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 2026 Multi-Day Tour #1 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 2026 Multi-Day Tour #1, Sections 24 to 27, from Friday January 16, 2026 to Monday January 19, 2026. 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 Coordinators are my wife Marie and Hans Buehler. Go to the bottom of CTA's 2026 Multi-Day Tour #1 page to REGISTER. You need to completely fill out this form before you are a registered MDT skier. 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 Edson Hill Nordic Center to Craftsbury Outdoor Center. 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 "MDT1" for "Multi-Day-Tour #1". 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

12/15/2025 - Welcome, I've just revised this site for this tour, let me know if you find anything amiss. Right now there is enough snow for skiing these sections, Pray for more snow!

12/31/2025 - I've updated the Participants List, please check (if you haven't already) that I have your dates right, and email a reply (if you haven't already) so I know you are getting these emails. I've also added a Social Event. If anyone is looking for a home-stay option for lodging, let me know.

12/31/2025 - Jamen, trail chief on Mt Elmore, reports: "I am very sorry to report that the heavy rain wiped out a lot of our snow. Just yesterday we skied over Elmore to clean up some downed trees and it was pretty good but still alot of exposed water. I’ll keep a tab on the conditions and keep in touch but we could definitely use a minimum of 5+ inches to keep it from being hazardous over the ridge."

1/9/2026 - Some folks have been asking about what we will do if the trail is closed due to poor skiing.

I think an explanation is in order, since the trail is never "closed". (Except it is sometimes closed for landowner issues like logging.) There is no ski patrol to check or open or close parts of the trail. It is up to the skier to decide if you want to ski it or not. See the picture at the bottom of the Introduction and Details page for an example of what I consider "skiable". You can strap on skis and hobble along the CT in June if you want to.

It is really hard to forecast what the conditions will be like at this point for our tour. It was good, then it got rained out, but there is some more rain and snow in the forecast. I'll give you the best information I can get from our local skiers (send me what you know, please, local skiers), but we might cancel one or more days if it looks like the skiing is dangerous to skis or skiers. You'll have to be judge of whether it looks like something you want to do. Just let me know if you decide to cancel. Do you have rock skis?

If you have to make B&B/hotel reservations, you'll need to figure out how you want to handle this uncertainty of skiing regarding getting a refund, etc. There are local XC resorts that you might be able to ski at even if we decide the backcountry skiing is unwise.

1/12/2026 - Dear skiers,

I know many folks are on the stonewall about whether to participate on the upcoming tour. I'm feeling pretty optimistic for good, if not amazing, skiing. Here are some reports from the area (also follow Trapps and Craftsbury's condition reports):

Jeannie: "The part of our hike that overlapped with CT had totally adequate coverage - more snow and less ice than I would have thought. Not “nice” though. We wore micro spikes for the whole hike. " She also reported damage from the ice storm, which I know trail chief Jamen has been working on on that section.

John R: "Skied on the Trapp Family Lodge Trails on Saturday. There is good cover in Stowe, and I would expect there will be sufficient snow cover for all these sections this coming weekend. As of this morning, it looks like we will have some above freezing temperatures on Wednesday and a bit of rain, but then turning colder with at least some snow. My expectation is the trail will be skiable – it may be the skiers out front will have crust to break up."

Jamen: "Skied over Elmore earlier in the week to clear brush and the snow was good.  Lots of downed branches and trees due to ice so we have been doing lots of clearing. Definitely lost some snow due to rain Friday night but we still have a decent base.  We might even get a few inches tonight. I also skied part of section 24 this week - good at higher elevations (Sterling Gorge area) and “ok” (some exposed areas) at lower elevations. Ditto with Craftsbury area."

As of today Craftsbury shows the trails we would use on next Monday as open and groomed. I remember one tour here where we were crossing the cornfield with the two inch corn stubble sticking out through the snow. I'm hoping for better conditions than that.

We will be sure to allow everyone time to navigate any tricky sections. If you don't want to hurt your skis it is fine to walk any thin sections.

There is a little rain in the forecast but also some snow. Looks like sunny then snowy for the actual tour.

It is fine with me to wait until the morning of a day to let me know you won't be joining us. CTA's 2026 Multi-Day Tour #1 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.