Category Archives: winter sports

by

Resolutionaries

Where it all begins. The New Years resolutions around North Park lake.

You know- one of the great things I see this time of year is when people decide to make a change in their lives. Some want to lose weight, some want to get into shape, some want to run, ski, or ride more, some make dietary changes. Some make other changes that hopefully will stick through what I call the “Resolutionary” period. But in any event, whenever I look at our local park and see the throngs of people walking or running around the lake this time of year- it is heartwarming. People want to be their best selves and that is admirable. But the key is to stick with it.

The parking lots are packed. Lot of good intentions.

A lot of people begin their resolutions on New Years Day with a lot of vim and vigor. I see the smiles, the grimaces, and in general an effort to get the ball rolling for 2025. But the key in my book is to start slowly and ease into it. Most people who are regular exercisers and want to step it up a bit, tend to do a killer run or ride on the 1st. The people who maybe have not done anything for a while, tend to start too hard. Oftentimes, it results in pain that they do not want to endure several days or weeks into it. I always say- start slowly and let your body adjust to the new strains you are putting on it.

Funny but true.

Most often, if you start slowly, you can get incrementally stronger each day without even knowing it. If you try too hard, the tendency is to give up after a certain amount of time. But easing into things will get you moving in the right direction. As you age, there is no hurry to get into shape. Take it as it comes and see how you do. Remember, most people can’t even run to the mailbox. So, whatever you attempt, it is a positive movement in the right direction.

This crew of veteran riders always starts with a New Years Day ride. Same for 2025.

Another thing that is hard is the weather. Oftentimes weather will thwart the best of intentions. But if you get the right clothing and dress for the cold and snowy weather, you can exercise outdoors all year. Nothing like fresh air and cold weather to invigorate you. If you can make it through the winter, you can make it all year. As the Shark always says,” no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” And, if it is too tough, a YMCA membership or another gym membership might be the ticket to get you through. In any case, start slowly, ease into it and stick with it. Personally, I like the winter. I like to ski, hike, and ride in the winter and the cold air and winter weather is a beautiful experience for me. Sure, it gets a little harder each year, but the New Year always inspires. Even to people like me who have exercised all year for a long time.

Old guys have goals too.

A final note about resolutions. They don’t always have to be physical. They can be new ways to be with your spouse, family and friends. Maybe a new approach will help in your relationships? Maybe reaching out to someone who is in need or volunteering may be a good way to start the New Year? Maybe reconnecting to your faith might be in order? Find a new church or go back to the one where you have been absent? There are a lot of good communities, just find the one that speaks to you.

All in all, get out there and “do it” like Nike says. As I have recounted recently – you don’t quit doing things because you get old, you get old because you quit doing things. I love seeing those people running, walking, riding around the lake. It inspires me every year at this time. Thanks for reading and Happy New Years.

Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord.” Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah- 29:11

by

The Ski Club

You know, there are several bona fide ski clubs around America. The Yellowstone Club, and Holimont up in Western New York are among them. All of them have a feel about them. People coming together to do the things they like in a new season. The fireplaces are crackling, the buzz in the lodge is in high gear, and people all have smiles on their faces anticipating what hopes to be a wonderful ski season. The interesting thing is that vibe is also right here in Western Pa at a wonderful place called Laurel Mountain.

Looking into the Ligonier Valley from the Lodge.

Now Laurel is on state property and there is little development nearby which adds to the ambiance of the place. Managed by Vail, Laurel is special to a lot of people because of the laid- back atmosphere and of course, the legendary Wildcat Slope- the steepest in Pennsylvania. It will give you a workout and prepare you for your season in record time. But the really nice thing about Laurel is the people.

Bob Potter- Laurel regular.
Some skiing years added up here.
Jaime and Melissa Thompson. Great photo!

Opening weekend was upon us this past weekend and it was so great to be back at Laurel and see all the folks that make that place so special. It is truly a club atmosphere and everyone was so excited to be back in the lodge, greeting each other over a coffee and catching up on the summer and what is happening for Christmas. Sure, I like to go up and lap Wildcat until my legs fall off. But really, I truly enjoy sitting in the lodge and talking to the folks that I have not seen in 8 months. We all are anxious to boot up and head out especially when we got a bonus early start.

Kudos go to Gary Wiltrout and his team of snowmakers. We all were thrilled when we heard that the trails and upper and lower Wildcat were open. Especially when fickle weather patterns ruined a lot of early season snow. But through the hard work of Gary’s team, we skied on perfect man -made snow with no ice, soft conditions and groomed to perfection. We all remarked that mid- season should be this good. But Gary and his team do a spectacular job, and we are all grateful. All the employees who welcome you back are so kind. Paula scanning your passes, Bill in the lodge, welcoming us all back, it sure feels like a club to me.

GM Brett Cook and the legend- George Skylling.

