Skiing News, Gear Reviews & More - The Access Road

From the monthly archives:

November 2008

Resort Maps for your GPS

November 30, 2008

While GPS technology has put a tremendous amount of information and power into the hands of outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts, skiers and riders have for the most part been left out. Sure, top-end models like Garmin’s Colorado and Oregon handhelds come with detailed pre-loaded topo maps, but they offer no information about your location relative to lifts, trails, lodges, or other features you may find at a ski resort.

Until now. A company called Mountain Dynamics has been quietly expanding their line of GPS uploadable resort maps for four years now, and has a pretty impressive list of detailed maps that are easily integrated with many popular handheld GPS devices. The maps, sold under the SnowRanger brand name, are sold in regional sets for $29.95. Read More…

Lift Safety 101

November 29, 2008

Before I’d seen this, the worst possible lift scenario I could imagine was one in which the chairs detatched and fell to the ground. It turns out that such a scenario would be the easy way out – Watch this thing turn into a meat grinder right before your eyes. Read More…

Now All We Need Is Some Snow

November 29, 2008

Last year was a banner year to say the least. The snow came early and often, even throwing in a few last minute surprises that had resorts in New England scrambling to reopen weeks after their scheduled closings. No wonder it was a record breaking year, with resorts racking up over 60 million skier visits.

This year, on the other hand, is off to a slightly more uneven start. While things may be shaping up quite well north of the border (Whistler managed to open a day early this past wednesday), conditions in the western United States have been warm and dry. Back east, the last 72 hours have helped many resorts turn the corner to opening day, as 12-18 inches of snow fell from Vermont to Maine. Read More…

What You Can Expect

November 27, 2008

Since this is our first week and all, we thought it would be a good idea to give you a heads up on what’s in store. In the next few days, you’ll start to see consistent posts on news and events as they happen. In addition to these short posts, featured posts will be pushed out on a weekly basis. These articles will be longer and more detailed pieces from a variety of writers covering important events, in-depth product reviews, and other items of interest. Read More…

Welcome To The Access Road!

November 25, 2008

Let’s start with a little imagery that we can all relate to. It’s late at night, and you are in your car. It’s packed to the gills, so to speak – there’s a wall of stuff behind you, granola bar wrappers in the cupholders, and perhaps a GPS stuck to the windshield that has no record of the road you’re driving on. The road is rough and covered in snow, and your headlights are only reaching a dozen or so feet ahead. Every corner looks the same, even if it’s a trip you’ve made a hundred times. About 10 miles after you start thinking you must have passed it, you come upon the access road – a winding mountain pass that’s a straight shot from the last real road right up to the hill.

A lot of people talk about taking their first turns of each season – the exhilaration, the anticipation, the excitement that an entire season lies ahead. It’s always started a little earlier for me – when I take that first turn onto the access road. This is, in large part, where the spirit of skiing and riding lives – not just under 24 inches of dry powder, but out here; in the bars with affectionate and nonsensical names, and the local shops that have been around for decades. Read More…