tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75126031740827441472024-03-13T23:48:01.252-07:00Winter In The CatskillsWe love snow. We love the Catskills. If you do too, join us here for great stories around the slopes, trails, and woodstoves in the western Catskills.Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-88279221113557529522012-12-29T15:03:00.003-08:002012-12-29T15:03:40.605-08:00Snow, snow, snowHello all WITC friends and fans,<br />
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It's snowing. And I've moved (not cities or ski hills, just blog spots). You can find the blog now on Plattekill's <a href="http://www.plattekill.com/" target="_blank">homepage</a> and <a href="http://www.plattekill.com/component/k2/itemlist/category/1-plattekill-blog" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Keep up with us and see you out there soon!Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-89288641487776529452012-03-23T15:32:00.000-07:002012-03-24T11:38:02.638-07:00End of the Season at Plattekill...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Heaven, that's what it looked like there at Plattekill on Saturday. Above the clouds. And it was heavenly too, but also bittersweet because Saturday was the penultimate day of skiing for the season. The hill was melting fast and for the mogul competition skiers had to ride over on an ATV fitted with ski racks. </div>
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I have to say I'm still sad. Yeah, I've been playing tennis and cycling this week (and the end of the season is very good for my novel-in-progress), but that doesn't quite cut it. So, I leave you with these last parting shots. And some results of the bump competition too. I judged with Harvey Road of the <a href="http://www.nyskiblog.com/" target="_blank">NY Ski blog</a>. I was on jumps. He was on style; Eli from the ski patrol manned the stopwatch. Top prize went to Ted Battesh from Sarasota Springs who got a season pass for 2012/13, and then second prize to Caleb Jensen and third to the awesome Joe Supp (brother of <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2012/03/elaine-supp-plattekill-rider-rocks.html" target="_blank">Elaine</a> who is ranked in the top 3 nationally in boardercross and of <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/03/marcel-proust-has-nothing-on-steven.html" target="_blank">Steve Supp</a>, aka Vintage Skier Man, and his long skis). </div>
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And for all who hoped Steve might compete – and come on a Saturday rather than his usual Sunday – a dapper gentleman in a pink button-down and long straight skis took to the bumps between competitors. He rocked quite a line, not a zipper, but the man had style. That shirt alone was a bold statement. </div>
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I will miss you all till next year. Maybe we could even get a dumping of snow still. I've not put away my skis or poles yet. (Though we have planted broccoli, peas, spinach and chard... ). Oh and if anyone can tell me who that is rocking the bumps below send me a message, okay? Or just send me a message so we can shed tears about the end of the season....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Dick Sanford at the <a href="http://www.catskillmountainnews.com/" target="_blank">Catskill Mountain News</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Dick Sanford.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Dick Sanford</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Till Next Year... </td></tr>
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<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-44064448922501829912012-03-16T12:34:00.000-07:002012-03-16T12:36:00.729-07:00St Platty's Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bar at Plattekill</td></tr>
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There are plenty of things I love about Plattekill – steep vertical, chilled vibe, no lift lines... and the bar. They have 12 beers on tap – including local brews from Ommegang and The Davidson Bros' Dacker Ale, Ithaca Nut Brown Ale, but one fact sticks out to me on the beer front: They sell more Stella than anywhere else in the Catskills. Which makes me feel like I'm back in London again.<br />
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This weekend there will also, of course, be Guinness and Jameson's and Murphy's. And what Nate Batthany (who is in charge of the awesome bar as well as the food in the bar – that steak quesadilla, say) calls an "Irish Car Bomb." Now while I was left stuttering over this politically tricky, say, notion, he explained that this was a combo of Bailey's and Jameson's and said, "You don't know what it is because you're not a college student." Too right. But anyone who drinks Bailey's has bigger problems. That stuff is just gross. So is Irish Whiskey. I'm a malt lady myself. Scotch malt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2PVG3S7gmjsXVaTWuQ34G1Xse6IAb7Gc22Q84ZljPO5atpP5ayizke-yHxoDnHArb6Rm-pR2Ur7ZNQhV_jE8zwkORlIZPtZpES2RAmOaT_szVGA4hvXyVJF8JE4OP8U3BVDNwCvhp18/s1600/DSC02456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2PVG3S7gmjsXVaTWuQ34G1Xse6IAb7Gc22Q84ZljPO5atpP5ayizke-yHxoDnHArb6Rm-pR2Ur7ZNQhV_jE8zwkORlIZPtZpES2RAmOaT_szVGA4hvXyVJF8JE4OP8U3BVDNwCvhp18/s320/DSC02456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, Rudd checking your email helps you ski bumps. Or are you putting on Ryan Adams?</td></tr>
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The other thing on tap (ha-ha) this weekend is the Bumps competition on Blockbuster. With its 1000 feet straight vert (the only of its kind in the Cats) the soundtrack for the competition should be The Chemical Brother's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTxOKsyZ0Lw" target="_blank">Block Rockin' Beats</a>, which might just date me as much as the, ahem, "Car Bomb." There will be spring conditions so everyone can bomb the bumps (perhaps not with a "Car Bomb" though. And yours truly will be judging. I am open to all influence peddling. Remember I like Scotch (as in from Scotland and not Ireland) whisky.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nailing the kicker at the top Block (and also proving why action sports photography is a proven skill. He did catch air.</td></tr>
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So bring your sunscreen, maybe even rock your retro gear. With temps in the 70s next week this could be our last weekend.... And bear in mind this bon-mot from Nate about the bar: "Whenever anyone asks what our hours are, I say, 'we close when you go home. It's till the last man standing.'" Which is some professional drinking, I say.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She caught air too... I just didn't. At least not on film.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tunis clan takes in the glory of the day and 1000 feet of vert.</td></tr>
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<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-17959757936083338452012-03-09T15:10:00.002-08:002012-03-09T15:10:30.514-08:00Elaine Supp, Plattekill Rider, Rocks the Boardercross<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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called the mascot on the mountain with his long skis and excellent style, and Elaine
on her snowboard is bringing fame to our little hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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motocross on snow with jumps berms and 3 other racers on the course with you
going gangbusters). And this is a sport she only started competing in last
year. As you might recall, she got her start when she saw a boarder cross race
on TV and thought, “Hey I could do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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for Elaine. She entered a race the next weekend. And won. Now talking about it
on the lift recently she says she stayed up late reading and re-reading the rules,
and they said there was an inspection at nine AM. “So, I thought that just
meant they wanted to make sure I had the right bib and helmet and board since
you need specific ones,” she laughs. “No it meant we got to ride the course. I
had no clue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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wining and racing and went to the Nationals and placed third. Now having won
pretty much every race she’s entered this season she’s about to go back to the <a href="http://www.usasa.org/events/nationals/2012-nationals.html" target="_blank">Nationals</a>
in Colorado in early April. And she even has sponsors. There’s </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SPY, Swany, Sno Life, Berma, sending
her gear, but skiers at Plattekill have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(and still are) to make sure she can make it to Colorado and represent
