It's great to watch the Okemo mountain ops crew each day as they cut and shave away at our 2 new ski and ride trails for the winter. Yesterday they put up an erosion fence across a pitch 100 yards south of Quantum Leap- and it looks pretty steep there! That fencing was just in time too as a line of T-boomers marched across Vermont last night and lit up the sky!
While those fellas have been hard at work up on the hill, we've also been busy around the Jackson Gore base area cleaning up our hiking trails. These trails were cut when the Gore was developed several years ago but haven't seen much traffic, which is a shame. Check out the hiking trail map and help us groom our restored trails!
Here's some details on a couple of our hiking trails:
The Green Mountain Turnpike Trail follows the old toll road, commissioned in 1799. The trail passes close by the old Bixby farmstead which served as a toll house on the turnpike. You can clearly see the home's foundation from the trail.
The Jackson Falls trail ends at the confluence of 2 beautiful 60 foot cascading waterfalls after crossing under the Coleman Brook lift through a raspberry thicket.
The most difficult Sawmill Trail begins at the site of an early 1900's logging camp, you can even see where the logging camp was nestled next to the railroad tracks.
No doubt, Okemo is well known for it's trails during the winter- make sure you find out how great our summer trails are too!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
How you feelin'? hot, hot, hot
Gotta love it when you can sneak in a line from Buster Poindexter! ...and did you know that song cam out in 1987? Where were you? As for being somewhere...as a life long New England, it's weeks like this one that remind me how much I enjoy winter. Give me pack-boots and a good toque over a steamy 95 degree day with 95 percent humidity any time.
As Silver Linings mentioned with the photos of that fuzzy faced dog...it's good to learn something new every day. Yesterday I learned that felling trees is an activity best left for a cooler day. After dropping 4 trees, I was toast. And just so you know that life has it's own plans. I had cut the proper notch in one of the trees, started the back cut. (now...this certain tree was right next to my pond, so the goal was to drop the tree away from the pond...or so one would think.) As life would have it, the tree dropped in the exact opposite direction of where I had planned. I was able to pull it out at the other side of the pond about 30 minutes later, after it drifted across. The other 3 tress cooperated very nicely.
I've been dropping old trees to get ready for next winter. If you've ever brought in your own firewood you know why the old saying is, "firewood keeps you warm at least three times. Once when you cut it, once when you stack it, and once when you burn it."
And speaking of firewood, it's time to go home and finish cutting those freshly dropped trees into lengths that I can carry out of the woods.
The June heat wave ends tonight....enjoy the thunderstorms and be careful with the high winds.
As Silver Linings mentioned with the photos of that fuzzy faced dog...it's good to learn something new every day. Yesterday I learned that felling trees is an activity best left for a cooler day. After dropping 4 trees, I was toast. And just so you know that life has it's own plans. I had cut the proper notch in one of the trees, started the back cut. (now...this certain tree was right next to my pond, so the goal was to drop the tree away from the pond...or so one would think.) As life would have it, the tree dropped in the exact opposite direction of where I had planned. I was able to pull it out at the other side of the pond about 30 minutes later, after it drifted across. The other 3 tress cooperated very nicely.
I've been dropping old trees to get ready for next winter. If you've ever brought in your own firewood you know why the old saying is, "firewood keeps you warm at least three times. Once when you cut it, once when you stack it, and once when you burn it."
And speaking of firewood, it's time to go home and finish cutting those freshly dropped trees into lengths that I can carry out of the woods.
The June heat wave ends tonight....enjoy the thunderstorms and be careful with the high winds.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
A sure sign of summer
Okemo kicked off the 3rd annual Jackson Gore Summer Music Series last Friday with local favorite Sandra Wright. The stage was set for a great concert and the rain held off until just before dark. Those who came out enjoyed some of the best blues in New England at a beautiful setting. Tomorrow Nobby Reed takes the stage at 6pm. The weather is supposed to be great tomorrow evening and we'll be bringing out The Hatchery Kidz Zone. This week kids can win prizes in the basketball game while mom and dad enjoy the music.
The Coleman Brook BBQ will be fired up again with the best ribs this side of Memphis. If that's not your thing grab a burger, beans, slaw, and a cold beer. You can also pick up a raffle ticket to win a free meal for next week's BBQ or breakfast for 2 at The Hatchery in Ludlow!
