Sterling Forest Ramble

It’s been a weird summer. I spent most of June and July working and schlepping stuff to a self storage unit as I prepare for an impending divorce. I managed to choose the hottest day of the summer to move out of the place I’ve lived for 25 years and into a garret apartment in a nearby town.

McKeag’s Meadow Trail

For a couple of months, it’s been nothing but upheaval, and I’ve scrambled to get any sort of training in. Finally, I’m sort of settled down, and the opportunity for a long run presented itself.

Last Thursday, I drove up to Sterling Forest, just over the New York state line, to take another shot at a route that eluded me last fall.

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Ski, Ski, Ski Catamount

This winter, I bought season passes for myself and my two sons at Catamount Mountain in Hillsdale, NY. Deciding what pass to buy is never easy but I was confident that we would get our money’s worth this year.

skin setup

In addition to Cat, the pass gives me access to Berkshire East (which I love) and Bosquet (which I’ve never skied).

Even better is the fact that Cat is on the Indy Pass so you can buy an add-on that gives you a couple days each at lots of other northeast resorts like Greek Peak, Magic Mountain and Jay Peak.

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Feeder Hills Build Skiing

A recent installment of Stuart Winchester’s Storm Skiing Journal newsletter highlighted the ridiculous window lift ticket prices at many big resorts. The price inflation is even more astounding when compared to the much lower price a skier would pay to ski at these same hills with an Ikon or Epic pass or some other heavily discounted ticket product.

Campgaw
Campgaw

I know that if I skied a few times a year and was asked for $209 when I walked up to the ticket window, I’d be tempted to turn around and leave, no matter how far I’d driven. These prices must make it more difficult for young skiers to stick with the sport.

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