the little mountain that could… </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgt9qsiCxeA_51owm7JJXFgL9hTyf-X9d_lgoEiH88hJv1JCA82wsAL2L_-6rzz40D_IqHWzxeghXg78x8kO3U605d9AbncbPcO9kTjJ_JLlRSwN9nQL167osAv8t8zLSy2K2-qfrwWs/s1600/elaine+medal+stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgt9qsiCxeA_51owm7JJXFgL9hTyf-X9d_lgoEiH88hJv1JCA82wsAL2L_-6rzz40D_IqHWzxeghXg78x8kO3U605d9AbncbPcO9kTjJ_JLlRSwN9nQL167osAv8t8zLSy2K2-qfrwWs/s320/elaine+medal+stand.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-38785423285399336102012-03-02T14:37:00.003-08:002012-03-02T14:37:46.256-08:00Powder and Ski Patrol at Plattekill This Weekend<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm4vCceVqsIwJBwIuOkXsg_y2JdzRb1k-3SCdCD-f4RKnmu3gN5b-ldb_pJCl_b1vi7KKYbSmCZHaaW7E8RUitw7AThtx7TfBRXozcnSUVaPF9Ts4kxVvd3o-FifojpmJAJi3d_b-Bnc/s1600/o'donnel+ladies+ski+patrol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm4vCceVqsIwJBwIuOkXsg_y2JdzRb1k-3SCdCD-f4RKnmu3gN5b-ldb_pJCl_b1vi7KKYbSmCZHaaW7E8RUitw7AThtx7TfBRXozcnSUVaPF9Ts4kxVvd3o-FifojpmJAJi3d_b-Bnc/s1600/o'donnel+ladies+ski+patrol.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's hear it for the O'Donnell lady patrollers...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Okay this isn't really a post. It's not long. I'd wanted to write about the O'Donnell women. Three generations of them serve on the ski patrol. There's Rickie and her daughter-in-law Christy in this picture here (thank you Becky Porter for it). Rickie's granddaughter Bailey O'Donnell also serves in a red jacket. This is cool for three reasons: one ski patrol across the country are aging and need young' uns (or younger ones) to sign up and the O'Donnell family is keeping the ranks staffed. Then, Plattekill does its part to recruit and train and educate new patrollers thanks to Bim Ashford. Most importantly this gives me another excuse to talk up the <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2012/02/plattekill-ski-patrol-needs-your-love.html" target="_blank">ski patrol raffle and BBQ this Saturday</a>.<br />
<br />
Those fine men and women in red have your back. (And mine...). At Platty they're all volunteers, so let's show them our love. Particularly when we're skiing lots of lovely powder.<br />
<br />
Okay that's a segue to show some powder shots that Becky Porter took on Sunday. I must apologize for forgetting my camera today. But, I had more serious thoughts on my mind: FRESH TRACKS. Sorry (sort of) if you missed them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffCeH47sNKbZ064vsg2tqq9LhwFslSY9KuE6K5i0Qkeg0x2YETSyBayh85CTvXZpMQNj-fe2KG52r4QciaOpQ_SR4g20yuGDBT0zgE-OYV_X0mMfK5cMr_61JgeuIjZW5ru3w4GhJePI/s1600/becky+porter+pics+powder+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffCeH47sNKbZ064vsg2tqq9LhwFslSY9KuE6K5i0Qkeg0x2YETSyBayh85CTvXZpMQNj-fe2KG52r4QciaOpQ_SR4g20yuGDBT0zgE-OYV_X0mMfK5cMr_61JgeuIjZW5ru3w4GhJePI/s1600/becky+porter+pics+powder+day.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Becky Porter for remembering your camera.... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTc5qhzF9T92pXLzSIxNK70H64m90EBM4ew8xs-mN53Nm-bSVxkeYjfyQithW9s67HwflsiZHZKV4GnnObiRru31bzg9C0i0Uv58-811_vbGRE-agNp2p-Gf2ioDZaVYb4NG8mttX-rE/s1600/powder+day+becky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTc5qhzF9T92pXLzSIxNK70H64m90EBM4ew8xs-mN53Nm-bSVxkeYjfyQithW9s67HwflsiZHZKV4GnnObiRru31bzg9C0i0Uv58-811_vbGRE-agNp2p-Gf2ioDZaVYb4NG8mttX-rE/s1600/powder+day+becky.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes that's powder. I know you might have forgotten what it looks like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-62481075815999141312012-02-25T14:50:00.001-08:002012-02-25T14:50:27.471-08:00Powder, Powder, Powder... Plattekill's got it.Who needs words when you've got this? But I have a few: I LOVE LAKE EFFECT. At least 6 inches fell today. And, everything was open.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDiYR3GDoSUSok8z5ZZ8TT2nzhn_DhWy6x-R1qdHXbBQ1Z0X3bxt3LrCo18ol3kDOqQEdlVxDfkkKCUUm98MMdOS3ev6v6VNj9-9dfp77FBho5x8v3buyFTQphH7U3ys8dyjvd21-b8M/s1600/DSC02426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDiYR3GDoSUSok8z5ZZ8TT2nzhn_DhWy6x-R1qdHXbBQ1Z0X3bxt3LrCo18ol3kDOqQEdlVxDfkkKCUUm98MMdOS3ev6v6VNj9-9dfp77FBho5x8v3buyFTQphH7U3ys8dyjvd21-b8M/s320/DSC02426.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no lift lines but awesome conditions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPuarT0sjBKdDizCNXytWUdUS_Iztkxji2dV54CYamPWxB0c_re0XXs9L7teyAFlFtC3vD_aO-amZ4DTSEwk_WHGGdCG3fTTqYZdh-HybZR_J1GO8Hn6P0YI3Rv9RSRyOFL-NtiFj4AE/s1600/DSC02427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPuarT0sjBKdDizCNXytWUdUS_Iztkxji2dV54CYamPWxB0c_re0XXs9L7teyAFlFtC3vD_aO-amZ4DTSEwk_WHGGdCG3fTTqYZdh-HybZR_J1GO8Hn6P0YI3Rv9RSRyOFL-NtiFj4AE/s320/DSC02427.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">who wouldn't smile?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62AH2TnftFtHtJBC1eBw94IXQpW27Rc0JQ8FYfyQJuYk1dRJaWAvXqGfqXznvtGmGMFNsrKw433n6-wRf2Fosje4n-SeEUJ4uyIpNzeyGorHOX0NSipKP__dcDInDCFA9aDcn-TTrPQ0/s1600/DSC02429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62AH2TnftFtHtJBC1eBw94IXQpW27Rc0JQ8FYfyQJuYk1dRJaWAvXqGfqXznvtGmGMFNsrKw433n6-wRf2Fosje4n-SeEUJ4uyIpNzeyGorHOX0NSipKP__dcDInDCFA9aDcn-TTrPQ0/s320/DSC02429.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, John Tunis knows quality. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPYxFpK02NR7jBJb1XB08Awrz8vqVmDIHoCWIUycurk15V0AvQFGZ7fvc7_ih3BgddnyR6fS115BREsf3lGRcKZ1UdVN5b9978Nlvtzyc2EfHdL8ODgxztXj_UJ1ls5yXfaf6jI32Jso/s1600/DSC02436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPYxFpK02NR7jBJb1XB08Awrz8vqVmDIHoCWIUycurk15V0AvQFGZ7fvc7_ih3BgddnyR6fS115BREsf3lGRcKZ1UdVN5b9978Nlvtzyc2EfHdL8ODgxztXj_UJ1ls5yXfaf6jI32Jso/s320/DSC02436.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the patroller opening Plunge (though poached before-- and while we're on Ski Patrol please buy a raffle ticket to support them.... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprwWz9WcARbsrSukTy9-pUB1psGlmmPUIrab1laR1muwvHa8kKdQjZt-8WCKh9r6KkGT83SvO7LfuGkWVApStEqmzTOX-CGfjrQ4UE-3T3u4oTo0AaX8ksVyX-ceks7SRhKzdfFhrDqg/s1600/DSC02438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprwWz9WcARbsrSukTy9-pUB1psGlmmPUIrab1laR1muwvHa8kKdQjZt-8WCKh9r6KkGT83SvO7LfuGkWVApStEqmzTOX-CGfjrQ4UE-3T3u4oTo0AaX8ksVyX-ceks7SRhKzdfFhrDqg/s320/DSC02438.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovin' it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEMbgIiIC_TQp1zV6y8AOMJmo21ZiSqs9QwCiUZiWBcqQAJ4H4s0MeEv1-8hWJZZjQqHd92Feh3tx3gx4Ngn7STVLM_f_nLIMB_QG1i3dv6EgnQePbpSA-OlOky1ONpdVR4BlmfXJRfg/s1600/platty+powder+day+jk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEMbgIiIC_TQp1zV6y8AOMJmo21ZiSqs9QwCiUZiWBcqQAJ4H4s0MeEv1-8hWJZZjQqHd92Feh3tx3gx4Ngn7STVLM_f_nLIMB_QG1i3dv6EgnQePbpSA-OlOky1ONpdVR4BlmfXJRfg/s320/platty+powder+day+jk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And yes that's me.... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-6809948468474481422012-02-24T14:00:00.001-08:002012-02-24T14:00:37.197-08:00Plattekill Ski Patrol Needs Your Love (And Money...)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijliy6ZjAWMGu0XSdXiA8J7s-_ZkPa_PjCcfOLDARxx-x7W1fOp739lXoSC9vNH_urTAU1HOJdPjE1CSsQ8azfP8fmchjb2ygZTK1cyEOsrFw_yxVayxruxqKMk1Hr1zWZi2iXoS0LTcM/s1600/DSC02421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijliy6ZjAWMGu0XSdXiA8J7s-_ZkPa_PjCcfOLDARxx-x7W1fOp739lXoSC9vNH_urTAU1HOJdPjE1CSsQ8azfP8fmchjb2ygZTK1cyEOsrFw_yxVayxruxqKMk1Hr1zWZi2iXoS0LTcM/s400/DSC02421.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zane Ashford, 15 rocking the slopes and a ski patroller....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Okay this is a two-part post. But it has one big message: Support
your <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/02/give-hand-to-those-whove-got-your-back.html" target="_blank">ski patrol. Platty’s is all-volunteer. </a>They not only work for free, they
pay for all their own supplies too. That includes: bandages, splints, sleds,
oxygen…. So next time you see them pull someone down the hill on a sled and
think but for the grace of god… make sure you also give to them. (Okay, even if
you don’t think that might one day be you on the sled). And, one easy way to do
it is coming up this and next weekend. This weekend the ski patrol will be
selling raffle tickets to raise money and next weekend will be the raffle as
well as the annual ski patrol BBQ dinner with live music and the raffle
drawing. The prizes are good: everything from a dual suspension mountain bike
(retail value $1600) to two pair of Rossi skis – one men’s, one women’s with
bindings, an Xbox with Kinect and more). The raffle is a bargain to boot. One
ticket for a dollar and a book 6 for $5.<br />
<br />
While you’re supporting the ski patrol today, think too
about the ski patroller of the future. (Remember I told you this is a two-fer).
