Special Events Calendar

4^th Annual Ladies Nordic Ski Expo - Trapp Family Lodge (Stowe)
Saturday, January 7
This women’s only event is a great opportunity for both beginner to intermediate Nordic skiers to improve or learn new techniques. Participants will have the option to be instructed in classic, skating, and backcountry techniques. The day’s events include two on snow sessions, lunch, post lunch presentation by adventure photographers Brian Mohr and Emily Johnson, and an après ski wine and cheese social. Clinic fee is $90.00 for non-CTA members and $65.00 for members. Plan to register early since the event will sell-out soon. To register, call the office at (802) 864-5794 or download the registration form and send it to the CTA.

4rd Annual Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival - Bolton Valley Nordic Center
Sunday, January 22
CTA’s Get Out and Backcountry Festival is a fun and informative day of backcountry skiing for beginner to intermediate backcountry skiers on some of Vermont's best terrain.  Learn from expert instructors who will help you improve your telemark technique or teach you the basics of backcountry skiing with the help of video analysis. Area ski shops will provide the latest backcountry skis and boots for demo, but participants should bring their own equipment as well.  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, complementary apres' ski snacks/beverages and video review.  Lunch may be purchased at the Bolton Valley Deli or cafeteria. Pre-registration by January 19th is required and space is limited to 65 people. This event sold out last year so enter early. Registration starts Monday, December 12, 2011.

Romance Mountain Half Marathon Tour and Race - Rikert Ski Touring Center (Ripton)
Saturday, February 11
Enjoy a Valentine Week, classic technique, half marathon in Moosalamoo National Recreation Area on the Catamount Trail. The course will depart from the Rikert Ski Touring Center and will accommodate both competitive racers and non-competitive tourists. All participants will have the option to ski the 15km or 25km loops. Following the race, all participants will enjoy a post race awards party with plenty of food from local vendors, a large raffle, and age group awards for the competitive racers. This event is a collaborative effort organized by the Moosalamo Association, the Catamount Trail Association, and the Rikert Ski Touring Center. This will surely become one of the premier citizen race/tour events in the East. The event will be limited to the first 300 participants. More information about registration and start times will be coming shortly.

Stowe Tour de Snow - Stowe Rec Path
Sunday, January 15
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 25th Annual Camel's Hump Challenge - Camel’s Hump Skiers’ Association (Huntington)
Sunday, February 5
This year will mark the 25th year of this wilderness backcountry ski event, which 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.

2^nd Annual Nordic & Telemark Clinic - Pico Mountain
Sunday, February 12, 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 and be held on the beginner slope with a chair lift. Intermediate instruction will focus on improving your telemark turns and 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 shoe lace will suffice. Lift tickets are $30, which includes instruction. 
Pre-registration is necessary and limited to 30 participants.
For more information and to register: contact Bob Jordan, 802-869-2784.

Pemi White Mountain Overnight Traverse - (Advanced)
Saturday, March 10 to Sunday, March 11
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 $40 plus share of food. Trip is cosponsored with the Worcester Chapter of AMC.
Pre-registration by February 12 is required and limited to 9 participants.
To register: contact Pete Lane, 774-249-9649.

VYCC Bolton to the Barns Ski Tour (Intermediate to Expert)
Saturday, March 10
The third annual Bolton to the Barns Backcountry Ski Tour is a fantastic Nordic event for experienced backcountry ski enthusiasts. On Saturday, March 10th, skiers will spend a day in the hills of Vermont and help the VYCC create opportunities for young Vermonters wishing to play an active role in conserving the Vermont landscape. Bolton to the Barns promises to be a challenging yet exciting adventure. 
This is not a CTA organized event but CTA members will receive a $5.00 discount on registration. Click here for more information.

Maine Huts & Trails Groomed Skiing - (Intermediate)
Monday, March 19 to Thursday, March 22
We will ski 11 to 13 miles per day along groomed and tracked trails in the beautiful mountains of Western Maine near the Sugarloaf ski resort. Suitable skis are touring center type rather than backcountry. The tour includes 3 nights in full service backcountry lodges with bunk rooms 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 2 ½ mile ski.) Bunk rooms 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 a gear list, click here. For more details on the tour, click here. 
Pre-registration is required by February 16, 2012.
For more information and to register: contact Pete Lane, 774-249-9649.