Deadly Ski Season in Europe

by Erik Olsen on

Wow, I had no idea things were so rough on the other
continent. What has seemed like a rather tame winter here stateside, has been rather tragic in the Alps. Fierce
winds and heavy snowfall have led to some gnarly avalanches in the French Alps, dragging down and killing skiers,
making this the most deadly ski seasin in 35 years.

The rash of valanches have killed 53 people in ski resorts this
season, said the National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches. Climbers, skiers and even a ski patroller
and a mountain rescuer, got snagged and turns out, like last year, many of the folks killed have been the backcountry
folks who strayed off-piste. Even an Idaho kid got killed in
Italy. Be careful out there.

The Sound of Music Lodge

by Neil Woodburn on

A few years ago while on a business trip, I found myself dining with the von Trapp family from The Sound of
Music.  Well, not exactly with the family itself, but at the lodge they operate in the mountains of
Vermont. 

After fleeing Austrian nuns and Nazis, the von Trapps made their way to the United States in 1939 and eventually
opened up a lodge in Stowe, Vermont on 2,700 acres of land.  The Trapp
Family Lodge is currently operated by 67 year old Johannes von Trapp, the youngest of Maria and Georg’s 10
children (and one of only three the ex-nun popped out herself). 

The lodge is the quintessential, picture perfect, Vermont ski lodge.  I went in winter when snow was piled
high and fireplaces wafted the scent of burning pine through the crisp mountain air.  It was beautiful. 
Those expecting a kitschy homage that panders to the film with waitresses and maids dressed in curtains and as nuns,
will be disappointed.  There are certainly plenty of family photos and a weekly screening of the film, but no
Disneylandesque selling out–except perhaps in the gift shop.  It is simply a fantastic lodge, with some cinematic
allure, and a fine restaurant serving local game and other specialties. 

If you’re heading to Stowe this season for some boarding or skiing, take an evening to head up the hill and
check it out.  And if you come across love-struck Ralf the Nazi tossing pebbles at Liesl’s window, please
punch him in the head for me. 

 

Indigo's Epic Adjustable Ski Pole

by Erik Olsen on

How long is
your pole? A rather curious and personal question, to be sure, but one that the avid skier might sometimes have to
consider. Sure, it might seem that all ski poles are created equal. After all, what is a ski pole other than a long
tube of metal with a strap on one end and a snow cage on the other. You really don’t give much thought to this piece of
equipment. Your skis and boots seem far much more important. But if you’ve ever skied with a short pole before (i.e. by
accidentally grabbing your nephew’s much shorter poles), then you know that size does matter.

Well, Outside’s gear blog takes a look at Indigo’s Epic Adjustable ski pole, an invention and innovation that just
might catch on. He gives a solid thumbs up to the poles, and makes a fine point about their versatility: that not only
can they be made longer, but they can be made shorter. So short, in fact, that you can scrunch them down and pack them
in your suitcase. Now that’s not a bad idea at all. At $100 a pair, they might make a nice addition to your ski
ensemble.

Squaw Valley Prom

by Erik Olsen on

Squaw
Valley has a place in my heart. I worked there my first "sort of" job after college. A buddy of
mine and I skied nearly every day, and I "worked" as one of those cheesy photographer guys that wait for you
at the top of the lift hoping to snap and sell you a picture of yourself. There are always interesting and sometimes
odd things going on at Squaw, and one of the more interesting events of this time of year is the Squaw Valley Prom. Imagine yourself taking a few killer runs and up and down
KT-22 and then donning your frilly pink tux with a legion of skiers and drunken locals at the Plaza Bar. The disco bash
is teeming with top skiing athletes and you can relive those painful high school days, perhaps redeeming yourself by
actually dancing close with some ski bunny to the strains of 80’s music. The prom takes place tonight and will
cost you $50 per couple or $100 to go stag. But me thinks you might need to be well connected if you want to go because
tix look to be sold out.  

Gadling on AOL Travel

by Erik Olsen on

Some of you may have noticed, perhaps because you came
here from there, but we here at Gadling.com have done a couple of helpful travel pieces this week for the good folks at
AOL.com. We worked our brains over how best to satisfy the AOL audience as Spring
approacheth and people are making plans. And we settled on seven ideas for seven days.

We hoped to cover wide enough variety of trips to satisfy just about everybody, and so did
write ups on the best secret places to go in Mexico and Hawaii, as well as both East and West Coast Trips (Even through I’m from the West Coast, Neil
lives there now in So Cal, so he handled the West. And since I live in New
York, I took on the East Coast). Then there was a piece on Family Spring Breaks, and one on Spring Ski Slopes. And finally, last but by no means least, a
piece by Adrienne on Caribbean Trips. Anyway, if you came
to Gadling.com from these pieces, then welcome! Bookmark us and come back often. If you are a Gadling.com regular or
occasional visitor, go check out these pieces, maybe they’ll give you some inspiration to do some traveling.

Spring Break 2006