Zane Ashford, 15, she bubbly with blond hair and blue eyes – and good natured
to boot. Also, a fully qualified member of the national ski patrol. We met when
I rode the lift with her dad Bim, head of the Platty ski patrol. And like any
doting dad he told me about young Zane becoming a patroller at 14. She started studying
for it when she was 13… While she can’t actually work at Platty (too young),
her story is inspiring.<br />
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She grew up seeing her dad patrolling and has always wanted
to be one herself. In fact it was partly her dad and partly getting pneumonia and
being hospitalized for it when she was young. Ever since, she has wanted to
become a doctor and help others. Being a patroller is part of this plan. When I
asked her what the hardest part of it was, she didn’t say, skiing down steeps
with a sled, or helping someone with a concussion puking up their guts, no, she
said confidence. Surrounded by all the adults wanting to become patrollers, she
didn’t think she knew what to do, but then found she did and that “98% of the
time I was right, but I was shy.” </div>
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When I ask when she wants to study in college, she sweetly
laughs that she doesn’t know. Not yet. Ah, youth. This is the moment where I’d
say it’s wasted on them, but looking at Zane, she seems to be doing all the
right things. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiui5DepczYRNGiBbDkfxuPu0VF7ukPpB07qqtFwL54QuLqX8j_RBbEolwmedPO22QV4UqSuCRhUilj2zqKinjGr_t4Z_hcpn3HehweEc9aFBvLNxErAtEqvyRPl9kYP7IZ61aMcZV8wE0/s1600/DSC02424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiui5DepczYRNGiBbDkfxuPu0VF7ukPpB07qqtFwL54QuLqX8j_RBbEolwmedPO22QV4UqSuCRhUilj2zqKinjGr_t4Z_hcpn3HehweEc9aFBvLNxErAtEqvyRPl9kYP7IZ61aMcZV8wE0/s400/DSC02424.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud pops... Now support the ski patrol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-56116804844566202972012-02-19T13:17:00.000-08:002012-02-19T13:17:23.169-08:00See the light. Avoid the liftlines. Come to Plattekill<br />
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Okay, yes I know these pics have nothing to do with my story. But today I rode the lift with two different Platty converts – one with a house “five minutes from Hunter,” and he was choosing Plattekill because of it’s old-school / homey / family feel now that he’s skiing with the kids and grandkids, and also the snow and terrain is great. “It’s a great little mountain,” he said, “but it’s unfair to call it little. There’s nothing small about it.”</div>
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He’d skied Plattekill as a kid but then turned to other mountains. And you know the moral of the story….</div>
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The other person had tried Belleayre on Saturday and then
came here. Now all sorts of rumors have flown about lifts not running at the
Bell, and I don’t quite know what happened, but this man, he was like, “Where
have I been?” He was kicking himself for only just discovering it and going on
about how great the terrain and vibe is. Then we proceeded to talk about
altitude sickness and skiing out West and the measly 4” I had at Squaw.</div>
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But I can’t show you pictures of these people…. There’s one
problem with blogging about skiing. I like to ski too much and hate stopping to
take pictures. Anyway, this isn’t my usual long post about something, about a
character, or personality but just these two folks who I happened to ride the
lift with. Not that there were lines, but I always figure if you’re skiing
alone, why waste a chair? You never know who you might meet. Next, I rode up
with Dieter on the ski patrol and somehow we got onto German nudists. But there
you go.</div>
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Oh and the conditions were great. There’ve been three days
in a row where Platty’s gotten more snow than I saw in my entire two weeks in
Tahoe. There’s another moral in that story too.</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-15503277492980379342012-02-17T08:39:00.007-08:002012-02-17T08:41:12.756-08:00Snow Hope Plattekill's Got Powder For The Weekend<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLchFg_QH0X4YcGHfAKOZ0tfzuWmqnelPsfuUzEy-TJ6CGx1751nPrQaRcJ4U4G6vE-yS0AvIrp71-hq7IPYfSlDZ72KPiGFR4pv89Fjd73ziNPwp9qAQMdwYefWnFJL8Ojme4fIbVr4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-02-17+at+11.25.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLchFg_QH0X4YcGHfAKOZ0tfzuWmqnelPsfuUzEy-TJ6CGx1751nPrQaRcJ4U4G6vE-yS0AvIrp71-hq7IPYfSlDZ72KPiGFR4pv89Fjd73ziNPwp9qAQMdwYefWnFJL8Ojme4fIbVr4/s400/Screen+shot+2012-02-17+at+11.25.48+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's even cold enough to make snow at night....<br />
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I was in Squaw for nearly two weeks and all I got was 4
inches. The night I leave they get more than a foot. Now I’m home and Platty
collected 4 inches last night – in fact in the entire 12 days I was gone their
snow-totals were higher than Tahoe? Moral of this story?</div>
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Ski Plattekill. Well, yes....</div>
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I had a blast out West skiing (though I also became friends with granite and p-tex). But, this Sunday Platty is going to get more white and fluffies, and with the <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-christmas-ii-plattys-xmas-gift.html" target="_blank">lake effect machine</a>, it
will be more than we expect as magically happened overnight last night. But since I didn’t
have first tracks and am stuck in bed and coughing like a Victorian consumptive (which goes well with watching costume dramas on Netflix), I leave you with this picture from Tahoe…</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHttBFHENK1oiWvF9GoOjTwzj_k3xpB8unkCPKVLeBY8La9boa1c9SRjkE9BjDafp0WLLEgsEWjYr26ICaYccVG6_5QL68D_plNdIkJ-VZYMc5ZgsZ6pkwOWzz-JR0HwPZSgXNGYAbb3o/s1600/IMG_1996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHttBFHENK1oiWvF9GoOjTwzj_k3xpB8unkCPKVLeBY8La9boa1c9SRjkE9BjDafp0WLLEgsEWjYr26ICaYccVG6_5QL68D_plNdIkJ-VZYMc5ZgsZ6pkwOWzz-JR0HwPZSgXNGYAbb3o/s400/IMG_1996.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Squaw... notice the bare rocks. I got p-tex...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-10719581831136035722012-02-03T08:06:00.000-08:002012-02-03T08:06:49.205-08:00Stand Like a Gorilla: Plattekill Ski School's Technical Director Ken Kimball<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhYTfXync9fRYJPOC_8k4OmYziJX9Imy89iuGMlfpJCkMBzf8Nt8P4CaW3Z8Og7mEIBo-2wI8taReivGU8EmOqAQNDU9ftvqZG9l_QTY_GAIGa0KxwcyRAz4Pbql33vxQGi_oZTO3BJc/s1600/ken+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhYTfXync9fRYJPOC_8k4OmYziJX9Imy89iuGMlfpJCkMBzf8Nt8P4CaW3Z8Og7mEIBo-2wI8taReivGU8EmOqAQNDU9ftvqZG9l_QTY_GAIGa0KxwcyRAz4Pbql33vxQGi_oZTO3BJc/s320/ken+1.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See Pixie-ish smile hiding a wry sense of humor.</td></tr>
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<br />
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Ken Kimball is Plattekill’s ski school’s technical director.
He has Peter Pan pixie-ish looks, a good way with a joke and a way down the
hill that ranges from balletic (he was a pro freestyle skier back in the Suzy
Chaffee days—rocking the moguls and the spins) to the outrigger and then drill
after drill after drill. He also teases me about my skiing (in a nice way) –
one that I appreciate. One that makes me want to get better.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, I can tell you good coaching is everything. I’m one of
those late-in-life skiers, a never-ever who’s now as close to ski-bum as you
can get without working at the hill. And, as you all might recall I’m at Squaw
skiing at the moment, where I yesterday freeskied with one of the coaches in
the <a href="http://d6.squaw.com/squaw-valley-masters-programs" target="_blank">Masters Program </a>(one who’d coached the Julia Mancusso), and he was amazed
that I’d only been skiing for 5 years (five years this week in fact. He kept
repeating this…). I think he was most impressed though with my coaching. So
Ken, take a bow (you too Sarah Rogers at Belleayre…). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outrigger...</td></tr>
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A good coach is a rare thing, a fine thing and one who can
help you finesse your skiing. Which in my case here in Tahoe has been getting
me down and around steep rocks without killing myself. Or being too scared to
come down.<br />
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<br /></div>
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Ken is the kind of coach who will notice if you’re
hyper-extending your back. (Not easy to pick out. Not in baggy ski pants). Or
that my femurs long. Details that are lost on most. And certainly were on me.
He has a kind of skill that makes you (or me) practice over and over and over
again side-slipping into a turn so I both stand up over my skis and release my
edges, getting my stance better, taller over my skis (He’ll be happy to know
I’ve been standing at the top of the stairs trying, though didn’t hurtle down
them).</div>
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Ken grew up skiing. But his family only got to a hill maybe five
days a year so instead he’d build jumps with his friends in the backyard and
skied snowdrifts by the side of the road. He had the bug so badly he dropped
out of his college 1.0 (forestry) to ski at Whiteface, begging for lift tickets
from people leaving, not uncommon back in the day. (Warren Miller once lived
out of his car to ski). When he got his degree at college 2.0 (studying phys
ed) he also started teaching skiing, and quickly certified through all three
PSIA levels and went to live and teach at the isolated Sunday River in Maine.
He was pro, skiing freestyle and sponsored by Olin and Scott and coaching
freestyle skiing with legend <a href="http://www.gregstumpproductions.com/" target="_blank">Greg Stump</a>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ken discovered Plattekill decades later. He came up for a
PSIA update course. It was one of those mythic weekends that makes the mountain
seem like a fairytale: rain predicted, but on the first day Platty got eight
inches of powder and on day two another four. He was hooked and came to help
teach when he was off from his own day job of teaching PE. Now he’s at the hill
every weekend. And, instead of having a team of instructors under him who just teach
for the pass, the ethos is student focused. This means not just teaching the
teachers drills, but about teaching itself – different ways of learning at
different ages and how people learn. (Which is where standing like a gorilla comes into play. Kids can understand that better than describing what your knees should be doing, say). But, Ken has that skill the best coaches share.
Vision. He can see what you’re doing. And what you should be doing. And he will
work with you to find the way for you to master it.</div>
<!--EndFragment--><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgv6EIwyfKJJH14uySqdACLn5o8QsAIVri6KlPES21KRyXpwWZgn2V9KeV1-GGUVJi2pIW7j6w_volJXp_FChqQw71XkRHpJ0ocAtSPrkJqbYS6hyqqlIFbxKZsafIIddwblq2XetHRE/s1600/ken+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgv6EIwyfKJJH14uySqdACLn5o8QsAIVri6KlPES21KRyXpwWZgn2V9KeV1-GGUVJi2pIW7j6w_volJXp_FChqQw71XkRHpJ0ocAtSPrkJqbYS6hyqqlIFbxKZsafIIddwblq2XetHRE/s320/ken+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ballet on planks on Platty's Northface.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-1670121548325383762012-02-02T06:46:00.000-08:002012-02-02T06:46:42.091-08:00100% Chance of Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hrkiq4GwulDI79MoKdJ55vv-7hKJdCLryzYueYiqvjVEh3T90Y56B2xmadWFurlL6XfC7aUuNHdwSpWNFhDmXniejmVQTkcbsDX1zKvmcOFNQhHLZpjI-81iQONJERISmR6OEW_fX-s/s1600/let-it-snow-classic-weather-icon_design.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hrkiq4GwulDI79MoKdJ55vv-7hKJdCLryzYueYiqvjVEh3T90Y56B2xmadWFurlL6XfC7aUuNHdwSpWNFhDmXniejmVQTkcbsDX1zKvmcOFNQhHLZpjI-81iQONJERISmR6OEW_fX-s/s1600/let-it-snow-classic-weather-icon_design.png" /></a></div>
Celebrate all ye Winter in the Catskillians! Snow is coming, I promise. And how can I guarantee such things (particularly given this winter)? I am going West to ski. I have a bad history with this. Soon as I get on a plane the Catskills gets several snowstorms each totaling around a foot. And out West? Drought. Which is already the case at Squaw where I'm going. No snow in sight for the next two weeks. So, get out and ski some powder runs for me. I won't be.... (Not to say I'm complaining or anything).<br />
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-62440769399805891052012-01-27T14:32:00.000-08:002012-01-27T14:32:22.196-08:00A Lesson in Grooming, Mixed Precip and Snow Conditions from Plattekill's Macker<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Macker – his name well earned, starts a fire with a blowtorch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/02/take-it-to-macker.html" target="_blank">Macker </a>is a tough guy. Smokes,
drinks</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> skis. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">A</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ll hard. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Man
is also a perfectionist. Witness the Stockli skis he rides. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">H</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">e's also open for teasing and makes fresh donuts at the mountain</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> on weekends</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">). </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">H</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">e can tell you lore about the hill</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> but beyond that </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">he could be seen as the master of </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">grooming</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">.