I had the opportunity to ski a few runs with Brett Cook, the affable GM for Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain and Hidden Valley. He told us a lot about what is new and going on for all three areas and he was especially complimentary of the atmosphere and feel of Laurel. He gets it, and supports all the happenings at Laurel. I complimented him on his diligence to get the area open with the shot of cold weather. The team jumped at the chance to make snow and make it happen for all of us.

Regulars Jon Brady and Jamie Edson. They still ski like champions and are front and center when the lift opens.
Lined up for the banner break first run. People were excited.

People ask me all the time – “what’s the deal with Laurel?” ” Why do you like it so much.” The big part of it is always the people and the other part is the scenic beauty of the Laurel Highlands which I like to enjoy all year round. I ride my mountain bike up there a lot in the summer and that feel of the place even extends into the off ski season.

When my day ends, I drive down to the Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown, grab a piece of homemade pizza and a drink and head home via RT 381 through Rector to Donegal. The drive through the horse farms with the ridges in view is always enjoyable to me before I slog back home on the turnpike, But as I listen to my music, I have great scenes in my head about the great day I had at Laurel Mountain. I think about the wonderful conversations I had with all the folks. Well………….it is a club of sorts, and I am a grateful and happy member of that club for sure. Ski Laurel if you can this winter and you will see what I am talking about. In some ways, it is like skiing back in time. The way skiing is in New England at the smaller resorts that have avoided that big time corporate feeling. Vail manages Laurel, but the employees and the people there make it feel anything but corporate. Thanks for reading and think snow.

Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me. Thank you.

by

Popping the Cork- Again

Melissa Thompson, Jaime Thompson and George Skylling.

My friends Melissa and Jaime Thompson always have a festive way to describe the start of a new ski season. They say it is “popping the cork” versus my “breaking the seal”. I like theirs better because it really captures the festive start when you see all your pals, on the slopes again, for another season in the snow. Last Friday was festive indeed when Brett Cook, the GM of Seven Springs, addressed the crowd assembled at the Polar Bear six pack. He welcomed everyone, they had a banner break which ushered in the new season and the chair lift cranked up for the first time this year. Vail did a good job with preparing things for us and even though there was limited terrain. No one really cared because what was open was primo machine- made and natural snow. It was surely nice to be making turns again after 8 long months of waiting. You see- when you are a skier, it doesn’t really matter how much is open at the beginning of the season as long as you can make a few runs. You see all your pals with whom you have skied for years. Remember the saying, you don’t quit skiing because you get old, you get old because you quit skiing.

Brett Cook welcoming the crowd on opening day
Steve Gurtner- telling us the absolute truth.

The interesting thing about Seven Springs is that most of us have skied there since we were kids and many of us now are celebrating,40 50, 60 years together on the slopes. Steve Gurtner made a poignant remark when he said, ” we are lucky to have Seven Springs.” We would not all be skiers if it were not for Seven Springs.” How true Steve, and another reminder that even though we all open up the season with laps of Wagner Bowl and some trails, it is all good. The camaraderie that we all share at the beginning of the season and the knowledge that more winter is coming. More slopes and trails open, more trips to the west and beyond for many of us, and hopefully a long nice ski season.

One of my last runs, last season at Mammoth- one of my annual stops. But the first run is always on Wagner Bowl at Seven Springs.
Porter Scott- skied with this guy for close to 55 years.
Jamie Edson- skis 78 days or so at Seven Springs and numerous trips out west. Another skiing pal for years.
John Casuccio on his new Stocklis lining up his posse for the season.
Bob Horrell – tele skier extraordinaire and Health and Safety Director for Vail at Seven Springs. Big smile on opening day.

If you are not a skier, you might not appreciate the enthusiasm for skiing in Western Pa. Or if you are only a ski trip person who scoffs at skiing locally, you might not realize that you are only skiing a week or two for the whole winter. You could be making turns locally on some pretty fine snow made by Vail at three local areas. And also- don’t think that just because it is raining, or lousy weather, or no snow on the ground locally in the city, that there is no snow in the Laurels at the ski resorts. Have faith. Oftentimes there is good skiing and people in the city and suburbs don’t even realize it.

Lower Wildcat at Laurel Mountain – managed by Vail and a wonderful challenge right here in your backyard.

Hey- most of us take our trips out west during the season or to New England, but we make use of the local slopes and areas and truly enjoy the winter. Skiing is not only the exhilaration of sliding down a snow covered slope, but it is also fun discussions on the chairlifts. “How was your summer?”, “what’s new with the family”, and other topics of conversation. You spend most of your time riding these things anyhow to get to the top. Skiing is social, with apres’ skiing being a great part of the day with a beverage or two. The discussion is the start of another season and what we all have to look forward to in the months ahead.

Steve said it right. We all would not be skiers if it were not for Seven Springs. We currently have a great opportunity right here in our own Laurel Highlands. Why not take advantage of it? I can tell you laps on Wildcat at Laurel Mountain will get you ready for any ski trip you plan, and it is great fun on a weekday or weekend morning when it is perfectly groomed.

So………..”popping the cork” last Friday meant a lot to me for many reasons. I came away glad that I made the effort and can’t wait to get out there this week as well. My 63rd season. Think snow and welcome to the season skiers!!!! Thanks for reading.

Facebook Peeps- please consider following the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains………..” Psalm 121

by

Never Let a Number Define You

Time marches on

I told my neighbor Sumant that I was turning 70 this week. He responded, ” Patrick- never let a number define you.” I thought about that for a minute and kind of smiled. I really don’t feel any different, but numbers don’t lie, and you know that at least chronologically, you are advancing in age. I always joke with people that I will age chronologically but will never mature. People laugh, but really- it is kind of true. I still like to have that bright eyed, youthful look on life that sometimes doesn’t match my actual position. But how should we act or how do we move on when you hit a milestone like this?

My home trails
The Cliffs of Moher – Ireland
The Minarets- Mammoth, California

I think the best way is to just keep doing what you like to do. I ride my mountain bike for exercise all year and also I like to ski when the winter comes. Hiking is good too and the more active you are, the better your health will be especially if you eat correctly and get the proper amount of sleep. Nothing you have not heard before, but we pay more attention to it, the older we get. Sometimes, for a brief moment, I think about things when I mount my bike, but then I just go into ride mode and never think about anything but enjoying the ride and raising the heart rate. Same with skiing. At the beginning of the season at my local areas, I think- ” can I still do this?” Then I strap ’em on and push off with the poles and do what comes naturally – make a turn. From that moment on, the season begins. That brief moment of doubt is erased by the joy of the moment and the muscle memory of knowing how to ski- just like I have done for 63 years. I concentrate on making good turns, looking ahead, and making mature decisions on where to ski and how to ski. Sure, I am not making turns like I was years ago, but I am still trying to learn new things and trying new techniques. If you can stay in shape, the more successful you can be trying new things.

Lake Tahoe from Diamond Peak, Nevada
Jan the hiker at The Lodge at Glendorn Bradford, Pa.

But perhaps the most important thing in this next decade for me will be spending time with Janet and being active with her. We enjoy each other’s company, and I have tried to share my enthusiasm for the great outdoors with her and encourage her to get out there. I laugh and tell her I am crowbarring her out but once she is out there, she enjoys it and is thankful that I give her the push. Make no mistake, Jan pushes me too. I get stuck in my ways sometimes and she moves me out of the comfort zone.

As we age, we do gain some wisdom, and we cannot make a big deal out of things that we really can’t control. We don’t stress, and strive for a more peaceful life. We try to be kind and encouraging, and the great outdoors is a great venue for those virtues. Lots of good conversations can be had on the trails and in the chairlifts. I hope I can share some gained wisdom as I move on in this decade. I hope I can be kind and encouraging not only to my wife, but to my friends and family as well. Also, to new people that I will meet along the way. There is always a new audience for my well- worn stories if I just look for the potential victims. LOL!!! But all in all, I will take Sumant’s advice. I hope you do too. Thanks for reading.

Facebook peeps- please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It will be a help to me.

“Life is like a bicycle- to keep your balance- you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

by

” The Times They Are a Changin”

Bob Dylan was right but for other reasons. This past weekend we changed the clocks over again and although I am not a big fan of the time change routine, it is what it is, and we need to face the fact that the dark days of winter are here. A lot of people change their exercise programs in the winter and go inside to gyms and workout centers. I like the outdoors and am not really into the indoor deal, so I stay outside and ride my MTB all winter. I retired my old winter bike and am getting a new one. But you need lights. I have been riding with lights for about 36 years. I can remember being chased out of North Park, back in the day, by the police because night riding was something they were not familiar with. We used to turn the lights off, and then when the police went away, we kept riding.

Technology has changed a lot over the years. We used to ride $300.00 Night Suns or Night Rider lights with water bottle cage batteries and a very dim yellow beam. Today- the lights are way more cost effective and you can get a lot of lumens, 2 hour plus, high beam, run times, for a fraction of that price. And the light quality is amazing. So many lights to choose from these days. But night riding was always an adventure.

The Moon Rocks- Davis, West Virginia

Recently I was reading Victoria Weeks’ blog post about the “Revenge of the Rattlesnake” MTB race in Davis, West Virginia which included the famous Moon Rocks. If you get a chance, read her post and follow her blog. Very entertaining and Victoria is a very accomplished rider and writer. (The Victory Lap ) https://www.victoriaweeks.com In her post, Victoria describes the challenging riding over the Moon Rocks and I told her in a response, that I remember riding there in the middle of the night at the old 24 Hours of Canaan races in Davis back in the day. I first was introduced to the rock feature when I saw one of the marshals for the race in a long black coat and a wide brimmed hat. He looked like the Grim Reaper as I made my way past him, silently observing, and onto the rocks. My yellow beamed Night Rider was state of the art at the time, and in fact they sponsored Laird Knight’s famous race. But to see that feature, at 3:00 in the morning and try to ride it and make my way through the bog that followed was quite a challenge, especially on 26 ” wheels, cantilever brakes, steel frame and an early version Rock Shocks front suspension fork. We didn’t know any better and that was the best technology that we had at the time.

Fast forward to the 24 Hours of Canaan at Timberline Resort, I can clearly remember following my yellow beam at 4:00 in the morning, all alone because the field was pretty well stretched out at that time, and hearing things go bump in the night. A bear? A bobcat? Another nocturnal animal? I remember one poor guy that I passed asking if he could stay with me because his light went out. I said sure but eventually he tailed off and I never saw him again. Felt bad, but you have to have charged lights for those lonely, West Virginia, late night laps. As my friend Shark always says, ” it gets West Virginia real quick” and it sure did at night, over the Moon Rocks, and through the river two times each lap.

Nothing like the night laps.

These days- at this time of year, I make sure my lights are charged and if I need any new batteries, I get them and am ready for the evening rides. Nothing like the old days in West Virginia, but enough of a challenge to keep me interested in riding at night. Good exercise- you don’t have to go indoors, and no matter what the weather throws at you, riding is always available. My Endura MT500 jacket and pants https://us.endurasport.com can withstand the harshest of weather and together with a good pair of lights,( helmet and handlebar), you can ride all winter without issue.

So, the time change is kind of bittersweet for me . It signals the end of the summer and fall and the beginning of winter. I like winter, but if you choose to ride in it, good clothing and good lights are a necessity. Things look different at night, just like they did in the old days, but it gives you a new challenge and the “changin” times are not so bad. So, if you like to ride, take a tip from an old guy like me- keep riding. You will really appreciate it in the spring when you are trying to ramp up your fitness. Those who back away in the winter really struggle when the time changes back again. Thanks for reading.

The local diehards.

Facebook people- please consider following the blog on Word Press. Real easy. http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com Thanks

” To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

by

Do the Right Thing

Jim Jacobs- owner of Peak Ski and Board

This is my friend Jim Jacobs who owns Peak Ski and Board in Allison Park, Pa. Jim is a fine skier in his own right, but also very knowledgeable in the ski business and is an excellent boot fitter as well. He is a second generation ski shop owner and has taken Peak Ski and Board to new heights over the last several years. Consider that climate change has made local skiing challenging in recent years, the fluctuating economy, Covid years and other potential roadblocks to succeeding in business, Jim has flourished. Why?- because he cares about his customers. He takes time to spend with them, assessing their ability and matching those needs to new equipment that makes the customer’s skiing experience tailor made. He spent a good deal of time recently fitting my wife Janet with a new pair of boots that she says fit her perfectly. Jim knows what he is doing and spends the time making sure the customer is satisfied before they leave the shop. Just yesterday, I went in to get a new pair of liners for my ski boots which had become packed out, and he came up with a quick solution for me that left me with basically what felt to be a new pair of boots.

Peak Ski and Board ready for the new season.
New equipment coming in daily to Peak Ski and Board.
Flying Tom Florcik- owner of Trailflo Bikes
A well stocked TrailFlo Bike Shop

Above is my friend Tom Florcik who owns TrailFlo Bikes in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. As you can see from the photo above, Tom is an exceptional rider who is not afraid to get airborne. An amazingly skilled rider, but also a very good businessman, who has developed a loyal clientele among the serious mountain bike set in the Pittsburgh area. Why is Tom successful? Several reasons. He knows what he is talking about because he walks the walk on the trails and does not just talk the talk. He is a good rider. He also is his own chief mechanic often working on customer bikes himself to make sure they operate perfectly. Like Jim, Tom takes the time to work with customers and when a bike is in for repair, he looks for other things that might need attention. Like the other day, when he replaced my well worn bottom bracket, he fixed my dropper post cable because he noticed that a recent crash has basically broken the shifting device. I had been using it, but Tom noticed and fixed it without me mentioning it. He pays attention to the detail and really helps customers who bring him bikes that need attention after some serious abuse on the trails. Tom is an excellent businessman who runs a tight ship and also does the little things that customers should notice. Like giving steady customers a discount which always shows up on his invoice. Not sure many people thank him- but I always do because I appreciate it as a customer. I recommend Tom’s shop and Jim’s shop to everyone I know and to all that ask me about where to get ski equipment and mountain bike equipment. They are both highly recommended.

