UpCountry Magazine, January/February 2021

Adventures in the Berkshires and Southern Vermont

Explore a Winter Wonderland Big things are happening at Bousquet Otis Ridge Ski Area continues to thrive Planning ahead paramount for those hitting the slopes Olympian Krista Schmidinger returns to her Bousquet roots Woodford SnoBusters keep trails clear for winter fun

Plus: Saint James Place | Sunset Meadows of Massachusetts | UpCo Ski Guide

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 11 36 43

Saint James Place pivots in order to survive

Inaugural year Big things are No sommelier perfect time happening at skills required for Hildene at Sunset Bousquet exhibit Meadow

Ski season silver lining? Smaller classes, more one-on-one time with instructors Planning ahead key for those hitting the slopes in Vermont

4 From the editor 24

Otis Ridge Ski Area continues to thrive Founded in 1946, this family-friendly ski hill still has a lot to offer

27 UpCO 2021 Alpine Ski Guide

32

46 From the archive

Q&A with Krista Schmidinger Berkshire native and two-time Olympian returns to Bousquet roots

15 UpCo Homes

28

Sharing the joy of snowmobiling Woodford SnoBusters keep vast trail network clear for winter fun

5 Contributors

41 UpCountryOnline.com | 3

FROM THE EDITOR

Happy 2021!

We made it! 2020 is finally in our collective rearview mirror, and we’re all ready for a better, brighter new year.

But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before you throw away that mask in celebration, remember, 2020 wasn’t some magical board game Chris Van Allsburg dreamed up in the book “Jumanji.” All of the horrible things that happened during 2020 aren’t going to be erased just because it’s over. We’re still going to have to wear our masks and socially distance for a while longer, as we patiently wait for everyone to receive the vaccine.

And what’s the perfect time of year for us to wait for this all to come to an end? I’d wager that it’s winter. This season’s outdoor activities — skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing — are mostly socially distanced and have specific guidelines designed to keep you safe. And because it’s cold out — most people already are accustomed to wearing scarves or neck gaiters while doing these activities.

We’re going to get through this. It’s just going to take some time and patience.

And then, we can all celebrate, together.

Until then, remember, you are not alone. We’re all in this together.

Jennifer Huberdeau, Editor jhuberdeau@berkshireeagle.com

Publisher Fredric D. Rutberg

frutberg@berkshireeagle.com

Vice President Jordan Brechenser

jbrechenser@berkshireeagle.com

Executive Editor Kevin Moran

kmoran@berkshireeagle.com

Editor Jennifer L. Huberdeau

jhuberdeau@berkshireeagle.com

Proofreaders Margaret Button Lindsey Hollenbaugh Tim Jamiolkowski Art Director Kimberly Kirchner

kkirchner@berkshireeagle.com

Regional Advertising Managers Berkshire County, Mass.: Kate Teutsch kteutsch@berkshireeagle.com

Bennington County, Vt.: Susan Plaisance

splaisance@manchesterjournal.com

Windham County, Vt.: Lylah Wright lwright@reformer.com

UpCountry Magazine is a publication of New England Newspapers Inc.

On the Cover: A horse walks through the snow at Wirtes Farm, Lanesborough, Mass.

Photo by Ben Garver

4 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

CONTRIBUTORS

Margaret Button [“Otis Ridge Ski Area continues to thrive,” page 28] is the associate features editor at the Berkshire Eagle and pens the biweekly food column “Kitchen Comfort.” Prior to joining The Eagle in 2014, she served as the city editor of the North Adams Transcript for 26 years. She resides in North Adams.

Telly Halkias [“‘With malice toward none’,” page 11] is a national award-winning, independent journalist. He lives and writes from his homes in Southern Vermont and coastal Maine.

Cherise Forbes [“Sharing the joy of snowmobiling,” page 32] is an award-winning writer and photographer based out of Peru, Vt. Her articles, creative writing, and photography have been featured in publications throughout the region as well as online.

Follow her work, culinary pursuits, and outdoor adventures on Instagram @Cherise.

Forbes.

Jennifer Huberdeau [“A cultural arts center pivots to survive,” page 7] is editor of UpCountry magazine. She also pens the column “Mysteries from the Morgue” for The Berkshire Eagle.

Chris Mays [“Ski season silver lining,” page 24] lives in West Dover and has been writing for the Brattleboro Reformer for eight years. He spends his free time playing guitar, biking, snowboarding and hanging out with his Yorkie.

Mike Walsh [“Big things are happening at Bousquet,” page 36] is a sports writer with The Berkshire Eagle, where he authors the bi-weekly Powder Report column. He’s a bordering-on-30 snowboarder with a degree from Marist College and a natural curiosity for the finer things in life.

Skiers will have to make advance reservations to hit the majority of Vermont’s downhill slopes this season. Stratton Mountain Resort is requiring advance reservations and is limiting daily lift tickets as part of an effort to keep both guests and staff healthy this winter. Photo by Kris Radder. Story, page 22

A cultural arts center pivots in order to survive Saint James Place opens doors for socially distanced meetings, events

A view of the Sanctuary from the stage. Berkshire Eagle File Photo

By Jennifer Huberdeau GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.

In a normal year, the Sanctuary of Saint James Place is filled with sounds of jazz, chamber music and opera; of dancers on the stage, of actors mid-soliloquy; of hushed audiences erupting with applause.

But, 2020 wasn’t a normal year, and the Sanctuary mostly was silent because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

That hasn’t stopped the cultural center’s staff and board members from finding ways to

continue meeting the community’s needs.

“Since reopening in October, we’ve opened our public event spaces up to the community for socially distanced indoor meeting space,” said Seth Keyes, general manager, during a recent visit to the former church at Main Street and Taconic Avenue.

The cultural center boasts three performance/event spaces that, he said, have ample space to host meetings for groups and organizations that have been meeting outside during the summer or over Zoom.

“Many people are wonder-

ing how they are going to meet during the winter or are suffering from Zoom fatigue and would like to meet in person, in a safe and socially distant manner,” Keyes said.

Saint James Place can offer that much-needed space, he said.

The 3,400-square-foot Sanctuary, which typically seats 258 on its ground level and 30 in the balcony, can, under Massachusetts COVID-19 safety regulations, host 104 individuals. The Great Hall, at 1,140 square feet, can currently accommodate 24, while the East Room, at 700 square

feet, is available for meetings of up to 12 people.

“When COVID-19 hit, the performance spaces dried up,” said Fred Harris, co-founder and board treasurer, noting that the center’s partner organizations have begun to trickle back in to record live broadcasts from the acoustical spaces.

In addition to the performance spaces, Saint James Place is home to The People’s Pantry, a community food pantry, and rents office space to several arts organizations, including the Berkshire Opera Festival, Flying Cloud Institute, Great Barrington Public UpCountryOnline.com | 7

Theater and Gallery315Home.

It also hosts the Great Barrington Arts Market and, in 2019, was the performance venue for Festival Latino of the Berkshires.

“2020 was supposed to be a year of celebration for us,” said Sally Harris, co-founder and board president. “It was the 10th anniversary of our incorporation of Saint James Place.

We spent our first five years fundraising, getting grants and permits, working with architects and theater consultants.

“We were really hoping to have a celebration. We’d had a really great year [in 2019], with a lot of momentum, and had a new organization come in. We were really excited to host Festival Latino’s performances. The Sanctuary stage was such a beautiful setting to show them off.”

Creating a cultural center The Harrises became involved in the efforts to save the former Saint James Church in 2010.

“We weren’t looking to do this,” Fred said. “This was going to be torn down.”

At the time, the couple, who have been married for 26 years, lived in New York and came to the Berkshires on weekends. Sally, who has had a house in the Berkshires since 1974, has been a member of the St. James Episcopal Church congregation for 34 years, (St. James Church is now part of Grace Church, an Episcopal community in the Southern Berkshires.)

This page, from top: Saint James Place in Great Barrington, Mass., is a cultural arts center located in a restored 19th-century Gothic Revival church. Photo provided by Saint James Place Sally and Fred Harris, cofounders of Saint James Place.

Berkshire Eagle File Photo

8 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

The Harrises became fulltime Great Barrington residents in 2012.

“This was our church,” Sally said.

In 2008, the rear facade of the building experienced a partial collapse, which resulted in the church being condemned.

“There were only 75 people in the parish at that time,” Fred said, noting how the structural repairs far exceeded the parish’s finances.

The Harrises could not let the building — it’s a significant example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture and a significant part of the community — be torn down.

In 2010, they formed the nonprofit Saint James Place to purchase the church and parish house.

“The idea of this building being torn down was very distressing to the people in town,” he said.

With support from entities such as Partners for Sacred Places, which led an arts market study, the Harrises secured $500,000 in Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits for repairs to the now-163-year-old building.

In 2013, Saint James Place received $500,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for the restoration work, and an additional $247,000 for the purchase and installation of integrated lighting, sound and video equipment.

While the transformation of the space, from a church to a state-of-the-art performance center took longer than anticipated — challenges arose as restoration work moved along, creating more items to repair and restore — Saint James Place opened to the public in 2017.

The venue’s hard spaces,

Saint James Place 352 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass. saintjamesplace.net 413-528-1996, sjp@saintjamesplace.net

Fred said, lend themselves perfectly for acoustic performances.

And that has led many arts and cultural organizations to use the performance spaces, Sally said. Together, the Harrises ticked off numerous groups, including Berkshires Jazz, Jazz and Classics for Change, Aston Magna Music Festival, Crescendo, Close Encounters with Music, Berkshire Lyric and Olga Dunn Dance, among others, that have held events there.

Saint James Place also has hosted events for the Berkshire Taconic Community Fund and the Schumacher Center for New Economics; graduation ceremonies for the John Dewey Academy, and many private weddings.

“Thank God COVID-19 didn’t happen when we first opened. We were able to prove this space could work as a performing arts center,” Fred said.

“We’ve been able to hold the fort down during COVID-19.

We haven’t had to let anyone go, although, we have had to restrict the hours we work.”

Keyes added: “The hardest part of all this is to lose our momentum, especially as a venue for weddings. It hurts not to have it open, but we’ll be here when everybody is ready. ” For more information on socially distanced meetings and events or micro-wedding celebrations, visit saintjamesplace.net. •

This page, from top: Saint James Place typically hosts the Great Barrington Arts Market in its Great Hall.

A Crescendo performance in the Sanctuary.

Olga Dunn Dance Company members perform onstage in the Sanctuary. Photos provided by Saint James Place

UpCountryOnline.com | 9

‘With malice toward none, with charity for all’ No better time than 2021, an inaugural year, to visit Hildene’s ‘American Ideal’ exhibit

By Telly Halkias MANCHESTER, Vt.

On March 4, 1865, the Civil War continued to rage in its final stages across battlefields in the South, such as the prolonged bloody affair at Petersburg, which was not to be decided for another three weeks.

On that day, President Abraham Lincoln — he was not assured of reelection in the fall of 1864, with the war hanging in the balance — stepped to the podium on the Capitol’s East Portico, to deliver what was the most significant speech of his career — his second inaugural address.

The speech has been hailed by historians as one of the great oratories of all time. Yet, with so much promise for the antebellum period ahead, 41 days later, John Wilkes Booth assassinated the president in the balcony of Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

UpCountryOnline.com | 11

Previous page: Conjure up an image of our 16th president and most likely, the visage of Abraham Lincoln includes his stovepipe hat. Although the president owned more than one iconic hat — which he used to carry his paperwork as a young attorney, only two exist today. One, worn to Ford’s Theatre on the night of his assassination, is part of the Smithsonian Museum of American History’s permanent collection. The second is part of the permanent collection at Hildene in Manchester. A third hat, found in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill., is no longer believed to have been owned by the president. Photos provided

by Hildene

With 2021 also being an inaugural year, perhaps there is no better time for visitors to Vermont, as well as locals, to stop by Hildene and familiarize themselves with how Lincoln’s Second Inaugural speaks to the American Dream.

It also is celebrated in a permanent exhibit available to the public in Manchester, at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home.

Built as a summer home

by Robert Todd Lincoln, the 16th president’s only child to reach adulthood, the mansion and 412-acre estate known as Hildene features award-winning gardens, miles of wooded trails, an observatory, preserved wetlands, and a working farm and agricultural education center — among many other attractions.

With 2021 also an inaugu-

ral year, and in after the global coronavirus pandemic year of 2020, perhaps there is no better time for visitors to Vermont, as well as locals, to stop by Hildene and familiarize themselves with how the Second Inaugural, now more than ever, speaks to the American dream.

This display, “The American Ideal: Abraham Lincoln and the Second Inaugural,” opened in September 2009. While the plan was to have it in place for a defined period, because of its popularity, the exhibit remains on display and relevant as it ever was.

Hildene’s president, Brian Keefe, thinks that perhaps the first stop before going anywhere else on the grounds should be the Second Inaugural, nestled on the mansion’s second floor. Keefe said that

the exhibit speaks to how the past informs our lives.

“Lincoln’s address was an admission that we cannot know the future,” Keefe said recently while standing at the exhibit.

“Indeed, it is nearly impossible to understand the present and the forces that lead to any one moment in time. What we can acknowledge is that no one is blameless, while continually striving for a more perfect union, ‘with malice toward none, with charity for all.’”

Standing there while hearing those words of Lincoln’s echo into the adjacent hallway can be poignant for anyone living through this time of COVID-19, as well as a long and contested presidential election in November.

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural harkens to the then-radical

The busts of Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and Lincoln are the first items seen upon entering the exhibit “The American Ideal: Abraham Lincoln and the Second Inaugural.”

12 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

After reading the president-elect’s Farewell Address — delivered as he boarded the inaugural train in Springfield, Ill. — in the Feb. 12, 1861, edition of the Illinois State Journal, Amos King, a resident of Port Byron, N.Y., sent a copy of the King James Bible to Lincoln.

It is believed the Bible, which King inscribed, was presented on March 4, 1861, the day of Lincoln’s inauguration. The Bible should not be confused with the Bible used

by Lincoln at his inauguration. The Bible gifted by King remained in the Lincoln family. It is presently on display with an inscription written by Amos King and a letter from Lincoln’s secretary, John Nicolay, thanking King for the Bible.

beliefs first enunciated in the Declaration of Independence.

Worldwide, visitors have learned from the exhibit how the Civil War and Lincoln helped bring life and meaning to the promise of the American Ideal of equality, justice and opportunity for all.

“Abraham Lincoln revered the Declaration of Independence as America’s founding document and its promise of equal treatment of all people as a fundamental proposition that could be achieved over time — that must be achieved over time,” Keefe said.

This ideal, Keefe continued, seems to channel some of the president’s word’s from Gettysburg, Pa., where Lincoln had said that the Civil War would test “whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and

so dedicated, can long endure.”

Busts of Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and Lincoln are the first items seen upon entering the room. Lincoln always looked to Jefferson for his political inspiration, Keefe noted.

All of the Second Inaugural’s words are broken into clauses to form a border around the room. The artifacts underneath them help illuminate the meaning of the clauses and include one of only two of Lincoln’s iconic stovepipe hats in existence, one of his Bibles, a life mask and a scrapbook that belonged to a supporting actress who appeared in “Our American Cousin,” the play the president was watching on the evening of his assassination. The scrapbook contains

a swatch of wallpaper from his Ford’s Theatre box. Also in the exhibit is a playbill from this final performance.

It’s a solemn place, one that Keefe concluded is worth visiting to appreciate Lincoln’s deeply rooted faith, humanity and rejection of triumphalism, all in the name of national unity.

“The civic responsibility that Lincoln felt, and his fidelity to the Declaration of Independence and to the U.S. Constitution, are relevant today and worth rediscovering in our own lives and as a society,” Keefe said. “Here was a man acknowledging human failures, hoping for a better future, yet admitting humanity’s limitations.” •

IF YOU GO …

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vt. 800·578·1788, hildene.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday Admission: $23, adults; $6 for ages 6 to 16; free for members and children 5 and younger.

UpCountryOnline.com | 13

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UpCountryOnline.com | 15

Dressed to impress Home staging for a successful sale

By Kimberly Kirchner

Getting a home ready for sale is a lot like getting ready for a job interview. You reach into the back of the closet for your nicest shirt and most sensible pair of slacks, washing and pressing until there’s not a wrinkle to be seen. The outfit may not express your individuality the way your favorite concert T-shirt or neon-sequined cocktail dress would, but that’s not the point. Interviewers aren’t usually interested in your personal style — they’re interested in whether or not you have what the employer needs.

