Skiing the Length and Width of Vermont

T h e L e n g t h o f Ve r m o n t o n S k i s
­­Volume XXVII Number 3
SPRING 2011
Skiing the Length and Width of Vermont
By Jim Goodine and Rudge Canning
I
f you give backcountry skiers a pile
of maps and enough time, they’ll
likely set out on a quest. Many of
us have benefitted from one such
quest, when in 1984, three restless
adventurers pushed their skis the
entire length of Vermont to establish the 300-mile long Catamount
Trail. With the help of the CTA
guidebook, a very knowledgeable
staff, dedicated trail chiefs, volunteer crews, and energetic trip leaders
“bagging the Cat” is certainly possible for all skilled backcountry skiers.
After we had conquered 25
of the Catamount Trail’s 31 sections, out came a battered copy
of DeLorme’s Vermont Atlas and
Gazetteer, and up pops a fresh
quest. With the completion of the
Catamount well within our reach, we
set out to become the first to ski the
length and width of Vermont.
The Bennington area has been a
cross-country skiing stronghold for
a long time with Olympians, Hall of
Famers, and great ski coaches. Our
years of ski experience, positive attitude, and the consistently deep snow
up in Woodford prepared us very
well for what was to come; long days
in unfamiliar, remote areas. What
we weren’t prepared for was the difficulty in finding a suitable route. It
gave us a whole new perspective on
the challenges that faced the founders
of the Catamount Trail. Tremendous
amounts of time were spent pouring
over maps, V.A.S.T. trail guides, and
satellite photos, and then driving in
an attempt to find trail heads and
road crossings. Often our best advice
came from chatting with local people
in the areas that we were traversing.
Every single person was interested
in our trek and eager to help locate
trails and parking, even offering rides
when we emerged from the woods far
Rudge Canning and Jim Goodine ski the
length and width of Vermont.
from where we expected.
The result was nothing less than
fantastic! We saw Vermont at its finest
with charming villages, rugged terrain,
(continued on page 9)
Inside This Issue
CTA Volunteer Work Weekends–2011 . . . . . . 2
Lodging Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
New End to Enders in 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Catamount Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Central Vermont Weeklong Ski Tour . . . . . 10
2011 Trail Fund Appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
On the Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hydration on the Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Backcountry Skiers Brave Near Zero
Temperatures to Learn New Skills . . . . . . . 5
THANK YOU Volunteers! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Catamount Ski Cubs Alive and
Well in Vermont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Wanted: Trail Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Low on Snow, But Not on Smiles. . . . . . . 21
Enman and Crawford Set
New Course Records In BC Race. . . . . . . . . 6
Support CTA with a
Charitable Gift Annuity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Race to the Top of Vermont, 2011. . . . . . . . 22
Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink
Catamount Tales
CTA Volunteer Work Weekends–Summer 2011
C
The Catamount Trail News is published
by the Catamount Trail Association,
a member-supported, non-profit
organization dedicated to developing,
maintaining, and protecting the 300-mile
Catamount Trail and promoting
backcountry skiing in Vermont.
CTA Board of Directors
July 16 & 17
I
Section 10, Buttermilk Falls to Lake Ninevah (Ludlow)
August 13 & 14
Section 15, Route 73 to Blueberry Hill (Goshen/Ripton)
September 17 & 18
Section 31, Jay Country Store to Quebec Border ( Jay)
Cost: There is no fee to participate.
Meals: Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast will be provided.
Registration: For more information or to sign up for a volunteer work weekend, con-
tact Amy at akelsey@catamounttrail.org or 802-864-5794.
CTA Staff
Jim Fredericks, Executive Director
Amy Kelsey, Trail Management &
Protection Director
Diana Vachon, Admin. Coordinator
Emily Wheeler, AmeriCorps Member
CTA Office
1 Mill Street • Suite 350
Burlington, VT 05401
802-864-5794
email: info@catamounttrail.org
Visit our Web Site at:
www.catamounttrail.org
The Catamount Trail News is published as
a benefit for CTA members. The Catamount
Trail Association encourages interested parties
to submit manuscripts, photos, and illustrations
for publication in the Newsletter. The opinions
expressed by contributors are not necessarily
those of the CTA. The CTA reserves the right
to refuse materials and advertising deemed
inappropriate for publication.
Clearing the Bolton to Trapp trail in fall 2010.
2
by Jim Fredericks –
Executive Director
photo courtesy of rich larsen
Moira Durnin Anderson, Stowe
Jill Aspinall, Montpelier
Mary Lou Briggs, Williamstown, MA
Paul Demers, South Burlington
Lynn Fisher, Bridgewater
Bill Goldstein, Lincoln
Trina Hosmer, Stowe
Bob Jordan, Saxtons River
Paul Kendall, Braintree
Pete Lane, Marlboro, MA
Rich Larsen, Essex Junction
Bill Michels, Plymouth
Kris Roomet, Burlington
Jan Rozendaal, South Burlington
Dagny St. John, So. Londonderry
Arnold Ziegel, Stowe
TA will host 3 volunteer work weekends this summer to help complete trail
relocation projects. Recruit your friends or bring your family to enjoy a weekend
in the Vermont woods. Join us for a day or for the whole weekend. On Saturday and
Sunday we will work on the trail. Saturday evening, we will share a group camping
area and a meal around the campfire. For those who prefer more luxurious accommodations, we are happy to provide lodging suggestions.
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
was born and raised in Vermont
and I can hardly remember a winter like the one we just experienced.
The snow just kept on falling, the
temperatures stayed pretty moderate
and the backcountry skiing couldn’t
have been better. The CTA was able
to capitalize on these gifts from the
snow gods to attract a record amount
of skiers to both our tours and special events.
The CTA ran twenty-five day
tours with the average participant
level of eight skiers per tour day.
Our multi-day tours were a tremendous draw for those trying to bag
the Catamount. With the objective
of skiing all the 31 sections of the
Catamount Trail, a skier could do
two weeklong tours this winter and
two the next, thus completing their
goal. For those that couldn’t take
the time for one or two full weeks of
skiing, we also offered two three-day
tours. The average number of participants per day on the multi-day tours
was twenty skiers.
The special events were another
success story for the CTA. Both the
Ladies Nordic Ski Expo and the Get
Out and Backcountry Ski Festival
were totally booked and enjoyed
by skiers from throughout the eastern U.S. The Winter Photography
Workshop was organized on a trial
basis to measure the interest level of
skiers with artistic talents. The workshop was small but presented the
opportunity for personal instruction
from expert photographers Emily
Johnson and Brain Mohr. The winter culminated with the Catamount
Trail Backcountry Challenge Race
and Tour on March 13th . With close
to fifty participants, the event drew
some of the most talented racers
from throughout the east to make it
a very competitive event in the race
category. We had a record total of
250 participants at these events and
we would like to thank all our volunteers and sponsors for making these
events so successful.
