Just One More Week... We Can Do It!!!

Here we are, in the final week before our anticipated opening day for the 09.10 season -- November 21! I tore through my closet the other day and made two piles: one full of the stuff I'll be using in a few days and one full of stuff I'll be selling. The annual Ski & Ride Swap for the benefit of the Okemo Mountain School is coming up this Friday, Nov. 20th - 22nd. I plan on making bank and walking away with a wad of cash, which I will then promptly spend on more new gear (and the vicious cycle continues infinitely). I'm telling you, I need to get out on the slopes already because all this idle time is bad for my bank account. Luckily though, the Ski & Ride Swap has a lot of great deals on both new and used equipment, including hard and soft goods. Also, I just took a stroll through the Snowsports Shop and they have a lot of really great gear from companies like Grenade, Quicksilver, Burton, Bern and Oakley. That place is dangerous, and I like it!

A little bird told me about a special promo going on right now on the official Okemo Mountain Facebook page. Something about the 12 days of Okemo and an exclusive Facebook opening day... That's all I'm saying, or that little bird might morph into Big Bird (Happy 40th Anniversary by the way!) and put a hurtin' on me when he finds all these people on his beloved ski slope.

Alright, I obviously need to get out on the snow soon... very, very soon. It won't be long now. In the meantime, join me on Twitter (@OkemoMountainRoadie). You can also add @RafaelOkemo (my snow-reporting compadre) and the mothership -- @OkemoMountain. Snow reports, special offers, some juicy insider info, and more of my incoherent ramblings are all included free of charge. Enjoy, and we'll catch you on the slopes soon!

P.S. - Look out for Okemo Mountain next week in Boston. We'll be at the Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo from November 19 - 22 at the Bayside Expo Center. A lot of shenanigans will be going on, for sure, so don't miss out on this legendary tribute to the upcoming season.

And while you're in Boston feast your eyes on what's already being called one of the greatest ski films ever made-- The Edge of Never. It will be premiering in the Boston area on the 17th and 18th.

Stick Season Special at Spring House

The leaves are gone and the sticks are showing here at scenic Okemo mountain. Unfortunately, the sticks are legs. Chicken legs. They're in a desperate state of atrophy after a summer of reading about skiing and riding rather actually skiing and riding. Looks like disc golf lunches didn't do enough to keep the legs in shape for crushing bumps on the Plunge and ripping the tree lines at the Gore. It's really quite depressing. I suspect I'm not the only one in this condition.

My old man always said "If you're gonna talk about it, be about it." Leave me alone Dad! I'm going to do something about it. I'm going to start hammering the quads with squats and leg presses, and ramping up the incline on the ellipitcal. I will punish myself to get ready for the season starting...now.

Luckily, it won't cost me an arm and a (stick) leg. The Spring House pool and fitness center at Jackson Gore is offering a $6 midweek day pass from now until 11/25. Six bucks, tax included. From open 'til close. Every Monday - Friday.

That's 15 days worth of torture that I can endure to make sure I'm ready to hike that Sobe S-rail one more time to finally clean the whole thing this winter. I'm sure I'll get it this year.

Come on down and work out with me for $6. Or go for a swim. Or hit the sauna. I'll be the one on the step with the dumbbell crying and sweating...but not stopping!!

Starting...now.

Recession Will Soon Be Over, Says White House

Okemo Mountain Resort Announces Third Consecutive Year of Record Season Pass Sales

"We're Just Going to Start Doing Whatever Okemo's Doing," Says Fed

LUDLOW, VT—Noting the third consecutive year of season pass sales success at Vermont's Okemo Mountain Resort, President Barack Obama on Monday formally announced the beginning of the end of the twenty-two month Great Recession.

"I am, and always have been, most impressed by the commitment to excellence shown by the fine upstanding Vermont-Americans at Okemo Mountain, and I am most impressed that, in these soon-to-be-formerly difficult times, Okemo has shown season pass sales unit increases of 14%, year-to-year... and that on top of two previous consecutive years of growth.

"Let me be clear: whatever they're doing, we're going to start doing," Obama said.

Rep. John R. Boehner (R-OH), House Minority Leader, immediately endorsed Obama's position.

"The President and I agree on very little, but this is a clear area for consensus: offer American consumers an excellent product at an excellent price, and Americans will start spending again -- and enjoying their newfound independence from lift-ticket prices and ticket window lines," said Boehner. "We can learn a lot from Okemo, even if it is located in Vermont."

Rumors that radio personality Rush Limbaugh was part of a group seeking to purchase Okemo Mountain Resort could not be confirmed by press time.

Peak Week

The concensus around the marketing office is that the fall foliage is at, or approaching, peak color this week. It's perfect timing for a long weekend away and Okemo's annual Parrothead Party on Sat., Oct. 10.

The concert, featuring the Reggae beat of Spiritual Rez and Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Changes in Latitudes, is free and open to the public. There will be booze in the blender to render some frozen concoctions and Coleman Brook Tavern will be on hand to provide fresh-from-the-grill burgers, bow wows, and such. Spiritual Rez takes to the stage at 1 p.m.

Okemo's Season Pass early-bird cutoff is approaching Oct. 12, so the Parrothead Party would be a good time to renew your pass for some great pre-season savings.

New this year, the Sunday One-Day Season Pass is a great “starter” pass for weekend day trippers and is priced right at an early-bird rate of $299 for adults ($359 after Oct. 12). This direct-to-lift season pass has four blackout dates, but is valid all other Sundays throughout the season.

OkeMoose on the Loose

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The foliage is nearing its peak display of color. Temps are starting to feel more seasonal and critters are on the crawl in preparation for winter. Sightings of dumpster bears have been reported and a lonely little moose has been seen wandering the grounds of Kettle Brook. We know he's an authentic Okemo Moose because ... well ... see for yourself!

Opening Day Just 82 Days Away!

Wow! Where did the summer go? We're closing in on Fall here at Okemo, with the days warm and the nights getting cooler. In fact, temperatures tonight are predicted to drop as low as 37 degrees! Oh yeah, did I mention opening day is a mere 82 days away?

If you have not secured your 09/10 Season Pass - be sure to purchase on or before October 12th to get the pre-season pricing. We've also introduced a new Sunday One-Day Pass this season, so if you're within an hour or two drive from the mountain this might be a perfect starter pass. And, Flex Cards, 8 & 12 packs are also on sale now in the online store.

In terms of what else is new for the 09.10 season, here are a few highlights:

• We'll introduce a new after 2 pm ticket and many more online ticket deals to save $


• The longest superpipe in the East will increase its vertical pitch by 13 feet!


• Fans of Okemo on Facebook and Twitter Followers will have opportunities to win free tickets and take advantage of special offers


• We're reconfiguring our entire HKD tower gun snowmaking system with a focus on enhanced resurfacing response time (this is the East right?)


• We have a ton of ways to ski free, or learn to ski free


• and that's just a start!

Finally, Okemo is holding the line on our slopeside lodging rates for the upcoming season AND offering guests that book early up to 30% off! Get all the details on this ski & stay savings offer here>>>

music,beer, beer, cider, music and beer

What an awesome weekend, that just transpired. Friday night music in the courtyard at Jackson Gore, with the Roots of Creation and a picnic dinner with friends...and cool evening temps. Saturday morning arrived early, with temps in the low 40's (winter is coming).

I joined a small group of cyclists (at 7:30 am) who rode a 62 mile fundraising tour, which took us through Cavendish, Reading (Felchville), back of the Tyson/Plymouth road (also know as the Alps), then swooping down into Echo Lake with a turn north to Rte 4 East. A yummy snack stop at the general store at the corner of Rte 4 and Rte 100A south, then back down to finish our ride at the stone archway of the Jackson Gore Inn. We were pleased to finish in 4 hours.

Once we recovered, some of us contniued on to the 1st Annual Hops in the Hills beer festival for an afternoon of sampling flavors from nine different regional craft brewers. I hope this is OK...my favorite was the Adirondack Lager from Saranac. The afternoon affair was accompanied by the Chris Kleeman Band and headlined by Nobby Reed. Both bands played some soulful blues.

The weather was perfect all day long. I suspect most people had nice tan lines or wicked sunburns by days end. I personally had some lobster lines.....more sunscreen next time.

Take Care.

PS. See you Friday night for more free music at Okemo!