When a potential buyer views your home, they’re considering how it will accommodate their lifestyle. The purpose of staging a house is to make it as easy as possible for buyers to visualize themselves living in it. Sometimes, that means clearing the kitchen counters and putting away toys; sometimes it means rearranging or removing furniture to better complement the space. An experienced real estate agent will be able to make an unbiased assessment of the home and identify where changes can be made to best showcase its potential.

sideboards, playrooms. Aside from looking unpleasant, all that clutter can actually make rooms feel smaller than they really are. “Stuff it under the bed. Do whatever you have to do to get rid of the extra things in the room,” Lewis says.

Of course, staying clutter-free long enough to sell a home can be easier said than done, especially when children or pets are involved. Insisting on overnight notice from your agent before a showing can buy

you time, but the easiest way to prevent a last-minute cleaning scramble is to tidy up often and carefully consider what things need to be accessible for dayto-day living, and what can be packed up and stored away until the home is sold.

“It’s a difficult thing to live with a lifestyle that can be picked up in a half-hour,” Lewis says. “If you box up what’s not being used and make it as clutter-free as you can, it’s much easier to put what’s left

1. Keep it tidy

“The first thing is to declutter,” says Christine Lewis, a broker at Brattleboro Area Realty who has been selling homes in Vermont and New Hampshire for over 30 years.

“The kitchen is one of the most offending parts of the house because we have all of our cooking stuff out. We clear all of those surfaces and make them look big and sparkly, and inviting.”

The same goes for any spot where things tend to accumulate: coffee tables, desks,

Clearing away kitchen clutter emphasizes available counter space. Photo by Chastity Cortijo

16 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

back in quick order. Getting some storage in your garage or a little pod is really helpful.”

2. Don’t get too personal Part of showing a home is allowing strangers to poke around your living space, so it’s common sense to keep private items, like medication and sensitive paperwork, tucked safely out of sight. But other personal touches, like family photos, can be a matter of individual discretion. The prevailing wisdom in the real estate world is that these keepsakes should be put away during showings because they can interfere with potential buyers’ ability to picture themselves in the home.

Lewis, however, doesn’t see this as a hard-and-fast rule, especially in the small-town communities of rural New England. “A lot of people ask if they should take down their personal pictures. And I don’t recommend that,” she says. “I think it does give some warmth. I think in a city, where it’s a less personal business, maybe it’s different. But locally, I encourage people to keep the things that make them feel like it’s home.”

She does make an exception when it comes to potentially inflammatory items, like explicit artwork or political materials. “I actually had a woman who didn’t buy a house because it had a large political poster of the opposing party,” Lewis says. Anything that can trigger a strong negative reaction risks poisoning the buyer’s overall opinion of the home. If you wouldn’t bring it up at a dinner party, it should probably come down before you start showing.

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3. Optimize your space A we l l - s t a g e d h o m e demonstrates the best possible use of the floor plan. Furniture should be placed in a way that maximizes space. That may call for rearranging the existing layout to be more efficient or removing overly bulky furniture to open up more floor area.

Lewis suggests giving spare rooms a real purpose — beyond serving as a dumping ground for spare junk. “If it’s a storage room, it’s really hard for people that need that fourth bedroom to see it as a fourth bedroom,” Lewis says. With the rise of remote working due to the COVID-19 pandemic, home offices are more desirable than ever. Bringing in a desk and some bookshelves can convert an underused room into a selling point.

When selling a house that’s already been vacated, setting up space with rented furniture can help potential buyers see how the home would function. This is especially true for small or oddly-shaped rooms that might require some creative thinking to furnish. “If you have a traditional type of home where people understand that visual, it’s not as necessary as if you’ve got a house with smaller rooms where people can’t figure out if a bed will fit,” Lewis says. “‘Can I put a bed in here? Can I put a couch in the living room?’ Those are the homes that I think benefit the most. It helps us spatially visualize if there’s furniture in the room. And it doesn’t have to be a lot. It just has to be well-placed.”

4. Mind the details

The reality is that a lived-in home is always going to look lived-in. Short of draping the whole place in plastic sheeting, there’s no practical way of keeping every surface perfectly, gleamingly clean. What you can do is keep an eye out for some of the less attractive realities of daily life — little details Sponsored Content

tios. Keep in mind what serves as the primary entrance to the home, as it’s often not the front door. The path buyers walk when entering the home for the first time is just as important as the view from the street, so make sure walkways are clear and mudrooms or entryways are clean and organized.

Do frequent checks around the exterior of the house for damage to the trim and siding, and keep the windows clean.

“The key is that it wants to look well-cared-for from the outside, so that they will come in with that expectation on the inside,” Lewis says.

And finally, Lewis suggests, “Pull up all the shades, open the blinds and turn on the lights!”

5. Do the best you can

Staging an unused spare room as something with more purpose, like a guest bed or home office, can demonstrate the potential of the space. Photo by Kari Shea/UnSplash

that, while totally normal, may detract from the domestic fantasy you’re hoping to inspire.

“The big offenders are having your toilet seat up, and having trash cans — especially bathroom trash cans — with open lids,” Lewis says. “Those personal things are really important because they’re noticeable.”

Dirty dishes in the dishwasher or a hamper full of unwashed laundry can subconsciously affect a buyer’s feelings about the home. The same goes for any messes made by animal companions. “A lot of times, the pet corner is not quite as tidy. We recommend that they take an extra look at that pet corner and make sure that that looks as tidy as it can,” Lewis says.

Litter boxes should be moved out of sight, if possible, or at least freshly scooped, and the area around them swept

clear of any stray kitty litter.

Mop up any spills or splashes around water bowls and remove uneaten food. While it may seem like a Sisyphean task, at least make an effort to clean up loose pet hairs; if you haven’t already, now is the time to invest in a multipack of adhesive lint rollers.

Tanks and cages should be spot cleaned immediately before leaving the house, if they can’t be removed altogether. If the tank’s resident has to stay behind during the showing, consider covering the enclosure with a blanket, to limit stress on both the animal and — in the case of less cuddly critters, like spiders and snakes — your potential buyers.

Stay on top of lawn maintenance in the warmer months and snow removal during the winter, especially in outdoor living spaces, like decks and pa-

Selling a home is stressful, physically, financially and emotionally. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the do’s and don’ts thrown your way by home design magazines and television real estate gurus. The best way to fight off that anxiety is to take a good, long look at what you can — and cannot — change within the reality of your daily life.

“Most people don’t have the energy or the time to take everything out of the room, paint it and redo it,” Lewis says.

“We try to remember that most of the houses that we sell, people do live in them on a daily basis, and we have to respect as much as we can what their lifestyle is.”

Prepping your home for viewing is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Know what is possible and practical given your individual circumstances, and look to your agent for help on focusing your efforts where they’re needed most.

“Staging is really productive if you can do it,” Lewis says. “Not everybody can do it, but they can do bits of that.

And every bit that they can do helps their house be that much higher on the list than somebody else.” • UpCountryOnline.com | 17

Marlboro, Vt.

More information:

Robinson Winchester Farm located on the Lower Dover Road in the Southern Green Mountains $1,699,000 • • • • • •

Exposed antique beams throughout Beehive oven and fireplace is the main focal point Open concept kitchen/living/dinning Sweeping mahogany staircase 3 en-suite bedrooms 58x12 four seasons porch with custom pot belly stove overlooking a large meadow

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Stone tool shed 2-bedroom modern bunk house 2 pole barns Cement block barn Indoor riding arena Equipment shed Pole shed and a 2-bay heated shop 16 miles of woods roads and trails for year-round enjoyment

18 2 | |UPCOUNTRY UPCOUNTRYMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| |Fall January/February 2020 2021

Richard Caplan Owner/Broker Phone: 802-464-3055

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• Custom wood work and trim throughout • “The Party Barn” which includes a massive stone fireplace, full second floor and an outlook with the most intense 360-degree views • Attached to the barn is an oversized 2 car garage with finished space to do as you wish

Richard Caplan Owner/Broker Phone: 802-464-3055

UpCountryOnline.com UpCountryOnline.com| |19 3

887 Melendy Hill Road, Guilford, Vt. 7 bed • 5.5 bath • 5,250 sq. ft. • $959,000

Privately tucked off a dead end road within 5 miles of vibrant Brattleboro sits this spectacular contemporary home on 10 beautifully landscaped acres with swimming pond, views, stone patio, walkways, pergola, studio/workshop and 2 small barns. The spot offers privacy

with a real sense of tranquility and peace. The residence is spacious and light filled and provides over 5,200 sq. ft. of wonderful living space with large principal rooms. Featuring hardwood & tile flooring, fireplace, screened porch, hot tub and a full guest suite with

20 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

living room, kitchen, bedroom, bath and loft. Offering stunning European styled kitchen with Poggenpohl cabinetry, formal dining room with sitting area, additional 2 suites and bedrooms, a large living room, office and a mud room with direct entry into the garage. So-

lar and Geothermal features and a greenhouse/sunroom add to this house with exquisite views out almost every window!! Bring family and friends.

