2013 CTA Special Events
5th Annual Ladies Nordic Ski Expo - Trapp Family Lodge (Stowe)
Saturday, January 12
This full-day Nordic skiing event is for women of all levels of ability taught by some of the country’s top women instructors. The schedule for the event (8:30AM to 5:30PM) includes two on-snow instruction sessions in the morning, lunch at the Trapp Family Lodge, a slide presentation by Maine Huts and Trails Director Nicole Freedman, another ski instruction session or guided tour, and an après-ski wine and light fare social. Instruction includes a choice of backcountry/telemark, classic or skate techniques. A special rate of $199 per night will be offered to participants wishing to stay overnight at Trapps. The cost for the entire day including instruction, lunch, slide presentation, and trail pass is only $65 for CTA members and $90 for non-members. Early registration is encouraged as this event fills to capacity each year. Pre-registration is required and limited to 100 women. Click here to register.
5th Annual Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival - Bolton Valley Nordic Center
Sunday, January 27
This fun and informative clinic is geared for beginner-to-intermediate backcountry skiers. Learn from expert instructors who will help you improve your telemark technique or teach you the basics of backcountry skiing on some of Vermont’s best terrain. A limited supply of backcountry and telemark equipment will be on hand to demo, but participants should bring their own equipment. Lessons and tours will take place throughout the day. Cost is $40 for CTA members and $60 for non-members and includes instruction, trail pass, equipment demo, and complementary après-ski snacks and beverages. Lunch may be purchased at the Bolton Valley Deli or cafeteria. Early registration is encouraged as this event has filled up to capacity the past two years. Pre-registration is required and limited to 65 participants. Click here to register.
3nd Annual Nordic & Telemark Clinic – Pico Mountain
Sunday, February 3, Noon to 4pm
This clinic will be divided into novice and intermediate groups. Novice instruction will focus on improving your skill going downhill safely in the backcountry with an introduction to telemark turns. The clinic will be held on the beginner slope with a chair lift. Intermediate instruction will focus on improving your telemark turns and will be on the mountain. There will be a professional ski instructor for each group. Novice participants should bring skis with three pin or NNBC bindings and sturdy boots. Intermediate skiers should bring telemark gear. Vermont law requires that you have ski leashes connecting your skis to your boots. A short piece of nylon cord or shoelace will suffice. Clinic lift tickets cost $30, are good all day and include instruction. Pre-registration required and limited to 30 participants.
For more information and to register: contact Bob Jordan, bobjord@earthlink.net or 802-869-2784.
5th Annual Trapps to Bolton Backcountry Race and Tour (Trapp Family Lodge - Stowe to Bolton Valley Nordic Center)
Sunday, March 10
Race or tour this beautiful and physically challenging course on one of the most popular and scenic sections of the Catamount Trail. Beginning at Trapp Family Lodge, this 17km segment of the Catamount Trail is comprised of 30% groomed and 70% ungroomed trail surfaces. Participants will climb 2300’ from Trapp Family Touring Center over Bolton Mountain before descending 1300’ to Bolton Valley Nordic Center. The race and tour will be followed by a meal, raffle, and awards for participants at the Bolton Valley Nordic Center. An optional bus service will be available for a small additional cost to bring participants from Bolton Valley Nordic Center to the start of the race at Trapp Family Touring Center. Pre-registration is required. Click here to register.
Pemi White Mountain Overnight Traverse - Advanced
Saturday, March 9 to Sunday, March 10
This 2-day tour of 21 miles goes through the Pemigewasset Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest, with an overnight stay at AMC’s Zealand Falls Hut (#23 in Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast by David Goodman). Skiers must carry overnight gear and a share of the food. Fee is $60 which includes the hut fee and two meals. Trip is cosponsored with the Worcester Chapter of AMC. See the CTA calendar on our website for more information. Pre-registration required by February 7, 2013 and limited to 9 participants.
To Register: Contact Pete Lane, pete.lane@comcast.net or 774-249-9649.
Maine Huts & Trails Groomed Skiing - Intermediate
Monday, March 18 to Thursday, March 21
We will ski 11 to 13 miles per day along groomed and tracked trails in the beautiful mountains of Western Maine. Suitable skis are touring center type rather than backcountry. The tour includes 3 nights in full service backcountry lodges with bunkrooms accommodating 2 to 12, depending on the hut, 9 home-cooked meals, and luggage shuttle between huts. (Personal gear will be in your backpack for the first day’s 2½-mile ski.) Bunkrooms are heated to 60 degrees. Bring sleep sack, sheets, or sleeping bag and pillow case (mattress and pillow provided). Hot showers, but bring your own towel. Wine and beer available for purchase at each hut. The fee is $286/person, based on minimum group size of 12. For more details and a gear list go to the CTA website under this tour description. See the CTA calendar on our website for more information. Pre-registration required by February 7. 2013.
To Register: contact Pete Lane, pete.lane@comcast.net or 774-249-9649.
Other Community Events
Stowe Tour de Snow - Stowe Rec Path
Sunday, January 20
There is something fun for everyone as kids and families are invited to ski or snowshoe down the public recreation path for a day filled with activities. Register at either the Nordic Barn at Topnotch Resort or the Farmer’s Market field at Red Barn Shops, then tour down any length of the 5.3-mile long Rec Path making smores, adventuring through a Nordic terrain park, shooting paintballs, pulling sleds, stretching out with some yoga, and a host of other activities to benefit the Skiing Kids In School program (SKIS). Ambitious backcountry skiers can start with a CTA guided tour from the Trapp Family Lodge to the Rec Path. As a part of the nation-wide Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in January, volunteers from the CTA will be available to issue free-of-cost demo Nordic equipment and provide Nordic ski instruction for beginners. This event is organized by the Friends of the Rec Path. For more information, check out their website.
The 26th Annual Camel's Hump Challenge - Camel’s Hump Skiers’ Association (Huntington)
Sunday, February 10
This rugged backcountry event raises money to support educational programs of the Vermont Alzheimer’s Association. All information and advanced registration is available on their website. This is not a CTA organized event.
