Where To GoSportsIce Climbing
Nordic/ Cross Country Skiing Alpine/Downhill Skiing Snowboarding Snowbiking Backcountry/ Ski Mountaineering |
Snowsports in the Hudson Valley- alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and even some telemark tales when we can find them. Condition updates, ski and snowboard resort news, events, and photos and stories. Snow ReportsWhat to do in a Winter without Snow
The past weekend was in the 50s in the Hudson Valley, the five days before that the temps were in the 40s. There is no snow in the forecast. The winter of 2017 is not shaping up to be much better than '16.
For those who. Read more Snow News is Good News 
The past few winters have left a lot to be desired for snow sport enthusiasts. Local resorts have done their best but blown snow will never be powder. The past week of white stuff has been encouraging. Here's what the Hudson Valley and Catskill Resorts are reporting. Read more
Cross Country Skiing in the Hudson ValleyGet Your Gear10.20.16
Potter Brothers and Ski Barn are having ski and snowboard sales in the next few weeks. https://www.potterbrothers.com/sales-events/ The Challenge of Riding in the Winter of 2016
I just watched video of Zakk Wylde playing Black Sabbath on a mini Hello Kitty guitar. It’s not the tools, it’s the talent that makes someone great.
That’s basically what the 2016 skiing and riding season has been. read more What to do in a Winter without Snow
The past weekend was in the 50s in the Hudson Valley, the five days before that the temps were in the 40s. There is no snow in the forecast. The winter of 2017 is not shaping up to be much better than '16.
For those who live the other nine months of the year eagerly anticipating snow and ice for their outdoor recreation it’s been a harsh reality. Read more |
Events
1/14 Slopestyle 2 & Rail Jam 3- Windham
1/15 Rail Jam 4-Hunter 1/21 CMS Kids Cup GS Race #1- Plattekill 1/21 Boarder/Ski Cross-Belleayre 11/22 World Snowboard Day Slopestyle - Belleayre 1/28 Halfpipe 1 & 2 -Hunter 1/29 Slopestyle-Hunter 1/27,28,29,30 Ice Festival Alpine Endeavors and RocknSnow - |
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Shawangunk Nordic Ski Association
2.17.15
The inaugural afternoon nordic ski extravaganza took off from the Steel Bridge at noon on Tuesday February 17, 2015. The group was made up of classic and skate skiers, initially around 16 people, the party on the snow grew to about 25. |
A Little Help
I’m Frozen. Not cold, although given the fact that it’s around 2 am in February and I’m outside in the middle of a gorge I should be. No, I’m frozen like I can’t move. Can’t move because I’m about 60 feet up a 80 foot ice pitch on a 800 foot climb and I can’t see another foot hold, my forearms are screaming, and I can’t close my hands into fists. I can’t go up, I can’t go down. I want to give up, but that’s just not a possibility. Tears are threatening.
“I need help”. I hear my own voice. The words squeak out. “I need help. I don’t know what to do”. This is not the first time tonight I have been forced to say these phrases
The first time was on the very first pitch of frozen waterfall. I get about half way up and I get stuck. J, the ice climbing guide-boyfriend, is belaying me from above. His two friends are below me. I yell down “I don’t know what to do; I’m stuck”. Before I am unstuck I will have both of them coaching me, I will drop one of my ice tools, and J will have to give me a “girlfriend belay”.
And that is just the first pitch. I wanted to do this.
J’s face lights up when he talks about climbing; his whole demeanor changes. So, I want to try this thing, this thing that has such an effect on him. Maybe it will do that to me too…
I get stuck on three out of the five, yeah that was five like the number of fingers on a hand, pitches I climb tonight.
In my family we don’t ask for help. A few years ago I got into a motorcycle accident. I just picked my bruised, bleeding self up from the grass and rode the bike back to my house. Once there I got my car and then let my friend drive me to the hospital. Just last week it was “No, no, don’t push my car. I can back it up the snow covered driveway myself”.
Each time I get stuck I have to ask for help. Each time I have to admit aloud “I don’t know what to do”.
The last pitch is the worst. I don’t have much left in me and I still have to repel down the five pitches we climbed up and hike out of the gorge for an hour or more. “J! I need help!” He literally has to haul my ass up the last fifteen feet.
It’s about three quarters of the way back out of the gorge when the glow kicks in. I’m slipping down the snow-covered trail when realize I have an ear-to-ear grin on my face. I feel great!
Hold On by Alabama Shakes is running through my head. It is snowing lightlyand the stars are out, the air smells of wet pine, and I just had an epic 7-hour, 5-pitch nighttime adventure! Hell Yeah!
It’s an adventure that never would have happened if I hadn’t asked for help…A lot of help.
...Kellie McGuire
“I need help”. I hear my own voice. The words squeak out. “I need help. I don’t know what to do”. This is not the first time tonight I have been forced to say these phrases
The first time was on the very first pitch of frozen waterfall. I get about half way up and I get stuck. J, the ice climbing guide-boyfriend, is belaying me from above. His two friends are below me. I yell down “I don’t know what to do; I’m stuck”. Before I am unstuck I will have both of them coaching me, I will drop one of my ice tools, and J will have to give me a “girlfriend belay”.
And that is just the first pitch. I wanted to do this.
J’s face lights up when he talks about climbing; his whole demeanor changes. So, I want to try this thing, this thing that has such an effect on him. Maybe it will do that to me too…
I get stuck on three out of the five, yeah that was five like the number of fingers on a hand, pitches I climb tonight.
In my family we don’t ask for help. A few years ago I got into a motorcycle accident. I just picked my bruised, bleeding self up from the grass and rode the bike back to my house. Once there I got my car and then let my friend drive me to the hospital. Just last week it was “No, no, don’t push my car. I can back it up the snow covered driveway myself”.
Each time I get stuck I have to ask for help. Each time I have to admit aloud “I don’t know what to do”.
The last pitch is the worst. I don’t have much left in me and I still have to repel down the five pitches we climbed up and hike out of the gorge for an hour or more. “J! I need help!” He literally has to haul my ass up the last fifteen feet.
It’s about three quarters of the way back out of the gorge when the glow kicks in. I’m slipping down the snow-covered trail when realize I have an ear-to-ear grin on my face. I feel great!
Hold On by Alabama Shakes is running through my head. It is snowing lightlyand the stars are out, the air smells of wet pine, and I just had an epic 7-hour, 5-pitch nighttime adventure! Hell Yeah!
It’s an adventure that never would have happened if I hadn’t asked for help…A lot of help.
...Kellie McGuire