A superb home and location!! $959,000 • MLS #4833371

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349 Valley View Road, Dover, Vt. 4 bed • 3.5 bath • 3,976 sq. ft. • $793,500

Stunning custom Timberframe home overlooking the Mount Snow ski resort, ridgeline, and westerly sunset views. This gorgeous home sits on 4 private acres but with great conveniences like access off a quiet paved town road, thousands of acres of nearby

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state forest with trails for hiking and snowmobiling, plus high speed internet great for working from the sanctuary of this home. Inside you are treated to a spacious great room with soaring ceilings, exposed natural woodwork throughout, a floor to ceiling stone fireplace,

wood floors and an open concept floor plan. Great kitchen with stainless appliances, custom cabinets, granite counters and a large breakfast bar. On the main floor is a large principal suite with private office/den.

On other levels are two additional bedrooms, a guest suite

plus a family room. Additional features include a massive deck to enjoy the views, attached 2 car garage, lower garage for toys and snowmobiles, stone walls and gardens. A truly special spot with all the charm befitting a metropolitan getaway. $793,500 • MLS # 4823687

UpCountryOnline.com | 21

120 Hinesburg Road, Brattleboro, Vt. 3 bedrooms • 3.5 baths • 3,921 sq. ft. • 16.7 acres • $525,000

Amazing location! On a paved road sitting high on a hill, this 17-acre property abuts a large, fenced orchard with no view of neighboring homes.

Minutes to town and Interstate 91, yet close enough for food delivery to your doorstep. The landscaped lot is perfect for celebrating birthdays, weddings, family reunions, or large gardens or pasture. Plenty of room on the land for hiking, 4-wheeling, or potential future development. Home is built strong with 2x6 exterior walls and is extremely well insulated. Windows are extra-tall and triple paned for maximum efficiency. The full-length deck is great for taking in views of surrounding hillsides and various wildlife. Breathtaking views during foliage season. The kitchen with a full island is open to the family room for good conversation while cooking. Three bedrooms with three and a half bathrooms, a master and bath the whole width of the home plus a room on the second floor for exercise, crafts, gaming, etc. The living room overlooking the deck and the garden view is huge and can fit the whole family. The first-floor office with high-speed Wi-Fi is perfect for working from home. Walk-out basement includes a full-size bathroom, kitchen area and large family room for the Man Cave or mother-in-law apartment. The 2.5 car garage has radiant heat tubing in the floor, engineered expansion beams overhead for wide-open space with plenty of storage above. A must see for even more fab features!

MLS #4825323 6 | UPCOUNTRY 22 | UPCOUNTRYMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| Fall | January/February 2020 2021

More information:

Christine Lewis, CRS, CBR, GRI

Brattleboro Area Realty Cell: 802-380-2088 * Office: 802-257-1335 Chris@BrattleboroAreaRealty.com

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24 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

Ski season silver lining?

Smaller classes, more oneon-one time with instructors Planning ahead key for those hitting the slopes in Vermont

By Chris Mays

Hitting the slopes requires patience and planning this season.

Vermont ski areas, including Stratton Mountain Resort in Stratton; Mount Snow Resort in West Dover; and Bromley Mountain Resort in Peru will all have limited inventory when it comes to daily lift tickets and rentals, and are requiring advance reservations for tickets, stays, lessons and dining.

While adhering to COVID-19 protocols means ski and snowboard lessons will have fewer people in each group, it also means more one-on-one time with the instructor.

“The main goal is to have smaller group sizes, less contact,” said Andrew Kimiecik, Stratton’s marketing communications specialist.

With that in mind, Kimiecik advises people to sign up for lessons ahead of time because smaller group sizes will limit the number of lessons.

Private lessons at Stratton will be kept to four students, while group lessons will be limited to six.

Smaller class sizes aren’t new for Stratton, which already offered Max 4 lessons, where the number of participants is kept to four.

“We had it, last season, in our program as a more personalized experience; more instructor time,” Kimiecik said.

“Having a model already proven, it was easier to implement it into following

guidelines for this year’s lessons.”

The hope is to see more interest in the Teens Instructional Program or TIPS, which is designed as an eightday training course for young people interested in becoming part of the Junior Mountain Sports School ski and snowboard staff.

The program, he says, is seen as a rite of passage. He anticipates local teens or those who are taking classes remotely

Pat Kinney, a snowmaker at Stratton Mountain Resort, in Stratton, Vt., checks the consistency of the snow from the snow machines on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, as they prepare to open for the 2020-2021 season. Photo by Kris Radder

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Crews prepare the terrain at Stratton Mountain Ski Resort in Stratton, Vt. Brattleboro Reformer File Photo

and living in the area will be interested.

“It ’s something to do,” Kimiecik said. “It’s a good way to get outside and be part of the community; more than an average weekend skier.”

An increased interest in skiing and lessons are expected this season, he said, after mountain bike, camping gear and skateboard sales soared during most of the pandemic.

“I think there’s definitely an appetite more than ever to get outside,” he said, “especially in an area like ours that’s heavily outdoors influenced.”

Stratton’s Nordic Center is now open seven days a week, instead of just weekends and holidays. The center offers more than 12 kilometers of trails and rentals for fat bikes, cross-country skis and snowshoes.

Kimiecik says the activities available at the Nordic Center

are a way to get outside and stay away from crowds.

Newly available this year is a season pass for the center. Although, anyone with a season pass to the resort gets access to the center.

Stratton has implemented several safety measures this season, to help ensure both guests and staff stay healthy this winter.

Lift tickets, rentals, lessons and lodging are available by advance purchase only, with limited inventory. Lodges will have limited seating, which is available by advance reservation. The resort has apps for guests to make dining reservations, equipment rental pickup and check-ins.

Mount Snow has also implemented a reservation system for tickets, that, according to its website, “prioritizes pass holders.” Ticket sales will be limited and all transactions at the resort are cashless.

26 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

According to its website, the Ski & Ride School is still offering group and private lessons, with a maximum class size of six. All lessons will meet outdoors. Lessons for 5- and 6-year-olds have a maximum class size of four, while lessons for 3- and 4-year-olds are being offered one-on-one.

Childcare is not being offered this season.

At Bromley, pass holders are not required to make reservations, but are required to scan their pass at the entrance of each chairlift and provide staff with contact tracing information, as required by the state.

“You will be scanned every time you ride a lift or enter the lodge whether it’s your first day or your 100th,” Bromley’s website states.

Bromley also has redesigned its snowsports lessons for this season. Private and

group lessons are available, although group lessons are limited to six people per class and all members of the group must be from the same household or travel group.

The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain is hiring new employees as the now member-owned private ski resort is reopening after being closed since the end of the 2017/2018 season due to financial issues. First-time ski instructors were encouraged to apply as the club has Professional Ski Instructors of America members on staff to train them.

Bill Benneyan, general manager at the club, says the resort has “a lot of wide-open space, nice customers and a nice, long season ahead of us.”

