Hill Names: Dorie's Bowl

Thanksgiving day is a great day to talk about Dorie's Bowl. It is one of my favorite hills, and usually the first hill I ski when not teaching. The top is a wide bowl shape that tapers to a flat chute that spreads out again and leads to the Red Chair. I love to ski it with wide carves through the changing fall lines and into the old half pipe on the skier's right. The hill is named after Dorie Sarns who founded Nub's Nob with her husband Nubby back in 1958. Later when they divorced, Dorie took over Nub's Nob and ran it for many years. When ready to sell, Dorie was very choosy. Many hills in the area were changing hands at the time and changing for the worse or not having to shut down. Dorie wouldn't have that. She carefully screened potential buyers and sold the area to the Fisher family, who have done great things with it and made it what it is today. So on this Thanksgiving day, I am thankful for Dorie, her bowl, and the choices she made!

Signs of the Season: Snowmaking!

Snow, snow, snow! Mother Nature hasn't been very helpful this November, warm temperatures and occasional flurries, but this morning the guns are on at Nubs! Although this probably won't be enough for a Thanksgiving opening, it is a thrilling sight when the webcam loads. Thank you to the crew at Nubs and keep up the good work!

Why We Ski: Nature

Whether we are noticing rabbit tracks in the snow or looking for bird nests in the trees, skiing brings us closer to nature. Even in winter, it is all around us. Sometimes we see the animals, like the porcupine at the top of the trees along the orange lift, and sometimes we just see their tracks. Sunsets, and sunrises for that matter, are amazing from a ski hill, and the first time I ever saw the Northern Lights was while night skiing. Just watching the snow fall can bring you and inner peace, unless it gets you excited for some powder turns!

One of my favorite lessons years ago got a big boost from Mother Nature. It was with a young girl who was probably 4 or 5. We weren't really hitting it off, and I could tell she just wasn't sure about this skiing thing. She had been on the verge of tears the entire lesson and things could have gone either way. We were about half way down the beginner hill standing for a moment to take break. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something moving toward us, and at first I thought it was a leaf. With a second look I realized it was a mouse, and both of us just stared at it. It headed straight for the little girl, went right over the toes of her boots, and continued on across the hill! She looks up at me, and I look back at her. There was a pause where we both had looks of astonishment on our faces, and then we burst out laughing! The rest of the lesson went great and she loved skiing. I will never forget that moment with the mouse, how grateful I was that it came along, and how relieved I was that no one skied over it as it continued on its journey!

Signs of the Season: November 1!

November first is the official start of the snowmaking season! From now on, whenever the weather conditions are right (temperature as well as humidity), the snow guns will be on! The crew at Nub's Nob has been preparing for this day since the last of the snow melted in May. They have spent three weeks alone just mowing all the grass on the hills to provide a smooth surface for that fluffy white stuff. You can keep an eye on any progress on the Nub's Nob Webcam. Pray for snow (or at least cold weather) and maybe we will see each other Thanksgiving!