Evening star., 1948-12-12
Washington Area
Skiers Look to
Distant Slopes

Skiers may find their slaloms and
jumps cannot be enjoyed as close
to the District as they might wish,
but air, rail and bus lines stand
ready to provide facilities if there
Is sufficient snow tand. also suffi-
cient devotees Of the various outdoor
winter sports) to warrant such serv-
ices.
The Washington Ski Club has in
quired about several spots along the
Baltimore & Ohio, such as Meyers
dale, lockwood and others in the
Alleghanies. The B. g. o. Railroad
formerly ran ski trains to Deer Park,
but it became a bit of a gamble;
there was often abundant snow in
midWeek but it unpleasantly disap-
peared on week ends.
Another favored spot with the ex-
perts is Guntertown, Md, where q
floodlighted ski slope offers a splen-
did location. This Is reached by
Blue Ridge bus and is situated 2,S75
feet atop the mountains. Bedford
Springs, Pa, popular summer spot
is keeping its hotel open this winter
for the first time and plans to de-
velop snow sports. Ski runs are in
the future, however.
Choice Slopes Farther.
But the expert skiers will travel
farther afield-even if not for as
frequent trips-to reach the peaks
where well-packed snow is fairly
likely to be found throughout the
winter. From New York the New
Haven Railroad provides trips on
Sundays, returning the same eve
ming, from fine ski-slopes in the
BerkShires, or, for weekend trips
to Vermont and the eastern slope
of New Hampshire.
BY bus or Lackawanna Railroad
other skiers travel to the Poconos
where good conditions are the rule
rather than the exception. Vaca-
tionists who prefer to spend a week
in the colder regions in winter fino
that Montreal Is only overnight or
the Montrealer from New York, OF
even quicker by Colonial Airlines
North of Montreal a score of pic
turesque chalets dot the Lauren
tian Mountains and these are well
filled throughout the winter season
with both Americans and Cana
diails, attracted to these spots be-
cause~of the usually good conditions
for skiing, as we'll as other winter
sports.
Skiers Crowd Grand Central.
In fact, so popular are the over
night ski trains. that Grand Central
Terminal, on a typical Friday ano
Saturday night, looks like an annex
of Sun Valley Lodge, with groups
of men and women, boys and girls
standing beside bundles of skis and
poles. CARRIED in the picturesque
fashion typical of the followers OF
this colorful sport, those crowding
the terminal present a kaleidoscope
picture of red-and-black hued lum-
ber jackets, tasseled caps Of every
shade, pants tucked into heavy
boots, and fur mittens.
Some local skiers finding that
rail service does not tap the best
ski fields in the Alleghenies, have
discussed chartered buses to these
spots. Bus companies stand ready
to provide such trips for a guar
anteed number of passengers. It has
been found difficult to promise more
than 40.
AS result both of the precarious
snow conditions and the absence of
organized special trains or buses, the
expert skiers in the vicinity have
concluded that it is more satisfac-
tory to take fewer-but longer
trips. Some of them plan to go to
New York occasionally, there to
board the New York Central or New
Haven specials to the fine runs up
state or in New England.
Friendly Trains.
A special ski train is a scene of
spectacular proportions. It gener-
ally is all-coach, with a diner or
two included Along the racks are
a variety of equipment, with the skis
often carried in the baggage car.
Every one speaks with every one else.
On the "up" trip the novsces seek
from the old timers. On
the return journey those who still
are able to keep awake and active
relate their experiences. and an air
of camraderi exists.
Singing and visiting make such
trains festive affairs indeed. Some
persons have been known to make
the trip solely for the fun on the
train. During the time when others
are on the ski runs they sit before
the log fire in some rustice lodge,
presumably warming both the outer
and the inner man.