Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-03-01
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THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Possibilities of Winter Sports In Vermont.

We hear of the great winter resorts in
Switzerland, such as Adelboden, st.
Moritz, Davos, Engelberg, Grindelwald
and the many other places in the old
world which are becoming popular for
their winter sports, and yet the thought
arises that modest little Vermont has
untold possibilities to become known as
a winter resort for lovers of the woods,
the snow and the frozen trail.
What state has more natural advan
tages to develop winter sports than YER
mont? Our ideal snow conditions offer
a paradise for the followers of the
sports of skiing and snowshoeing, and
the mountains offer a great field to those
hardy souls to whom the conquering of
some lofty peak represents a challenge
and a pleasure. Think what trail over
the Green mountains would mean to the
sk-runner and the snowshoer as well as
to the tourists in the summer. Along
the trail (Which would be in itself a stu
pendous piece of work., could be scat
tered rough huts which would insure
the traveller of a shelter and place to
sleep when night overlook him. A great
field, this, for a club composed of men
who love the open, a club where noun
taineers, skiers and snowshoers would all
cooperate to make the most of YER
mont's great charm.
Is it not time that Vermont SHOULD
awake to these great possibilities? YER
mont has something to offer the rest of
the country in the way of unsurpassed
beauties in winter. Organization and CO.
operation alone are needed to make the
enjoyment of these pleasures a reality
for many guests.
In the West love for the sport of ski
jumping has caused the erection of huge
artificial slides where no suitable natural
hills We're available. With our wonder
full natural hills why should Vermont not
form a ski association and hold ski
jumping contests each winter, which
should rival any tournaments held in the
country? Plans are already on foot for
the formation of such an association
There are many expert ski jumpers al
ready living in this state and many more
in the making. Nermonters should with
in a few years be making jumps which
should compare favorably with those
made anywhere. In Michigan a crowd of
ten thousand in attendance at a ski
jumping tournament is an event of COM
mon occurrence. How can we accommo-
date such a crowd in Vermont? That is
just the point! If interest were aroused
in winter sports, if big ski jumping
tournaments were annual features many
visitors would be attracted Vermont
would build up a reputation to accom-
modate these guests.
One town has already taken the initia-
the rest of Vermont can well emulate
the example of Woodstock. Here we find
a cosy inn. noted for it's hospitality and
good table. Not a room vacant, and a
hustle of life even greater in winter
than in summer Skis are stacked in
piles on the veranda and dozens of pairs
of snowshoes can be seen at night hang
ing on the hooks provided for that pur-
pose. Taking a few minutes walk from
the inn you will come to a toboggan
chute three eighths of a mile long, pre-
senting a scene of great activity. Back
at the inn once more you will notice a
party of tired but happy and hungry
snowshoers returning from a trip over
the hills and perhaps a sleigh is just en-
barking its load of elated passengers
back from ride to some point of inter
est. Everywhere you will see activity
and keen enjoyment of the pleasures
winter can offer.
Does not this serve as an object les
son? What Woodstock has done and is
doing, can not the other towns in YER
mont do likewise? f. II, H.