The Ski Life Blog

Ode to a Plow Guy

Posted on by Harvey
plow guy
Roger plows the Valentine’s Day Storm 2007

I had a plow guy, and I have to admit I took him for granted. When it snowed, he plowed. When it snowed hard, he plowed twice.

His name was Roger. During the mega storm of February 2007, he backdragged enough of our driveway in the middle of the night to allow me to get safely off the road. Then he came back in the morning with his tractor. He dug it all out, and then came back again with the plow to clean it up — all included in his price of $35 per storm.

Once he pulled me out of a jam with his truck and a chain, and wouldn’t take a dime. He said “I’m pulling you out of the snowbank because you’re my neighbor, not because I’m your plow guy.”

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Tagged: Ski Life5 Comments

Anticipating the Start of Ski Season

Posted on by Harvey

This November has been quite warm, but that’s not all that unusual. Eastern skiers often fret about the possible postponement of opening day, scheduled for Black Friday at many mountains. I looked back through early season posts to see what I was thinking in years past.

Colder temps forecasted.
A forecast from a different year

In November of 2009, while skiers in the western US were enjoying cold temps and fresh snow, eastern skiers were sweating it out. On November 22, I posted a 6-10 day temperature outlook from the National Weather Service that promised colder air for the east.

That year opening day at Gore featured only 250 feet of vertical. As usual, I had a good time, even though pickins were slim. The next day at Whiteface also opened a single run, but in true Whiteface style, that run featured 1500 feet of vertical.

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Tagged: Ski Life, Weather6 Comments

Help Victims of Hurricane Irene

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

Red Cross of Northeastern NYRelief efforts for the NY families and communities that are victims of Hurricane Irene’s destruction are being organized now.

The Red Cross needs volunteers for storm relief in northeastern New York, and is offering fast-track disaster relief training to volunteers who can assist in the relief effort.

Donate online to the Red Cross. and specify that your contribution goes directly towards Hurricane Irene relief in northeastern New York.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Catskills, Ski Life1 Comment