He once described being on the groomer at the end of the day – alone – as his
kind of meditation. (It's done with a smoke and the nice scent of diesel fumes).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">So
what does he have to say about this </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sort of
weather?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Which
others might call Liquid Sunshine, and Jay Peak has called, ahem, “transluscent
snow.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #001269; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US">Right now we're having a very
strange winter. But to explain what happens when it rains and freezes goe</span><span lang="EN-US">s</span><span lang="EN-US">
like this</span><span lang="EN-US">:</span><span lang="EN-US">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"N</span><span lang="EN-US">atural snow falls from the sky as a
crystallized flake. If you were to look closely at one they are pretty much
flat. As natural snow accumulates and sits, it becomes dense. When natural snow
gets warm or packed down it turns to ice rapidly. Granted it’s fun to ski in
but it takes a lot to hold up to heavy ski traffic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"Now
I’ll give you the description of </span><span lang="EN-US">Man-</span><span lang="EN-US">Made snow. When snow comes out of a
snowgun</span><span lang="EN-US">,</span><span lang="EN-US">
the first thing that happens is a small amount of water is mixed with
compressed air to start a process called nucleation, this freezes lots of
little pellets and these pellets are forced into a larger water stream of spray
which in turn act like a pearl in an oyster. They bounce around and get bigger
and help freeze the rest of the water stream. End result SNOW. But manmade snow
is technically a frozen pellet of ice</span><span lang="EN-US"> (a bit like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graupel" target="_blank">“graupel,”</a> jk). Y</span><span lang="EN-US">ou need to think about
which one </span><span lang="EN-US">water will go through, a stacked-</span><span lang="EN-US">up pile of pellets, or a dense pile
of mush. This is why, when it rains on manmade snow and then freezes you are
left with frozen granular once the groomers grind it up. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"One
of the biggest complaints that you hear when a winter is like this is, </span><span lang="EN-US">‘</span><span lang="EN-US">Oh
the slopes are icy.</span><span lang="EN-US">’</span><span lang="EN-US"> This is a statement that gets blown
out of proportion . Usually it’s hardpack they’re</span><span lang="EN-US">
having a problem with, not ice</span><span lang="EN-US">. </span><span lang="EN-US">(Now this last statement was meant
directly for me) </span><span lang="EN-US">Always
remember, just because you can come down a Black Diamond doesn’t mean you’re an
Expert Skier. An Expert Skier never complains about conditions…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">All of this means that because there's a lot of manmade snow, the conditions will actually be better. So all of you who are hoping (or even pondering) coming out to ski tomorrow, come. Because once that frozen granular has been groomed and skied on, it becomes loose granular. Think sugar.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-67066077378694600502012-01-20T14:36:00.000-08:002012-01-20T14:36:15.762-08:00Poaching New Lines At Plattekill – Like Bats Out Of Hell<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5bmwhzDxcfke8QpJC-Fjtfin-c_A_0cPUG3c_mshk44rvHC5PN1muFqZp7PUjIrVauPozjg5unQI5r51765EhrscDt7De1CjbgvUqpALuqcuMdlqzvpwpQmNZUzSaKFan9HaTIQqyh8/s1600/poaching+tunis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5bmwhzDxcfke8QpJC-Fjtfin-c_A_0cPUG3c_mshk44rvHC5PN1muFqZp7PUjIrVauPozjg5unQI5r51765EhrscDt7De1CjbgvUqpALuqcuMdlqzvpwpQmNZUzSaKFan9HaTIQqyh8/s400/poaching+tunis.jpg" width="400" /></a>This weekend promises powder and plenty of it, but last weekend was epic and surprising – to find that much snow and that many stashes to share. There were lines carved and taken and hikes made. It felt like being at Alta. My shoulder hurt from carrying my skis. But, better than my telling you about it – this is from an email sent to me by a dedicated long-time Platty skier. And, the names have been cut to protect the innocent:<br />
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"We skied
the powdery ridge like bats out of hell all the way down because we are young
and we don't stop, only I had to pretend. We should have skied like
angels. But, no, we skied like bats out of hell. We used to
ski that way all the time through the woods at scary speeds." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"We love
the time of year when the Double is closed. Once it is opened, we are
chased further and further away to find the quiet. In the old days,
before the time of blogs and secrets de-secretized, we would be there only
because we were and we would be alone with one another. We had followed
each other and asked about things face to face. Now, people who wouldn't
know are in the know and they show up literally out of nowhere. People come
to find "the stash". It's like reading a fly-fishing
magazine that talks about undiscovered rivers filled with the best things and
they tell you where the secret river is...."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc3-0XR9guOMi4H3FFG9rJuiFoG8mHnJna55kaq2Mna52PuNnir-CoVLVIZl4tkt9N5yuDmt9kqadhmcOCJ0qckDETzuqAIHXs_V0YFUgmfAIYe6MRdV_WNjS4qrEesZutG-HjW-elck/s1600/poaching+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc3-0XR9guOMi4H3FFG9rJuiFoG8mHnJna55kaq2Mna52PuNnir-CoVLVIZl4tkt9N5yuDmt9kqadhmcOCJ0qckDETzuqAIHXs_V0YFUgmfAIYe6MRdV_WNjS4qrEesZutG-HjW-elck/s400/poaching+two.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All I can say is bring the snow and take me to the river.... Also most importantly thanks to the skier who wrote such a lovely email...</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-39396045828316729722012-01-19T13:46:00.000-08:002012-01-19T13:48:18.997-08:00Ice Carving and Snowmobile Drag Racing in Walton...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49zDx1pkWmBpq0UYv6vkAOhjWecLrm9-Oq8VwHCE98Tz0sH8eHwwPGHSBf3n60L8FxlhQB-oSSpSl_JdG1hOC9MZoegcJbiHiRA0jJjWCx-KtvVil3umCeH7-ahOlS7E4OwxpsU98jw8/s1600/SUNY+Ice+Block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49zDx1pkWmBpq0UYv6vkAOhjWecLrm9-Oq8VwHCE98Tz0sH8eHwwPGHSBf3n60L8FxlhQB-oSSpSl_JdG1hOC9MZoegcJbiHiRA0jJjWCx-KtvVil3umCeH7-ahOlS7E4OwxpsU98jw8/s320/SUNY+Ice+Block.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Time-based art and temporal sculpture are buzz words in the Big-A
art world. They also rock the world of the SUNY Delhi ice carvers. Obviously
ice sculpture is temperature-dependent, so the piece could last minutes or
months. Now in Walton, you can see the Delhi culinary students pull out the
stops. And the chainsaws, chisels and blowtorches. A class at the college’s
culinary school focuses on ice carving and does, yes, far more than those ice
swans popular at weddings in the 80s. On campus, the class, “</span><span lang="EN-US">Culinary Sculpting,” wields 300-pound
ice blocks made in the school’s Ice Sculpting Lab.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To see the team at work (and they are, by the way, national collegiate
champions competing annually Minnesota) head out to the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=fair+street,+walton,+new+york&hl=en&sll=42.168207,-75.129275&sspn=0.016954,0.027595&vpsrc=0&hnear=Fair+St,+Walton,+New+York+13856&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Walton Fairground</a>. This
Saturday January 21<sup>st</sup>, there will be ice carving and snowmobile drag
racing (we’re even supposed to be getting some snow). </span><span lang="EN-US">The event is an official practice session for the
National Ice Carving Competition and an ACF (American Culinary Federation)
sanctioned competition, which means there will be good carvers, and the winner
matters.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1_JNngFdU8Wojs0JbVbmH__61zT5457TPYmYkYsCaBUJ3K1GdQzYD1WiqEGTTNRaqXVQg07vUAlF7erKujbUbEddyeXNg8fLUjFDDaMKhe-qymB0hg7Xenk0U8wOYi5GcMUpbucARvk/s1600/suny+delhi+in+frankenmuth+MN%252C+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1_JNngFdU8Wojs0JbVbmH__61zT5457TPYmYkYsCaBUJ3K1GdQzYD1WiqEGTTNRaqXVQg07vUAlF7erKujbUbEddyeXNg8fLUjFDDaMKhe-qymB0hg7Xenk0U8wOYi5GcMUpbucARvk/s320/suny+delhi+in+frankenmuth+MN%252C+2010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-10188559578898378242012-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:002012-01-13T15:24:21.473-08:00You Can Ski The Wasatch But You Choose Plattekilll...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8ETILS5OEkwabdNI7482rCqly6mhRD5HY-EvKqRPAF6gfrCMM5lQRcSDptenRUfIfjZrR5OABT1ihjVQDpmrdtoXHg8v3jIIKE3TQV_5rr-eOP_q8Kt9pOSo0R-5upmGOSBwKK4Oa8/s1600/jessi+dave+and+silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8ETILS5OEkwabdNI7482rCqly6mhRD5HY-EvKqRPAF6gfrCMM5lQRcSDptenRUfIfjZrR5OABT1ihjVQDpmrdtoXHg8v3jIIKE3TQV_5rr-eOP_q8Kt9pOSo0R-5upmGOSBwKK4Oa8/s320/jessi+dave+and+silas.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8ETILS5OEkwabdNI7482rCqly6mhRD5HY-EvKqRPAF6gfrCMM5lQRcSDptenRUfIfjZrR5OABT1ihjVQDpmrdtoXHg8v3jIIKE3TQV_5rr-eOP_q8Kt9pOSo0R-5upmGOSBwKK4Oa8/s1600/jessi+dave+and+silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8ETILS5OEkwabdNI7482rCqly6mhRD5HY-EvKqRPAF6gfrCMM5lQRcSDptenRUfIfjZrR5OABT1ihjVQDpmrdtoXHg8v3jIIKE3TQV_5rr-eOP_q8Kt9pOSo0R-5upmGOSBwKK4Oa8/s1600/jessi+dave+and+silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8ETILS5OEkwabdNI7482rCqly6mhRD5HY-EvKqRPAF6gfrCMM5lQRcSDptenRUfIfjZrR5OABT1ihjVQDpmrdtoXHg8v3jIIKE3TQV_5rr-eOP_q8Kt9pOSo0R-5upmGOSBwKK4Oa8/s1600/jessi+dave+and+silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
You can ski anywhere in the world but where
do you go to teach your son? Well, if your Salt Lake City residents Dave and
Jessi Raber (or else you happen to be reading this blog) you would say: Plattekill.
And, by anywhere in the world I mean the best skiing in the U.S. which would be
Utah. There Jessi didn’t just happen to ride both one plank or two – tele and snowboarding
– she also worked for Sno Engineering Group, which designs ski areas. And her
particular client? Snowbird. She had to ski for work. And, still she comes to
Plattekill with her adorable two-year-old Silas who’s learning to talk and ski
at the same time.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjATqzpgThyGeurEl4ZhFC8l-1U3HNz7iY6kMX1QfdYSi31W85QVQwFw4ZnkAOHWysnBZD98DmqYLKC-_1aeTXtVC_36Q1ZbKce3s2pRDehEHpr9U-J71a8YifXeoQ3ymAx8Jhq0cx7c/s1600/skiing+and+hiking+with+silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjATqzpgThyGeurEl4ZhFC8l-1U3HNz7iY6kMX1QfdYSi31W85QVQwFw4ZnkAOHWysnBZD98DmqYLKC-_1aeTXtVC_36Q1ZbKce3s2pRDehEHpr9U-J71a8YifXeoQ3ymAx8Jhq0cx7c/s320/skiing+and+hiking+with+silas.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And baby makes three. Plus four planks.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Dave is back East for work for the winter. So,
Jessi and Silas followed for the skiing. Out West the couple would pack the
young’un up, skin up 11k-foot peaks like Clayton’s Peak or Catherine’s Area at Alta
and ski down with the baby on their back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Now that they’re here, they might well
bring the powder with them. They got married at Plattekill (and you can see the
pictures in the lodge). Two days before the wedding, no snow. Then, come the
appointed weekend in December and a legendary powder day. “We figure the powder
gods love us,” Jessi says, which if you look at today’s weather could well be
true. Particularly since Utah’s been having the driest winter in decades. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">They wanted Silas to learn at Plattekill.
“It just feels like home,” she says. “Here all the kids are included and everyone’s
like a family looking out for each other. Silas can run around and I know he’ll
be okay. I could never do that anywhere out West.” Even better, Silas is loving skiing.
He keeps saying “more, more, more” when he’s out on the slopes. Prediction: he
will be ripping down the North Face by the end of the weekend. Okay that’s
magical thinking. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Both his parents are also volunteering and
working on the mountain this winter: Jessi at the bar and Dave, a master
mechanic, helping keep the hill running smoothly. Which in fact sent him
home on Monday looking like a chimney sweep, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but Platty owner, Laszlo Vajtay says, “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They’re the perfect example of what embodies the unique vibe of
Plattekill. We’re lucky they love doing what they do at Plattekill.”</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1JZgWmu-1WDNBV_z3kh5hz7ezRFMTcPeM1ANipdpAmTLDU_z1NjXSbwea3AQYpj1lflY-c5mnsDWQS1n_NnQD96zaQHOTU7BpUwsoMBlnNEOoFPGy4-Ooz3mimXkFqA_da6gRdsgwyE/s1600/silas+skis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1JZgWmu-1WDNBV_z3kh5hz7ezRFMTcPeM1ANipdpAmTLDU_z1NjXSbwea3AQYpj1lflY-c5mnsDWQS1n_NnQD96zaQHOTU7BpUwsoMBlnNEOoFPGy4-Ooz3mimXkFqA_da6gRdsgwyE/s320/silas+skis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning on Powder Puff</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uiH4L_RKmnVSaoX7zeyxHb-RENt4PLxNHI1mZMRQWag0qAh8t-xH1bZ5PxbFlkc3AeTY9mXYG1mvvY60Vk_RmVeVP9eU8Fb5FBPefsWB_pVU7hrf5drJ4DhnvOpBvDUSnclP1hEbf3U/s1600/silas+takes+after+his+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uiH4L_RKmnVSaoX7zeyxHb-RENt4PLxNHI1mZMRQWag0qAh8t-xH1bZ5PxbFlkc3AeTY9mXYG1mvvY60Vk_RmVeVP9eU8Fb5FBPefsWB_pVU7hrf5drJ4DhnvOpBvDUSnclP1hEbf3U/s320/silas+takes+after+his+dad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to take after Dad. In the groomer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-15754884765080818192012-01-09T14:48:00.000-08:002012-01-09T14:48:00.711-08:00Nearly A Powder Day at Plattekill With Harvey Road<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX_LpKAOMWGF__84YXiUVu3HDUD7JMJNkprB8rII4ovAEBV57-emBn9rU9K04zfriiZvuKfsAY5VbqSpMSAMvQwVNTLZNDHBh7_0qoGQ2Wu2h211Pb0MhWvMABr3wAzq6hY7N_2uXiuQ/s1600/harvey+shooting+a+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX_LpKAOMWGF__84YXiUVu3HDUD7JMJNkprB8rII4ovAEBV57-emBn9rU9K04zfriiZvuKfsAY5VbqSpMSAMvQwVNTLZNDHBh7_0qoGQ2Wu2h211Pb0MhWvMABr3wAzq6hY7N_2uXiuQ/s320/harvey+shooting+a+picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvey shooting for the blog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Where does Harvey Road founder of the
awesome <a href="http://www.nyskiblog.com/">NY Ski Blog</a> ski on his birthday? Not his home mountain but Plattekill.
And here’s the proof on Powderpuff, where he stopped to do his job, shooting down the hill. And, as if a birthday present just for him, Laszlo turned
on the guns, (got out the "pixie dust," Harvey called it) on the The Face. So
while Saturday had soft spring skiing, Sunday, which should have been hard and
loud, was instead a powder day if you picked your runs right. What the gods
won’t provide Laszlo and co will. And did.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz8ACj5kcjPIwEpemWnb6WHM2UiWqcevvDRblqWvWsK20zV60qT0TtZWAZzNxvPpXx18hH4A8AAFiyih9bmqK0qCU-Lehe7wtSLUiN5x16G3bKtpkCAoYhQxQ5TbzzwxC74LXMsBJzjM/s1600/harvey+carving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz8ACj5kcjPIwEpemWnb6WHM2UiWqcevvDRblqWvWsK20zV60qT0TtZWAZzNxvPpXx18hH4A8AAFiyih9bmqK0qCU-Lehe7wtSLUiN5x16G3bKtpkCAoYhQxQ5TbzzwxC74LXMsBJzjM/s320/harvey+carving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBH_2Nyvdv6nhWpGuKwifJtDapH-7kQBh3SGxFBLmpx114iN_8MZvPKskQ-65jNtXedwOZi0J68Um1h5Kgy3jSiqP-Tiww0a66wq5FqfkVrJzvTwiTKlDmIfrEOmBnpr4BDodlwrEtZ8/s1600/harvey+rawr+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBH_2Nyvdv6nhWpGuKwifJtDapH-7kQBh3SGxFBLmpx114iN_8MZvPKskQ-65jNtXedwOZi0J68Um1h5Kgy3jSiqP-Tiww0a66wq5FqfkVrJzvTwiTKlDmIfrEOmBnpr4BDodlwrEtZ8/s320/harvey+rawr+shot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And check out that grin. He's having a good birthday... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The NY Ski Blog also deserves a big thank
you (particularly after the heavy snows come and I hear rumblings that MLK Day
is our day for some powder). They came out in November to clear trails,
including some secret passageways through the trees. Read more <a href="http://www.nyskiblog.com/2011/11/new-tree-lines-at-plattekill.html">here</a>, and Harvey, come back to tell
me where…</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-85328616288540005812012-01-06T05:25:00.000-08:002012-01-06T05:31:08.946-08:00Get Your Skates On<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08lrqGCgY29RGQc7a-rNkORanELU4bXimGg2zusZHmuYY3EN_XmTT2XswMS291f7GC2c4MGh5joN-PxKkdnh070p9o6w5gJ4FxMkoxfwi9Mwu2_1YUBJd_51OX-qnJ7Vu4FZcGDJMixM/s1600/skating1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08lrqGCgY29RGQc7a-rNkORanELU4bXimGg2zusZHmuYY3EN_XmTT2XswMS291f7GC2c4MGh5joN-PxKkdnh070p9o6w5gJ4FxMkoxfwi9Mwu2_1YUBJd_51OX-qnJ7Vu4FZcGDJMixM/s400/skating1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694510167383402802" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">Come this Friday and skating returns to Margaretville (not skateboarding either for all who think the weather might stand in the way of actual ice).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"></span>The village has a winter tradition of free ice skating in the village park (behind Freshtown and by the pavilion). The rink is ad hoc, made of hay bales and custom liner filled with water turned into, of course, ice. It’s set up by a team of volunteers headed by Mike and Becky Porter. I can’t say enough good things about the two of them; he rode his bike across the country after two year’s of cancer treatment, was science teacher at MCS and is president of the volunteer fire department. (He also cuts a fine figure in the department’s dress uniform). And, where it comes to dress or dressing, Becky can dress a deer on the way to church on Sunday (she has before) and is a skater and skier. As Mike says, he’s just there doing her bidding. He does not actually skate but wants to encourage everyone to get outside. To make sure you can, the Porters have skates on their back porch (at the corner of Orchard and Academy Street in the village) for anyone to borrow.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zDgAZ28hUfS5BLkrDC1dDFeQIw8639xD4g9yXl_6zXojWnoZMDSuHTxY3zNkHkeyk7bLKsf8EJd7jZ6a4pi-BGxffVYFyXT7N1ZGoPDESJijTNPvYCcGluzrNBu_KU6WUErJZigFm6c/s1600/skating2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zDgAZ28hUfS5BLkrDC1dDFeQIw8639xD4g9yXl_6zXojWnoZMDSuHTxY3zNkHkeyk7bLKsf8EJd7jZ6a4pi-BGxffVYFyXT7N1ZGoPDESJijTNPvYCcGluzrNBu_KU6WUErJZigFm6c/s400/skating2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694510169075933906" /></a><br /><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">The rink is open anytime you feel like coming and having a skate. To keep the ice smooth they use something called a “wand,” a four-foot garden hose attachment that sprays a thin stream of water on top. That’s all it takes to get the Zamboni effect. On Wednesday the ice was at least two inches thick, Mike reports. “Not quite good enough yet.” Because of the weather he suggests skating in the evenings and early mornings when it’s cold. And in the early morning you’re likely to catch Becky there too. That’s her favorite time to hit the ice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"></span>Skating when it’s too warm makes it both hard to skate and is hard on the ice, which, given that the rink is run by volunteers, makes them work harder too. Plus, if you come when it’s dark out, there’s a light on a post by the rink that you can turn on yourself, anytime you want. So if you fancy a romantic midnight skating jaunt…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%">The rink will be up, “Until,” Mike says, “mother nature says ‘no.’” Which here in the Western Catskills means February. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR87D2u4toCPsyuwtVDRNUS6EykeJsiV-J7YXyRpWBG5wuiC6NzNEkACg_dfXSYUBHbkjSibzaybuRtgoXqFfC6aeSh7cWwtct4oipFnBw_syUCfXsyEGTCNWNkF0PL8wxExJGPFAUfYw/s1600/skating3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR87D2u4toCPsyuwtVDRNUS6EykeJsiV-J7YXyRpWBG5wuiC6NzNEkACg_dfXSYUBHbkjSibzaybuRtgoXqFfC6aeSh7cWwtct4oipFnBw_syUCfXsyEGTCNWNkF0PL8wxExJGPFAUfYw/s400/skating3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694510164863420402" /></a><br /></div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-42658964584048945612011-12-31T05:23:00.000-08:002011-12-31T05:43:30.334-08:00Quality....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x44pu5swBvyV8g-8gBtvwiSZNFZlNPV3_QFp-1uPELfTgrKB9FniHHIj5wg59jNu1bNCnPKPf7FUL8Vz7QP6rWdFQAXNG1F1gHiVV6ajKrgok8o3TcCGzQqgdChKqmS6qT5VVtMSisA/s1600/platty+dec+30.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x44pu5swBvyV8g-8gBtvwiSZNFZlNPV3_QFp-1uPELfTgrKB9FniHHIj5wg59jNu1bNCnPKPf7FUL8Vz7QP6rWdFQAXNG1F1gHiVV6ajKrgok8o3TcCGzQqgdChKqmS6qT5VVtMSisA/s400/platty+dec+30.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692283064303639202" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>So this might be a tad meditative as WITC posts go and my idea is quality not quantity, which is always the value system at Platty. I skied the last two days and there was powder, chop, bumps which were a blast. My skiing was not quality. I don't know about you, but often I wake up in the middle of the night obsessing about things like my pole plant, that my upper body still flails about. And how much I wish I could ski like <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/03/marcel-proust-has-nothing-on-steven.html">Steve Supp</a> .... Last night was one of them. Which is a bummer for my poor husband. Who wants to hear their wife at 3 am talking about their ski hero (another man at that) or the drills she wants to do and the skis she really wants which are easier on chop? (BTW they're the <a href="http://www.skinet.com/ski/gear/k2-lotta-luv-2011">K2 Lotta Luvs 2010-2011</a> if Santa is still listening)</div><div><br /></div><div>All of which takes me away from quality. I was amazed at how great the trails were. (Which also explains why I've not been taking many pictures I never want to stop skiing) There might not be many trails open but the conditions were amazing. Powder, my friends, powder, that was fun and a challenge to ski. It wasn't skied off and there were a few slick spots (I believe in full honesty here at WITC) but there was good snow to be had. And this is what I love about Platty. Even if I didn't have 10 trails to choose from (which are more like 5 given that most hills count a trail that gets crisscrossed and joined by another as 2 trails, ski-flation if ever I heard it), the conditions were great. </div><div><br /></div><div>Much to the credit of <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/02/take-it-to-macker.html">Macker</a> and <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-christmas.html">Nolan</a> and the Platty team, but also that Platty is a little secret. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then check out the pics below,the action shots of the young'uns sprawled out on Lower Face throwing snowballs at ski patrol. Gotta love them. Ski patrol and the kids. Platty is a place that welcomes all, and that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Happy New Year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb4S5jb4hjKN-3Tkas450q8SQkdoiheioRUlgPt-IIeDznGvcgArvy1X9mwseQXrJK_pCeVJXrr0izXkfrz3Vv3AYmzG2mLEQiI1Sh2D44__orzwEYiFwLxWRmclGAlRXlV6CH2Y_iMY/s1600/platty+sdec+30+boys+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb4S5jb4hjKN-3Tkas450q8SQkdoiheioRUlgPt-IIeDznGvcgArvy1X9mwseQXrJK_pCeVJXrr0izXkfrz3Vv3AYmzG2mLEQiI1Sh2D44__orzwEYiFwLxWRmclGAlRXlV6CH2Y_iMY/s400/platty+sdec+30+boys+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692283058730963410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz9E2vpNBzFGM1A1T8wWk2N82_EU_sj9351057C7Q5_mmeIEJSPEAFaFzcpPwZQT8iZy9AunVnDinbnRBLKATlApqFpTQornDzD2j5mH9jnJ7ph3srtE51thKq0Rv_SBDmPLhAMx4z8A/s1600/platty+dec+30+boys+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz9E2vpNBzFGM1A1T8wWk2N82_EU_sj9351057C7Q5_mmeIEJSPEAFaFzcpPwZQT8iZy9AunVnDinbnRBLKATlApqFpTQornDzD2j5mH9jnJ7ph3srtE51thKq0Rv_SBDmPLhAMx4z8A/s400/platty+dec+30+boys+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692283049882079538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqATl_URoA5fi2QqUwz8taviGd5zDYUj2nFjbPBs9xHDWCs5HkwINE-zisFOFR5SprYwBcGvQMt7AJfIhr0tg4_H6zLbLWpi5aLg9nKF8283k8mrXsvjU_HQ5l7ey-COyci_8FE16-_U/s1600/platty+dec+30+boys+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqATl_URoA5fi2QqUwz8taviGd5zDYUj2nFjbPBs9xHDWCs5HkwINE-zisFOFR5SprYwBcGvQMt7AJfIhr0tg4_H6zLbLWpi5aLg9nKF8283k8mrXsvjU_HQ5l7ey-COyci_8FE16-_U/s400/platty+dec+30+boys+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692283044222859074" /></a><br /></div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-15436960045972289822011-12-28T15:49:00.000-08:002011-12-28T15:54:25.756-08:00Plattekill's Grand Canyon<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9i8xWSFaAkx84FU69FPTtk2mXYtSUaFD0cy086wcpH2N-ppzOPsfnZ3BdtlUrf7IjHVbVhGHSo-iL4JFk1nTzNb8ymhrjQVTq7J2ZiINxB637I5Y3CCd98RF39V8euZVCmgIBXEgyu8/s400/grand+canyon+pic+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691330810172553378" /><p class="MsoNormal">AT the top of Plattekill is something every skier should like to see. A giant hole 60 feet deep. Now partially filled with water. “Welcome to the Grand Canyon,” Laszlo says and waves his arms behind him. He’s dwarfed by said Canyon and the Komatsu excavator behind him. (This was back in November when Macker and 3 others were busy welding pipes to the Canyon.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This Canyon is Platty’s new snowmaking pond. They’d wanted a bigger one for years and then came Irene and want became need. The original pond at the top of the hill suffered from erosion as did some of the trails. Repairing one meant repairing the others. The rock hauled out of the pond was used to stabilize trails and build a new, bigger parking lot by the lodge. (No more walking up the road on busy days). And, to get the construction crews to the top, one of the hardest hit trails – Powder Puff – was widened and some of the hairpin turns made a tad less steep. A bonus for beginner skiers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the sweetest benefit? The rock is also going to help with other Irene recovery efforts. It’s being used by local road crews and even on the Gilboa Dam.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The project is so big it will take two years to complete. Blasting the rock took 100,000 pounds of explosives, and the wires are still hanging out of the rock walls. But while we’re waiting for the final pond, it will still be in service this year. Given the weather so far, that’s the best news of all. As is the fact that Platty has just bought another 45 new snowguns. </p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeBuzM8tRIYgATrvlrfz1zVHd7QMbBsHk3s-I08IIvo_aWcxlAAKXexmI67C5Rqd97Nr2R4OR7znpIsNFaKaJKWgdr2g9n4LtKXFGur-Mf4wQuhYaxRSGzR7Ehl0ikpM51AZCDHoK4jw/s400/before+pond.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691330813282694850" /></div><div>{check the before and after shots and also the equipment that did it...}</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-39865203771016321752011-12-24T07:26:00.000-08:002011-12-24T07:40:58.278-08:00White Christmas 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl3lsKhBF73pMT49X3YGnkDOLbmYwSvWK5hc4CzvaW1RSQ8W8jUVeypSdFDd1WIXirgVOFXAwZgzdNCPGORNDF1l-RD7I5vd1yIVdIrhnpC5YonnrjxhIWGLPNaw-rhofFMSplwU2ITM/s1600/IMAG1835.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl3lsKhBF73pMT49X3YGnkDOLbmYwSvWK5hc4CzvaW1RSQ8W8jUVeypSdFDd1WIXirgVOFXAwZgzdNCPGORNDF1l-RD7I5vd1yIVdIrhnpC5YonnrjxhIWGLPNaw-rhofFMSplwU2ITM/s400/IMAG1835.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689717951507859618" /></a><br /><div>While everyone else is having fires and chestnuts and dreams of mistletoe and sugarplums dancing all in their heads (which could be the effect of too much wine or whisky or other indulgences that won't get mentioned here in a family-oriented blog) the elves at Plattekill are working hard to ensure a white Christmas and a good opening day. And for all who don't remember last year's post, <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-christmas.html">snowmaking is hardly easy</a>. The pictures here might well give that away. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's more a job of man vs machine vs nature. It's cold. You have to keep checking water pressure, lugging guns and pipes around, dragging them uphills on snowmobiles which is a bit like herding animals. Only at 11 degrees Farenheit. You have to getting ice off the fans and out of the pipes. Ice that comes flying off hard as bullets from the turbines. So when you ski this week, give it up for the snowmakers who've been out overnight and will be again tonight on Christmas Eve and on Christmas itself, riding another kind of sleigh to deliver the best gift of all. Powder.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO6qJAwJerYVWc3ssV6HN-RGNhrFiy76irsdnK13fh6u9kx6l03L7obVZoKchICPo6vSglNJi1jA7aO2qmGsDuSsffItC_nRSLRQWnDUuI2Bxrrzah2g5RZspVyDDv899odttCr8_wmA/s1600/IMAG1831.