The success of the day tours,
multi-day tours, and special events
is somewhat due to the snow conditions but it is also a reflection of the
hard work that the CTA staff, Board
of Directors, and the volunteers who
partake in organizing these happenings. The final count for the number
of participants was 888 and was up
28% from the previous year and was
also a record for the CTA.
The Catamount Ski Cubs
Program was a new addition to our
mission of promoting Nordic skiing
this year. With the help of outside
sources (please read Emily’s article on
Page 20) and the wizardry of Emily
Wheeler, our VHCB AmeriCorp
member, we were able to develop
and offer this valuable learn to ski
program for five after-school youth
programs. We were also able to place
countless other individuals of all ages
on skis through various winter festivals and gatherings. Since the CTA
now owns a fleet of 30 ski packages,
we plan to expand on this program in
the future. Even though the immediate benefits of this program are not
necessarily evident, we feel it does
promote healthy lifestyles and will
make a difference in the future in
combating the obesity epidemic.
As the winter comes to an end,
the CTA staff is switching gears
to summer trail maintenance, trail
protection, and the 4th Annual FJG
Race To The Top Of Vermont. Even
though the snow may be out of site,
don’t forget that your off-season
volunteer efforts and generous contributions are the key to the success
of the CTA and your enjoyment of
the future outings on the Catamount
Trail.
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
3
On The Trail
by Amy Kelsey–
Trail Management
and Protection
Director
A Winter to Remember
C
Summer Projects
In addition to the annual trail maintenance we focus on each fall, there
are two major trail relocations to complete prior to next winter, and several
other smaller trail relocation projects.
The major planned relocations are
to improve Section 10 in Mt Holly
and Ludlow, a trail segment that currently shares a snowmobile corridor,
and Section 15 in Goshen, a trail segment that currently follows a brushy
power-line for 2 miles. Both projects
will improve safety and aesthetics on
the trail, and together the projects will
protect approximately 8 more miles of
the CT by moving it onto public and
private conserved lands.
In order to complete these projects, we are excited to introduce three
volunteer work weekends this summer, one each in July, August, and
September. This is a great opportunity
to visit a new or lesser-known place in
Vermont, and to help us to move the
trail off of snowmobile corridors. No
experience necessary. See page 2 for
more details.
Hodgeman Easement Purchase
With the purchase of a new trail easement across the Hodgeman Property in
Lowell, Vermont, the CTA has established a protected backcountry ski trail
corridor from the top of the Lowell
Mountains to the base of Hazen’s Notch.
This corridor is over 6 miles in length.
Jan Rozendaal, CTA chairman and Trail
Chief for the Lowell section of the CT
was instrumental in initiating this easement and others in the Lowell area.
The new .85 mile Trail Easement
across the Hodgeman property
includes two significant bridges that
are key to crossing the Missisquoi River
and connecting the Catamount Trail
to the historic Bailey Hazen Road on
the east side of Hazen’s Notch. The
4
A frigid but fun day at CTA’s 3rd Annual Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival, held at Bolton Valley Resort. Photo by Jim Fredericks.
Backcountry Skiers Brave Near Zero Temperatures to Learn New Skills
T
amy kelsey
onditions on the trail were looking a little lean early in January,
but quickly that changed, providing
all of our multi-day tours, and most
other tours and events, with plenty of
snow and spectacular skiing. Mother
nature played a leading role in this winning mix, but so did many enthusiastic
volunteers who spent their free time
clearing the trail prior to the snowfall.
Whether it was the snow dances you
did before bed each night, or your
work on the trail, thank you to all
who assisted in making this season a
success. A list of volunteers who have
assisted with Trail work and CTA tours
and events since the summer of 2010
appears on pages 14 and 15.
scenic easement corridor parallels the
Missisquoi River through open meadows, crosses a brook on a pedestrian
bridge built for the Catamount Trail
by Mr. Rozendaal, and then follows an
old logging road to a large field with
expansive views of Hazen’s Notch.
For generations, the Hodgeman
family has lived, worked, and recreated on the flanks of the Green
Mountains, just east of Hazen’s Notch.
“We choose to host the Catamount
Trail so that others may experience and
enjoy the landscape we are fortunate
to call home,” says landowner Kevin
Hodgeman. “We are happy to have
had the opportunity to work with the
Catamount Trail Association to conserve the Trail on our property, ensuring backcountry skiers will have access
to this resource for years to come.”
CTA has funding available to
purchase Trail Access Easements from
willing private landowners and is working to protect additional trail sections
such as the Hodgeman’s throughout
the state. Please contact us if you would
like additional information on our
Trail Protection Program.
emperatures hovering near 0˚ F didn’t
deter over 70 participants from sharpening their backcountry skills at the 3rd
Annual Get Out And Backcountry Ski
Festival at Bolton Valley on Jan 23rd. The
sold out event attracted skiers from 25 to
65 years old with three primary goals: to
try out some of the latest in backcountry
ski equipment, to learn skills to be safe
and proficient skiing in a wilderness setting, and to have fun.
With over 100 km of backcountry
trails and an abundance of new powder,
Bolton Valley Resort provided an ideal
setting for the 3rd Annual Get Out and
Backcountry Ski Festival. The skiers were
broken up into groups based on ability
and matched with instructors who shared
and practiced skills appropriate for each
group. From simple wedge and stem turns
in powder to linked telemark turns on
steep wooded terrain, everyone was able
to boost their proficiency and confidence
throughout the day. While the outdoor
sessions were the main attraction, the
workshop also included indoor talks on
dressing and packing for backcountry
excursions, and selecting proper backcountry ski equipment for one’s individual skiing goals. Culminating a perfect
day, skiers were treated to a social gathering with beverages, light food, and an
abundance of raffle prizes.
CTA board chair Jan Rozendaal, Kevin Hodgeman, Anita Hodgeman, and Amy Kelsey at
the Hodgeman Easement Closing in January.
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
5
Enman and Crawford Set New Course Records In BC Race
By Jim Fredericks
steve messier
F
orty-five adventurous skiers from
throughout New England and
New York stood on the starting line at
Trapp Family Lodge for the 4th Annual
Catamount Trail Backcountry Challenge
Race and Tour on March 13th.
As the valley residents were experiencing rain in the lower elevations, these
hardy backcountry participants were
treated to lightly falling snow and up to
five inches of fresh cover in the elevated
mountainous areas. Unlike other Nordic
ski races and tours, the participants were
totally self sufficient on this remote
backcountry trail. The 17km course is
one of the most famous and well used
sections of the Catamount Trail. The
difference for these participants is that
they were skiing it in reverse fashion
which entailed a 2300 ft vertical climb
and a 1300 ft hair raising descent off
Eric Tremble tries to hold off Marc
Gilbertson on the descent.
6
JIM FREDERICKS
JIM FREDERICKS
JIM FREDERICKS
Eli Enman catches some air as he
approaches the finish. Eli broke his
own record, set in 2010, to win the
2011 BC Challenge.
Bolton Mountain to the Bolton Valley
Nordic Center below.
