Vermont

Bolton Valley, VT, Report: Perfect Snow and Blue Skies on the Eve of Totality – SnowBrains

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3 months ago

April 14, 2024

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Bolton Valley, VT, Report: Perfect Snow and Blue Skies on the Eve of Totality – SnowBrains

Report from Sunday, April 7, 2024

Bolton Valley, where I started going maybe a decade ago for night skiing operations, became one of my go-to resorts this season on Indy Pass. I love it here, and I have only really started to explore their terrain. I already have a list of what I want to experience next year – mainly the NBU (Nordic/Backcountry/Uphill) trails. A little over two and a half hours of driving from Montreal’s south shore, it’s an easy day trip for me. I would make it my home mountain if I lived closer to the Quebec-Vermont border. The surrounding views of the Mount Mansfield State Forrest along the Winooski River on Route 2 towards the resort are breathtaking, though I’m not sure I will ever get used to the steep access road in my little four-cylinder rig. It takes a pep talk going up and good breaks on the way down.

As I sit in front of the computer in Montreal, I’m already reminiscing about my–maybe–last week on the slopes for the season. It’s been raining all day, and a balmy 60 degrees. It’s hard to believe that less than a week ago, I was snowboarding just a little further south, in pristine snow conditions, on a mild, blue skies day. The world experienced a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse somewhere in between, with Vermont and much of Quebec in the path of totality. Weather-wise, it has been strange days in the northeast all season long, with extreme highs and lows in temperature and one of the warmest on recent record. Despite this, Vermont has had a great ski season, with a healthy amount of snow accumulation, especially in the latter part of March. Things are wrapping up on a high note. While Bolton and other northern resorts in the northeast spin their lifts for the last time this weekend, I have it on some authority that the Jet at Jay Peak will spin through to May. I hope to make it there once more before summer.

snowy ski slope at bolton valley vermont with blue sky and green trees — Late Season Turns At Bolton Valley Image Credit: J. Davis

Knowing Sunday may be my last winter snowboarding, I decided to test a theory. It’s this. If you love playing in snowy mountains and have to live in a city, Montreal is one of the best due to its relatively equal proximity and accessibility to the Laurentians in the north and the Adirondacks and Appalachians in the south. You can make the best plans at the last minute and follow the weather and the snow. It’s not a bad theory if you don’t mind the driving. Saturday, I headed north and made some turns at Mont Saint-Sauveur, always the first resort in this part of the province to open and the last to close. It was that end-of-season party vibe that Quebec resorts do so well, and surfy, spring snow, a good warm-up for Sunday’s destination. Due to fatigue driving through insane traffic back into Montreal Saturday evening, I got a later start than planned the next morning. I rushed out the door around 8:00 a.m., grateful to be crossing the border south into the zen Green Mountain State. I was checked in and on the Vista lift at Bolton just after 10:30 a.m.

The snow was still perfect by mid-morning, packed powder. A good crowd was out enjoying late-season turns on a mild bluebird day, but not too many to crowd the trails or keep the lift lines from moving. The temperature rose quickly. I lost a layer after my first run, switching up my insulated jacket for a windbreaker. I made the quick decision to make the most of the snow. This was a day to down some caffeine, put on a good playlist, and lap runs until my phone ran out of battery or my body gave out, whatever came first. My first run of the day was Spillway to Sherman’s Pass, which has this nice roller right before it links to Beech Seal and the lower mountain lift if you take it fast. The lower mountain lift wasn’t spinning. I had this part of the mountain to myself before other skiers and riders caught on, and I stopped for a while to snap some photos of the surrounding ranges.