The concerts continue each Friday night throughout the summer:
6/13 - Skyla Burrell Blues Band
6/20 - Chris Kleeman Blues Band
6/27 - The Vermont Symphony Orchestra presented by Mary Davis Real Estate (tickets available at okemo.com)
7/4 - Fry Daddy
7/11 - Revision
7/18 - The Gully Boys
7/25 - Adam Payne and 2Adam12
8/1 - The Few
8/8 - Spiritual Rez
8/15 - The Michael Cleary Band
8/22 - Twiddle
8/29 - Dr. Burma
Real Snowboarders Can Golf
Mark your calendar for Friday, June 13 and make plans to head to Tater Hill Golf Club in Windham for the 6th Annual Ross Powers Foundation Golf Tournament.
The four person best ball format kicks off at 1 pm, with registration beginning at noon. The basic team entry fee is $125 per golfer, or $500 for a team of four. Every player in the tournament receives a player gift bag and individual post tournament dinner tickets. You can register ahead by emailing marisapowers@hotmail.com
All proceeds benefit the Ross Powers Foundation, which is a non-profit foundation that helps provide financial support for talented athletes nationally. Learn more on the website.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Old Dog - New Tricks
Upon reaching a recent realization that I've been learning a lot of new skills, I have officially deemed this "The Year of Learning." In addition to learning how to play tennis and improving my golf game with a ten-week women's clinic at Okemo Valley (as mentioned in a previous entry), I've been expanding my horizons with other educational opportunities. I enrolled in the Okemo Women's Alpine Adventure Program during the winter and learned to ski bumps and even took on my first park feature - a butter box in the Hot Dog Hill terrain park for beginners. Sometimes one new skill leads to another. I recently learned how to spin raw wool into yarn. As a result, I took some knitting classes to improve my finishing techniques. I also started thinking about how cool it would be to make sweaters, scarves and hats from my own sheep, and I spent a day learning about sheep management at a class offered by the University of Vermont Extension Service.
Yesterday, I took a baking class at the King Arthur Flour Baking Education Center in Norwich, Vt. There were 13 of us taking the class on breakfast breads. Although it was a great learning experience that taught me some new baking skills and techniques, the one thing that I found the most interesting was not about baking at all. We started the class with introductions and I was amazed to learn that the people in the class were from all over the U.S. They had come to Vermont specifically to learn about baking ... and to incorporate education into their vacations. One young couple had just been married the day before and they were enjoying the first day of their foodie honeymoon in Vermont. After a baking class in Norwich, they were off to learn about Vermont cheeses and to visit the Ben & Jerry's factory. Another couple had taken the two-day class on wedding cakes and were rounding out their weekend with the breakfast breads class. One woman from away was there with her young niece who had developed an early passion for baking.
King Arthur is only an hour away from Okemo Valley, so if you'd like to be a better baker, I highly recommend a stay at the Jackson Gore Inn combined with a visit to the Baking Education Center and their line up of classes scheduled through August. The facility is top rate and the Baker's Store next door offers some great gift ideas and must-haves for the home baker.
I suddenly realized how lucky I am to live in a place that offers such a diverse menu of learning opportunities. Here are just a few of the things you can learn to do right here in the Okemo Valley ...
Extreme Adventures of Vermont, located in nearby Andover, offers programs in kayaking, rock climbing, orienteering and more.
If arts and crafts are more your speed, Fletcher Farm, in Ludlow, offers learn-to programs in all sorts of traditional crafts.
You can learn about local history by attending a program offered by the Black River Academy Museum.
Are fiber arts your thing? Fiber Arts in Vermont, based out of the Six Loose Ladies yarn store and gallery in Proctorsville, is an organization that offers classes in everything having to do with fiber: spinning, knitting, felting, rug hooking and more.
Of course golfers can always learn a thing or two at Okemo Valley Golf Club with a full slate of learning opportunities.
And don't forget the kids ... Camp Gokemo will offer an assortment of children's events and activities that teach kids about all sorts of fun things like local geology, history, wildlife and more.