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO6qJAwJerYVWc3ssV6HN-RGNhrFiy76irsdnK13fh6u9kx6l03L7obVZoKchICPo6vSglNJi1jA7aO2qmGsDuSsffItC_nRSLRQWnDUuI2Bxrrzah2g5RZspVyDDv899odttCr8_wmA/s1600/IMAG1831.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 239px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO6qJAwJerYVWc3ssV6HN-RGNhrFiy76irsdnK13fh6u9kx6l03L7obVZoKchICPo6vSglNJi1jA7aO2qmGsDuSsffItC_nRSLRQWnDUuI2Bxrrzah2g5RZspVyDDv899odttCr8_wmA/s400/IMAG1831.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689717947805221666" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGDbFMmS9NxKCgF0cE1Oshbj8t8M3y3Jgw3g6g85le-MMDwAi9AnTvfEcDsjgouIbuXk5ZHHRWq8lAMpjPb5SYnRqBJKDHcC5IJcKFeavtkw-1c1HxdqqBsRnzlScqrxXzMSK4AipUuQ/s1600/IMAG1831.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGDbFMmS9NxKCgF0cE1Oshbj8t8M3y3Jgw3g6g85le-MMDwAi9AnTvfEcDsjgouIbuXk5ZHHRWq8lAMpjPb5SYnRqBJKDHcC5IJcKFeavtkw-1c1HxdqqBsRnzlScqrxXzMSK4AipUuQ/s400/IMAG1831.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689717941667557650" /></a><br /></div></div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-62979332323437523572011-12-20T17:57:00.000-08:002011-12-20T18:37:03.495-08:00A Winter of Warmth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><i>from living tree to seasoned firewood in as little as three</i> </span><i><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">months</span></i><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><i><br /></i></span><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovZeIJJanWIT-9Q1tZxvJrirdSCEGDU7ugN2Qh2CThk5Bb0yH3nJqCs9n-3YkKzklihaNsoXu38z6Pcze5eTtka3g7YM_eq924mHFyeQdQtpynbTBjPm893YrdjEfcCNlzy_qxJUvUQ/s200/Holz+Hausen+finished.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688395810753566962" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:arial;">A friend, Cindy Dunne of design company <a href="http://www.bluefarmdesign.com/">Blue Farm Graphic Design</a> in East </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Meredith, recently posted to her Facebook page (photos included here) her success in creating 2 Holz Hausens for her winter firewood storage. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">The Holz Hausen is one of the most unique forms of storing firewood, and a tried and true method at that.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">They look like a beehive made out of wood and are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">very pleasant to gaze upon. Almost like a prehistoric form, or modern art in the manner of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Goldsworthy">Andrew Goldsworthy</a>.</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">No matter what form you choose to stack your </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">cordwood, situate it with a southern exposure where there are no trees to block the sun and in a place that is easy to transfer it indoors.</span></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Historically, the dimensions of a Hotz Hausen are a 10-foot-diameter circle with a center pole 10 feet high. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You may want a </span><span style="font-family:arial;">shorter one if this is your first try with say… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a 7-foot-diameter base, stacked to a more reachable height of 7 feet. Place a splash of paint or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">other dryness indicator at the 5 ft. 8 in. level. 80 percent of the 7-foot pole's height.</span></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.65in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-15.3pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->On level ground, lay out pieces of split firewood, end to end, to form the base circle (you can use other things like bricks or other lumber).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some folks like to build on top of a tarp. Beginners may want to put a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">measuring pole in the center of the circle to use to measure against as the pile shrinks or seasons.</span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoHouoPF3g8d6SZ2pq-gLgysl5Gw7RwWjn-feANQisoVr0NgT45vdH9shHpc_hwu1KoGOwC4NuPT5K4mfJCqalf4B9yluXXl0EzRK9wAr7-pRx8Cdt3ze6PdZBFpNk_gKprgfy4fv2w/s200/Holz+Hausen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688402090665870706" /> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.65in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-15.3pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Place wood in a spoke-like manner (perpendicular) with outer edge resting on the base circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Keep pieces with good bark on them for your top (#6)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.65in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-15.3pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->As the height increases, place some pieces as shims across outside edges of these spokes to keep wood tilted toward the center <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.65in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-15.3pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The interior space is filled with the wood standing on end (upright). This acts as a chimney as it pulls air in and up through the pile, aiding the drying process. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC6aMOUWHClKOm6xVLQkJMnMIWZlt0zJaSMwvUcQmmsbiSH4UBqgTa9xlFCOTK7L_7BVUoHWeOhyUsgbILT1o7vU4B1AMCZzmBFvFY9WrJfJQjL8rxTBkdvUR5immarLwnJk3nAxO2w/s200/holz+hausen+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688395810110170818" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.65in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-15.3pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Continue this stacking process until you have reached a height of about 5 feet. For the top 2 feet of stacking, don't use any shims. This will allow the wood to begin to slope down toward the outside.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:.65in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-15.3pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Place the top layer with the bark side up. Like a tile or thatched roof, this prevents rain and snow from entering the mass of the Holz Hausen.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">As the wood dries, it shrinks and the stack settles, losing 20 percent of its height. More and more of the pole is exposed above the top of the Holz Hausen. When you can see that patch of paint at 80 percent of the pole's height, the wood is ready to burn.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Be patient if you try this – do a little research <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQTk73WoXs">online</a> to see other styles. Some create an actual roof like profile for a real “wood house”. Building a beautiful wood storage system is kind of like giving a gift to yourself - twice over!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-42769717919055778602011-12-18T15:05:00.000-08:002011-12-18T15:19:39.648-08:00Cut Your Own<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsgdDY2FrIQEB8v7zpQ8nzch_kdhQOjSYaT2T34t-lO8jpg8Kcxh_MLzpDqXwDSUQhyphenhyphenl_K65QN1MYTP0Bvo0IJhSgm1QBff0O5zTBZgDItU0AEzN_ubBdBqnN3VAT3VE2nH9mZDDQP_4/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsgdDY2FrIQEB8v7zpQ8nzch_kdhQOjSYaT2T34t-lO8jpg8Kcxh_MLzpDqXwDSUQhyphenhyphenl_K65QN1MYTP0Bvo0IJhSgm1QBff0O5zTBZgDItU0AEzN_ubBdBqnN3VAT3VE2nH9mZDDQP_4/s400/IMG_1870.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687609588146531378" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Okay so we’re looking on the bright side here at WITC. There isn’t much snow on the ground, but that makes it easy to pick (and cut) your own Christmas tree. We went up on our land with a saw—not even a chainsaw and hiked half a mile in and half a mile out with two trees, including one that was more Charlie Brown’s Christmas than perfect. Now you could do that too, or go to places like Robson’s tree farm in Bovina, or out on your own piece of land and pick one, but there are some tips I’d follow: </p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWd97thwBnUQg2V3v9sWBusm8Tak8k5k2hzg_gr1_8SHhBCd0_LenZYrG9byQaQ-d_P0dZr0mOE-Z18dyRDC_i-5PCA2cWz2qWKqnmG7BJP75duErukfSlX8MxsZ_JbxULtSL1Up2S30/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">1. Check out the size of your space. Or read this from last week’s NY Times. The truth is sobering, and the article's name says it all: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/garden/the-holiday-gaffes-that-keep-giving.html?_r=1&ref=garden">The Holiday Gaffes That Keep On Giving</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">2. Bow saw. Christmas is a time when no one wants to visit ER. Unless you know how to use a chainsaw stick to a bow saw. Slower = safer. No need to act all macho in the woods.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">3. If you can’t find a small enough tree (It can be tricky out there, and in the wild, they're bigger than they appear. No ceilings for one. Or walls.), then cut it further up and it might even regrow. Think of it as two-for-one.