Category Archives: outdoor sports

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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 Drive North

Back in the day, at this time of the year, I always packed my skis, boots and bags in my vehicle and headed north to New England. Not only because I usually wanted to get a jump on the season down here in the Mid Atlantic, but because I always liked the whole atmosphere of winter in New England. I would sign up for a PSIA clinic and get some additional training as well as see some old friends in Vermont. Back in those days, I think I was more proud of achieving my (Full Certified- now Level III) ski instructor certification at Killington than I was graduating from Allegheny College. I remember telling my dad that I wanted to take my certification and he said, ” fine- just don’t make a career out of it.” That was right after I spent the winter after graduation in Sugarloaf, Maine teaching skiing. I made a lot of friends up there and continued to travel to New England in the early winters.

There was something special to me about loading up the vehicle, turning on the Christmas music on the radio, and making the long drive up Interstate 79, to Interstate 90 in New York, to I-87 North and over to Vermont and points north. I loved driving in the winter seeing the quaint little villages with their Christmas lights twinkling. I couldn’t help thinking that I would love to live and work up there, and enjoy life in the outdoors. It really was right up my alley and I looked forward to my trips. Never made the jump, but always took time out to take the long drive in all kinds of weather to take in what Vermont, New Hampshire, upstate New York, and Maine had to offer. I really was not fully accepting of my role in my family business and would think a lot about how life could be so different. But one thing led to another, and I ended up making a lot of trips instead of making the move permanently. And that’s ok because life has been good to me.

Giving you a chance to peek under my hood for a moment, I never really was a career guy. I worked so I could enjoy life. I might have been able to perhaps achieve more, but looking back, I am happy that I enjoyed things like driving through a Vermont village, in a softly falling snow, looking at decorated Christmas trees, and thinking about skiing in a place where skiing is important. The thing I like about New Englanders is their passion for skiing, hiking and all things outdoors. It is really part of the fabric up there and the Currier and Ives atmosphere only enhances the feeling I get when I visit.

I have skied in 111 different areas in my life and a good many of those areas are in New England. PSIA clinics, skiing with my friends Eric, Helen, Hutch, and Mike Smith, and racking up the vertical all those years coupled with thousands of miles of driving, fueled my love for the Green and White Mountains and the Adirondacks. I feel ,somehow, that I am connected to that area of the country. I like the west, but I have always had a soft spot for places like the Beast, Stowe, Sugarloaf, and even a lot of the smaller, more quaint family run areas. Loved the early season runs on Cascade at Killington, on bullet proof conditions with the snowmaking guns making me look like a glazed donut. I always loved towns like Middlebury, Vermont, North Conway, New Hampshire, Waitsfield, Vermont and my always enjoyable times in summer and winter with the Durfees in Bethel, Vermont. Always had a liking for Lake Placid in the Adirondacks too, skiing in the pouring rain on the Summit Chair at Whiteface. For someone who lives in the Mid-Atlantic, I have racked up a lot of time in those mountains and towns. Closing the hood now, yes, maybe I could have been more career minded, but the time spent enjoying my life and times in the outdoors will never take a back seat to what could have been had I pursued a professional career. I have been blessed with good opportunities to earn a living, but had I done something else, I may not have had the time to jam my vehicles with my toys and head north.

Thinking about those days at this time of year, with the harrowing drives on the New York State Thruway, I-87 and the sometimes, blinding miles on RT 7 in Vermont, it always was worth the hazard. After a while, I never even looked at a map because I knew the routes in my head. Have not been up north in a couple of years. But am looking forward to taking Janet someday up to my old stomping grounds. She has had some experience up there, with me, but the weather was not kind to her. LOL!! But she is a gamer, and she will make that New England road trip sometime soon. Think snow and thanks for reading.

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The Rope Tow

The diabolical surface lift of all time- the rope tow.

