| March 7,2009 -Moonlight Ski & Haiku
Moonlight skiiing took on a new twist on January 9, 2009 with a haiku/renga form theme.
There was a table set up with books and a very easy going haiku
coach (me) to chat it up and engage skiiers coming in from a run to try wrtiing haiku
and or if in a group, a renga form to celebrate the full moon
in winter skiiing experience. Simply put, Renga in this situation is a loose
series of haiku that succeed one another in a kind of flow that always
brings a smile and most times a kind of cheer. The event was very successful
and many people participated. This kind of thing appeals to the outdoor
experience and outdoor people. It is traditionally a full moon event. Here
are some outcomes of the experience:
Venus shines
on the bald horizon
cold sky
plant days
skiiing clear lines
white round light
casting tree shadows
guiding me
CH Val kemp and Kathy Samuels
and...
quiet snow
blankets the ground
refreshes the soul
Val Kemp
and...
sparkling sky
breezing down the glades
pines peeking through
wet breath with beating heart
now rest comes
Val Kemp and Kathy Samuels
and...
steep hill
snow is fast
rude awakening around corner
Bill Arduser
This event was a lot of fun and so was Moonlight and S'mores on 2/6. I had one of those
magical skiiing events when it was cold but I felt warm and the
moon was bright and the woods were quiet and I was alone in the back
country. I know others had a great time too because it was a big crowd. The boy scouts kept
the energy going along with the larger skiiing group as we
toasted s'mores by a little camp fire near the ski rack. But today it is all
melting! Spring is near and I am looking forward to the first Star Party with Aruna Hill
on Saturday 04/25 when we get the big telescopes out and see
the spring sky deep space style. Next one is May 16, and something new for this activity
too this year is brewing, or should I say, grilling, as the Friends of Windsor are planning
a barbque event to precede the Star Party on Saturday August 15.
We are also planning to view that Friday night 8/14 starting at dark.
A lot going on at Notchview these days. i'm planning to get my
skate skis more active with the spring snow, particularly if it
freezes and gets fast. In the meantime I am changeing from violet to red klister.
Is that the way to go with the classic skis? Everybody talks about
wax and I always like the sticky stuff with a kick this time of year. I
probably sound like the novice that I am but it works for me. Any comments?
Colin Harrington
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| 03/07/09 -Bread n' Jam Race Results
| | Bread and Jam 10 Classic Results by category 3/7/09 Notchview | | | | | | | | | | 5 Km | | | | | | J5 M | 1 | Oscar DeFrancis | 42:39 | | | | | | | | | | | | J3 F | 1 | Lilly Zogbaum | 38:53 | | | | | 2 | Claire Dileo | 38:54 | | | | | 3 | Amelia DeFrancis | 39:21 | | | | | | | | | | | | J3 M | 1 | Elliot Bertrand | ?? | | | | | | | | | | | | J2 F | 1 | Laura Nolan | 48:45 | | | | | 1 | Mackenzie Hitchcock | 48:45 | | | | | | | | | | | | J2 M | 1 | Luke Costley | 40:07 | | | | | 2 | Josh Harrington | 43:19 | | | | | 3 | Daniel Dermody | 43:27 | | | | | | | | | | | | J1 F | 1 | Cate Costley | 43:00 | | | | | 2 | Meghan O'Grady | 48:45 | | | | | | | | | | | | J1 M | 1 | Terry Fowler | 35:04 | | | | | 2 | Patrick Joslin | 35:28 | | | | | 3 | Dylan Dethier | 36:01 | | | | | 4 | Bill Prescott | 37:02 | | | | | 5 | Kyle Dempsey | 38:53 | | | | | 6 | Jordon Tuboly | 39:08 | | | | | | | | | | | | Senior M | 1 | Sam Kapala | 33:48 | | | | | 2 | Tom Keefe | 35:27 | | | | | 3 | Aaron Bond | 36:10 | | | | | 4 | Matt White | 38:43 | | | | | | | | | | | | F3 | 1 | Hillary Greene | 40:10 | | | | | | | | | | | | M3 | 1 | Matt Voisin | 37:27 | | | | | | | | | | | | M4 | 1 | Chris Trager | 34:36 | | | | | 2 | Bryan Atwood | 38:46 | | | | | 3 | Patrick Ferri | 39:16 | | | | | 4 | Jason Kahn | 43:58 | | | | | 5 | John Harrington | 52:05 | | | | | 6 | Ken Kuttner | 55:46 | | | | | 7 | Chris DeFrancis | 42:40 | 5 Km | | | | | | | | | | | F5 | 1 | Heather Bargeron | 49:18 | | | | | 2 | Lea Finck | 52:55 | | | | | 3 | Ruth Wheeler | 54:11 | | | | | | | | | | | | M5 | 1 | Robert Quigley | 37:47 | | | | | 2 | Ed Hamel | 37:57 | | | | | 3 | Peter Rayton | 40:11 | | | | | 4 | Gary Miller | 41:46 | | | | | 5 | Harry Rock | 43:30 | | | | | 6 | Mike Duffy | 47:10 | | | | | 7 | Steve Feldman | 47:35 | | | | | 8 | Carl Cignoni | 48:43 | | | | | 9 | Kim Boas | 53:56 | | | | | 10 | Dennis Duquette | | 5 km | | | | | | | | | | | M6 | 1 | Vic Laport | 44:18 | | | | | 2 | Lenny Collins | 48:03 | | | | | 3 | Frank Stasz | 49:25 | | | | | 4 | Dave Whitcomb | 52:17 | | | | | | | | | | | | M7 | 1 | Bill Wilson | 61:59 | | | |
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| 2/20/09 -"SNOW FLEAS" are jumping at Notchview!
A few weeks ago there was an article on the AP wire service about a marine life census being taken in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans.
This survey, called the Census of Marine Life, is being conducted by international researchers who are reporting an amazing amount of diversity documenting 7,500 species in the Antarctic and 5,500 species in the Arctic.
The story appeared in both the Berkshire Eagle and the Hampshire Gazette on Feb. 16th and included a photo of Achionodraco hamatus or Ice Fish. This small fish is found only in the Antarctic Ocean and can withstand temperatures that freeze the blood of all other fish.
Amazing! But wait, there's more.
We too have amazing wildlife here in New England that can withstand the winter cold. The next time you are skiing at Notchview, keep a sharp eye out for "Snow Fleas"!
Snow fleas are insects, but they are not really fleas, they are a species of springtails that can occur in large numbers on the surface of the snow around this time of year.
I spotted some today congregating near the base of a hemlock, right there on top of the snow! They measure about 1/8th of an inch and seem to hop about aimlessly.
Actually, they jump around using two spring loaded levers called furcula located on their abdomens as they do not have true jumping legs like a fleas or grasshoppers.
As you are skiing by, they look like somebody sprinkled black pepper on the snow. But stop and keep looking closely and you will see them acting like little acrobats, catapulting
all over the surface of the snow.
Snow fleas or springtails belong to the group of arthropods called Collembola and have been around for 400 million years! They live on the forest floor consuming rotting vegetation and leaf litter.
They can be found all over North America and Northern Europe and beyond. Researchers have discovered an anti-freeze like protein in "snow fleas" that allows them to operate in below
freezing temperatures.
There are various medical applications for these types of properties, including storing transplant organs, according to a Queen's University study.
Similar research could also find a way to make better ice cream, according to Tom Simonite in New Scientist, January 11, 2008. Now that's important!
So watch out for those "snow fleas"!
Jim Dodge, Worthington, MA 2/19/09
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| 02/08/09 -Snowshoe Hike
Today a group of 14 people hiked up to the Hume Farm property on snowshoes. Most of the participants had not been on snowshoes before and thoroughly enjoyed the hike and the views from the Hume barn.
We started out by going thru the tunnel under Rt.9 which had some ice on the floor and made for a lot of bending over but it was passable. We stopped at the "owl tree" to see if any had been roosting in the area but no sign of any owl pellets were found.
Next we hiked thru the fields where the Christmas trees are planted and up to the barn where we talked about some history of the Hume Farm and enjoyed the view east towards the Notch.
Then we returned to the vistors center using part of the "dog loop" and across Rt.9. Everyone seemed to have a good time and some asked for more of these hikes in the future.
Attached is a picture from the hike.
Glenn Roy |
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| January 28,2009 -Classic Skiing 101
Finally another winter is here, and none to soon for avid cross country skiers. Each winter, every ski I take brings back the rush and joy I feel when I hit the trails. The basics of skiing have not changed much since I started skiing in 79. Yes, there have been new ideas and waxes, and old controversies but skiing has not changed much. Kicking, gliding, poling, turns and downhill techniques are what move us over the varying terrain.