The touring division was given a
head start before the competitive skiers raced off the start line 90 minutes
later. While the touring division was
able to enjoy the incredible scenery on
their leisurely tour up and over Bolton
Mountain, the racers were giving 100%
of their effort just to reach the finish
line in the shortest possible time.
In the hotly contested field of elite
racers, it was Eli Enman of Huntington,
Vermont who broke free of the main
pack early in the race to set a new
course record of 1:30:30 with his second win in as many years. Olympian
Marc Gilbertson of Hyde Park and Eric
Tremble of Jericho raced head to head
down the mountain with Gilbertson
making up ten seconds in the last kilo-
Sisters Brie and Tyne Pike-Sprenger
climb up Bolton Mountain from
Nebraska Valley during the BC Challenge
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
meter to place second while Tremble
nailed down the third position in
1:34:50.
The women’s race developed into
a similar scenario as the men’s competition with Kate Crawford of Essex
breaking free from the pack early in the
race and setting a new course record in
2:05:22. The second and third positions
were up for grab as Brie and Tyne Pike-
Sprenger of West Dover, Vermont raced
head to head throughout the entire race.
Brie’s alpine racing experience paid off
in the final descent, edging out her sister
Tyne by two seconds to take second in a
time of 2:13:13.
Following their heroic efforts over
the grueling course, all participants
were treated to a meal and over $2000
in donated raffle prizes and awards.
Sponsors included Outdoor Gear
Exchange, Rossignol Ski Company,
Darn Tough Socks, Seventh Generation,
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and
Silversmith Jewelry Design Company.
A special thanks goes out to Trapp
Family Lodge, Bolton Valley, and the
Bolton Valley Ski Patrol for making this
Catamount Trail Association event so
successful.
BACKCOUNTRY CHALLENGE RACE RESULTS
Time
Name
City
State
1
2:05:55
Kate Crawford
Essex
VT
2
2:13:13
Brie Pike-Sprenger
West Dover
VT
3
2:13:15
Tyne Pike-Sprenger
West Dover
VT
4
2:37:00
Linda Ramsdell
Craftsbury Common
VT
5
2:58:30
Leelee Goodson
Stowe
VT
6
3:05:30
Joanne Grogan
Hinesburg
VT
7
3:23:10
Annaliese Baumer
Jericho
VT
1
1:30:30
Eli Enman
Huntington
VT
2
1:34:40
Marc Gilbertson
Hyde Park
VT
3
1:34:50
Jericho
VT
4
1:43:15
Reid Greenberg
Warren
VT
5
1:44:15
Chris Rodgers
Stowe
VT
6
1:44:20
Sam von Trapp
Stowe
VT
7
1:44:33
Jake Hollenbach
Winooski
VT
8
2:03:05
Charles Woodworth
Yarmouth
ME
9
2:07:55
Oliver Sweatman
Stowe
VT
10
2:09:10
Andrew Farrell
Brooklyn
NY
11
2:10:03
Jacob Riley
Portland
ME
12
2:15:45
Steven French
Conesus
NY
13
2:20:28
George Terwilliger
Putney
VT
14
2:25:25
Greg Rems
Arlington
VT
15
2:55:25
Mark Lariviere
Bolton
VT
16
2:58:30
Gregg Goodson
Stowe
VT
WOMEN
MEN
Chris Rodgers letting it all out on the
descent.
Eric Tremble
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
7
Skiing the Length and
Width of Vermont
(continued from page 1)
and panoramic views. Often the glorious snow conditions made us think
we could kick and glide forever. And,
yes, the little tricks of Mother Nature
sometimes had us bending into a
freezing wind on Harriman Reservoir,
grinding the steel edges on frozen steep
drops, and struggling with chest-deep
drifts. Fortunately, most of the old logging roads are about the right pitch for
good climbs and descents.
A big part of the excitement of
each day was seeing what was around
the next corner. Along with the dozens
of ancient cellar holes and sugaring
operations of all sizes, there were deep
gullies, crazy tree configurations, animal signs everywhere, and rock formations that stopped us in our tracks.
While most of the runs were
through remote and wild areas, we also
had our share of ducking clotheslines,
cutting through backyards, dodging
barking dogs, and clattering down
roadside ditches. Through it all, each
day put smiles on our faces.
On February 5th, we became endto-enders on the Catamount Trail as
part of the CTA Week-Long-Tour. On
February 15th, we finished skiing from
New York to the Connecticut River
making us the first to ski the length
and width of Vermont.
Our experience has been so positive that we offer this bit of advice: get
yourself a CTA membership, a pile of
maps, and get those skis waxed up so
that you can go after your own winter
adventure. Your challenge will be to
have as much fun as we have had.
~ Jim Goodine and Ray “Rudge”
Canning live in Bennington.
8
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
Lodging Members
Black Bear Inn
Blueberry Hill Inn
Bolton Valley Nordic Center
Churchill House Inn
Commodores Inn
Golden Eagle Resort
Green Mountain Inn
Inn at Mount Snow
Inn At the Long Trail
Littlefield Farm
Mountain Top Inn & Ski Touring Center
Stowe Motel & Snowdrift
The Vermont Inn
Town & Country Resort
Trapp Family Lodge
West Hill House
www.blkbearinn.com
www.blueberryhillinn.com
www.boltonvalley.com
www.churchillhouseinn.com
www.commodoresinn.com
www.goldeneagleresort.com
www.greenmountaininn.com
www.innatmountsnow.com
www.innatlongtrail.com
www.vrbo.com/96404
www.mountaintopinn.com
www.stowemotel.com
www.vermontinn.com
www.townandcountrystowe.com
www.trappfamily.com
www.westhillbb.com
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
9
By Sheri Larsen
T
he Central Vermont Weeklong Tour
included seven days of skiing on
contiguous sections of the Catamount
Trail from Natural Turnpike in Ripton
(Section 17) to Edson Hill Resort in
Stowe (Section 23) and an eighth day
on Section 12 south of Rt. 4 in Rutland
County. The tour was designed to
include the most challenging skiing on
the Catamount Trail and also include
segments that hadn’t been skied for
several years, so that end-to-end skiers
could complete “the gaps.”
The tour was successful on a lot
of fronts. Thirty-two individuals participated in at least one day of the tour,
and the number of skier days totaled
127. Three skiers—Deb Kirchwey, Jim
Goodine and Ray Canning—finished
their quest to ski the length of the
Catamount Trail during the weeklong
tour. We had great ski conditions for
Sections 17 – 23, and the six people
who skied the northern half of Section
12 in very challenging snow conditions
survived to tell their stories. Also, participants had a good time (except for
perhaps that eighth day of the tour),
according to the responses to a followup questionnaire:
“Amazing ski conditions…stunning natural beauty.” “A great group of
people.” “The snow was fresh, soft and
deep. The temperature, except for one
cold day, was just right…The camaraderie was great.” “We had fantastic snow.”
