Introduction and Details Your Skiing Ability List Of Participants Schedule Shuttles, Driving and Logistics Lodging Tips and Thoughts Social Activities Somewhat-related Videos Extra Reading Prior Multi-Day Trip Reports

CTA's 2024 "Multi-Day Tour #7" has completed, read here for trip reports, and check www.catamounttrail.org for more skiing opportunities. I'm Sam Bartlett, the volunteer Tour Coordinator for the CTA's 2024 "Multi-Day Tour #7", Sections 20 through 23, from Thursday February 22, 2024 to Sunday February 25, 2024. This is the site for dispensing information about the tour, both for people who are considering the tour and want to learn more, and for signed-up participants. My Assistant Tour Coordinator is my wife Marie. Go to the bottom of CTA's 2024 "Multi-Day Tour #7" page or here to REGISTER. You need to completely fill out this form before you are a registered MDT skier. Please note that the sign up form might not have the correct order of sections. We are skiing 23,22,20,21 in that order. At least that is the current plan. Then, begin your tour by going to the Your Skiing Ability page on this site. Please review this information so we can all have an enjoyable tour. Then, go to List Of Participants page on this site and make sure I have your days listed correctly. You have to be on the List of Participants to attend this tour. This tour covers four sections of the trail, from Camel's Hump Road to Edson Hill. Section 22 is the famous Bolton-to-Trapps tour, the most challenging section of the Catamount Trail. This is a series of day trips, you stay somewhere nearby each night and drive to the trailhead. Please follow the links on the left for more information, read everything if you are planning on joining us. EMail: sam@bart-tech.com, please start your subject line with "MDT" for "Multi-Day-Tour". Phone: 413-834-0274 8am-8pm

Sam, Marie and Jeannie at VT/MA border 2004 Photo by Lynn Fisher

Sam and Marie at VT/QC border 2008 Photo by Lynn Fisher

UPDATES CTA's 2024 "Multi-Day Tour #7" has completed, read here for trip reports, and check www.catamounttrail.org for more skiing opportunities.

Here is a little back-country skiing wisdom from the famous back-country cross-country skier Nelson Mandela:
“The greatest glory in skiing lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”*

And one final bit of entertainment, written over several tours:
The Old Back Country Skier's Lament
(with apologies to Janis Joplin)
'Sung' to the tune of Mercedez Benz

I'd like to sing a song of great social and political import.

Oh Lord won't you get me to the trailhead on time?
We meet at 8:30, or maybe it's 9,
To keep them all waiting that would be a crime,
Oh Lord won't you get me to the trailhead on time?

Oh Lord won't you find me a little more base?
I'm walking the downhills and losing my grace,
I keep hitting rocks and I fell on my face,
Oh Lord won't you find me a little more base?

Oh Lord won't you send me a little more fluff?
This scritching and scratching is sure getting tough,
I think 18 inches would be just enough,
Oh Lord won't you send me a little more fluff?

Oh Lord won't you buy me a new pair of legs?
My friends have all finished, they're back tapping kegs,
They'll drink all the good stuff and leave me the dregs,
Oh Lord won't you buy me a new pair of legs?

Oh Lord won't you teach me that telemark turn?
That's one of those skills that I still need to learn,  
I get in a few but it makes my thighs burn,
Oh Lord won't you teach me that telemark turn?

Oh Lord won't you buy me a new set of lungs?
I'm climbing these switchbacks, I'm no longer young,
These trails are like ladders that's lost half their rungs,
Oh Lord won't you buy me a new set of lungs?

Oh Lord won't you buy me titanium knees?
These old ones are hurting, there're swollen like trees,
So cut me and sew me, get me back on my skis,
Oh Lord won't you buy me titanium knees?

Oh Lord won't you buy me some stickier wax?
Or maybe a groomer that's leaving fresh tracks?
The sun's going down and I've finished my snacks, 
Oh Lord won't you buy me some stickier wax?

Oh Lord won't you lose me about 15 pounds?
I think they're from donuts and dinners in towns,
They hurt on the up hills but help on the downs,
Oh Lord won't you lose me about 15 pounds?

Oh Lord won't you buy me some edges of steel?
These trails are so icy I'm losing my zeal,
I'll give you my first born I'll make any deal,
Oh Lord won't you buy me some edges of steel?

Oh Lord won't you find me a nice skier chick?
These women are married, they don't want my love,
So make her a cutie and send her real quick,
Oh Lord won't you find me a nice skier chick?  

Oh Lord won't you let me just stay here and ski?
We're having a good time or maybe it's just me,
I don't want to go home and watch the TV,
Oh Lord won't you let me just stay here and ski?

That's it, heh, heh, heh.

I need to clarify that this is just a song, not an autobiography. I already have skis with edges of steel, a passable tele-turn, and a nice skier chick.

"What's the big hurry?" Photo by Ed Linton

* Alright, as far as I know, the late Nelson Mandela did not ever ski, and I changed 'living' to 'skiing', but otherwise it works.