Paul Smiths: Cruising the VIC

Posted on by Peter Minde

Saturday: band rehearsal in Sea Girt, NJ. After a productive session with my most excellent bandmates, I loaded the Fortunate Son and returned north. Driving at Warp Factor 4, I made it to Saranac Lake by 9:30 PM.

Heron Marsh

When I finally arrived home, I was fried. For most of my life, I’ve reckoned drive times north starting from Morris County NJ. I could tell you when I’d arrive in Lake Placid, or Craftsbury, or Woodford, within 10 minutes’ accuracy. Departing Ocean County is a whole other ball of wax.

Sunday morning, drinking coffee, bleary eyed and listening to WFMU with a cat in my lap, I considered my options. Gym? Ski? Chill?

Continue reading →

Tagged: Adirondacks, Nordic Skiing, Paul Smiths5 Comments

Mont Catherine: On the Road, Past the Liftline

Posted on by ml242

The famous ski corridor of the 15, north of Montreal, is spoiled for ski options. Skiing is a part of the culture, as evidenced by the billboards advertising ski manufacturers and fancy gore tex outerwear, all drawing the eyes of the millions in the city.

tree skiing

It would be hard to convince anyone that the sport is suffering when you can go to any hill and see an army of racer kids tearing down the slopes with matching jackets embroidered with the many sponsors, especially after a week like we’ve had with 40-50″ of new snow to bury any remaining memories of the summer.

Continue reading →

Tagged: Earning Turns, Quebec7 Comments

The Backside of Big Tupper

Posted on by Peter Minde

Late Sunday night, I returned to Saranac Lake from band rehearsal in NJ. As I passed through Schroon Lake it began to snow. The last 40 miles, the roads were covered with snow. The last three blocks, all uphill, hadn’t yet been plowed. I bulled my way into my driveway. Let’s hear it for studded snow tires and a digital transfer case.

Route 86

Four more inches of snow on Monday night. Dewey Mountain, my new local, was open. But the urge to ski in Tupper Lake was irresistible.

Twelve or 15 years ago, in one of the worst snow droughts can remember, one of the only races I skied was the Lumberjack Scramble in Tupper Lake.

Continue reading →

Tagged: Adirondacks, Big Tupper, Nordic Skiing11 Comments