“I liked being able to ski with interesting
people of similar ability and the chance
to go where I could not safely go alone.”
“Fun get-togethers.” (Comments from
the eighth day, however, weren’t as positive because snow conditions deteriorated overnight throughout Vermont.
As one skier put it: “Ankle height crust
and heavy snow made for a ski day I
hope never to repeat.”)
The Weeklong Ski Tour participants ranged from several Catamount
Trail end-to-enders to others who had
never skied in Vermont. Although most
were from Vermont, there were three
skiers from Quebec and a few from NH
and MA. Nine participants skied all of
the first seven days, and two of those
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10
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
Sheri Larsen
did the eighth day as well. Participants
enjoyed three social events: dinner at a
bistro in Bristol, pizza at a restaurant in
South Burlington, and a potluck supper
and slides from our first several ski days
at our house in Essex.
Although participants enjoyed skiing each leg of the Catamount Trail,
one section—Section 19 from the
Battleground Condos in Waitsfield to
Camel’s Hump Road in Huntington—
garnered the most votes for “favorite
section” in a post-tour questionnaire.
Many of the participants had never skied
that section before, or had not been
on the reroute, and were impressed by
its remoteness, beautiful forests, lovely
views and good uphill climbs followed
by great downhill runs. In addition, the
conditions that day were incredible—a
foot or more of mostly untracked powder snow, sunny, and clear blue sky. And,
for Deb Kirchwey, it was her “Golden
Spike.” Another favorite section was
Section 22 from Bolton Nordic Center
to Trapp Family Lodge, which many felt
had the best downhill run—a very long
downhill through glades and on an old
logging road ending at Nebraska Valley
Road in Stowe. Other favorite downhills
included the long run down to Camel’s
Hump Road at the end of Section 19,
skiing downhill from Lincoln Gap at
the end of the first day, and “anything I
didn’t fall down on!”
Tour organizer Rich Larsen deserves
a big “thank you” for all the work he
did to make the Central Vermont Tour
a great success. Many thanks also to the
CTA members who very generously
provided lodging to some of the out-oftown tour participants. (Those participants who stayed in private homes were
tremendously grateful.) Finally, kudos to
the following individuals who led us on
one or more sections of the trail: Dean
Bloch, Audrey Huffman, Phil Huffman,
Paul Demers, Peter Cottrell, Andy
Strauss, Amy Kelsey, Rich Larsen, Sheri
Larsen, and Steve Waite.
Skiers participating in the Central Vermont Week Long Tour gather at Bolton Valley’s
Bryant Camp
JIM FREDERICKS
Central Vermont Weeklong Ski Tour: Rave Reviews for 7 out of 8 days
Central Vermont Week Long Tour heading south on Section 21, a great downhill run
from Bolton Valley to Route 2
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
11
Hydration on the Trail
not efficiently absorb water and nutrients, trying to match ongoing losses
results in overfilling of the stomach
leading to bloating, cramping, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and poor performance. Exercise science has taught us
that a much more effective strategy is
to replenish our water and nutritive
losses in accordance with our absorptive mechanisms.
By Dr. George
Terwilliger
I
Be aware that it is not necessary to
hit the nutrition goals precisely. Our
bodies have enormous reserves of
nutrients and efficient mechanisms for
adjusting for variation.
●
A rule of thumb is to feed your body
back about a third of its ongoing water
and nutrient losses during exercise. For
the average size person that would be
roughly 16 – 20 ounces per hour. That
is the maximum rate at which it can be
reasonably expected to absorb water and
nutrients without harming performance.
●
Thirst is a natural instinct that tells
us when we are getting dehydrated.
Don’t ignore it.
●
Athletes who start out exercising in
a poorly hydrated state are at far higher
risk of reaching dangerous levels of
dehydration. Pre-event dehydration
can occur by poor drinking habits, consumption of drugs like alcohol, caffeine,
nicotine, and certain medications like
diuretics. A well-hydrated person will
have colorless or slightly yellow urine.
●
Exercise results in “deficit spending”
of water and nutrition. These deficits can and should be more properly
replenished later during rest mode
when our bodies can optimally process
food and water. The goal of exercise
hydration and fueling is to postpone
fatigue and optimize performance by
●
Avoid excessive sweat losses by shedding layers as you heat up when exercising. Sweat helps cool you only if it is
allowed to evaporate. Saturating your
clothes with sweat wastes your precious
body fluids and electrolytes. These
soaked clothes will fail to insulate when
you become chilled later.
●
paul demers
JIM FREDERICKS
t may seem ridiculous to worry about
dehydration while skiing. Though
surrounded by water (snow), skiers
risk dehydration from a variety of factors. First, people tend to drink less
while skiing. Cold diminishes feelings
of thirst and raises the hassle factor of
drinking: water bottles freeze, fingers
get cold, and near frozen drinks are
unpleasant to gulp. Despite the cold,
bodily water losses can be as great in
the winter as in the summer. Winter air
has very low absolute humidity, which
rapidly evaporates not only sweat but
also water from the respiratory tract.
Further, many people overdress causing overheating and increased sweat
production. Finally, exposure to cold
can cause increased urine production
known as cold diuresis.
Excess water loss causes dehydration, which can create problems for
the cold weather adventurer. When
dehydrated, our bodies try to keep
reduced blood volume in the core to
serve vital organs. This results in vasoconstriction reducing blood flow to
fingers and toes, which increases the
risk of frostbite. Dehydration also can
result in extreme fatigue, confusion,
and hypothermia.
taking in only the fluids and nutrients
it can comfortably absorb. It should
not be the futile, pseudoscientific effort
to constantly replace all ongoing losses
of body fluids and nutrients.
Sweat Science
Many athletes are taught to “replace
what you lose” during exercise by
drinking loads of fluids. This can be a
bad idea. Since an exercising body can-
●
12
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
LEFT: Dr. George Terwilliger on his
way from Trapp to Bolton during the
Backcountry Challenge Race. ABOVE:
Dagny St. John takes a break to rehydrate
Perpeteum
(2 scoops)
1/2 PB & J
sandwich
Apple + 1/2 oz.
almonds
Calories
180
216
180
Carbs (g)
36
30
27
Protein (g)
5
6
4
Fat (g)
2
9
8
Sodium (g)
147
250
52
Potassium(mg)
80
118
286
Calcium (mg)
24
8
50
Magnesium (mg)
5
34
50
Fueling Strategies
Some elite endurance athletes carefully calculate rates of water, energy,
and electrolyte losses and attempt to
replace them at optimum rates of inrace supplementation using various
pills, goos, and energy drinks. Some
authorities (especially those with financial connections to the makers of these
products) would have you believe that
eating food and drinking water are
improper sources of exercise nutrition
for racing and hard training. While
industrial preparations may be effective, commonly available real foods can
provide healthier, cheaper alternatives
for most scenarios.