“If anyone ever thought it would be fun to be a ski instructor,” he says, “this is the place to do it.” •

2021 UpCountry Alpine Ski Guide In Southern Vermont Bromley Mountain 3984 Vermont Route 11, Peru, Vt. 802-824-5522 bromley.com

Okemo Mountain Resort 77 Okemo Ridge Road, Ludlow, Vt. 802-228-1600 okemo.com

Killington Resort

Pico Mountain Ski Resort

3861 Killington Road, Killington, Vt. 800-734-9435 killington.com

Magic Mountain 495 Magic Mountain Access, Londonderry, Vt. 802-824-5645 magicmtn.com

Mount Snow 39 Mount Snow Road, West Dover, Vt. 800-245-SNOW mountsnow.com

73 Alpine Drive, Mendon, Vt. 866-667-7426 picomountain.com

Stratton Mountain Resort 5 Village Lodge Road, Stratton Mountain, Vt. 800-787-2886 stratton.com

In Western Massachusetts Berkshire East Mountain Resort

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort

66 Thunder Mountain Road, Charlemont, Mass.

413-339-6618 berkshireeast.com

37 Corey Road, Hancock, Mass.

413-738-5500 jiminypeak.com

Bousquet Ski Area 101 Dan Fox Drive, Pittsfield, Mass.

413-442-8985 bousquetmountain.com

Catamount Mountain Resort Route 23, South Egremont, Mass.

413-528-1262 catamountski.com

Otis Ridge 159 Monterey Road, Otis, Mass.

413-269-4444 otisridge.com

Ski Butternut 380 State Road, Great Barrington, Mass.

413-528-2000 skibutternut.com

Skiers enjoy opening day at Bromley Mountain.

Photo by Caroline Bonnivier Snyder

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Otis Ridge Ski Area continues to thrive Founded in 1946, this family-friendly ski hill still has a lot to offer

By Margaret Button OTIS, Mass.

At one time, the Berkshires was the home to more than 35 small ski areas that catered to families. But as larger resorts opened, the smaller ski areas, unable to compete with them, were forced to close.

While many of those small ski hills are distant memories, one that has managed to survive — and even thrive — is Otis Ridge Ski Area.

Eric Van Oostveen, general manager at Otis Ridge, said the family-friendly area offers a beginner-style mountain, a "great" snow sports education department, and a mountain developed and set up for learning to ski.

Otis Ridge, according to its website, was founded by Berkshire Country residents David Judson and Bartow Holbrooke after returning to the area following their service in the 10th Mountain Division, in Italy, during World War II. They started construction of

the ski area in November 1946.

Their goal was to provide skiing without crowded lifts or trails.

During the first season, in 1946, two portable rope tows in tandem ran up the hill where the T-Bar now is located. The Ridge Run was the first and only trail during that first ski season.

Van Oostveen said the area now has 11 trails of varying difficulty.

"Sixty percent is a general beginner mountain, but there are some expert trails," he said in a phone interview. He added that the area features a double chairlift, T-bar and two handle tows.

There are plenty of family-friendly events offered throughout the season at the ski area, Van Oostveen said, including a cardboard box race, in which race participants race down the mountain in decorated cardboard boxes.

"Some people spend weeks on them," he said.

Another event is Retro Day, when people dress up like the

Previous page: Skiers ride the chairlift at Otis Ridge.

Berkshire Eagle File Photo

Skiers ride the Poma Lift at Otis Ridge in March 1958.

Berkshire Eagle File Photo

History of Otis Ridge (Courtesy otisridge.com) 1946: First year of operation; two portable rope tows in tandem ran up the hill where the T-Bar now is located. The Ridge Run was the first and only trail.

1947: The Meadow Tow and Meadow Slope were added off Judd Road, with a small warming hut provided.

1948: A larger tow, the Ridge Tow, replaced the two portable tows. The Robber Oak and Upper and Lower Swing trails were cut connecting the Meadow Area to the Lower Area.

1949: The Flying Dutchman was cut.

1950: Slalom Hill, the largest and steepest trail, was cut to the left of the Ridge Tow. 1954: Snow-making introduced; ice farmed off local lakes, crushed and blown over lift lines and trails.

1956: Poma Lift was introduced.

1957: Acorn Trail cut.

1959: A J-Bar (a homemade lift constructed in North Adams) was added. A rope tow was built next to the Poma Lift, providing a beginner's lift. The trail next to this new rope tow was called the Ski School Slope (now the western portion of the Bunny Hill.)

1960: Larchmont snow-making equipment installed on the Robber Oak and Flying Dutchman.

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1962: A T-bar replaced the original Ridge Tow. The Ski School Bowl was cut between the Robber Oak and Acorn trails. The new Base Lodge, and Rental and Ski Patrol buildings, were constructed.

1966: The Farm Slope was cut on the Camp Side of Otis Ridge.

1967: The Farm Tow was installed next to the Farm Slope. The Bunny Tow replaced the original Ski School Tow. 1968: The Grouse House was constructed to house growing numbers of ski weekers. Huge snow-making compressors were installed in the basement, adding snow-making to all trails except the meadow.

1972: The Pony Tow and Pony Slope were constructed to accommodate growing numbers of ski school classes.

1975: The Know Trail was cut, providing a crucial transition in terrain for improving intermediate skiers. The first full-service touring trails were cut, with touring rentals added to the shop, and nordic instructors added at the ski school.

1977: The touring trails were expanded and the first touring trail grooming equipment was added. The Knox Trail was widened to accommodate racing.

The Ski School Bowl, Glade and Robber Oak were widened into one expansive intermediate area.

The Bunny Hill and Pony slopes were reshaped. The Meadow and Camp slopes were widened, tripling in size and becoming one expansive novice area.

Skiers make their way down the Otis Ridge ski hill in March 1958. Berkshire Eagle File Photo

30 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

1970s and '80s in old snowsuits and skis, and another day when people wear costumes.

Fun Day, a day filled with fun for kids, is held at the end of the season each year.

The ski area offers a special midweek rate for homeschooled students, learn-to-ski programs for school groups and weekend morning, afternoon and half-day lessons with an instructor full time, in addition to private and group lessons for adults.

“In these days of COVID-19,” Van Oostveen said, "we're trying to make the season as normal as we can.

We have a new cleaning process, and there will be plenty of outside seating and outdoor bathrooms." He added that the number of people entering the rentals building will be limited, but "it's set up to move people in and out quickly." Employees will undergo temperature checks and fill out health forms daily.

Skiers, he said, will have to wear face masks inside all ski area buildings. On the chairlift, skiers will only be allowed to ride with someone they came to the area with and must adhere to 6-foot social distancing

IF YOU GO

Otis Ridge Ski Area 159 Monterey Road, Otis, Mass.

Rates and hours: otisridge.com More information: 413-269-4444, info@otisridge.com, otisridge.com or facebook.com/ Otis-Ridge-SkiArea-186221318041

rules in the lift lines. Contact tracing for all on the property also is planned.

Grouse House, a country inn at the base area of Otis Ridge that offers slope-side dining and drinks, is serving patrons its full menu with in-house dining, but by reservations only. It is limited to 50-percent occupancy. Takeout orders also are available.

Grab-and-go food will be available inside and outside.

"People can go to the window, order burgers and go," he said. •

Grouse House, a country inn at the base area of Otis Ridge that offers slope-side dining and drinks, is serving patrons its full menu with in-house dining, but by reservations only. It is limited to 50 percent occupancy. Berkshire Eagle File Photo

Sharing the joy of snowmobiling Woodford SnoBusters keep vast network of trails clear for winter fun

By Cherise Forbes WOODFORD, Vt.

In 1984, the Woodford SnoBusters got their start from the front porch of the McKenna homestead, thanks to a group of snowmobilers determined to share the sport they love. Since then, the group has grown to oversee a robust network of trails spanning more than 100 miles through Green Mountain National Forest — as well as an equally rich community of riders from near and far.

Woodford rests in a snow pocket at the southwestern corner of Vermont, at an elevation of approximately 2,300 feet. The rugged landscape surrounding the town offers beautiful views and no shortage of wildlife sightings, which, alongside Woodford’s proximity to nearby states, attracts a bustling community of snowmobilers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

When the SnoBusters got their start more than 30 years ago, the sport’s culture was solidifying. Grooming equipment was less advanced, sometimes consisting of a weighted-down pallet hitched to a snowmobile. There hardly were any laws regulating the sport or ensuring safety on the trails, and no centralized group co-

Snowmobiling is a popular winter sport. Photo provided

by Woodford SnoBusters

32 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

ordinating grooming and trail maintenance.

The group’s founding members knew they had a prime location to share good times, though, and that straightforward mission has inspired their stewardship ever since.

Through partnerships with the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) and the U.S. Forest Service, those founding

SnoBusters established a network of trails that eventually would encompass more than 100 miles of trails.