I posted about the poma lift back in January of 2022 and gave everyone some funny stories of that iconic surface lift for skiing. Check out my archives for that story. This post will feature what I call the diabolical demon of surface lifts- the rope tow. Now before I start my rant, I wanted to tell you a bit of trivia. For those who don’t ski, or those who have never had the pleasure of ripping your gloves apart on a rope tow, this lift is historical. In fact, the grandfather of my friend in Tahoe, donated the first rope to Clinton Gilbert who installed the first rope tow in this country on his farm in Vermont in 1934. Powered by a Model T engine. Interestingly of local note, Adolph Dupre, the original owner of Seven Springs Farm( now Mountain Resort) created his first rope tow in 1935. Skiing was becoming very popular in the 30s and lifts were springing up all over the country. But, Clinton Gilbert was the first in Vermont and Eric Durfee’s grandpap was part of the historical lore of the first tow in America.

Photo courtesy of Eric Durfee- originally of Bethel, Vermont

So what is the deal on the rope tow? Well- when you are a kid learning to ski, this is the first major obstacle besides stopping that you have to overcome if you want to keep skiing. There are only so many times you are going to walk up the hill tripping over your skis until you get the bright idea that it is time to take a ride to the top. When I was a kid learning at 7 years old, I ventured over to a red tractor in the “beginner bowl” that powered a fast moving rope that you had to grab to tow you up the hill. Most rope tows are powered by automobile engines or tractors and the red tractor at Seven Springs was the first time I had seen a rope tow.(For those of you who don’t know- this was before the hotel was built and it was in that general area.) I studied it for a while, watched the other kids have success, or no success or somewhere in between, and eventually grabbed the rope and went for a ride. I was amazed at the car wheel pulleys that were used to stabilize the rope where it returned back to the engine. One big continuous loop of speedy, thick, glove burning rope.

Rope tows move fast and when you finally get into place with your skis, muster up enough courage to slowly let the rope move through your hands, and then take the eventual grab, you either were successful or you basically exploded out of your boots and went ass over tincups off to the side of the hill. Lots of laughs were had by fellow kids learning, and we all had our turn embarrassing ourselves by grabbing the powerful, fast- moving rope too quickly. We also learned that you must never have loose fitting scarves, jackets, or other bits of clothing that might get caught in the rope. That was pure unvarnished danger and there were signs everywhere warning you of the impending doom of that kind of mistake.

As kids, we also learned that it was fun to grab the rope, swing out to the side, and see if we could knock our fellow riders out of the track. The lift attendants always took a dim view of that and chastised us when we got to the top, threatening to take our passes. But nonetheless, we became experts at riding the fast- moving surface lift of doom. We all figured out ways to make it fun going up.

The result of riding the rope tows, was the fact that your gloves took a major beating with the grabbing of the fast- moving rope. We all tried leather glove liners, thicker gloves, mittens, and everything we could think of to keep the burning rope from destroying our gloves. But usually to no avail and it was those times where we graduated to the poma lifts, or to the chair lifts. But as kids, we had our fun on the rope tows and fond memories of dragging each other in and out of the snow tracks, will always be in my mind.

Today- a lot of smaller, family run areas still have rope tows and even the larger areas use them to get from one major lift to another across a flat area. But for the most part, modernization with slower moving chair lifts, and surface lifts like the magic carpets, have replaced the rope tows. Everytime I grab a rope tow to make my way to another lift, I think of all the fun times I had as a kid. I mean, we lived on those rope tows even when we were night skiing. In the early days, we would kill ourselves trying to get back up if we had fallen in the track, looking like we had been in a blizzard covered with snow, and making our way into the lodge for a hot chocolate and a warm -up by the fire- only to go back out and have at it again. The rope tow never stopped except when it was shut off for the ski session by an attendant. It just kept running and running, killing our gloves, punishing us if we grabbed too hard, and in general showing us who was boss. 62 years later, I still give some pause any time I have to use one and make sure that I gradually grab the rope. Exploding out of my boots at my age could be catastrophic and my experience from long ago serves me well when I approach these mechanical devices. Hopefully everyone will have an opportunity sometime in their skiing lives to use a rope tow, poma lift, or t-bar. They are becoming more and more extinct with maybe the exception of the t-bar in Europe. But for the most part, surface lifts can be as much fun going up as skiing is going down. Especially as a kid, or in my case, a kid in my own mind. Thanks for reading and think snow.