Most authorities agree that adventures of more than two hours duration
require refueling with appropriate
amounts of liquids, energy (in the form
of complex carbohydrates), and moderate amounts of sodium and other
electrolytes. Highly processed sugars
should be avoided.
For sports nutrition geeks who
favor liquid fueling, it is reasonable to mix up bottles of commercial
powdered mix (such as Perpeteum by
Hammer nutrition) for drinks that
supply all exercise energy, water, and
electrolyte needs. These are designed
to provide good sustenance when
mixed with 20 ounces of water and
consumed over each hour of exertion.
Another, possibly more satisfying, and
certainly cheaper approach is to simply
pack food and water as most of us do
already. One-half a good old peanut
butter and jelly sandwich paired with
a bottle of water works well, as does
an apple and some almonds (see chart
above). These examples provide reasonable amounts of electrolytes, complex
carbohydrates, and protein that are
thought to aid in prolonged endurance
performance.
Exertion Dilution
Over-zealous hydration during exercise can lower blood sodium levels via
a dilutional effect. This potentially
dangerous medical condition is called
exertional hyponatremia (EH). It generally requires exercise times in excess
of 3-4 hours coupled with inadequate
intake of food or electrolyte-containing
sports drinks. Early symptoms include
nausea, vomiting, and headache. Later
signs include confusion, disorientation,
seizures, coma, and fluid in the lungs.
Women are at higher risk for the development of EH than men. Other risk
factors include low body weight and
the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Motrin, ibuprofen, Aleve,
naproxen, etc.) Do not attempt to
prevent this condition by loading up
on salt (sodium chloride) before endurance exercise. For a variety of complex
physiological reasons, this doesn’t
work. Simply speaking, a high sodium
diet hones the body’s ability to excrete
excess salt making it hard to cope with
the dehydration and sodium losses of
exercise. Also, a high sodium diet can
cause a host of health problems.
Winter Hydration Tips
Pre-hydrate. Two to three hours
before an athletic event, consume
approximately 20 ounces of fluids with
some food. Then follow this up by
drinking 10 ounces ten minutes prior
to exercise.
●
Drink early, drink often. Don’t wait
to drink. Studies show that people are
already about 2 percent dehydrated
by they time they feel extreme thirst.
Drink moderate amounts fairly often.
But not too much. Limit yourself to
16- 20 ounces per hour. Drink when
thirsty but don’t force-feed fluids –
moderation is the key.
●
● A general rule of thumb. Your urine
should be ample and light yellow or
clear.
More than just water. Water is best
absorbed when accompanied by electrolytes and complex carbohydrates.
This can be effectively done with
ordinary food and water or with sports
drinks.
●
●
Conserve water. Shed layers when
you warm up to avoid excessive sweating and, thus, prevent fluid losses.
●
Prevent frozen liquids. Place a water
bottle in an insulated case such as the
Water Bottle Parka made by Outdoor
Research. Then place this in the center
of your pack.
Drink warm liquids. A nice trick is
to fill a stainless steel vacuum thermos
with hot tea providing a warming treat
on the trail.
●
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
13
THANK YOU Volunteers!
W
e depend heavily on and are grateful to our many volunteers. Thank you for all you do to help us keep the Trail and the
CTA in good shape! Our volunteers help with mailings, assist at events, clear trail, fix bridges, post blazes, monitor easements, lead tours, and so much more. We’ve done our best to list all the people who have helped us in the last year, but we know
we may have missed a few of you. If your name is not on this list, let us know, and be assured we are equally grateful for your help.
Jason Achilich
Kristyn Achillich*
Lee Adams
Paul Adams
Betsy Allen
Tony Amenta
Dirk Anderson*
Jay Appleton
Jill Aspinall
Sam Baldor
Bill Banke
Renata Banke
Sam Bartlett*
Danielle Bartolanzo
Lynda Baydin
Kevin Bell
Stephan Bernard
Jody Biddle
Rick Biddle
Jonathan Bigelow
Tim Billings
Alan Binnick
Eric Bishop
Dean Bloch*
Joel Blumenthal
Dave Boucher
Grant Braddish
Dave Brautigam
Jeanne Briand
Jim Briggs
Mary Lou Briggs
John Brodhead
Grady Brokow
Tim Brokow
Berne Broudy
David Budbill
Nadine Budbill
Lenore Budd
Jon Budreski
Sara Burchard
Paul Burgess
David Burns
Lynn Butler
Otis Campbell
Patrick Campbell
Rebecca Carlson
Priscilla Carr
Devin Carter
Alicia Catchapaw
Arlon Chaffee
Peg Clement
Sarah Coe
Andy Cook
Joe Cook
Hilary Coolidge
Pat Cottrell
Peter Cottrell*
Hope Crifo
Ursula Currie
Daniel Davis
Donna Dearborn
Kim Debuque-Hill
Carly DeCesare
Louise Delia
Paul Demers*
Erin Dewyea
Liz Dickson
Paul Dioszeghy
Mike Donohue
Debby Dorsett
Dean Douglas
Kim Dunkley*
Moira Durnin
Kit Emery
Vanessa Emery
Jackson Emmer
Lydia Faesy
Sally Fellows
Bernadette Fernandes
Steve Fernandes
Doug Fish
Lynn Fisher*
Mark Flinn
Rosey Fonseca
Chris Ford
Amalia Francheschi
Tom Fraser
Adam Fredette
Suzanne Friedman
Steve Fulton
Tara Furey
Karen Furland
Ton Furland
Betsy Gaiser*
Poppy Gall
Zoe Gascon
Aiden Gilbert
Marc Gilbertson
Peter Ginsbury
Meghan Giroux
Liz Gleason
Mike Glod
Barry Goodman
David Goodman*
Ann Gotham
Eric Gracie
Jan Grady
Danielle Graham
Julia Graham
Lou Graham
Cindy Gray*
Craig Guild
Caroline Gulati
Tony Gulati
Melissa Haberman
Craig Hadden*
Danny Hale
Emily Hale
JoAnn Hanowski
Andrew Harper*
Yuri Harris
Joanne Hayes
Theresa Hayward*
Bill Hegman*
Zachary Henderson
Sean Hennessy
Bill Herrington
Liz Hollenbach
Trina Hosmer
Phil Howard
Sally Howe
AJ Hudacs
Audrey Huffman*
Phil Huffman*
Jamie Huntsman
Jeff Hurlburt
Clare Innes
Kate Jesdale
Lee Johnson
Bob Jordan*
Heidi Joyce
Robert Joyce
Ed Kammerer
Anton Kelsey
Paul Kendall*
Cilla Kimberly
Phil Kivlin*
Ron Kovanic
Sarah Kresser
Jeremy Krohn
Sarah Kulig
Alex LaBonte
MaryLou Lafayette
Jen Lamphere
Cody Lane
Pete Lane*
Mike Langlais*
Rich Larsen*
Sheri Larsen*
Lew Lasher
Jerry Lasky
Roger Lebovitz
John Lepinski
John Lepinski
Ave Leslie
Bob Lindemann
Shelly Lutz*
Denny Lyster
David Maille
Tate Maille
Martin Maitner
Bowen Malcom
Cindy Marcotte
John Marcotte
Linda Markin
Tim Marr
Terry Marron
Asa Martin
Andy McIntosh*
NBT_SSS_Catamount Trail Assoc._5x3.5.pdf
1
Scott Meyer*
Phebe Meyers*
Bill Michaels*
Bill Michels, Jr.
