Today was a cold ski day. Temperatures were below zero, and the wind chill was much colder. Nevertheless, a little cold isn’t going to stop me from getting out and enjoying the greatest sport in the world. When it’s miserably hot in July, I’m going to be yearning for a bitterly cold winter day, so it’s always best to get out and make the most of it: rain, snow, bitter cold or shine.

Due to a combination of me working early this morning, lift operations being impacted by the cold at ski resorts, some ski areas being closed and the fact that I was tired, I ended up skiing at Cochran’s Ski Area today. I say all that because it wasn’t really in my thought process yesterday for a place to ski today, but early this morning I realized it could be a fun choice for some turns, and sure enough, it was! It was my second time visiting Cochran’s this season.

For those not familiar, Cochran’s is located in Richmond, Vermont, which is around 20 to 30 minutes from Burlington. It’s a small ski area with a T-Bar, and a couple of rope tows. One of the rope tows is shockingly fast. I rode it last January and made a video on it, which you can watch here. It’s a much more entertaining video than it sounds like it would be. I was holding on for dear life!

After contemplating not going skiing, because, like I mentioned, I was tired, I decided to head over to Vermont. I don’t normally talk about the ferry I take across Lake Champlain to Vermont in my blog posts, but today I noticed there was a lot more ice on the lake where I cross on the ferry than there was last week. Lake Champlain hasn’t completely iced over since I moved to northern New York more than five years ago. Could this be the year? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Anyways, I got to the mountain in the afternoon and the place was empty. That tends to be the case everywhere when it’s really cold, in my experience. All the runs on the hill were open, and the snow was great, with packed powder everywhere. There were some firm spots here and there, but nothing too notable. They had racing setup on their trail literally named The Race Trail, as well as the run I-89, which is named after the interstate that’s visible from the ski area. Neither of those trails were closed to the public, though, and I skied each a few times.

Last night, I lapped the T-Bar at Beartown Ski Area in New York, and today I lapped the T-Bar at Cochran’s Ski Area in Vermont. That’s two T-Bar days in a row. I love it. Yes, I have a Whiteface season pass, a Jay Peak season pass, an Ikon Base Pass, a Smuggler’s Notch Bash Badge and a couple of Epic days, but that doesn’t mean I won’t find time to visit these small ski hills. They offer a unique old-school experience and are absolute gems. If you’ve never been to either, and you’re curious about them, make this the season!

Never Quit Skiing,

Lincoln

A COLD SKI DAY AT A VERMONT CLASSIC

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SKIING UNDER THE LIGHTS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT IN NEW YORK