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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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The Solden Kickoff

Laura Gut Behrami from Switzerland wins the first Women’s World Cup GS on the Rettenbach Glacier

One of the cool things about watching ski racing on TV, especially the kickoff in Solden, Austria, is it gets you excited for the upcoming ski season. Now I don’t need much encouragement to get excited for ski season, but watching the races on TV definitely gets your amp meter up and running. However, the interesting thing about the coverage is that there is technically so much going on that enables you to see the turns in slow motion as well as from above with the new drone photography. The coverage has become so much better with the advances in broadcasting at race venues.

Drone photography of Mikaela Shiffrin’s run.

I like to watch the turns to see exactly how the World Cup racers do it. The slow motion definitely helps the visual but the new drone coverage from above the skier on the way down the course enables to you see their body position as well as the bending of both skis in the turn. Drone photography has been such an improvement. This fall, I spoke to the drone engineers at the World Cup Mountain Bike races in Snowshoe, West Virginia and they had some interesting things to say. First of all, they told me that they programmed the course GPS coordinates in the drone logic so that the drone has a definite path on the way down the course. It is also locked into the rider and the GPS course lock enables those great shots down the course in the middle of the woods. A little easier with skiing because the racecourse is open and the drone can fly unobstructed. They might not need the GPS technology but then again, they might. In any event, it has been a really good enhancement to the ski coverage.

Petra Vlhova from Slovakia in slow motion action

Peacock, the streaming platform for NBC, is contracted to broadcast all Austrian races as well as the World Cup races in the US. The women’s races at Killington are next on the docket Thanksgiving weekend. All other races are able to be viewed on www. skiandsnowboard.live This is a subscription based streaming platform which is not very expensive and enables the enthusiast to see basically all the other races. Kind of a shame that the mainstream sports broadcasting does not jump on board seeing that the winningest ski racer of all time is in her prime right now and is an American- Mikaela Shiffrin. But, I will log into Peacock and the subscription based platform because I am a fan.

Leader board is so tight.

One thing that you do notice when looking at the leader board is how close the races are. I mean, Federica Brignone of Italy lost the race by .02 seconds to Laura Gut Behrami. This was over two runs. It shows you that the slightest slip or loss of concentration can put you out of the win or out of the top ten. Technique is so important and for that matter, a little luck never hurts either. The men’s race was cancelled due to a winter storm that made it impossible to race. But watching the women is great because their technique is solid and their fitness is apparent.

Paula Moltzan of the US in slow motion.

You know, it is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. My friend Eric has been working with me on lowering my stance and using both skis in the turn. He wants me to ski a little wider, but I have to stand where it is comfortable and try to work both skis from a comfortable stance without the old “A Frame” technique. Tough to change after so many years of skiing “old school.” But watching the races and seeing the new technique, enabled by equipment that gives you a fighting chance……well, just maybe I can change. I won’t be able to do it like the World Cuppers, but I can at least improve my 62 year old technique. Yes- that is how long I have been skiing. Yikes! Thanks for reading and watch Paula and Mikaela. You will learn something.

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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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The Massacre at Tea Creek

The Tea Creek Trail Head
The Tea Creek Team

We all kind of laughed at the potential title to this post but in some ways, it was kind of true. Syed Hyder, Mark” the Shark” Sauers, John Casuccio and his daughter Haley, Pete Hilton and I all made the trek to Snowshoe, West Virginia to take in the UCI World Cup Mountain Bike Races and do some riding in the always challenging trails of West Virginia. Little did we know that our ride in the Tea Creek area would turn into probably one of the most challenging rides we have ever done all due to a navigational error. But we will get into that in a bit. First things first. We started out with a nice ride at the Baker’s Ridge trails near the WVU campus with our good friend Roger Evans. He led us around these beautifully created trails as a first stop on our way south.

Roger- upper left. Gave us a good tour around Morgantown.

Moving towards Slaty Fork and Marlinton after the ride, we made our way to a wonderful cabin at the Jerico Bed and Breakfast complex. The cabins there are restored pre-Civil War structures that are truly spectacular. If you ever want a nice place to stay- look no further than the Jerico and rent one of those beautifully restored cabins. https://jericobb.com

The Lee Cabin- named after the famous Confederate general. Right near Marlinton, WVA.