“They built up the trails slowly, but surely, and, as more members came in, they were able to build up a treasury to buy the equipment needed to maintain them,” said SnoBusters Secretary Stacey Bleile, a longtime snowmobiling en-

thusiast and volunteer who met her husband through the sport. Today, she says, the group boasts four grooming machines, a physical facility for classes and equipment maintenance, ATVs and other equipment for trail-clearing work, and more.

“Service is a big part of what we do,” Bleile said. “Not just to keep the experience fun

for the riders, but also to keep everyone safe on the trails.”

In a typical year, the club coordinates six to eight weekends of trail clearing from September to October, known affectionately as “work parties,” in which volunteers traverse the trails in their entirety. Projects can range from clearing a fallen tree to addressing a bridge or culvert in need of repair.

But, the real work begins in the winter, when Woodford SnoBusters’ volunteers take to the trails four nights a week — typically around the weekend — for grooming and trail maintenance.

“We have just over 100 miles we’re responsible for, and a grooming run will typically be about eight hours or more,” Bleile explained, admitting that the task is a big ask for volunteers like herself. “In the old days when we had less equipment, runs could be 12 to 14 hours.”

To further ensure safety on their trails, the SnoBusters work with the Southern Vermont Snowmobile Task Force, made up of state and local police, and sheriff 's department employees who patrol the trails. At busy intersections or areas of concern, they will gather to check the registration and other documentation of passing snowmobilers. Each winter, the group will host task

This page, from top: Snowmobiling is an encouraged activity this winter, although state COVID-19 guidelines strongly suggest group rides should be limited to immediate household members.

Through partnerships with the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) and the U.S. Forest Service, those founding SnoBusters established a network of trails that eventually would encompass more than 100 miles of trails. Photos provided by Woodford SnoBusters

UpCountryOnline.com | 33

Snowmobile Clubs: Where to find trails and fellow enthusiasts near you In Southern Vermont

In the Berkshires

Green Mountain Trail Blazers: gmtb.org

Adams Sno-Drifters: adamssnodrifters.webstarts.com

Shaftsbury Sno-Pilots: shaftsburysnowpilots.org

Berkshire Snow Seekers: berkshiresnowseekers.com

Woodford SnoBusters: snobusters.org

Florida Mountaineers: facebook.com/FloridaMountaineers

Deerfield Valley Stump Jumpers: dvsj.com

Knox Trail Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club: knoxtrail.com

Derry Sled Dogs: facebook.com/derrysleddogs

Sandisfield Snowmobile Club: sandisfieldsc.webs.com

West River Sno-Goers: facebook.com/westriversnogoers

Savoy Kanary Kats: savoykanarykats.org

Wardsboro Pathfinders: wardsboropathfinders.com

Worthington Snowmobile Club: facebook.com/smithwicks18

Jacksonville EZ Riders: ezridersvt.com

In a typical year, the club coordinates six to eight weekends of trail clearing from September to October. Projects can range from clearing a fallen tree to addressing a bridge or culvert in need of repair. Photo provided by Woodford SnoBusters

force members at their facility, to help them conduct checks, complete with soup, cookies, and hot chocolate.

“You can come and socialize and hang out, but it helps the task force complete their sled checks as well,” Bleile said. “During a busy holiday weekend or something, you’re less likely to get checked again.

It’s a time saver for them and a courtesy for you.”

Additionally, the SnoBusters offer four six-hour educational courses required for new

riders, thanks to volunteer teachers like Bleile.

“Everything we do is volunteer-driven,” she adds.

Though those endeavors don’t leave as much time for group rides or other social events, the Woodford SnoBusters have become known for their two annual charitable events.

The group’s “Very Special People Ride” connects individuals with special needs and their caregivers with riders for the day, allowing them to “enjoy this sport we all love,”

34 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

according to Bleile. Complete with a party-like atmosphere, the event is one that volunteers and participants look forward to year-round, evidenced by gleeful run-ins at grocery stores and elsewhere.

Each February, their outdoor hot dog roast in Somerset raises money for various Bennington-area charities and serves meals to about 300 riders.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has made both events, as well as other potlucks or social rides, unlikely

to happen in 2021. Still, the group's members are hopeful that the community culture and connections they have established over decades will continue through shared enjoyment of the trails, and a shared mission to keep them safe.

“This year, when we can’t do much else, we’re grateful to still be able to snowmobile,” Bleile said. “We all have the same goal each year: let’s get out there and enjoy this great sport that we love. Let's help others do that.” •

Visit us on the web:

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Timothy Schmidt gets big air off of a large jump at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield. Berkshire Eagle File Photo

Big things are happening at Bousquet Mill Town Capital invests in historic Pittsfield ski area 36 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

UpCountryOnline.com | 37

Previous page: Upgrades at Bousquet range from a new triple chairlift to new trail maps, which feature dedicated uphill paths for skinning.

Above: General manager Kevin McMillan was brought in by ownership in August to run Bousquet. All photos by Mike Walsh

By Mike Walsh PITTSFIELD, Mass.

It’s a small sign, just two words in black on a white backdrop.

Yet, the three of us linger beneath it in silence for a long moment.

“Food + Bar” Simple. But, Kevin McMillan and Carrie Holland appear nearly gobsmacked. They love it. Holland, the managing director of Mill Town Capital, jokes that the style must remind McMillan of home.

And she’s right: The sign easily could read Fish + Chips on a London pub.

McMillan is the new general manager at Bousquet Mountain.

He was born across the pond but has been stateside since college and spent the past 29 years managing Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont. He came aboard

in August, after Mill Town purchased the small ski area in Pittsfield and vowed to invest in improvements everywhere, from lifts to lodges to snow-making, lighting, and even a new website and merchandise.

From where we stand on the back deck outside of what previously was the ski watch kiosk window, one could turn around and see upward of 100 workers performing duties from lift construction to landscaping.

The two note that it’s nearly impossible to know exactly who is doing what on any given day.

Countless moving parts are working in unison as Bousquet barrels toward a hopeful opening day before Christmas. McMillan admits the goal is Dec. 18; manpower and Mother Nature will make the ultimate decision.

38 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, temperatures are dropping and powder junkies from Williamstown to Sheffield are starting to think about digging their skis and boards out of attics and basements in advance of the coming season.

The race is on, and if there’s one thing the groundwater blood of Bousquet knows, it’s racing.

In fact, former Olympic ski racer Krista Schmidinger, who first honed her turns on the snow off Dan Fox Drive, also is a part of the new Bousquet team. Familiar faces Cindy Bartlett, Marc Latimer and race program director Mike Vecchia are holding down the fort as well.

Still, in the midst of such a mammoth undertaking, it remains important for McMillan and his team to take a moment and appreciate the little things.

Like an updated sign above a window from which post-run beers and burgers soon will be handed out to thirsty shredders from near and far.

“It’s unbelievable,” Holland said earlier, admiring a new trail map sign near the main entrance to the mountain.

“Every time I come by here, there’s something else new or something that has changed.”

The list of updates is as long as a run from the summit around Easy Rider and down through the corner stretch of Drifter back to the base, but it’s noticeable even via a quick detour off Route 7.

The main building, which long has been Bousquet’s Tamarack Lounge and main lodge, received a facelift in the form of matte black paint throughout the exterior. The second-floor porch was removed from the back of the building, and new

window units are obvious against the aging wood siding. An entire new lodge is in the five-year plan, but for the coronavirus pandemic-altered 2020-21 ski season, they are making due.

They’ve even been drilling and blasting rock near the summit to alter the fall line to aid in snow-making and retention.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lodge won’t be operational for skiers and snowboarders to kick back in between runs. Instead, almost all transactions will take place through those new windows, including food and beverage service, rental equipment and ticketing. There will be small retail space inside what was Tamarack, with the aid of folks from The Garden board shop in Pittsfield.

Instead, a series of cabanas are being set up along the mountain’s base, which will provide some points of relaxation for families who can rent them out for the day like a snowy Sandals resort right in the middle of Berkshire County. McMillan said there will be

deals that include amenities like hot chocolate or even fondu platters.

A long underused openair structure, which typically would be seen housing off-season equipment from fencing to waterslides, also is an important facet of the new Bousquet experience. There will be an outdoor bar and seating area, with sweet and savory waffles, and the ability to close down one side if the wind packs too much of chill. The spot will offer views of both lifts, as well as the new beginner area.

