 8 miles basically uphill at altitude” We ran those races as a benefit for RMHC and Norm loved it. He and Chrissy Mullen – our other manager and van driver kept us on track and in line. Chrissy ended up running it herself one year.

Norm and I traveled everywhere and there were a lot of laughs along the way. In what I thought was going to be a tough stint traveling with our VP, turned out to be one of the more educational experiences of my life. In more ways than one. I remember one time when we were visiting with a DC and a McDonald’s regional manager, Norm was confronted by the DC GM who said” what do we need Armada for?” ” You guys are just middle- men.” Norm looked at him and said ” fine- order direct and see the walls of your DC just explode out into the street.” He shut the guy up and the McDonald’s guy looked at me and I whispered to him…….” don’t mess with Norm.” Norm knew his stuff and if needed, he would say so forcefully. But always, Norm was well known and respected in the system. And he was hilarious. I could write a book on our travels and adventures but safe to say……. we got our work done and had a good time doing it.

Pat Heffernan – GM at Martin-Brower Cleveland and Pittsburgh DCs, with fellow cyclist and Armada VP of Supply Chain Engineering, JR Ellis. Ray’s – indoor cycling facility- Cleveland. We found all the cyclists and skiers in the McDonald’s system.

One more thing about Norm- he was an amazing driver. He could look at you and be making a point driving the Dan Ryan in Chicago at 80 MPH in the rain. I kept hinting to him to look ahead- but he was making a point to me. We always arrived in one piece. He never let me drive- I drive too slow. He said to me, ” how come you ski so fast and drive so slow?” One time in Atlanta ,he rear ended a pickup truck and complained that the rental car brakes were bad. He said he was going to report that when he returned the car. LOL!!! The guy we hit looked like he didn’t want to have any police nearby and didn’t want any part of the accident. He looked at Norm and looked at the cars and shook his head and quickly headed from the scene.

Norm is now retired in Chicago and also at his new winter place near Scottsdale. We keep in touch but there was nothing like traveling with Norm. We even got the wives in on it as Norm would refer to it as a “boondoggle.” He always asked about Janet Lee, and I always asked about Janet Marie. We had some good times on the west coast.

It is not often that people have good experiences traveling with their boss or a top brass in the company. Norm was the exception. Everywhere we went, people would give him the Cheers greeting…….”Norm!!!!!!!!!” I would laugh. Good times and always wish the best for Norm. Thanks for reading.

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