It's All Downhill: To ski or not to ski?

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill. The latest from the slopes of New England and beyone by Matt Pepin] Friday, January 18 | [Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter]( DECISION DAY It was early in the morning, and the guy in the parking lot at Sunday River's Barker Lodge was telling me to go home. The wind was blowing something fierce, and the resort only had four lifts open that would provide access to just a fraction of SR's terrain. "If you don't have a pass already, I wouldn't buy one," he said, adding that if I did have one, he thought I could probably get a refund. He meant well, just trying to save me some money and pass on some local knowledge. It was a really cold day. The only areas open were the White Cap peak (although not the summit) and an area near the South Ridge base lodge. I did have a pass already, and my ski buddy and I had enjoyed an exceptional powder day the day before. There was more terrain open on the powder day, but wind holds also prevented access to some of SR's eight peaks on that day. So we debated what the guy said for a while in the car before deciding to head down the road to the White Cap Lodge. We had planned to start at the Barker peak and try to move over to the Jordan Bowl area since that was not accessible the day before, but figured we'd at least take a look at what things were like at White Cap. It turned out to be the right call. In addition to getting possibly the best parking spot ever at a lodge, just steps from the Little White Cap Quad, we discovered that the two lifts that were open provided access to a pretty good amount of trails. It also appeared that many skiers had perhaps taken parking lot guy's advice, so there were no lift lines and not many people on the slopes. What made it even better was the day before we'd not skied White Cap much at all except to return to the Grand Summit Hotel at the end of the day. So we made a day of it, racing on the thrilling switchbacks of Bear Paw, finding leftover powder in the trees, and getting in run after run on a bluebird day. In fact, the day was so great, I didn't even pull out my phone to take photos once. The end of the ride on the White Cap Quad showed why most of the other lifts were closed -- once you got up over the big drop on Tempest, the wind was roaring and the last 200 yards or so were blustery to say the least. We laughed on the way home as we recalled how the day had started, but sore quads, wind-burned cheeks, and smiles from Maine to Massachusetts told us we'd made the right choice. CLICKING IN TUNE IN: Friend of this newsletter (and extreme skiing pioneer) Dan Egan has launched a new weekly radio show called "Fresh Tracks" at t[he streaming radio station Indie617.com](. Fresh Tracks airs Friday night at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. Egan's co-host is Olympian Pam Fletcher. The show covers winter action sports from New England and around the world, featuring interviews with top athletes and personalities all mixed in with Egan's perspective, commentary, and insight. [Check out the first installment here.]( FOR SALE: Jay Peak, which has been run by a court-appointed receiver following a massive fraud case involving the resort's former owner, is now officially up for sale. [The Ski Area Management industry organization has all the details]( including a projected price range of between $60 million and $250 million. Any guesses as to who might be bidding for it? BIG MONEY: The price of a lift ticket at the walk-up window at Vail and Beaver Creek in Colorado is now $209, [according to Vail Daily](. It was fairly obvious prices would reach $200+ at some point, but it's still a shock. Of course, savvy skiers know how to dodge a hit to the wallet like that via multi-resort passes and buying online and in advance, but a price tag like that surely is a factor when considering a spur-of-the-moment trip or you only have time for a brief visit. Let's hope it takes a while before any New England ski areas get that high, although with Vail and season-pass rival Alterra both in full-blown acquisition mode, it might come sooner than we think. FAR, FAR AWAY: It's easy to find tons of information on the world's most popular places to ski, so I'm naturally attracted to information about lesser-known places. [A recent High Falutin' Ski Bums podcast delivers nicely]( with a look at skiing in Norway. Host Brian's father-in-law lives there and provided all the details in the latest episode. GIVE IT A GO: January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and the Boston Herald's Moira McCarthy [has a look at all that is available]( to those either looking to give it a try, or looking to get someone they know involved. [Subscribe to BostonGlobe.com]( WORDS FROM THE WISE In November, [I wrote a story]( for the Globe's annual Chill section filled with advice from a ski dad. The natural follow-up was to get advice from ski moms, and two answered the call from my request in this newsletter. Here's what they shared: From Heather Burke, mother of two, ski instructor, and editor of [FamilySKiTrips.com]( • Before you go: Look at the forecast so you dress in proper layers. Tip: stuff a new clear trash bag in your ski bag if there’s a chance of premature snow (ski areas don’t use the word rain). It takes up little space, it can be a life saver despite its fashion faux pas and flappiness, and it keeps your butt dry on soggy chair rides. • Go before you go: Take that restroom stop before you head out on snow. This is a lesson learned from a woman, a former one-piece suit wearer and a mother of kids in cumbersome ski pants with bibs. • Don’t put your tongue on the chairlift, no matter how tempting. • Always have an energy bar in your pocket. You don’t want to get hungry and have to stop when your energy dips on an otherwise stellar ski day. Please, not a tuna fish sandwich though. • $1 disposable hand warmers are priceless, best bought in bulk beforehand, versus paying $5 each at the resort ski shop. • Keep that extra pair of older goggles and gloves in your ski bag, often a savior for you or for a ski buddy who will be forever in your debt when they forget or lose theirs. • Unless being Jerry of the Day is a lifetime goal, do pay attention when loading and unloading the lifts. Slip-ups at these very public launch areas happen fast, even to the pros. • Never fall asleep by the firepit with your ski boots on, or leave your ski boots unattended by the fireplace. Ski boots do not make good s’mores. • Put everyone’s ski gear away properly and promptly after each trip, cleaned, dried, in your ski bag, so you’re ready to go the next time its predicted snow. From Maureen Manning, mother of two young adult skier/snowboarders: • Kids get cold. Kids get tired. Kids don’t have fun when they’re cold or tired. Making avid skiers is all about associating skiing with fun. When kids are young and they encounter the down sides of skiing — cold, wind and ice being the big 3 — they want out. Or in the lodge to be more accurate. • Don’t try to saddle them with your adult pain: “Damn it, I just paid $90 for this lift ticket.” That notion might make us stay out when it’s single digits and blowing, but it will be lost on your kids. Forcing them to stay out when they’re cold or tired risks turning them off to the whole sport. • Take them in for hot chocolate whenever they ask. You’ll get to warm up, too. And when they’re old enough, give them cash to buy a waffle and take a break without you. You’ll get to enjoy a run by yourself and they will love the independence. • Finally, always keep a stash of chocolate in your ski jacket. If you break it out on a chairlift ride around lunch time, you can sometimes get another run or two out of them before going in for lunch. [Like It's All Downhill? Tell a friend to subscribe.]( [Sign up for more Boston Globe newsletters.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( About This Email You received this message because you signed up for the It's All Downhill newsletter. To automatically unsubscribe, [please click here.]( Please note: this will unsubscribe you from the newsletter only. 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