Oh, and the waterslides have been fully removed.

It’s here where we pause once more and take in the entire scope of what’s happening, and can actually envision what January will look like. The sounds of bulldozers and excavators drift away, and a faint recognition of a pair of twin tips carving up corduroy on Beeline is percepted.

Don’t get the idea that this local gem is going full corporate resort, though. Mill Town’s goal is far from seeing late

founder Clarence J. Bousquet doing 360s from his resting place. Much of the spirit both he and longtime owner George Jervas created and fostered at Bousquet still will be pervasive to the experience — just some of the machinery and piping Jervas built himself more than three decades ago is getting spruced up.

“We’re first and foremost focused on local skiers. That’s the target,” said Holland, who herself grew up on those slopes and dug out a season pass from 1999 to prove it. “Everybody has a soft spot for Bousquet.

Everybody has a story, and so far the response has been overwhelmingly positive. They recognize the strong commitment, and people are excited to see the changes.”

It’s all looking in line with what Jervas’ longtime partner, and most recent owner, Sherry Roberts, wished when she and the Tamarack Ski Nominee Trust sold the mountain to Mill Town in May. “I just truly believe they are going to make it a destination

for young families. I had made a commitment when George passed that my goal was to find someone to continue it as a ski area,” Roberts told The Berkshire Eagle earlier in 2020.

“This will be nice news for the community. … Mill Town will be very invested in making it a success.”

Jervas fashioned much of the mountain’s infrastructure by hand in the 1980s, and snow-making technology has come a long way over the past 35 years.

The pump house across the street is all new, with a major upgrade to the snow-making system.

As contractor Ian Honey puts it, they have replaced the heart.

Honey comes to Bousquet along with Snow Machines Inc., and he has embraced the job of rebuilding, refurbishing and rerouting much of the area’s organs. It’s a unique opportunity to get back to small mountain roots for a guy whose resume includes six years spent creating terrain for the 2014

A new 3-person chairlift has been installed at Bousquet, replacing the old, yellow double chair that previously transported skiers to the summit.

UpCountryOnline.com | 39

Sochi Olympics. Had Tokyo 2020 not been postponed a year because of the coronavirus, Honey might never have heard of Bousquet.

McMillan says they have replaced about 20 percent of the snow-making piping — Honey’s arteries — and about half the mountain’s hydrants and guns. There is more to be done, but it’s hard to estimate the complete undertaking until flipping the switch on the season.

At this point, one might be wondering why you haven’t heard too much from McMillan directly. That could be because of his top two rules to success in management: “No. 1, build a good team, and No. 2, rely on your system.”

That’s what made Zoar so strong the past 30 years, and what got McMillan onto Mill Town’s radar. The Schaefer family, which owns Berkshire East, and more recently came to purchase Catamount and Zoar, quickly was brought on to consult with Bousquet. That was what Holland said was the first order of business.

McMillan’s relationship with the Schaefers goes back to his time working lifts and rentals at Berkshire East, before taking the reins at Zoar.

“He was sort of rolling off the peak season at Zoar, and Kevin has such a strong background in outdoor recreation and the hospitality aspects of it. It was a perfect match,” Holland said.

Since August, McMillan has set about building his team.

That includes mountain operations manager Nate Bovard, who arrives by way of Sugarbush and Berkshire East. He will be tasked with making sure the mountain is good to go on a daily basis, along with Honey and the SMI crew.

Bovard’s wife, formerly Katie Martin, raced at Bousquet for the former Saint Joseph Central High School and then in college at Castleton State.

There’s oversight help from Jon Schaefer’s squad, which

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Bousquet has installed a series of windows from which it will serve food to skiers, in lieu of a traditional indoor ski lodge.

had a big hand in getting the helicopter up to place stanchions for the new triple chair — replacing the old yellow double lift — that will spirit skiers to the summit quicker than ever.

The local flair still will be unmistakable, though, with Bartlett bringing about 30 years of history as the face of the ski school program, and Vecchia’s team carrying over decades of experience in a race program that is as storied as any in southern New England.

McMillan also said he has

40 | UPCOUNTRY MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

every intention of welcoming back the high school league to race Grand Slalom if school committees OK a season.

Behind the scenes, the Garden will have a stake in retail, while Ski Fanatics is plying Bousquet with the best rental help around, and even the food and beverage wing is coming from locals SoMa Catering.

“We want to be very intentional about the culture we’re creating and defining at the mountain,” said McMillan, whose third rule is to simply, “Just be kind.”

Bousquet is going to look and feel different when locals arrive this winter, and not just because of the pandemic. But, if everyone, from Bousquet management to eager shredders queueing up the lift line, remembers McMillan’s final rule, it’s going to be a great season. Even if you’re getting your cocoa through a window under a vaguely European sign for one year.

The magic still is in the hill and waiting to be released when you charge up and make a good, hard line. •

Q&A with Krista Schmidinger Berkshire native and two-time Olympian returns to Bousquet roots Editor’s note: Michael Walsh recently connected with twotime Olympian and Berkshire native Krista Schmidinger over email. Bousquet recently announced a partnership with Schmidinger, an Alpine skier who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994.

As part of the partnership, she will contribute to Bousquet’s Race Club and SnowSports School, assisting with race and school program design, instruction input, and one-on-one opportunities for young skiers.

Q: How did you first hear about the sale of Bousquet and go about connecting with the folks at Mill Town Capital, which recently purchased Bousquet?

A: Bousquet has always been in my purview because as a kid from a working-class Berkshire family, it was the ultimate playground for my twin sister and me growing up. So when my friend and former Bousquet Race Club member Nicole Douillet texted me that Bousquet had been sold, I searched their website to read the news.

The website said they intended to keep it local while investing in the infrastructure.

These values resonated with me. I have always felt a deep connection to Bousquet; it’s a cool little ski area, with diverse terrain, and a down-to-earth community of local outdoor enthusiasts. And so I was excited to click the contact button and send a congratulatory email.

I also added that I’m a Berkshire native and twotime Olympian, whose roots stemmed from Bousquet’s programs, and let them know that if there’s any way I can help or be part of writing the next chapter, I would be grateful for

the opportunity. Within a few days, I heard back from Mill Town, and a few weeks later, I was walking the slopes with Dave Mixer and Tim Burke.

Q: How much are you aware of the changes and improvements being made? Have you offered any advice?

Q: Do you remember your last time at Bousquet or skiing in the Berkshires?

How about a favorite memory from Bousquet?

A: I began with Mill Town on the Bousquet project in July 2020. With my lifetime breadth of ski experience and the depth of my ski industry network, I’m able to be an allaround player, which has been really fun. I’ve been able to give my input across the board. I’m working with Cindy Bartlett, the snowsports director, on the snowsports side supporting the current programs and brainstorming new ideas.

I’m looking forward to working with and inspiring the Race Club kids on and off the hill. I’m also involved in the physical space planning of the mountain. I’ve literally visited hundreds of ski resorts around the world, and much of my offthe-snow career has been in the design world, from ski wear to architecture/interior design.

A: The last time I skied at Bousquet, I think, was a few years ago, with my father while he was coaching the Race Club kids. I foreran the race, and was bowled over by the big welcome I received. And I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, the commitment parents make supporting their kids’ endeavors is huge.”

I don’t have a singular favorite memory of Bousquet, rather it’s an enveloping feeling and scene in my head of escaping into a world with my twin sister of fun and freedom, and snow and glitter, and French fries and hot chocolate with whip cream.

Now, when I come back with my family, I share those same warm feelings with my partner and daughter. The Berkshires, and Bousquet, is home.

Q: What are some of your goals with this collaboration?

A: My goals are the same as Mill Town’s, which is to make a positive impact on writing the next chapter of Bousquet’s history, to build it into a modern, year-round recreational center. My role on the mountain is to connect and build relationships with the guests and the community. Bousquet has ambitious plans to challenge the traditional ski lodge; I look forward to being a part of and influencing that piece of the project.

Q: Having skied at the biggest mountains and resorts in the world, what do you like best about a small, local hill like Bousquet?

A: Bousquet and the small ski areas in Berkshire County are the reason I’ve had the opportunity to ski the chutes in the Andes mountains, race in the Olympics in Meribel, France, and ski while monkeys are swinging from the tree branches on the slopes in Japan. I appreciate the sense of community at Bousquet, and it is a place to learn strong ski fundamentals.