Red snowflake chairlift at bolton valley vermont above snowy ski slope — Snowflake Lift at Bolton Valley Image Credit: J. Davis

Lapping runs off the Vista lift I had my eye on the Snowflake lift, lookers right. That’s where I planned to spend the remainder of my day. This lift services park runs lookers left and some fun, ungroomed, tree-lined, and wind-protected terrain to the right. I had a clear memory of years ago driving through a blizzard from Johnson, Vermont, to go snowboarding during night operations at Bolton and lapping untracked powder of the Snowflake lift. It was just like my memory, and I ended my day doing leisurely laps on a run called Foxy before my toes started to tingle, and it was time to go home. On my way back north, I drove through Stowe village, thinking I might catch a glimpse of the interstellar tourists who were expected to flood into the region for the eclipse the next day. Sunday was like any beautiful day in this part of Vermont, the calm before the big event. I hope everyone got to experience the eclipse somehow, wherever in the world you happened to be.

Bolton’s last ski day for 2023-24 is this Sunday, with lifts spinning until 5:00 p.m. A mix of rain and snow is expected in the region Saturday through Sunday, with cooler temperatures hovering around 45 degrees F. It’s not goodbye; it’s see you soon, in June when the lifts start spinning again for mountain biking, only a couple of short months away. Thank you for what’s been an amazing winter, Bolton Valley and Indy Pass. I am already looking forward to December.

Thank you, Indy Pass! Lower Mountain Lift Image Credit: J. Davis

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Vermont

Barton hosts annual 4-H Horse Clinic for northeast Vermont youth – Newport Dispatch

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5 hours ago

July 3, 2024

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Barton hosts annual 4-H Horse Clinic for northeast Vermont youth – Newport Dispatch

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BARTON — Young equestrians from across northeastern Vermont gathered at the Orleans County Fairgrounds in Barton for the 2024 Northeast Regional 4-H Horsemanship Clinic from June 21-23.

The annual event, sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H, offered participants aged 5 to 18 the opportunity to enhance their riding and horsemanship skills in a fun, educational setting.

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Over the weekend, 4-H members engaged in various activities including riding lessons, showmanship classes, and general knowledge competitions. The clinic culminated in a horse show on Sunday afternoon, featuring more than 30 individual classes.

Notable achievements included:

The Wildlife Warriors 4-H Club of St. Johnsbury won the “Golden Bucket of Goodies” for best overall stable management.
Jenesy Zwart of Danville received the Shelby Noyes Sportsmanship award.
Quinn Charest of Derby Line, Zayne Franko of Lyndonville, Adriana Leonard of East Hardwick, Penelope Longe of Newport, and Jillyan Normand of North Concord placed first in their respective fitting and showmanship classes.

The event also provided activities for younger participants and those without horses, including craft activities and workshops on horse care.

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UVM Extension 4-H Educators Lindy Birch and Holly Ferris organized the clinic, with support from various instructors, 4-H leaders, and parents.

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Former Vermont basketball star lands spot in NBA

Published

12 hours ago

July 3, 2024

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Former Vermont basketball star lands spot in NBA

T.J. Sorrentine is headed to the National Basketball Association.

The former Vermont basketball star famously known for that shot from the parking lot in the 2005 NCAA Tournament has accepted a gig on the Washington Wizards bench, the Providence Journal reported on Wednesday.

Sorrentine, who spent 16 seasons at Brown, the last 13 as the program’s associate head coach, told the Providence Journal that the Wizards’ offer was too good to pass up. Sorrentine, who graduated from UVM in 2005, is a Pawtucket, Rhode Island, native.

“I was happy,” Sorrentine told the Providence Journal. “I was comfortable. When I came down here to visit, I came with the mindset that it was a great opportunity. But if it didn’t happen or come through, I had a great job.

“This was a unique opportunity. That’s when I knew it was time to go. I was ready. I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

According to the Journal’s story, Sorrentine has a strong connection with new Wizards coach Brian Keefe, who had the interim tag removed from his title in late May. Sorrentine and Keefe’s relationship traces back over two decades.

“That obviously put it over the top,” Sorrentine said. “That was first and foremost. I always say small circle — have a lot of friends and know a lot of people, but a really small circle of people I trust.”