Ed Miller
Joan Marie Misek
Rick Molz
Laurie Morrison
Stephanie Morvan
Brad Moskowitz
Katherine Nelson
Sam Nelson*
Jan Noskey
Lauren Ober
Mary Omrod
Antonia Opitz
George Orsula
Adrian Owens
Jonathan Page
Debbie Page*
Steve Page*
Rachael Parker
Jim Peters*
Richard Petit
Nicholas Pettersen
Bridget Pollicino
Fred Pond
Chris Quinn
Margie Ramsdell
Pennie Rand
Brian Raulinaitis
Dann Rogers
9/4/09
Kris Roomet
Diane Rosenfeld
Peter Rosenfeld
Jan Rozendaal
Kate Salerno
Ann Schaffner
Collin Schiess
Charlie Schoonmaker
Mark Schwabe
Dave Scott
Mike Scronic
Sigh Searles
Don Selby
Erin Seward
Karen Shappy
Melanie Simon
Geoff Slater*
Lauren Slater*
Sabrina Smits
Dagny St. John
Bob Stafford
Mike Stafford
Rachel Starn
Judy Stearns
Emily Steers*
Joshua Stephen
Andy Strauss
Julie Sullivan
Lauren Swanson
Sophia Sylvester
Paul Terwilliger
Paul Thaboult
Samantha Thompson
John Tidd
Andrea Torello
Ernie Tracy
Hazel Tracy
Mary Twitchell
Jenny Vanslette
Steve Waite*
Eric Warren
Rowan Warren
Karen Westervelts
Vinnie Westphal
Emily Wheeler
Adam Whiting
Jenna Whitson
Valerie Wilkins
Marilyn Williams
Dana Wing
Martin Wolf
Mollie Wright
Samantha Wright
Jacob Young
Arnie Ziegel*
BOLD=
TRAIL CHIEF
*Tour Leader
10:59 AM
SAFE. SOUND. SECURE.
SM
NBT Bank of Burlington, 150 Bank Street
802.651.9786 www.nbtbank.com
14
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
Member FDIC
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
15
Wanted
Trail Chief!
Section 8
Danby Mtn. Road to Greendale Road
T
he CTA’s Trail Chiefs make the Trail possible.
Here in the office, we rely on their expertise
gained by acting as the liaisons between their local
communities, landowners, and the CTA. Right
now, the CTA is in need of a new Trail Chief
for Section 8 of the Catamount Trail, between
Landgrove and Greendale. If you are looking for a
way to support the Catamount Trail, get to know
your local trails, and work with your community,
this is the perfect opportunity. We also welcome
Co-Trail Chiefs – this is a great way to share the
fun and responsibility of maintaining the Trail.
As a Trail Chief, you would be responsible
for posting blazes, scouting re-routes, and removing deadfall on this 10-mile portion of the Trail
that is almost entirely within the Green Mountain
National Forest. You don’t need to know how to do
all these things, but you do need to be interested in
recruiting and working with people who do. The
CTA staff and past Trail Chiefs will help you get
started by walking or skiing the trail with you. We
also provide resources such as landowner information, maps, a list of local volunteers, and tools for
trail maintenance.
In the fall, Trail Chiefs organize one or more
trail workdays to get the CT in shape for the
upcoming ski season. In the winter, most Trail
Chiefs plan and lead tours of their section or other
events along the Trail. They help us keep our landowner database up to date, secure landowner permission for the Trail, monitor trail easements, and
send an annual thank you to landowners. They are
an energetic and enthusiastic bunch, and the trail
could not be maintained without their effort!
If you are interested in volunteering for trail
work but do not want to take on the responsibility
of a Trail Chief, we always welcome volunteers! We
spend the summer tackling re-routes and the fall
maintaining the trails. Check our website and our
e-bulletins for announcements or contact the office
for scheduled workdays.
16
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
Support CTA with a Charitable Gift Annuity
T
he CTA has a new partnership
with The Vermont Community
Foundation (VCF) to offer a number
of giving opportunities that provide
donors with income for life. CTA wants
to encourage increased financial support, especially for our endowment
funds, and these additional gift vehicles
provide supporters with advantages we
have not been able to offer previously.
One of these vehicles is a Charitable
Gift Annuity. In exchange for a gift
of cash, stocks, or bonds, the donor
receives income each year for the rest
of his or her life. The amount of that
income depends on the age of the donor
when the gift is made. Once the annuity has been established, the amount of
income remains fixed for life. No more
worries about interest rates or the stock
market! Sample rates for annuities established at various ages appear in the chart
to the right (rates are from July, 2010).
Charitable gift annuities can benefit
individuals, or two people together. A
two-life annuity covers two people and
pays benefits during the lives of both
people.
Charitable gift annuities are simple
to understand, easy to arrange, and can
be purchased in any amount above the
minimum gift level of $15,000. Each
annuity is guaranteed by all the assets of
The Vermont Community Foundation.
Donors receive a charitable deduction from their income taxes when the
annuity is established, and much of
their annual income from the annuity
is not subject to income tax. The real
benefit, though, is the ability to support
the Catamount Trail Association now,
with no negative impact on your current income. Many gift annuitants have
actually increased their current income
by using this strategy. All assets remaining at the death of the annuitant are
Sample Annuity
Payments for a $15,000 Gift*
Age
Rate
Annuity
Tax
Deduction**
60
5.2%
$780
$2,703
70
5.8%
$870
$5,097
80
7.2%
$1,080
$7,178
* T
hese figures are for illustration
purposes only. Minimum age is 60,
and minimum gift is $15,000.
**The deduction is estimated and based
on the monthly IRS discount rate
placed in a designated long-term fund
at the VCF for the sole use of the CTA.
The fund is invested by the VCF with
annual grant payments made to CTA in
perpetuity.
If you would like to learn more
about charitable trusts or gift annuities,
contact Jim Fredericks at 802-864-5794
or by e-mail at jfredericks@catamounttrail.org.
Congratulations
on
event!
Congratulations
onaTitle
agreat
great
event!
2009
Sponsor
2010
Title
Sponsor
2011 Title Sponsor
Race
the
Top
of
Vermont!