A learning vacation is a great way to meet new people with interests similar to your own. You don't have to spend a lot of money on gas or a lot of time in the car. And chances are, you'll come away with some new skills and maybe even a cherry chocolate breakfast ring with an almond glaze ... mmmmmm. Cheers!
Yesterday, I took a baking class at the King Arthur Flour Baking Education Center in Norwich, Vt. There were 13 of us taking the class on breakfast breads. Although it was a great learning experience that taught me some new baking skills and techniques, the one thing that I found the most interesting was not about baking at all. We started the class with introductions and I was amazed to learn that the people in the class were from all over the U.S. They had come to Vermont specifically to learn about baking ... and to incorporate education into their vacations. One young couple had just been married the day before and they were enjoying the first day of their foodie honeymoon in Vermont. After a baking class in Norwich, they were off to learn about Vermont cheeses and to visit the Ben & Jerry's factory. Another couple had taken the two-day class on wedding cakes and were rounding out their weekend with the breakfast breads class. One woman from away was there with her young niece who had developed an early passion for baking.
King Arthur is only an hour away from Okemo Valley, so if you'd like to be a better baker, I highly recommend a stay at the Jackson Gore Inn combined with a visit to the Baking Education Center and their line up of classes scheduled through August. The facility is top rate and the Baker's Store next door offers some great gift ideas and must-haves for the home baker.
I suddenly realized how lucky I am to live in a place that offers such a diverse menu of learning opportunities. Here are just a few of the things you can learn to do right here in the Okemo Valley ...
Extreme Adventures of Vermont, located in nearby Andover, offers programs in kayaking, rock climbing, orienteering and more.
If arts and crafts are more your speed, Fletcher Farm, in Ludlow, offers learn-to programs in all sorts of traditional crafts.
You can learn about local history by attending a program offered by the Black River Academy Museum.
Are fiber arts your thing? Fiber Arts in Vermont, based out of the Six Loose Ladies yarn store and gallery in Proctorsville, is an organization that offers classes in everything having to do with fiber: spinning, knitting, felting, rug hooking and more.
Of course golfers can always learn a thing or two at Okemo Valley Golf Club with a full slate of learning opportunities.
And don't forget the kids ... Camp Gokemo will offer an assortment of children's events and activities that teach kids about all sorts of fun things like local geology, history, wildlife and more.
A learning vacation is a great way to meet new people with interests similar to your own. You don't have to spend a lot of money on gas or a lot of time in the car. And chances are, you'll come away with some new skills and maybe even a cherry chocolate breakfast ring with an almond glaze ... mmmmmm. Cheers!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I Walk the Nine
Okay, so maybe Johnny Cash wouldn't approve of this entry's title, but it's the first thing that came to mind.
Yesterday's threatening cloud cover had me ready to bail on a late-afternoon walk around the back nine. Luckily, the sun prevailed and my threesome was rewarded with a nice spring stroll that started on Number 10. As expected, my first time out this season began with a splash as my first tee shot fell shy of the pond's far shore.
Things improved as we went along. Great Golf Resorts of the World describes Okemo Valley's well-groomed course as "walker friendly." It is indeed, but I have to admit the walk from the 13th green to the tee box at Number 14 had us all catching our breath before teeing it up.
The tee boxes, fairways and dance floors were all in great shape. Unfortunately for me, I can also attest to the quality of the sand in the nearly 100 bunkers that are strategically sprinkled along the course. I didn't visit them all, but my random sampling was surely enough to form a conclusion.
The thing I find most challenging on OVGC's back nine is the water. Especially when I start out the round shooting at submarines. I get somewhat psyched out every time at the 16th. There's an awful lot of water between the tees and the green ... even from the ladies'. A well-fed Canada Goose was all settled in for the evening on the waterside rough, just right of the pin. There was something seriously mocking about her confidence in that position ... enough so that the thought of aiming directly at her actually crossed my mind. I visualized a shot in the rear that would send feathers flying and wings flapping. They say visualization is the key, and although the goose went unharmed, my shot made it onto the green and I made par on the hole!
Because it's fine ... I walk the nine. Cheers!
Yesterday's threatening cloud cover had me ready to bail on a late-afternoon walk around the back nine. Luckily, the sun prevailed and my threesome was rewarded with a nice spring stroll that started on Number 10. As expected, my first time out this season began with a splash as my first tee shot fell shy of the pond's far shore.