If you can ski New England’s icy slopes, you can ski anywhere!

These values have given me the opportunity and confidence to ski anywhere. But when it

Photo provided by Krista Schmidinger

comes right down to it, a few sweet turns and a stimulating conversation on a chairlift ride with a fellow ski enthusiast at Bousquet provide the same stimulation as any big resort.

Q: Are you stuck in Switzerland with the pandemic, or do you intend to be back in the Berkshires at some point?

A: I am not stuck in Switzerland, but if there ever was a place to be stuck, Switzerland would be it! My parents’ heritage is rooted in Europe and Scandinavia. I hold both Swiss and American citizenship, therefore I can enter both countries at any time.

One of my lifelong goals has been to live in Europe and introduce my daughter to her heritage and broaden her perspective. My family and I had plans to move to Switzerland before the project with Bousquet evolved, but I am not only committed to making an impact behind the scenes at Bousquet, but I also plan on letting my skis do some talking on the hill. I intend to be schussing around the slopes and connecting with the community sometime in January. • UpCountryOnline.com | 41

You don’t need to sip like a sommelier to enjoy this tasting room Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts offers table-side tastings, bottles to-go

UpCountryOnline.com | 43

Previous page: A sampling of wines sold at Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts Winery and Tasting Room in Sheffield, Mass. Photo provided by Sunset Meadow Winery Above: In the tasting room, guests can sample a flight of five wines, order wine by the glass, enjoy a wine slushie or purchase bottles to-go. Photo by Jennifer Huberdeau

By Jennifer Huberdeau SHEFFIELD, Mass.

Red or white? Dry or sweet? Sparkling or rosë?

You can try them all (and take home a few) during a visit to Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts Winery and Tasting Room, where the friendly and knowledgeable staff is ready to help you find the perfect wine.

“The really fun part is helping people select wines. I’ll ask them questions, such as, ‘Do you like salty or sweet?’ to help me pinpoint what wines to suggest,” Kim Toffey, general manager, said during a recent visit to the wine shop and tasting room.

With her questions answered, Toffey makes menu recommendations and brings the customer’s selections — a flight of five wines — back for

a table-side tasting.

“Or it could just be a single glass of wine,” she said, noting that tastings at the bar, which features several types of wines on tap, will resume once COVID-19 safety precautions are lifted.

Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts, opened on the last weekend of August, is the northward expansion of Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, Conn., a 170-acre, family-operated vineyard and winery.

“It ’s one of the largest working vineyards in Connecticut,” Toffey said.

Among the vineyard’s wines offered at the Sheffield location are six white and four red wines, including three of its Root 637 offerings, a white, a blush and a sweet red. (A total of 28 wines are offered in the Goshen wine

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shop/tasting room.)

The name, Toffey said, comes from the vineyard’s location — on Route 63, which eventually becomes Route 7.

Also offered are two types of wine slushies and hot mulled wine, as well as a hummus plate and meat and cheese plate.

The store also has a variety of wine-related items for sale, including chocolate-dipped wine bottles.

For those in north Berkshire interested in trying out the wines, Toffey said they don’t have to make the trip south just yet. Three of the vineyard’s wines — Root 637 Sweet Red, 1320, a sauvignon blanc-style white wine, and Shades, a fruity pomegranate-hued sparkling wine — can all be purchased at Adams Hometown Market in Adams.

FROM FARM TO VINEYARD Vineyard owners George and Judy Motel purchased Sunset Meadow Farm in 1995. They worked the land and farm for the next five years, raising beef cattle and hay, as had been done since the 1800s, until they were approached by a man from the state agriculture department who was promoting vineyards, Toffey said.

With its westerly sloping hills, southern-facing fields and its rich topsoil, the farm was perfect for a vineyard, Toffey said.

“Initially, George and Judy only planned on growing grapes and selling them to other vineyards,” she said.

Instead, the couple, along with their son, George IV, de-

cided to push beyond the initial concept of just growing grapes and began making their own wine, as well.

“George earned his viticulturist and enologist certifications from UC-Davis,” she said. “It’s what sets us apart — George’s degrees. He knows how to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws our way.”

The vineyard, established in 2001, grows 15 varieties of grapes — Chambourcin, Landot, Merlot, Frontenac, St. Croix, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, Concord, Chardonnay, Cayuga White, Vidal Blanc, Chardonel, Seyval Blanc, Frontenac Gris and Riesling.

“We grow everything in a sustainable way,” Toffey said.

“There are no pesticides, no preservatives, and no added sulfites. We keep everything at the natural levels. Our main focus is doing everything the right way.”

IF YOU GO ...

Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts Winery and Tasting Room 296 S. Main St., Sheffield, Mass. (Route 7) 413-248-1330 sunsetmeadowvineyards.com/ home-page-sheffield Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Closed Tuesdays. The last pour is 30 minutes prior to closing, although to-go purchases can be made up to the time

of closing. Updates can be found at facebook.com/sunsetmeadowofmass Open for wine tastings, glasses of wine and to purchase bottles to go. Tasting flights featuring five wines are $15 and include a souvenir glass. Wine slushies or hot mulled wine, $8. Hot mulled wine and souvenir mug, $10. Wine, by the glass, $8 to $10; by the bottle, $18.99 to $32.99.

Dog-friendly. Seating is for 21-plus under COVID-19 restrictions. Food must be purchased with beverages under COVID-19 regulations. There is a two-glass maximum during your visit; purchased bottles of wine cannot be opened/consumed on the property.

Parties larger than six must call ahead.

MASSACHUSETTS EXPANSION The expansion from the Litchfield Hills into the Berkshires makes sense, Toffey said, pointing out nearby neighbors Big Elm Brewing and Berkshire Mountain Distillers as part of the draw for tourists.

She added that the new tasting room is 30 miles “door to door” from the vineyard.

“We planted an acre [of grapes] just north of the Magic Fluke [ukulele shop next door] this year and plan to plant more next year,” she said.

And while 2020 was a bad year for many, she is looking forward to tasting wines made with the grapes grown and harvested last year.

“I was told 2020 was the best harvest ever. It was the healthiest harvest the vineyard has ever seen in its 20 years of planting. It more than doubled the yield of the previous year and is of fantastic quality,” Toffey said, adding that even-numbered years tend to result in better wines. •

In the Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts production room, wine ferments in tanks and barrels.

All of the Sunset Meadow wines are aged two to five years. Photo by Jennifer Huberdeau

UpCountryOnline.com | 45

Legendary Snowstorms to hit the Berkshires Memorable blizzards, nor’easters from 1888 to the present in the Berkshires Compiled by Jennifer Huberdeau Nor’easter expected? Blizzard in the forecast?

Either prediction is a sure sign that media outlets will dig up photos and facts from historic storms of years past. Sure to be included are

the Blizzard of 1888 and the Blizzard of 1978.

But were those the worst storms to hit the Berkshires? To find out, we hit The Berkshire Eagle’s archives. Want to see more historical photos? Visit berkshireeagle.com/history to view our featured “Days Gone By” photo galleries.

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From under a snowdrift twice his height, Howard Derby, 7, of Erwin Street, Pittsfield, digs out mailboxes on Feb. 26, 1946.

Snowdrifts of 10 to 15 feet in height formed overnight as winds of up to 60 miles per hour persisted for over 12 hours.

Above: A train stuck in “the Junction� in West Pittsfield during the Blizzard of 1888 lost 32 carloads of hogs. The hogs froze to death during the night. When the train was freed two days later, six carloads of sheep and another of cattle were saved.

Below: A horse and carriage appear after traveling through a snowbank tunnel to the road in Sheffield after the Blizzard of 1888.

The blizzard began the evening of March 11 and lasted 3 days. Reported snow totals vary from 36 to 42 inches.

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Left: Merchants dug tunnels, from the sidewalk to the street, through the large snowbanks lining North Street after a storm dropped 32 inches on Pittsfield on March 14 and 15, 1915.

Below: Snowfall totals from the Blizzard of 1978 ranged from 11 to 19 inches across the Berkshires. Those totals may not seem impressive when compared to the 27 inches that fell in Boston and 40 inches reported in parts of Rhode Island, but the blizzard still a pain for those living in the Berkshires.

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