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWd97thwBnUQg2V3v9sWBusm8Tak8k5k2hzg_gr1_8SHhBCd0_LenZYrG9byQaQ-d_P0dZr0mOE-Z18dyRDC_i-5PCA2cWz2qWKqnmG7BJP75duErukfSlX8MxsZ_JbxULtSL1Up2S30/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWd97thwBnUQg2V3v9sWBusm8Tak8k5k2hzg_gr1_8SHhBCd0_LenZYrG9byQaQ-d_P0dZr0mOE-Z18dyRDC_i-5PCA2cWz2qWKqnmG7BJP75duErukfSlX8MxsZ_JbxULtSL1Up2S30/s400/IMG_1858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687609582024163618" /></a><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">4. When you’re picking your tree, remember that pack-it-in, pack-it-out rule. Aka, the tree has to get to the street to your car. Remember that if it’s heavy. And you have young children with you who might be getting cold. Or restless. For that matter bring some cocoa along too. In case you get cold.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">5. Get it in water as soon as possible and keep watering it often. This keeps the needles on the boughs.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKn5qyplp0bS4FTgqWLcBd_eIKdZdUKduVG2p3XkSiIE7ITPNqQvYhRas_Ii131ScEyqjMdoakkCue7rsVF8WZazJwtOfZ-OCqytuGfa7jhWkMQMP5DJYykxldbEA45VFJ8U91Z6y3Ek/s1600/IMG_1875.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKn5qyplp0bS4FTgqWLcBd_eIKdZdUKduVG2p3XkSiIE7ITPNqQvYhRas_Ii131ScEyqjMdoakkCue7rsVF8WZazJwtOfZ-OCqytuGfa7jhWkMQMP5DJYykxldbEA45VFJ8U91Z6y3Ek/s400/IMG_1875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687609564074618162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWu-A37l4IBLiybZTbhZFWYkAhySB0LHgT1o5HX5be_ba_XfplO0w7CpoffOXJOPAQcNMWfIf5JX_kBTtTBOyBjNvf6UjrjTQ-DUkI79-7vWBWqDwiUNEVi52rI7238PZ119ebJm9UPmg/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWu-A37l4IBLiybZTbhZFWYkAhySB0LHgT1o5HX5be_ba_XfplO0w7CpoffOXJOPAQcNMWfIf5JX_kBTtTBOyBjNvf6UjrjTQ-DUkI79-7vWBWqDwiUNEVi52rI7238PZ119ebJm9UPmg/s400/IMG_1883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687609560071978530" /></a><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">6. Pride yourself on your savings. Just remember the tree you’ve cut in the woods costs a fraction of that $300 tree in the City. And this being the spirit of the season, maybe donate the savings to a good cause. Like flood victims.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">7. Remember to feel good about yourself for another reason: Picking your own Christmas tree is an awesome moment of family togetherness, witness this week’s pictures. Thank you to Nick and Shyama, David and Norm and Miriam.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUptn7kE3rBdxju274NYG95lnxU1QMOPIFREDatvoOb4LNwPqi3wO_3n3ImJixkSYahCPBF3-Ca4Fn1-wf9E_i0fe1KVqR-sw4nt6hkmc9ffYYShr0GX4pk4lL5AVRFkMfSBvbjUElQ0Q/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUptn7kE3rBdxju274NYG95lnxU1QMOPIFREDatvoOb4LNwPqi3wO_3n3ImJixkSYahCPBF3-Ca4Fn1-wf9E_i0fe1KVqR-sw4nt6hkmc9ffYYShr0GX4pk4lL5AVRFkMfSBvbjUElQ0Q/s400/IMG_1885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687608982737131266" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div>See happy smiles all around.... </div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-59311334219083014552011-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:002011-12-15T10:44:15.880-08:00In the Spirit of the Season<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmIeaJKC6fE13dRgvyuWBbPuNAKtbWnlonkgMCT3H2kr7AWBToDro4pNcJI0D3viLNvSEqmsyEc5LawlOnUiYcoazFTuLqSTJ0UEfe2gFaTy76LtIKIhtDeeixuNBKok8mXOsT1bDotA/s1600/snowboarder+on+the+rope+tow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmIeaJKC6fE13dRgvyuWBbPuNAKtbWnlonkgMCT3H2kr7AWBToDro4pNcJI0D3viLNvSEqmsyEc5LawlOnUiYcoazFTuLqSTJ0UEfe2gFaTy76LtIKIhtDeeixuNBKok8mXOsT1bDotA/s400/snowboarder+on+the+rope+tow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686427319900152402" /></a><br /><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This weekend Platty is getting into the Christmas season. Giving. Giving and skiing (or if you must, snowboarding). As the mountain gears up for winter, they are trying to get new skiers in gear—a big part of the mountain’s advances this winter. And as such, for the giving and gearing (up that is, I don’t think there is any free gear being given away…) they are doing free lesson for beginners, and as always those under seven get to ski free. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lesson are at 10 and 1, so come early…. </p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-58336799279908460582011-12-07T07:00:00.000-08:002011-12-07T07:41:07.605-08:00Having a Laugh....<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5FNr-hzkRKsWDQ1rpBW3IoiGI58URsrzM1a4-nTwjX3PVokq9V3sDEqcES494GF4LGxi2FNoNdEtfKdHUm6uVyC7CDOaw5a-OQNCqakbSNAr6MK0kFVpUVbCvp2_o44q0j4yF8s1I3c/s1600/bri%2527s+halloween+snow+pic.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5FNr-hzkRKsWDQ1rpBW3IoiGI58URsrzM1a4-nTwjX3PVokq9V3sDEqcES494GF4LGxi2FNoNdEtfKdHUm6uVyC7CDOaw5a-OQNCqakbSNAr6MK0kFVpUVbCvp2_o44q0j4yF8s1I3c/s400/bri%2527s+halloween+snow+pic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683406787902087458" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s what I’ve been thinking about winter – the snow gods are having some big bad practical joke. It’s December 7<sup>th</sup> and the only snow of any consequence came</p><p class="MsoNormal">for Halloween which now seems more trick than treat. Though Plattekill opened for a day (check out the picture by Bri George) and I went snowshoeing…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But now that winter is kicking in today, tonight, with some 7-10 for the Western Catskills. So, WITC is officially in action. This season we will be talking about how to make your own ice skating pond, ice fishing – and following my quest for cocoa. The search is a bit like Lord Of The Rings but less dangerous and unfortunately come with no <a href="http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/viggo-talks-and-talks/">Viggo Mortensen</a> (though none too shabby <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/01/in-crowd.html">Alan Cumming</a> does ski Platty). My search is also more tasty than LOTR. Last year it took me to <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/01/east-v-west.html">Alta</a> where I had great cocoa and saw a sundog (a feat of nature worthy of Lord of the Rings).</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj1p_cwU0i5W1NyLQJNKK4U2ySm7cm_ZLFeR-qTLAjxj6SJNgUIhaY7akM0GvWl9I43Yi4oGSiwMDClJf6Jqrn70ZDktbI5dZegjc6sURqBG6hjWDHeRbTPO1RzbSG9Vtp4rkwGGmIJk/s400/alta+snowbo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683407252102731154" /><p class="MsoNormal">This year Platty, which is redesigning its menus focusing on local homemade food in the cafeteria and bistro/bar upstairs is also adding a cappuccino machine, has promised me fancy cocoa. Nagging sometimes pays off. Belgian chocolate, here I come.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I recently asked <a href="http://winterinthecatskills.blogspot.com/2011/02/take-it-to-macker.html">Macker</a> what he was doing to get ready for opening day. His answer? "Drinking a lot of beer." And not the craft ale you find in the bar. He's a Bud and Marlborough man through and through. I've also seen his long lists of things to do, pipes to lay and pumps to move, but there will be more on this in my next post as Platty builds the Grand Canyon of the Catskills.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With snow expected tonight I assume everyone will be out this weekend. Except, um, me. I will be celebrating my mom’s b-day. Mom WITC does not live near a ski hill – perhaps why I was a late-adopter. Also this year for WITC I will learn to snowmobile, but that is in part for the pursuit of fiction. There are a number of snowmobiles in the start of the novel I’m working on. Better I learn to snowmobile than how to kill someone which is also at the start of the book. Welcome to WITC 2011-2012.</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK4s_13m__sLua0D3srvt8101E7Pyqtra5o3Mj3DiGVFWwhlXpS8acQDPZpKbXb3KE3NJvTbRmCcJI34waLFxa4L5XwHqDxc42g_OhRNIDOGes_FsiykpkkL9MIsLenlcBBf1oTCMJ70/s400/jen+snowshoeing+for+halloween.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683408444300359570" /><p class="MsoNormal">Me snowshoeing on Halloween Weekend. Note the bright colors. I am not small game...</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512603174082744147.post-70118726219295060242011-04-22T04:19:00.000-07:002011-04-22T04:21:39.305-07:00Laszlo at Jay...For all those Platty fans, Laszlo goes on vacation. To ski at Jay. And blogs. Here's a preview... but you can find the rest on the <a href="http://www.nyskiblog.com/2011/04/jay-peak-vt-42111.html">NY Ski Blog here</a>... <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; ">The kids were up at 6, ready to go. You'd think that with a season of real early mornings and real late nights, a guy in the ski industry could sleep in because someone else is taking care of everything, but not in this family — it's time for first tracks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jhgL-SFTzM/TbD6zypwGwI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/RsWgK1bQuPI/s1600/Family-Skiing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: rgb(68, 85, 102); margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; "><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jhgL-SFTzM/TbD6zypwGwI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/RsWgK1bQuPI/s400/Family-Skiing.jpg" width="400" style="border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-left-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); " /></a></div><br />Midwinter conditions and snow at Jay today. Very windy, all high-speed lifts were closed including the tram. We all stepped out of the condo and yarned back on the bridal as the sub freezing temps hit us like a ton of bricks. We layered up and prepared ourselves for a mid-winter day. We skied down to the base lodge alongside the magic carpet. </span></div>Jennifer Kabathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12221363986484743703noreply@blogger.com0