Things improved as we went along. Great Golf Resorts of the World describes Okemo Valley's well-groomed course as "walker friendly." It is indeed, but I have to admit the walk from the 13th green to the tee box at Number 14 had us all catching our breath before teeing it up.
The tee boxes, fairways and dance floors were all in great shape. Unfortunately for me, I can also attest to the quality of the sand in the nearly 100 bunkers that are strategically sprinkled along the course. I didn't visit them all, but my random sampling was surely enough to form a conclusion.
The thing I find most challenging on OVGC's back nine is the water. Especially when I start out the round shooting at submarines. I get somewhat psyched out every time at the 16th. There's an awful lot of water between the tees and the green ... even from the ladies'. A well-fed Canada Goose was all settled in for the evening on the waterside rough, just right of the pin. There was something seriously mocking about her confidence in that position ... enough so that the thought of aiming directly at her actually crossed my mind. I visualized a shot in the rear that would send feathers flying and wings flapping. They say visualization is the key, and although the goose went unharmed, my shot made it onto the green and I made par on the hole!
Because it's fine ... I walk the nine. Cheers!
Friday, May 16, 2008
It's Swing Time!
The winter clothes are sealed up and packed away. And with each tub of sweaters, scarves and turtlenecks that went down into the basement, an equal number of clothing tubs and summertime toys came up. The back of my Jeep looks like I'm ready to set up a sports-themed flea market at a moment's notice: mountain bike, tennis racquet, court shoes, golf clubs, golf shoes and visor, hiking boots, dog leashes, water bottles ... and who knows what's hiding under the seats?
I think this is going to be the swing-sports summer for me, though. I took tennis lessons all winter and I think my tennis swing has me ready to take on some contenders. (Thanks, Bob - and West River Tennis - you are the master!) Last summer's thumb surgery cost me my golf game, so I was pleasantly surprised when my trip to the driving range this week was rewarded with golf swings that landed most shots on the target greens. I also tried a friend's No. 4 hybrid and now I gotta get me one of those!
Instruction is a specialty of Okemo Valley Golf Club's Head Golf Professional Michael Santa Maria. This is the summer I'm going to take my golf game to a new level ... with the help of Mike and that new hybrid. Mike's arrival last summer marked a new direction for golf instruction at Okemo Valley. The most noticeable is an "a la carte" approach to daily three-hour clinics being offered. Each day, students will be instructed on full-swing fundamentals and will be able to choose from a variety of topics they would like to work on, ranging from short game techniques to shot-making to course management and everything in between. This new “a la carte” approach to OVGC's learning program provides students with the opportunity to reserve their programs by the day or multiple days - whatever works best for their individual schedules.
New this year is Mike's introduction of a weekly women's clinic and a junior clinic, as well as a junior golf camp. More information is available online.
So, whether you find me on the court or the course, this year I'll be the one with the great swing. Cheers!
I think this is going to be the swing-sports summer for me, though. I took tennis lessons all winter and I think my tennis swing has me ready to take on some contenders. (Thanks, Bob - and West River Tennis - you are the master!) Last summer's thumb surgery cost me my golf game, so I was pleasantly surprised when my trip to the driving range this week was rewarded with golf swings that landed most shots on the target greens. I also tried a friend's No. 4 hybrid and now I gotta get me one of those!
Instruction is a specialty of Okemo Valley Golf Club's Head Golf Professional Michael Santa Maria. This is the summer I'm going to take my golf game to a new level ... with the help of Mike and that new hybrid. Mike's arrival last summer marked a new direction for golf instruction at Okemo Valley. The most noticeable is an "a la carte" approach to daily three-hour clinics being offered. Each day, students will be instructed on full-swing fundamentals and will be able to choose from a variety of topics they would like to work on, ranging from short game techniques to shot-making to course management and everything in between. This new “a la carte” approach to OVGC's learning program provides students with the opportunity to reserve their programs by the day or multiple days - whatever works best for their individual schedules.
New this year is Mike's introduction of a weekly women's clinic and a junior clinic, as well as a junior golf camp. More information is available online.
So, whether you find me on the court or the course, this year I'll be the one with the great swing. Cheers!
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