After settling into the Lee Cabin, we awoke the next morning to a spectacularly sunny day with the changing leaves all holding court for our visual enjoyment. John and I had discussed the route on the Tea Creek ride prior to the trip and had agreed on a plan to take us down the Gauley Mountain Trail, making a right turn on the Bear Pen Trail which would eventually end up on a fire road which we could take back to the lot, or we could add a few miles by rerouting on some of the trails generally around the parking area. John and Haley had downloaded the map on their Garmin devices and I went old school with my map of the area from the old Wild 100 days. I have had a lot of experience riding in that region and had a pretty good idea of the good routes versus the tough routes. John suggested that we make a right turn on the way down the Gauley Mountain trail which deviated from our plan. But we were all cool with it as we were challenged on the rocky, rooty, always slimy terrain. As Shark would say, ” it gets West Virginia in a hurry” once you begin riding anything in that region and the Gauley Mountain Trail and the Red Trail were no different. You always have to keep your speed up because momentum is your friend. As soon as you slow down and think too hard about what is in front of you, trouble ensues.

Pondering the crossing
John and Syed slogging through

Had we decided to go all the way down, we could have hit the Tea Creek Mountain Trail which several of us had ridden before. That would have led us to the Tea Creek campground with an easy out on the Bannock Shoals trail to the fire road to the finish. But what could have been a nice “Gilligan’s Island” three hour tour turned into a true backcountry slogfest when our only route out was the Tea Creek Trail which was clearly marked on my map as ” not recommended”. I knew when we were headed there that it would be a very challenging route out. Most of it was unrideable and it even would be challenging as a hiking trail with multiple stream crossings before the trail ended.

We all tried to keep our shoes dry by handing each other our bikes and gingerly crossing the slimy rocks in the Tea Creek. But by the time we hit the 6th stream crossing, we all basically were trying to get across the best way we could which included hip deep wading and steep banks on the other side where we once again pushed our bikes up the steep inclines out of the creek and passing the bikes up the bank when needed. Our shoes were soaked and the going got tougher when we tried to ride some sections out. Shark fell and banged his noggin and had some blood on his lip which caused his Confederate general, snowwhite beard to sport some red. Doc Hyder made sure he was ok and we plodded on primarily pushing our bikes over four miles of steep, rocky, unrideable terrain. Along with the usual annoyances of stepping on ground bees nests and getting multiple stings, falling in the creek, getting pounded by the relentless uphill rocks, roots, and mud bogs, we finally escaped the Tea Creek Trail and made our way back to the fire road and ultimately to the parking lot……………..5+1/2 hours after we began. Including a half hour lunch break of pre-packed peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Always a winner and a life saver on long rides.

West Virginians are tough as we saw several of them on the rides plowing their way through everything. They are used to this challenging terrain, but our crew held our own in what was truly a backcountry adventure leading me to the conclusion that any deviations from the mapped plans can lead to more than we would bargain for. Haley, the mother of two young kids, was undaunted by it all and showed that once again, youth is wasted on the young. She was amazing.

The World Cup Races were fun to watch especially the downhill on Saturday. The fitness displayed by the XC racers on Sunday was amazing to see as well as they are all the best in the world and we had the good fortune to see them up close. Snowshoe does a great job putting on these races every year and hopefully the UCI schedule will permit another wild, wonderful event in the premier showcase resort in the area.

East Coast Legend Jeremiah Bishop. The always smiling Pete Hilton in background.
Defending Olympic Gold medalist and current World Champion Tom Pidcock. So cool to see him in person.
The very personable Brit Evie Richards -always a contender for the women’s XC crown. Our doc Syed on right.

I am getting a little long in the tooth for 5+1/2 hour rides, slogs, hikes or whatever you want to call it. But sometimes age and treachery survives ,and I will be back to try the new 30 mile trail system currently being developed near Marlinton. This system we are told, will be an IMBA Gold Trail System- the first on the East Coast. This will bring Marlinton well into the game of being a top- rated destination spot for mountain bike riding. But I will be using my maps for sure and not deviating from the plan. However, if it were not for the deviation, we would not have had the adventure we had. So, no problem, John. A fun adventure. Sometimes you have to deviate. Thanks for reading.

