Vermont Travel Notes

Limited edition note cards and posters with this special Nordic relay artwork are available on the American Cancer Society website

While we are on the topic of fundraiser to help battle cancer (see Tubbs Romp to Stomp article below), there is an all night relay on March 7 at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

The only event of its type in the country, the 2009 Nordic Style Relay For Life starts at 6:00 pm on March 7 and runs until 8:00 am the next morning. Participants can use cross country skis, snowshoes, or walk.

More details are on the website, including an informative six steps to prepare for the event.

If you are going to be a fund raising participant or volunteer at this event, let us know and we will be happy to give you a ten percent discount that weekend as our way of saying thanks.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

For the past six years, the Tubbs Snowshoe Company has been holding a series of snowshoe walks and races to raise funds for the Susan G Komen for the Cure organization.

Last year, Tubb's Romp to Stomp was held in five US cities, had 3,800 participants and raised about $250,000 for the Komen foundation.

Vermont's 2009 Romp to Stomp will be held January 31 at the Stratton Nordic Center.

There will be three events: a 3K fun run, a 3K walk, and a 5K walk. Representatives from Tubbs will be on hand for free snowshoe demos. Even if you have never used snowshoes, you can participate. Snowshoeing is easy to learn and a lot of fun. It's a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

You can pre-register online ($30) or at the event ($35 - arrive early to do so). Checks or cash only are accepted.

Stratton is located in southern Vermont.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the Tubbs photo above)

VAST Snowmobile Photo

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers is a huge association made up of snowmobile clubs around the state. Next Saturday, January 31, they are offering a free snowmobile ride event for military personnel (past and present) and their families.

The event will be at the field behind Kenyon's Variety Store on Route 100 between Moretown and Waitsfield Vermont.

The event starts at 10:00 am and goes to 2:00 pm. "This is a great chance to try out snowmobiling
at no cost in a safe environment."

Our inn is located about ten minutes away. We normally offer a five percent military discount but for this event we will double that to ten percent that weekend.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

(c) Bolton Valley Resort

Bolton Valley Resort and the Catamount Trail Association are presenting a Backcountry Ski Festival tomorrow, January 25 starting at 10:00 am.

There will be equipment reps available to answer questions. Instructors will be on hand to help new and intermediate skiers and there will be a guided tour of Bolton's well know back country terrain which is a great way to learn the territory without the worry of getting lost - it's a very large and remote area.

If you don't have backcountry ski equipment, you can rent it at the Bolton Nordic Center. It is best to call ahead and reserve it: 802-434-6876.

There is a $25 charge for festival participants which includes a Nordic trail pass, access to the clinics, tours and the vendor area.

The Catamount Trail Association maintains Vermont's Catamount cross country ski trail which runs some 300 miles the length of the state north and south.

Bolton Valley is located off Route 2 between Waterbury and Burlington.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

There are all manner of things to do in the winter and if you are looking for something different to try, consider ice climbing. It's basically mountain climbing on large, frozen waterfalls.

Sunrise Adventures Climbing School here in Vermont is offering an ice climbing school at the end of this month at Smuggler's Notch near Jeffersonville.

Sunrise is based at Triple Diamond Ski and Sports on Route 108 a couple of hundred yards from the Smugglers Notch Ski Resort.

There will be equipment demonstrations, classes, slide show, and some apres' climbing socializing. The classes are on Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1. See the schedule on the Ice Bash 2009 web page (scroll down to see the class listings and prices). You can register online or use their email or phone number to get in touch with them.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Nordic skating at Lake Morey VT

Nordic skating is a very old style of Scandinavian outdoor ice skating that many people find is an easy way to learn.

In fact, classes are taught here in Vermont at Lake Morey in the east central part of the state near the border with New Hampshire.

The classes go over selecting the right equipment for each individual, safety, types of ice surfaces, how to use a Nordic skating pole to test the strength of the ice, efficient skating technique, etc. Registration can be done online or by calling (802) 649-3939.

There is a fee of $25 for three hours of instruction, plus equipment rentals.

The website says that Nordic skates are "remarkably simple to learn on" and that Nordic skating poles make the skating easier for people without good balance.

The workshops will be taught January 17 and 18; January 24 and 25; and January 31 and February 1 at Lake Morey. On February 7 there will be an afternoon workshop on City Bay, Lake Champlain.


The longer blade on nordic skates is one of the reasons they help make it easier to learn ice skating

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn