Watch 48 hardy skiers tackle 11 miles of winding backcountry trail in our first annual Bolton to the Barns Ski Tour! Thanks to all the skiers, volunteers, and friends who came out and supported the VYCC on March 6. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great time skiing through the woods and hills of Vermont. After a hard ski, we relaxed and enjoyed a VYCC après ski party at the West Monitor Barn with delicious food from The Skinny Pancake, The Spot, and Great Harvest Bread. Check out the slideshow below for a recap of the day!

The Drive to 25

Bolton Valley Resort is partnering with the the VYCC to celebrate the Corps’ 25th anniversary by launching a food drive for the Vermont Foodbank and Richmond’s local food shelf. Participating skiers and riders can purchase lift tickets for $25 on each of three food drive days at Bolton Valley.

“The Drive To 25” has a goal of raising 2,500 pounds of food for the Richmond Food Shelf during three fundraising and food drive events at Bolton Valley. On the 25th of January, February, and March those who bring two nonperishable items of food will receive a half-price lift ticket – $25 when it’s usually $49. A portion of each lift ticket will be donated to the VYCC and food will be distributed to the Foodbank and the Richmond Food Shelf.

For more information, please contact Breck at (802) 434 – 3969 x110 or breck.knauft@vycc.org.

See you at the mountain!

The Bolton to the Barns 11-mile Backcountry Tour is this Saturday, March 6! We’ll ski our hearts out and then head to the West Monitor Barn for an après ski party featuring food by the Skinny Pancake, the Spot, and Great Harvest Bread!

Update: 17-Mile Route Cancelled
Last night the Bolton to the Barns planning group decided to cancel the 17-mile route option. In the morning, before the sun and March temperatures have a chance to warm the snowpack, the upper sections of the Bolton terrain are bullet proof. Ordinarily, it would be a hard decision to scrap a portion of the route that many of us wanted to include – given the conditions, this was not a hard decision. This will mean that all skiers will start from the Bolton Nordic Center at 9:30. Because skiers will start at 9:30, this will allow the snow to soften before tackling the steeper descents on the course.

Registration and Fees
If you haven’t already registered, please do so now. This will really help with our planning. For those who have yet to send in the $50 registration fee, you may pay with a check (or cash) on Saturday. We will have extra waiver forms on hand, but it will speed things up if you arrive with your form filled out. Remember, if you raise $125 in sponsorships, we will waive your registration fees. Thanks to all those who have already done such great work on this front!

Shuttles
We will be shuttling people from the West Monitor Barn (directions to barn here) up to the Bolton Nordic Center. Vans will be leaving the Barn at 8:45. Please plan on arriving a few minutes before the van departure time. For those not needing a shuttle, please arrive at the Bolton Nordic Center at 9:15. This will give you time to check in, etc.

Current Snow Conditions
For all but the last approach to the barn, the coverage is very good. As is the case with spring skiing, there may be a bare spot or two, but nothing one can’t step around. Volunteers have worked hard to mark the trail over the past few days and they have all been encouraged with the amount of snow in the hills. In the morning, the snow might be a bit hard, but by 11:00 or so it really begins to soften up. Skiers may need to walk the final hundred yards or so to the barn, but if this is the hand mother nature deals in early March, so be it. We are figuring Vermonters are a hardy bunch and won’t be too fazed by a short walk.

A small amount of Maxi Glide might help gain a bit of traction on the trail. If you don’t have Maxi Glide, the Bolton Nordic Center sells tins for $12. We’ll also have a communal tin available on Saturday morning.

Rental Equipment
The Bolton Nordic Center (434-6876) has a bit of rental equipment left. Also, the Catamount Trail Association (864-5794) also rents gear. If you rent from Bolton, you will be able to return your gear here at the barn, saving you a trip back up to Bolton.

Après Ski
• The Skinny Pancake and the Spot are catering our Après Ski party. The Great Harvest Bread Company has also donated rolls. Entry fees include a crepe, a bowl of chili (and roll), and a cold brew or non-alcoholic beverage. If you’re still hungry, you’ll be able to purchase crepes for $6.50. We will not be taking credit cards – cash or checks only.
• We will begin serving food at 1:30.
• Friends and family who don’t ski are also welcome. $15 for adults and kids under 12 are free – spread the word!
• After a bonfire, a ski movie, a slide show from the day, and a raffle drawing, we’ll wrap things up around 5:30 – 6:00.

Raffle Prizes
All skiers are automatically entered into a raffle drawing which will be held around 3:45. Prizes include a pair of Asnes Sondre Nordheim X-C skis, 3 Black Diamond Headlamps, a framed picture from Ember photography, a snow shoe tour from Umiak Outfitters, t-shirts, pint glasses from Outdoor Gear Exchange and more!!

Additional raffle tickets can be purchased for $5.

For additional information, email Breck at breck.knauft@vycc.org or give him a call at 802.434.3969 ext. 110.

Everyone at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) would like to thank the “Sign*a*Rama Grants for Success” program for awarding us a grant valued at $50. Sign*A*Rama’s grant program has been designed to offer free or steeply discounted signage to northern Vermont nonprofit organizations to provide them with branding and marketing materials that will help them reach their constituencies and fulfill their mission.

Every year VYCC staff travel to multiple career and service fairs as well as set up informational tables in local high schools to advertise our programs and job opportunities to Vermont youth. In 2010 we are planning to attend outreach events and presentations in every county of Vermont as well as some outside of the state. This award from Sign*A*Rama will allow us to purchase a new banner to hang up when we have set up a table at career fairs and outreach events

The VYCC’s application was chosen from among more than sixty applicants to receive one of twenty grants awarded in the current annual cycle. Again we would like to thank Sign*A*Rama for this grant and we look forward to our name being more visible at upcoming events and fairs. Keep a look out for the new VYCC banner!