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When the Autumn Weather- Turns the Leaves to Flame

Skipper Lake at the Lodge at Glendorn

The title line here is from the iconic “September Song” – arranged by Kurt Weil and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. But when I play this song on my piano, ( from my mother’s sheet music), it reminds me that fall is here and the leaves are changing, the nights are cooler, and probably my favorite time of the year has arrived. As much as I try to rush into ski season, more and more I am relishing the cool, crisp days of fall with the spectacular foliage we have here in Western Pa. I am in no hurry for winter. It will come soon enough, and I will surely enjoy it. But as I get older, I really enjoy the changing of the seasons – especially summer to fall.

The other night, our posse was out mountain bike riding on one of our regular weekly scheduled rides, and we noticed that after the sun went down, it got real cool ,real fast. The sweatshirts came out and we sat around with our post ride beers and snacks ( courtesy of Bob K), and really enjoyed riding and relaxing in cooler weather without the swelter of summer. I seem to ride better when the humidity is lower and the temperatures start to moderate. But aside from that, to sit and take in the cool weather, a nice IPA, and listen to the cricket symphony of early fall is a true blessing.

Bear Cub sighting last fall.

Sometimes when you hike or ride in the fall, you come across some interesting things- like two bear cubs scampering up a tree in the Allegheny National Forest. I was looking for mom when I snapped this photo but got it and then quickly took off so as not to irritate the mother bear. The Laurel Mountains, close to here, also paint a picture a little earlier than in the suburbs. It is great to venture east and see the changing of the leaves happen a little earlier with the slight rise in elevation. Sunshine, cooler weather, and colder nights, seem to bring out the colors faster than in the city and suburbs. I tend to visit the Laurels a lot in the fall because of the wonderful fall portraits that display themselves in Ligonier, Somerset, and Rector, Pa. The fireplaces are cranking up and that smoky smell just excites me to no end. The smells of fall are intoxicating. There is something about a crackling fire that enhances the fall experience, and the smell of leaves is not really accurately describable – but we all know that smell.

I am also a fan of the tastes of fall. Nothing like a good Octoberfest to get you going. And even though I don’t enjoy the great wursts, sauerbraten, and pork loins anymore because I am not a meat eater, nobody can slam potato pancakes and apple sauce like me along with some nice braised red cabbage washed down with a great German beer or a local Penn Brewery Octoberfest lager. Maybe a warm pretzel as well! I like to listen to the ooom pahh German bands too. They seem to go along with the great beers and food.

Great time to hike or ride a mountain bike and take in scenes like this. Seven Springs, Pa.
My old outdoor fireplace was always blazing in the fall.

You know, I am not really sure I could ever live in a place that does not have the change of seasons. Especially a place that really does not have a fall season. I love wearing sweaters, sweatshirts, and even those times where you have a puffy jacket on and a pair of shorts. That kind of describes the weather here in the Mid -Atlantic and the Northeast. Cool mornings, warmer days, and then cool again at night. Great sleeping weather. I don’t miss the summer AC at all.

Bondieu Lake- The Lodge at Glendorn- Bradford, Pa.

As time marches on, I find myself taking time to really enjoy what God’s creation has to offer. I notice the flame red leaves on the trails as I ride, I take in the smells, I look for little things that might have gone un-noticed as a younger person. Watching a particular maple tree in my neighborhood change colors so slowly but yet somehow- so quickly. Holding my wife’s hand on a hike instead of rushing up a hill to be the first guy there. Fall is like that. It gives you perspective, but rewards you with scenery that you only see for a short time- once per year. My advice to all of you is get out there and enjoy it and take the time to enjoy it all. We have a good deal here in Western Pa. Thanks for reading.