But this is not just a promo for Jim and Tom ,but a post dealing with a subject that kind of irritates me. With the advent of the internet, ski equipment and cycling equipment are all available on- line. You can get pretty much anything you want on- line and it is your right. What I find intolerable is when people come into a shop like Jim’s or Tom’s and take up valuable time having both guys work with them, only to leave after the advice, fitting, measuring, etc, and order what they need on- line. To have Jim spend time fitting you with a pair of ski boots, only to have the right boot selected and then go out the door and order on- line. Same thing with Tom. Come into the shop, have Tom spend time fitting you with a bike, get all the measurements, and then order on- line. Not only is that unscrupulous in my mind, but when it comes time for repair, oftentimes these people come into the shop expecting a quick repair on equipment that they didn’t even buy from Jim or Tom. If you want to order on- line which is your right, then be prepared to fix things yourself when things go wrong. Oftentimes, Jim and Tom know what happens and they repair the equipment anyhow because they will take the business. But don’t expect special treatment if you took up their time and did not buy from them. Unscrupulous in my mind. But maybe I am just old school?

These days, there are fewer and fewer specialty shops around. The big manufacturers will boost their volume by making deals with the larger sporting goods companies, oftentimes competing with those specialty shops. A number of years ago, I learned about a deal that a large ski manufacturer had made with an on- line dealer who ran his business out of his garage in Canada. The next day, he was in to see my friend’s specialty shop and expected high volume from the specialty shop for the same product. He was willing to set up an on- line competitor but expected his specialty shops to not only carry a large volume but spend time and money promoting their product. Suppliers are a little desperate today and oftentimes their fair- trade business practices get cloudy when they need to meet their budgets.

Things have changed and business is tough these days. I get it. That is why it is remarkable that some specialty shops still exist among the larger worlds of Dick’s Sporting Goods, L.L.Bean, REI, and other large box store businesses. My point is that if you like the attention you receive from a specialty shop, complete with excellent advice, workmanship, and repair, you need to support these guys. You don’t come in, suck all of that knowledge and pricing out of the owner and the shop and go get it cheaper on- line. Yes- you might be able to get a better price sometimes, but you will never replace the time, effort, and service that you receive from a specialty shop. The good thing is that there are enough of us who support shops like these and keep them going with our business. Because we appreciate their attention to detail and attention to us as customers. Ok- off the soapbox now. Thanks for reading.

Hey FB peeps. How about supporting me and following the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com Thanks.

by

To Assume

The baby porcupine

I heard it was going to be a scorcher this week here in the East so I thought I would cool you off with a winter like post on an interesting subject. I was in Alta, Utah a couple of years ago with some friends and we stopped at the side of a trail and lo and behold, a baby porcupine came waddling out and made its way over to me. It kind of looked at me and decided that maybe I was friendly and started to make its way up my right leg. I didn’t quite know what to do and just stood still while the baby’s curiosity was piqued, and my friends all got a big kick out of it.

I looked over to my left and a young female ski patrol came up to me and admonished me not to feed the porcupine. I politely told her I was not feeding the critter and it was just curious and making its way up my leg. She came over, lightly brushed the porcupine from my leg, gave me a rather nasty look and told me again not to feed the porcupines. At that moment, my friends got a little testy with her, but I simply said………..” really- I did not feed him.” She skied away shaking her head and we made our way to the lift.

The Collins Lift at Alta

Thinking about that a little bit riding up the chair, I realized that she was assuming I was one of the tourists who maybe fed the porcupines. Maybe she had some issues with people in the past, saw an out of towner like me and decided that I was just another touron making her life miserable. She assumed things and was in error. You know what they say about assuming? Well- we all know that one.

It is interesting sometimes at ski areas when the “locals” sometimes are not enamored with the guests of the resort and sometimes assume things. Whenever I get the “I am a local” line from someone on the chairlift, I ask them where they are really from and more often than not, they are from Cleveland, Houston or somewhere else not quite local. Maybe they have been there for a season or two but now they qualify themselves as a “local” and look with disdain at the people who spend money and help to employ them. They assume we are something we are not. You know, I respect them with the job that they are doing, so I would expect some courtesy on their part in return. Not always the case, because most people are cordial and happy to have people visit so that they can be employed. But sometimes you get the attitude that you are not welcome and really – that is short sighted.

I have found as I have gotten older, that it is important to look beyond the obvious and try to see the world from another’s point of view. There are people who are hurting, have had a tragedy in their life that they are trying to recover from- not always in the best way. I think it is important to deliver the benefit of the doubt to everyone with whom you come in contact. Try to see the world from their point of view. Try not to assume that they are wrong and have no say in an issue.

People are busy today. They often don’t have time or don’t think they have time to assess a situation and dismiss someone with an assumption. Sometimes young people see me with my gray hair and assume that I am old and in the way. But maybe if they would stop for just a moment, get to know us old gray mares and maybe see if there was something of value from us, life would be a lot more friendly. We most often would shock them with some revelations about our skill on a mountain bike, a pair of skis, or just general knowledge instead of just blowing us off.

Old gray hairs that can still ski. Don’t assume. We don’t let the old man in.

We all are in the same boat. We all assume things every day that might not really hold water. We dismiss people who are really not who we think they are. The homeless are not all drug users and alcoholics. I met a kid who was eating at the Light of Life Shelter here in Pittsburgh who was trying to put himself through college at Pitt and had no residence. I helped a lady to her feet after a bad fall on the sidewalk and took her to the Urgent Care. Hundreds of people drove right past her either too busy to help her or assumed that someone else would help. They assumed that she was ok and kept on driving because their schedule would not allow them to stop.

We all need to stop assuming and try to put ourselves into another person’s shoes. That really is the only way to stop division, and perhaps help someone who maybe does not agree with you, or you assumed they would not agree with you. You know what they say about people who assume? Thanks for reading. Stay cool this week.

by

Christmas Carol

Decided to post a little early this week to honor Mother’s Day and a happy day to all you dedicated moms out there. This is a picture of my mom, my sister Molly, and me back in the day. My mother was a character to say the least and here are a few anecdotes to honor her on Mother’s Day.

First off, my mom loved Molly and me unconditionally, but loved my father first and foremost. Seems like that is the recipe for a happy marriage to put your spouse first and then the kids. My mom must have really loved my father because she did so much for Molly and me. Imagine how dedicated she was to my father if she treated us so well? But again- getting back to the fact that she was a character. My mother had perfect pitch and was always singing at parties. She had a beautiful voice and the main reason I kept playing the piano as a kid was to accompany her singing. Walking in the rain and the snow to my piano lessons was all worth it when I heard my mom sing. In later years, when I parked cars at Shannopin Country Club, I was ready to call it a night when I heard my mom start to sing. I told the boys we better order a pizza because it was going to be a long night. When my mom started to sing, we were there for the duration.

Mom and yours truly at Lake Erie.

I remember when I first learned to swim. I was afraid to take my deep- water test at 5 years old and my mom looked at Don Geyer and told him to throw me in. She knew I could swim, and she knew I had to overcome my fears. Much to the horror of her friends who were all sitting poolside in hysterectomy row, she told them all that the water would get deeper and deeper every year. When I swam to the side with a big smile on my face, my mom looked at me and said,” You can do anything you want to do in life, Patrick.” And then she told Don to throw me off the diving boards.

I used to swim at the Northside Y, and one night when my dad picked me up, I told him I saw the police come into the lobby and chase down a guy with a knife that had stabbed someone. It was fairly alarming to a young guy, but my mom told me that life was not all about the suburbs. She had no problem with me witnessing the other side of the tracks. Same when I worked at St. Joe Paper Company as a laborer in the summers during college. I told her all about the shenanigans in the “bottoms” of McKees Rocks and she once again told me that it was good for me and would teach me how to deal with all kinds of people. She was right.

Young Pat with the ski outfit put together by my mom. LOL!!

My mother was not much of an outdoors person or athletic for that matter. But she made sure my sister and I learned to swim, play tennis, and ski. I always joke when people ask me if my parents skied. I said “no” for my dad who had a bad back and yes for my mother. She skied 3 feet. When she fell back and hit her head, she told her friend Virginia Ruth to” “take the damn things off”. But she made sure Molly and I learned. When Bob Rose used to pick us up for the weekend, she cooked our dinner on Friday at 3:00 and made sure we were ready to go when Mr. Rose was in the driveway. Then she entertained the whole lot with pots of chili when we all got back on Sunday.

I was able to drive my mother’s ’64 Buick Special convertible in high school. My dad outfitted it with heavy snow tires and concrete bags in the trunk for the winter. On a snow day, my mom said, ” school is cancelled- are you going skiing?” Kind of hilarious in that she knew that I was hell bent to go skiing in those instances and she was fully supportive. Ever since she rear -ended a garbage truck, she was hesitant to drive and eventually quit. Giving me her car was the perfect excuse. But again, whatever she could do to support us as our mother was readily apparent.

My mother loved Christmas. In fact, all her friends called her Christmas Carol in that she always orchestrated a huge Christmas Eve party at our house every year. It was so well attended and was a lot of work for all of us, but relatives, friends, and neighbors were all welcome. Eventually, I told my mom that if she kept inviting people, we would have to switch the venue from our house to a banquet hall. We all laughed at that, but my mom was intent on always entertaining year- round, but especially at Christmas. She gave a lot of people a lot of happiness in those years and some of them really needed the friendship and the care. She always told me that ” happiness is like a perfume. You can’t sprinkle it on others without getting a little on yourself.” Her friends and relatives were everything to her and her dedication to their happiness was heartwarming.