At Vermont, Sorrentine was an America East player of the year who was a crucial catalyst during the program’s golden era that saw the Catamounts climb into relevancy and reach three straight NCAA tourneys between 2003-05. Sorrentine’s long-distance 3-pointer in the 2005 tournament — “hit that one from the parking lot!” — sealed Vermont’s stunning, overtime upset of Syracuse.

Sorrentine, who had his Vermont No. 11 jersey retired along with teammate Taylor Coppenrath’s 22 in 2019, scored 2,013 points over his Catamount career, which ranks third in program history behind Eddie Benton and Coppenrath.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

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Find out who’s on the Vermont rosters for the 2024 Lions Twin State Soccer Cup vs NH

Published

19 hours ago

July 3, 2024

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Find out who’s on the Vermont rosters for the 2024 Lions Twin State Soccer Cup vs NH

Vermont and New Hampshire resume their rivalry battle on Saturday, July 20 with the long-running Lions Twin State Soccer Cup on tap at Hanover High School.

The girls game is slated to kick off at 1 p.m.; followed by the boys contest at 4. The event, in its 49th year, pits recently graduated high school seniors from each state against each other.

Kim Prestridge of White River Valley is the Vermont girls head coach. Milton’s Cait Fogel, Arlington’s Brandon Smith and White River Valley’s Omar Calhum-Flowers will also serve on Prestridge’s staff.

Shane Bufano, recently hired to take over the Champlain Valley program, will direct the Green Mountain boys squad, along with assistants Rob Cole (CVU) and Chris George (Middlebury) and retired South Burlington coach David Martin.

After New Hampshire swept both games last summer, the Granite State extended its lead in the all-time series — 21-14-5 on the girls side and 20-18-10 in the boys matchups.

More: How Vermont fared vs. New Hampshire in annual Twin State showdowns

The rosters:

VERMONT GIRLS

BFA-St. Albans: Adelaide Hughes, defense; Tessa Sweeney, midfield. Burlington: Brooks DeShaw, midfield/forward; Rosalie Perkinson, defense. Burr and Burton: Maura Grazioso, midfield; Isabella Lam, forward. Champlain Valley: Stella Dooley, defense/midfield; Chloe Pecor, forward. Colchester: Isabel Benoure, defense. Essex: Hailey Routhier, defense; Avery Stockamore, midfield/forward. Leland & Gray: Maggie Parker, midfield. Montpelier: Estherline Carlson, forward. Mount Mansfield: Finley Barker, midfield; Kate Leach, defense. North Country: Maya Auger, goalie; Charli Kellaway, midfield. Randolph: Shiloh Lake, forward. Rice: Raven McCray-Fay, defense. South Burlington: Rachel Kelley, forward; Oakley Machanic, midfield. White River Valley: Amara Calhum-Flowers, midfield/forward; Tanner Drury, defense.

VERMONT BOYS

Brattleboro: Ozzie VanHendrick, forward. Burlington: Max Ladner, midfield. Champlain Valley: Chandler Turner, forward; Luke Sampson, midfield. Colchester: Jacques Alfani, forward/midfield. Enosburg: Landon Paulson, forward. Essex: Henry Kinney, midfield/defense. Middlebury: Eddie Fallis, forward. Milton: Finn Kascha-Hare, midfield. Mount Mansfield: Evan Chicoine, defense; Liam Goslin, defense; Oscar Howard, forward. Montpelier: Brio Levitt, goalie. Rice: Luke Broussard, midfield. South Burlington: Hammad Ali, midfield/forward; Oliver Clifford, defense; Omar Daoudi, midfield/forward. Stowe: Aaron Lepikko, defense; Brock Roick, goalie. Twin Valley: Cody Magnant, forward. U-32: Bennett Clark, midfield. Vergennes: Oakley Francis, midfield.