The Transition Spur in transition time in the Laurels.
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Time

Ocean City, NJ

So we visited Janet’s cousin and aunt last week at the “shore” as it is called. Looking out at the ocean and listening to my soundtrack on my new Shokz Open Fit earphones, I had some contemplative moments. The Open Fits are a great item that allow you to listen to music or podcasts but fit outside your ear canal so you can hear what is going on around you. Check them out. But anyhow, I was thinking about the end of summer and the beginning of fall coming and getting close to another lap around the sun for me which will be the end of a decade. Next year is the beginning of a new decade for me and sometimes I feel like I am running out of time. I feel like I am in a Ferrari at full speed, standing and holding the steering wheel, both feet slammed on the brakes to no avail. Thoughts like that are on one side of the mental checklist, but more positive thoughts are on the other side of that checklist. Things like good health with which I have been blessed. The plant based diet seems to be working as I have lowered cholesterol significantly and lost 13 pounds which was not really intended. I don’t need to lose weight, but I did and feel so much better. I have been riding my mountain bike better and feel lighter and stronger even though I am getting older.

I use a Garmin Fenix 6 X fitness watch which allows me to track a whole host of data, some which I use and others that are not used. But two of the interesting metrics are that is says my fitness age is 57 and my Vo2 Max is 43 which is in the top ten percent for my age group. Not sure how much stock I put into those metrics, but it makes you feel a little better. I am not afraid of getting older, but sometimes when you have time to think, like at the shore, thoughts creep into your head. I lost some friends this year and that is sobering. But as Dr. Peter Attia says, it is not that we are trying to live longer, but to enjoy the years we have with good health. He also says in his book “Outlive”, that if you want to roll around on the floor with your grandkids, and get up with no issues, you have to “backcast” to where you are now and start exercising with that in mind. A lot of that is genetics and good blessings, but exercise is definitely a contributor and something to which I have always subscribed.

The mountain bike has been a wonderful tool for me.
End of summer floral greetings on the trails.

As I move to this new decade in 2024, I do still have some fitness goals. I also want to continue to learn. My friend Eric is helping me to work on a more modern ski technique which I will practice this winter. I need to get lower, wider, and use both skis in a turn like the modern race turn which is facilitated by the new equipment available to us. You can always learn new things. Sure, I can stay with my A frame classic technique but why not continue to learn new things and make more dynamic turns on the slopes?

I can’t do it like Mikaela but it sure is a good mental image.

But other than exercise, there are more considerations about the topic of time. I am moving towards retirement, and I am beginning to think about the use of time for Janet and me in a world where I will not be employed anymore. Janet’s cousin Jeff had an interesting comment during our stay at the shore. He is retiring next year, and he is a surgeon. He told me he thought that the most important thing is not what you are retiring from, but what you are retiring to. He says the new chapter in your life should be filled with a purpose. In his case, he is going to be actively involved in the ministry of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He not only has a medical degree from Yale, but a Divinity degree as well. He is going to make good use of that in retirement. I also think that is a good mission statement for Janet and me. There are so many worthy causes to which we can give our time and we will make an effort to pray about it and see where this path will take us.

Time spent together is priceless.

But getting back to that mental checklist, the fear of running out of time is offset by being active and enjoying all that life has to offer. Time together, traveling, active lifestyles, continuing education. To be honest, I feel better now and more fit than I did ten years ago. How that is possible is beyond me, but I will continue with the exercise and the diet and see how things go. God has been good to us. I appreciate all the blessings we have, and the contemplative thoughts are usually overshadowed by an active and productive lifestyle. And as most older people have said – keep moving.

Bill McCollom was a former masters ski racer ,all American ski racer at Middlebury College and editor of Ski Racing. His famous line was, ” I want to go skidding across the finish line of life, missing parts, leaking oil, and screaming……..GERONIMO!!!” An interesting mantra from a very active guy. Thanks for reading and keep moving.

Now the time has come

There are things to realize

Time has come today

-The Chambers Brothers.

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The B Team Bringing Their A Game

You know, Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. And to see it from the seat of a bicycle along with riding to and through all the beautiful city parks is something very special. Cyclo X is the brainchild of Aaron Shafer who started this ride a number of years ago and it has increased in popularity. Aaron’s route changes each year for variety but for the most part, it encompasses all the parks with some mixed surfaces like road, gravel, and of course singletrack trails.

The founder of Cyclo X- Aaron Shafer. A Team Leader
The start at the Grist House Brewery – Millvale, Pa.

The ride can be done on a gravel bike, but the preferred bike would be a mountain bike. No chance on a road bike. There are some fairly technical trails in the city parks especially the Emerald Trails up on Mount Washington where having a mountain bike is an advantage. Sure, gravel bikes can be used, but unless you have some pretty superb technical skills, you really are better off riding a mountain bike which is fine on all surfaces.

The Emerald Trails- Mt. Washington.

This year the route began on the North Shore trail and made its way through the Northside up to the first park on the menu- Riverview. After an insanely steep climb from Woods Run to the top of Riverview, the groups were tested early. There are two groups- the A group consisting of mostly younger guys and gals who are still racing and riding at a high level.( I have socks older than them). And the rest of us, the B group, with less mileage and climbing. Everything is up from the rivers and thus the vertical challenge. The A group ride is usually 70-80 miles and over 5000 feet of climbing, the B group is around 50+ miles and over 4000 feet of climbing. Nonetheless, a challenge for either group.

From Riverview, the groups make their way to Point State Park and out to Oakland near the Pitt and CMU campuses. Riding your bike along the roads of Oakland and the Southside is interesting because you tend to see things and neighborhoods where you might not ordinarily go. But the real challenge was ahead on the climb to Mt. Washington.

The Shark making his way over the water.

Many people don’t realize that you can take singletrack trails all the way from the Southside up to the top of Mt. Washington. These lead to the Emerald Trails which yielded some really nice views of the city, but things get tight and technical real fast. And they are off camber making you pay close attention so as not to plummet over the hillside. All of this is rewarded with a lunch at Redbeard’s which is an annual affair. Sitting outside, both groups gather together for a quick lunch before hammering the Emerald Trails back down to the Southside and once again out to Oakland to complete the route through Frick, Schenley, and Highland parks. Frick Park has some technical riding and again, a mountain bike is preferred.

The view from the Emerald Trails
CMU Campus with University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning in the background.

It is always amazing to me to see the kindness and friendliness of Pittsburghers. I needed some water and we saw these guys in Hazelwood sitting on their porch. Mike Connors, our attentive leader on the ride, asked them if we could get some water and they brought out bottles of cold water from their fridge. They were interested in where we started and would end up and were so engaging with our group. Pittsburghers are like that and even though most of us don’t spend much time in Hazelwood, we were grateful to the guys on the porch.

The annual lunch stop- Redbeard’s Mount Washington.
Our MVP Wesley on a vintage Rob Vandermark Merlin titanium frame – single speed. Tough climbing on a single speed. Not the burliest tires either.
The B group bringing their A game to Mt. Washington.

After about 6 and half hours of riding, our group made it back to the Grist House for a well deserved beer. The A group was still out but we all were satisfied with the effort that we made, and it was time to relax savoring another Cyclo X. These events tend to bring people together maybe that have never met or perhaps not seen each other in a long time. I was encouraged that it seemed to go well this year even though I was starting to wonder if I was a little “long in the tooth” for this event. But with the fellowship of friends, the beautiful weather, and the really scenic route, I am committed to do this ride until I can’t pedal. After all, I was the oldest rider at Cyclo X. Plus, Pete Hilton would never let me quit attending.

Steve Gurtner of B group bringing their A game fame.
Steve Gurtner, Mark” the Shark” Sauers, and Robb Alarcon- friends in winter and summer.

The nice thing about these kinds of events is that they are memorable for a number of reasons. One of them being a comeback for a guy who had some setbacks last year. The Shark had A fib issues and wondered if he would ever ride at a high level again. But with a lot of prayer, good medical attention, and some serious fortitude, Mark ” the Shark” Sauers, came back to ride strong this year and strong in this year’s version of Cyclo X. In fact ,he rode some extra miles, well, because he could. Stories of the ride, the mishaps, the fun and the climbs, all abounded at the Grist House after the ride and Cyclo X 2023 is now in the books. Hoping that Aaron puts together another interesting route next year. If you have any interest in a really fun but challenging ride, check Facebook for next year’s event. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to be a follower on the page. http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me a lot.