Race
To The
Top
OfofVermont
Race
totothe
Top
Vermont
Insurance | Employee Benefits
Asset Management* | Planning
for Businesses and Individuals
www.FJGFinancial.com
*Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Securities, Inc (NFPSI) a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC and a Federally Registered
Investment Advisor. Fleischer Jacobs Group is an affiliate of NFPSI and a subsidiary of National Financial Partners Corp., the parent company of NFPSI. Not all
members of Fleischer Jacobs Group offer investment advisory services. Pinnacle Financial is not affiliated with NFPSI or Fleischer Jacobs Group.
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
17
C
office. You will receive your certificate
and pin, and your name will be added
to the growing list of End to Enders.
We will soon have handcrafted pottery
mugs with the new End-to-Ender logo
for skiers who have documented their
achievement. These prestigious mugs will
be sold/shipped for $15.00 and will be a
cherished keepsake for years to come.
Jim Fredericks, Executive
18
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
e Future!
JIM FREDERICKS
paul demers
New End to Enders in 2011
official end-to-ender, here’s what to do: Each time you ski a section of the Trail,
document your day’s ski in a journal.
Include the date, the name of the section,
the ski conditions, and your experience
on the trail. You only need a sentence or
two. Photos are encouraged. It may take
you a few years to complete all the sections, so don’t lose your journal. When
you have completed the entire Trail, submit a copy of your journal to the CTA
Setting Our Sights On th
It took a couple of good jum
p starts to get the winter in
gear
but once it got rolling, we
found ourselves enjoying on
e of the
best winters in recent memo
ry. Plenty of powder and gre
at snow
depth offered fabulous bac
kcountry skiing from the bo
rder of
Massachusetts all the way to
Canada. A record number
of people
participated in the 50+ CT
A tours and special events.
Many others sought the beauty and
adventure of skiing the Tra
il with a small
group of friends or on their
own. The CTA also starte
d the MVP
Catamount Ski Cubs progra
m this past winter. Working
with five
afterschool programs in the
Burlington area, we outfitted
and
taught over 75 young child
ren how to ski on a weekly
basis.
People ski the Catamount
Trail for adventure and to
enjoy the
scenic winter landscape it
traverses, but they seldom
think about
the process of managing an
d protecting this 300-mile
winter
corridor. Maintaining the
Trail, working closely with
over 200
landowners, seeking fundin
g for trail projects, and co
nserving
the Trail with easements are
some of the responsibilitie
s of Amy
Kelsey, the CTA Trail Direc
tor. Even though approxim
ately
215 miles of the Catamou
nt Trail are protected, the
remainPhil Kivlin tries out a ne
der of the Trail is subject to
w bridge on section 12.
annual agreements with pri
vate
landowners who host the
Trail. In the past four month
s alone, landowner decision
jeopardy in three separate
s have put the Trail in
locations. With time and
eff
ort
, CTA successfully resolved
yet they ser ve as significant
each of these situations,
reminders of the importanc
e of establishing permanen
private landowners as possi
t easements with as many
ble. At the present time the
CTA is negotiating three
mated cost of $25,000. Co
easements with a total est
mbined, these easements wi
ill conserve approximately
Vermont. Our goal for the
1.5
trail-miles in Northern
2011 Trail Fund is to raise
$2
5,0
00 to cover the cost of the
and other trail related impro
se easement acquisitions
vements. Similar to skiing
the length of the Catamou
tecting it is an endurance
nt Trail, the process of pro
event that will take a numb
er of years to complete. Ea
each mile we protect is a do
ch contribution you make
wn payment on the future
and
of the Catamount Trail.
Please consider giving as gen
erously as possible to make
permanent this unique ba
the length of Vermont. Yo
ckcountr y ski trail runnin
u may use the form on the
g
back page of this newsletter
to the Trail Fund.
to submit your contributio
n
Sincerely,
Deb Kirchwey, one of this season’s new End to Enders.
ongratulations to Rudge Canning,
Jim Goodine, and Deb Kirchwey
on completing the full length of the
Catamount Trail this past winter. Pete
Lane deserves some extra kudos for completing the CT in 2011 for the second
time! Rumor has it there are a few others
out there who completed the full distance in 2011, but we have not received
your ski journal yet.
If you would like to become an
2011 Trail Fund Appeal
Director
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
19
Low on Snow, But Not on Smiles
by Emily Wheeler (VHCB/AmeriCorp Member)
By Jim Fredericks
JIM FREDERICKS
Catamount Ski Cubs Alive and Well in Vermont
Skiers listen to a short geography lesson by Emily Wheeler before they ski.
20
going downhill is not the easiest but it
is the most fun part of cross-country
skiing. The harder part for all of us was
to slow down, to bring it back to the
basics and really learn to ski: control,
balance, agility (a new word for the
kids) and tempo – the nuts and bolts
of skiing. One youth at the end of the
program, when asked for one thing he
would change or add to the program,
responded “More agility!”
I expected one of the big challenges for the kids to be motivation
– both to ski longer distances and stick
with the task of a long, steep climb or
a technical downhill – but these kids
proved me wrong! The youth, who all
opted to participate in the program,
were a self-selecting bunch that were
ready to take on the challenges of skiing and showed great determination
when faced with new terrain. Many
youth have asked me if they will be able
to participate in the program again
next year, if we can ski part or all of
the Catamount Trail and if they will
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
S
parse snow conditions didn’t stop over
110 enthusiastic women from making the most out of our 3rd Annual Ladies
Nordic Ski Expo. By 9am Saturday, January
8th, the Trapp Family Lodge meadow was
a buzz with skiers of all abilities practicing
skate, classic and back-country skills. It
was a pied-piper atmosphere with participants performing drills in unison as they
honed their nordic ski technique. Eleven
instructors including event director JoAnn
Hanowski volunteered their time to the
CTA offering tips and support during this
sold-out event. Words of congratulations
were a common echo heard between the
women for tasks well done, and for spectacular falls and recoveries.
After an exhausting, but rewarding
morning of skiing, the red-cheeked and
smiling women were treated to a hardy
lunch at the Trapp Family Lodge. Lunch
was followed by an inspirational slide
presentation by author Dave Goodman.
Goodman presented his new book, Best
Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast. Sights
and stories of these back-country adventures were food-for-thought for many of
the participants who aspire to explore
more backcountry ski destinations.
The day’s moderate temperatures
were inviting and participants were eager
to start another instructional session in
the afternoon. After some short tours
on the trails, the women returned to the
new Trapp Family Lodge Yurt to review
and critique video footage taken earlier in
the day. These video-aided sessions were
helpful in pointing out the good, the bad
and the ugly in regard to technique. Skiers
were eager to get back on the snow to put
the video tips into practice.
Emotions in the lodge during the
après-ski party ran the gamut from smiles
of sheer delight to tears of joy for a personally rewarding day of exercise, camaraderie and learning. It was a relaxing atmosphere with cheese provided by Cabot,
smoked meats by Vermont Smoke and
Cure, wine by Redwood Creek and some
great Trapp Lager from the new brewery
at the Trapp Family Lodge. It was a very
successful fundraiser to help protect the
Catamount Trail, and a wonderful opportunity for women Nordic skiers to learn
new skills, make new friends and prepare
themselves to enjoy the ski trails and backcountry of Vermont.