Mastery of all the components above are equally important to enjoy a great ski. Most important for the above mentioned components is ones body position. Correct body position is required in every phase of cross country skiing. Without it skis slip, glide and momentum decrease, and chances of falling increases. Visualization is a good tool for remembering body position. Helpful images like “toe-knee-nose” and “bite the cookie” might be dated, but they do work and prevent the alternative “vertical shuffle”. Correct body position requires focus, commitment, balance and coordination.
If you are not sure if you have good body position while skiing, you can check out a video, take a lesson, and watch more accomplished skiers. Classic skiing is great fun and easy once the basics are mastered, but, they are not easy to master. But, oh so worth the effort.
See ya out there, Jeanne |
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| 01/12/09 -Winter trails day at Notchview, Saturday, Jan.10th
A mix of like minded individuals and families converged on Notchview today to share a passion for outdoor recreation on a crisp New England winter day. As I sit in the visitor center watching folks arrive, it occurs to me that actually getting out on the trail for a ski or snowshoe hike is a bit like the cream in the Oreo cookie-definitely sweet, but not the only treat. It seems to be bookended on each side by an equally satisfying experience. The greeting of friends on arrival, bright colors and new gear as skiers suit up for the conditions, deciding on the trails to take and the wax to apply (the excellent waxing clinic was a free bonus ) seem to take on a pre-game locker room anticipation with palpable energy. Then it’s outside, where all that is crystallized by the grace of movement on ski gliding into a forest trail where even conversation is muffled by yesterday’s fresh snowfall. Whether it’s for the workout, the tranquility, the camaraderie, the Natural History or the adventure of a totally new experience, no one comes back disappointed. Then there’s the sequel-hot tea and chocolate to warm red cheeks, a warm place to sit near the fire, music, conversation and once again, shared quality time with friends, new and old. Maybe we’ll see you next weekend at Notchview.
Ed Neumuth
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| 12/27/08 -Colin Blog
Notchview has been a big part of my life since 1995 and even before that
when I lived in Lenox and came up here to ski often. But now I live in
Windsor and we were right in the heart of the ice storm (which is still
a factor on the ski trails but the amazing volunteer help and Notchview
staff have been heroic in getting the branches and limbs off of the ski
trails) and we had no power for light or water and Notchview was very
generous in letting my wife and I come up and get water and sit in the
lights of the Visitor Center awhile. There was a guy here "from New York
State" who was planning to erect "the second largest teepee in the
world," a very nice fellow who welcomed us in and spoke about his peace
project with the teepee. I have always liked to come up the Visitor
Center in summer and autumn and sometimes just sit and sometimes write.
It is a very quiet place and nice and warm with the masonry heater right
now. Even though the great snow we got last week has been compromised by
rain and ice, the ski season has a base, the trail base is primed and I
predict we will have some of the best skiing weeks ever. I don't have to
go far to get here. We had a fabulous star watching year with Aruna Hill
and Dan Carnevale and plan to pick it up in the spring with the big
telescopes. Meanwhile, I am going to lead rounds of a Renga style haiku
writing at the Moonlight Ski on January 9, 2009 from 7-9 PM. It's always
terrific fun and it will probably turn you into a haiku poet for life. I
look forward to seeing you all there. It might be fun to publish some of
the Moonlight Ski poems on this blog later on. Happy New Year and Happy
Winter Season!
Colin Harrington, M.Ed.
Special Education
Amherst Regional High School
Amherst, MA 01002
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| 12/19/08 -Icy start to winter activites
Last year at this time we were enjoying great ski and snowshoe conditions at Notchview. Except for some very windy weather which caused a call out to volunteers to help to clear the trails of debris,we were doing OK.
This year on the other hand,we were hit with a severe ice storm that caused most of us to lose electricity for a week or less and caused the loss of many trees on the mountain. Thanks to much help ,the trails at Notchview are still being cleared and are in great shape.
Then we get two back to back snow storms which gave us beautiful conditions just before Christmas. I hope you got some skiing in then, because now we are in a "rain cycle" that is taking a lot of the snow away and giving us icy conditions that Jim and his crew are coping with. Skiing and snowshoeing are certainly possible,but we need some colder weather and more snow to give us the conditions we expect up here on "our mountain."
Glenn Roy
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