The house on Pineview Drive. The Christmas Eve venue

In later years, my mom didn’t understand my love for competition and events. I ran the Boston Marathon one year and I remember sitting on my parent’s deck at the house and was so excited to relay my experience. The crowds on Commonwealth Ave., the Newton Hills, the Wellesley College girls screams heard miles away, the finish near Fenway Park and the Green Monster welcoming us home. My mom looked at me and said, ” well that’s nice- would you like some more potatoes?” She just didn’t get it, but ironically, she started it all. I would come home from Tuckerman Ravine after camping and skiing for a week and explaining the steepness of the terrain and the chunks of ice and rock that fell which were the size of a Volkswagen. She would look at me with kind of a blank look and say- ” more potatoes?”

My mom had lots of friends as she was fond of saying ” to have a friend is to be a friend.” In the end days when she was receiving lots of blood transfusions, she was always positive. She said she just got up in the morning, washed her face, and kept going. Nothing stopped her. She used to look at me when I walked her up the steps after my dad had passed and she would laugh and say ” how the hell did I get so damn old.” Even when she was quite ill, she and Mary Struk and Sally Rose would go to the “club” which was Grant’s Bar in Millvale. She loved Grant’s Bar and one day when the big flood came, the police came into the bar and basically kicked them all out saying, ” if you ladies don’t leave now, we will be taking you out in a row- boat.” The ice machine from the Grant Bar was floating down the street minutes later. The gals got out just in time.

My mom was a character but if it were not for her persistence, I don’t know whether I would have had the exuberance that I have for skiing, and other outdoor endeavors. She always pushed me, and I am forever grateful that she did. I enjoy a lot of things because of my mom. I miss her as she had been gone 20 years. But I will always remember her smile, her beautiful voice, her fabulous meals, and her kindness to friends and relatives. Someday I will see her again – forever. In the meantime- Happy Mother’s Day in Heaven mom. Thanks for reading and always cherish your mom.

The relatives. Looks like Molly was upset with me. LOL!!

by

Don’t Let the Old Man In

Two friends still at it- 45 years later.

This is my buddy Eric who lives in Lake Tahoe. He and I have been skiing together for 45 years, and I always learn something new from him every year. He is retired, and coaches kids at his local mountain in Tahoe. We usually ski together in Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain every spring. So last week, 10 months after my previous trip, we were locked and loaded for another round. After our warmup (LOL), which was a high speed cruiser off Chair 2 trying to stay with Eric and his razor sharp carved turns, I found myself at the top of the mountain right off the gondola and staring down Climax . It is one of the double blacks right off the summit and for a brief moment, I thought,” I have this, right?” I mean you have to be on your A game as you make your way through steep moguls to the chalky smooth steeps of the Climax face. As soon as I started turning, it was all auto- pilot and we went non-stop to the McCoy mid station to reload the gondola.

Another Climax Run- photo by Eric Durfee

After a 30K vertical foot day of steeps and cruisers, we came back to the hotel to say hello to Ryan Hurley, the manager of the Quality Inn and a friend of Eric’s. Ryan is a nice guy and probably one of the best skiers in Mammoth. What he showed us next solidified his legend.

Some things never change in 45 years. First in line. Photo by Eric Durfee
Ryan’s broken Faction skis behind the bindings.

Apparently, Ryan that day, rocketed out of Phillipe’s ( one of the steep double black runs at the top of Mammoth), and cranked a hard right hand turn and heard both of his skis snap behind the bindings. He managed to put one of the skis together and carried the other one, and skied on the one broken ski all the way down to the lodge. He said he wanted to ski with us the next day. Really?

Ryan Hurley ready to ski with the old guys ( on a new pair of Faction Skis)

Being the gracious guy that he is, Ryan followed us for a couple of runs and remarked to Eric in the chairlift that we were an inspiration to him. At 44 years old, he saw his future in us as older dudes who can still ski. He also asked how I can ski like I do coming from Pittsburgh. I said, ” Long story Ryan.” But we were happy that he was kind enough to spend a few runs with us before straight lining down Climax and jumping off a rock cropping into the distance. Like I always say……..youth is wasted on the young.

Flipping the coin a little bit, we see Freddy here who is a friend of Eric’s, and skis at one of the local areas in Tahoe. He drives 40 miles to and from the area, four days a week, skis for 4 hours, has lunch and drives back. Freddy is 87. I asked him, how do you do it? The driving, the skiing, the hiking in the off season. He says the secret is eating right ( he has not eaten meat in 20 years). He exercises and says basically he is like a shark……..always moving and looking for food. Freddy is our future barring any injuries or catastrophic illness. We also met two other senior citizens in Tahoe who were 86 and 82. Both of these guys can still ski very well and the one guy Jim, had his kids with him. Kids being in their 50’s. LOL!