JIM FREDERICKS
A
s the snow starts to melt away in
Burlington and patches of grass
are becoming visible, we can all agree
that the first year of the Catamount
Ski Cubs youth ski program has been a
huge success! The third-snowiest winter on record with a total snowfall of
125.3 inches in the city of Burlington
has provided us with unbeatable conditions and there were even a few afternoons that we had to reschedule due to
blizzards and simply too much snow to
go skiing. Most days in February, youth
were tromping through anywhere from
3-12 inches of snow – giving them a
true feel for the backcountry ski experience.
Over the course of six weeks,
youth progressed from being first-time
skiers to having the confidence to fearlessly rip down the Burlington Country
Club sledding hill with huge smiles and
even bigger laughs when they would
tumble into the powder. However, one
of my biggest lessons learned as the
only instructor for the program, is that
be able to earn a pair of skis at the end
of the program… to which I hope the
answer for all of these questions, as the
program grows and develops, is yes.
I’d like to offer my sincere thanks
and gratitude to all of the volunteers,
whether they came out for one afternoon or managed to fit the whole sixweek season into their busy schedules:
Jimmy Ades, Betsy Allen-Pennebaker,
Gabe Calvi, Josh Deane, Lisa Dunne,
Angela Evancie, Caitlin Littlefield,
Laura Mahoney, Kim Mihan, our
dedicated board members, Jan and
Mary Jane Rozendaal, and everyone
who offered their support throughout
the program – you made the program
stronger and the connections with
youth more meaningful, thank you!
And of course, another huge thank you
to our program sponsors: the Natural
Areas Fund, the State of Vermont,
MVP Health Care, the Larsen Fund,
Rossignol Ski Company, and Black
Diamond Equipment. Look for pictures and updates on the youth program on our Facebook page, our news
and events on the website and in the
fall newsletter! You can contact me
at ewheeler@catamounttrail.org with
feedback, ideas and questions about
CTA’s youth programming.
Here are just a few highlights
from our first season running the
Catamount Ski Cubs program:
● 5 youth organizations participated in
the program
● 55 youth participants from those 5
organizations
● 38 afternoons and Saturdays spent
with Burlington youth
● 40 Wintervale at The Intervale participants on Catamount Ski Cubs skis
● Roughly 75% of participants had
never skied before this season
● 100% of participants say they want
to keep skiing!
MVP Health Care is also a proud sponsor of the FJG Race to the Top of Vermont, helping our whole community build a healthier future.
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
21
Quotes from 2010 RTTOV
“Everyone had a ter
rific time, and I can
that because I’ve got
Returns as the Title Sponsor
for the 4th Annual
FJG Race to the Top of Vermont
Sunday August 28, 2011
T
he Catamount Trail Association is excited to announce
the return of Fleischer Jacobs Group as the title sponsor
of the 4th Annual FJG (Fleischer Jacobs Group) Race To
The Top Of Vermont for the third consecutive year. Mitch
Fleischer, an avid mountain biker and skier has been a
strong supporter of the Catamount Trail Association and
its efforts to promote healthy lifestyles through various
events and tours. Fleischer Jacobs Groups specializes in
insurance, employee benefits, asset management, and
planning for business and individuals.
The 4th Annual FJG Race To The Top Of Vermont is
CTA’s biggest fundraising event of the year. Each August,
the RTTOV draws hikers, mountain bikers and runners
from over twenty states and Canada to climb Mount
Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, in Stowe, Vermont.
Don’t want to run the 4.3 miles yourself ? New this year
will be a 2-person relay category for runners. Join us for
this fun and challenging experience and earn bragging
rights for racing to the top of Vermont while taking part
in a vital fundraiser for the Catamount Trail. The event
will be limited to the first 800 registered participants.
Registration opens April 1st. Register early for great
savings. Entry fees increase as race day approaches.
RTTOV Volunteers Needed!
For those of you who want to be involved but aren’t sure
you want to climb the mountain, the CTA is looking
for volunteers to help out with race packet stuffing,
registration, and day of race duties. To volunteer,
please contact Emily Wheeler at 802-864-5794 or
ewheeler@catamounttrail.org
22
C a t a m o u n t Tr a i l N ew s • S p r i n g 2 011
y peo-
their faces. It was a
us runners, and I kn
cyclists and hikers fel
t
“A very challenging
great
ow the
the same way”
race. I had a great tim
e
(even running up it)
. Th
very delicious and the
worth the entry fee.”
e post race BBQ was
raffle was a lot of fun
. Well
“The race was well-w
orthwhile and inexp
relative to what you
to take a moment to
prove
a lot of photos of happ
ple, with big smiles on
experience for all of
Participants
ensive
get in return. If you
manage
difficult ascent you’l
turn your head durin
g this
l quickly find breath
(literally) views of the
meal is of the highest
-taking
landscape. The post
race
calibre and the raffle
prizes are beyond ex
ceptional.”
“I’ve run a lot of rac
es, a lot of mountains
for that
matter, and yours sta
registration to numb
cked up with the best.
From
er pickup to parking
, course
marking, and post rac
if I could only run it
e, it was a great race.
a bit faster :).”
Now
“Great race, well org
anized for a newer rac
e and
great vibe!!! Food wa
s AWESOME! Very tas
and was pretty healt
ty
hy too.”
w w w. c a t a m o u n tt r a i l . o r g
23
Catamount Trail Association
1 Mill St.
Suite 350
Burlington, VT 05401
Non-Profit Rate
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit #421
Burlington, VT
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW
FOR THE 2011-2012 SEASON
The Catamount Trail exists thanks to the generosity of ski enthusiasts like you. If you
plan on skiing on the Trail next winter or just want to know that it will be there waiting for
you, renew your membership today. We really can’t keep it going without you. THANK YOU!
The Catamount Trail Association
Membership Application
1 Mill Street, Suite 350, Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 864-5794
Membership categories
Name (please print)
Address
City
(Membership Year June 1 – May 31)
State
Zip
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350*
Protector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250*
Lodging Membership. . . . . . $100*
Telephone ( )
* Receive two (2) membership booklets and cards
Membership Dues
E-mail
$________
I want to support the CTA even more. Enclosed is my additional tax deductible
contribution for
Trail Conservation
Annual Operating Costs $________
I am a new member.
I am willing to volunteer for events.
Total Enclosed:
Payment:
I am willing to help with trail maintenance.
Card No.:
I am willing to help lead weekend ski tours.
Exp. Date:
If you do not want us to share your name with other groups, please initial here. _____
Patron. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75*
Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50*
Individual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
Signature:
CTA is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization.
$________
VISA
MasterCard
Check