Freddy ready to bedeck the bead tree on the way up the chairlift. What an inspiration. 87 years young and can ski really well!!!
The view of perfectly groomed corduroy looking into Lake Tahoe. Photo by Eric Durfee

So as Eric and I face 70 this year, we look back and think about all the great times skiing that we have had and look forward to many, many more. We will try to keep ourselves in good shape by exercising, riding our mountain bikes and hiking, and in short, try to stay ahead of the game. John, one of Eric’s friends who is 82 and a former masters racer, said his secret is to ” keep the old man out.” Not his line really because that belongs to Clint Eastwood when asked how at 93, he has the energy to still direct and produce movies. Clint always responds that he just keeps the old man out. I kind of like that line, and although comparatively speaking with John, Jim and Freddy, and Clint for that matter, we are not old. But we are not 44 either. However, the amazing thing is that we can still ski at a pretty high level, especially Eric. How long we can do that is dependent on a lot of things, but sitting in the lot after another 30 K day at Mammoth, we had some beers with a guy who we call First Chair Kurt. Kurt makes razor sharp carved turns too and as we followed him down all week on the first run, we found out that he is basically our age. He and his pals love to ski and intend to do so for a long time. Kurt skis four days a week at Mammoth and is retired. Like the other guys in his posse. They love to ski and love to talk skiing afterwards in the lot with a few beers sporting their sunglasses. They don’t let the old man in either. A good way to roll. Remember, you don’t quit skiing because you get old, you get old because you quit skiing. Thanks for reading and be like Freddy- the shark who keeps moving, looking for food.

Please follow the blog on Word Press. http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com Thank you.

by

Skimming into Spring

Jason Eshleman of ” Chair Report” fame- pond skimming in his HKD Snowmaking outfit.

This time of year, when the winter is winding down, most ski areas in the country have events that pay tribute to the winter and have parties celebrating the arrival of spring. A lot of people wait for this time of year because the temperatures tend to moderate, sun is more plentiful, and in short- spring skiing is worth the wait. Don’t quit too soon because you can miss a pretty good time. Instead of playing golf in the mud, continue to ski as long as you can and enjoy – spring skiing.

One of the iconic events at most areas are the annual pond skimming events where the ski areas build a large pond usually near the ski lodge to allow full visibility for people in the lodge as well as people who have made their way down off the mountain. The idea is to get a good run at the pond, jump into it on skis, and hope that your momentum helps you skim over the water safely to the other side. Well as you can imagine, safe passage is not the norm, and there are lots of hilarious crashes, submerges into the water, and other mishaps that make the beer fueled crowd, laugh with delight.

Snowboards and wider skis tend to work better when pond skimming. The water ski effect. Photo courtesy of Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

The event at our local mountain – Seven Springs, evolved from what was the original “Pond Jump”. This event was held in the past before skimming became popular. In those days, the same party atmosphere happened but it was centered around a pond on the backside of the mountain near the Gunnar Chairlift at Seven Springs. Guys would build a huge ramp with a kicker that sent you high into the air, and the result was a splash in the pond for all to enjoy. There was no escaping to the other side in those days. It was, get a good start, get maximum air and do a dive bomb into the pond. Lots of great crashes in those days too with hoots, howls, and laughter.

Local ski race and coaching legend Rick Cellich, getting max air in the old pond jump days. Photo courtesy of Rick Cellich.

Personally, I have never participated in the pond jump or skim. I was always concerned about the landing with skis and boots in the water and hoping not to blow out my knees. In short, I always took a pass and watched the frivolity. But it does take a certain type to participate and mostly it is the younger generation. I always say youth is wasted on the young, but in this case, they earn their stripes. If you get a nice sunny day, it is warm, and the plunge in the water is not that bad. But there have been many pond skimming days recently where it has been in the 30s with snow flurries or rain, and that is what tests your fortitude if you don’t make the other side. It takes a certain outgoing type who is willing to dress in a funny costume, hurl themselves down the slope towards the water, and launch themselves into the unknown of success or failure. People always come out of the water, freezing or not, and have a huge smile on their face. The crowd goes nuts, and their outgoing personalities and confidence are rewarded with huge applause, hoots and hollers, and a cold beer waiting at the end. Pond skimming is not for the meek and mild. It is for the confident, outgoing, show- off types who we all love to watch. I tend to be like them in most aspects, but I have always stood on the sidelines of the pond jump or skim.

Wider skis tend to help . Photo courtesy of Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

So, when I think of the fun that we all have at spring skiing time, I have a smile when I think about that big party called the pond skim. No matter what area you visit in the spring, there are events like this, and you can choose to participate or watch and really, there is nothing more entertaining. It is part of the culture of spring skiing and whatever you do, if you are a skier, don’t quit on the season too soon. You will miss a lot- including the carnage in the water. Thanks for reading and enjoy the spring skiing.

Follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com Thank you.