Welcome to the Mountain.
December 19, 2015 7:00 am
A trip this week to work on the next freelance story for Central New York: The Good Life magazine took me some 20 miles southeast of Syracuse to Toggenburg, a ski complex n Fabius, N.Y.
Welcome to the Mountain.
My piece for the March/April edition will not be about skiing.
Nevertheless, it was impossible not to notice that right now in mid-December, these slopes are quite naked.
Waiting for Mother Nature.
No snow on the mountain. No skiers on the several hills, expert to beginners.
I grabbed my iPhone 6 and walked around the property, outside and in.
Eat, drink and by ready for when it does get white out there.
You see, the place already has been open for two weeks, I’ve been informed. The Foggy Goggle restaurant and pub is welcoming guests Thursday through Saturday. Food and drink are available for purchase. The camaraderie is free. I’ve been. It’s a cool place. No pun intended.
Hoping for some action.
And, having lived here in Central New York since 1983, I’m fairly certain that soon enough, a line will form at the lift ticket window above. Temperatures will fall. Snow will follow.
Do you ski or snow board or tube ride? Which of the three do you or would you prefer and why? What would you like to drink and eat in a ski lodge restaurant/pub, and why?
Posted by markbialczak
Categories: iPhone Photography, Life
Tags: Fabius, Photography, Skiing, Snow, The Foggy Goggle, The Good Life: Central New York magazine, Toggenburg, Winter
Mobile Site | Full Site
Get a free blog at WordPress.com Theme: WordPress Mobile Edition by Alex King.
I like my ski slopes just the way these look bro Mark. I do well to walk with shoes on, no way I’ll try it on sticks. I did lots of sledding when too young to know better, usually on my Grandmother’s bread pan that she would loan the younger kids to use on her hillside slope. That was fun, but any kind of slipping now ends with a concussion. Less fun there. As for the food and drink? Exactly what I’m about to have now — Focaccia bread fresh from the oven, and hot cocoa. Or, since it is now officially Christmas morning — Eggnog with added nog. That is only for Christmas, and in case of snakebite. Surprising how many snakes there are in the walls of this building.
Merry Christmas my friend, to you and your beautiful family.
LikeLike
By Kentucky Angel on December 25, 2015 at 3:20 am
Merry Christmas, my dear sis Angie. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 25, 2015 at 7:59 am
Merry Christmas bro Mark. It’s all over now, and we all survived it, I think.
LikeLike
By Kentucky Angel on December 26, 2015 at 12:45 am
Haven’t snow skied in a very long time. An easily set aside, never enthusiastic about it to begin with activity for me. Loved sledding as a kid though.
LikeLike
By JoHanna Massey on December 23, 2015 at 8:56 am
Sledding as a kid! Now we’re talking about great memories, JoHanna. Indeed. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 24, 2015 at 8:12 am
Soon enough, indeed!
LikeLike
By snoozing on the sofa on December 21, 2015 at 9:16 am
Yikes!
LikeLike
By markbialczak on December 21, 2015 at 9:42 am
I tried to learn to ski when I lived in Colorado. It did not go well. I stopped after I almost gave myself an inadvertent episiotomy wrapping around a tree that appeared from nowhere. Decided I have a hard enough time just navigating flat, non-slippery ground.
Hope you guys get snow soon. We have had loads of rain here today. I think we can blame the lack of snow in your area on the mighty El Nino.
LikeLike
By SD Gates on December 19, 2015 at 10:46 pm
I’m glad you avoided that tree and medical procedure on the slopes, SD. YIKES!
El Niño stays put, I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Well, I didn’t really avoid the tree, but luckily no procedures occurred. Needless to say, I have not tried skiing again. I will stick to water. I am safer in water and not on skis.
LikeLike
By SD Gates on December 20, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Good choice, SD. Very good choice. I avoid both. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:41 pm
Nice place to cover for s story – and I bet it is so gorgeous with snow too!
LikeLike
By prior2001 on December 19, 2015 at 10:39 pm
It is, Y. I’ve been there in the snow. Pretty place!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:34 pm
soon enough it will be covered in white, no doubt. it still looks like a cool place and i’m sure it will fill once it really begins to act like winter. i’ve snow skied a bit on trails and pretty badly, but i enjoyed it. love the warm up of a lodge )
LikeLike
By ksbeth on December 19, 2015 at 4:28 pm
The lodge is a great respite for all, I think, Beth. Warm up!
LikeLike
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:33 pm
One of my favorite places to go was Park City, Utah (famous for Sundance Festival) in the off season. It has a great view, and much less crowded in the Spring/Summer. The ski lift/cable cars operate all year for tourists. When I learned to ski, I went to the places out of the way that locals used. Much less flash than the tourist slopes.
p.s. The snow may be arriving soon, Mark. The place looks “cool” anyway. ☺
LikeLike
By vanbytheriver on December 19, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Local places probably have much more reasonable rates than the big-name tourist slopes, I’d think, Van. And, yes, just 10 or so miles north of Syracuse, lake effect snow hit hard this weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:31 pm
They don’t have snow-making equipment at that ski resort?
LikeLike
By cordeliasmom2012 on December 19, 2015 at 2:15 pm
I was going to ask about the snow-making thing as well, CM ????
LikeLiked by 1 person
By vanbytheriver on December 19, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Great minds think alike. I only thought of it because I’ve been hearing news reports of how hard a time our local ski areas are having at keeping the manufactured snow from melting too quickly and becoming too icy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By cordeliasmom2012 on December 19, 2015 at 2:34 pm
It was too warm to use it if they do, CM. I didn’t see any pipes running for that sort of thing, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Personally, I’ll take food and fellowship any day. That said, I would like to take up cross-country skiing one day.
LikeLike
By mohawkvalleygirl on December 19, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Cross-country would be much safer than downhill, I agree, Cynthia. But food and fellowship is my first choice as well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:29 pm
It isn’t just the safety that appeals to me, though. The slower pace would suit me better, and I like to look around at the scenery. But the hanging out with friends aspect of the sport is what really appeals.
LikeLike
By mohawkvalleygirl on December 21, 2015 at 6:34 pm
I get you, Cynthia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 22, 2015 at 8:39 am
Never tried snow skiing only water skiing! Do not like snow or cold. Love the sun and water too much and my flip flops Terp! Hope for the sake of the owners snow falls soon! Many enjoy winter sports in the great Northeast! Happy Holidays…Gatorette.
LikeLike
By Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on December 19, 2015 at 11:01 am
Water skiing must be fun in flip flops, Gatorette. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Terp-everything is fun in flip flops! LOL Gatorette
LikeLike
By Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on December 20, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Here we are so used to it we make our own snow. I guess in NY they feel there is no need. The real stuff is better anyway.
LikeLike
By Marissa Bergen on December 19, 2015 at 9:49 am
Some of the mountains make their own snow, Marissa, indeed. It’s like winter aerial irrigation systems. 🙂
LikeLike
By markbialczak on December 19, 2015 at 10:37 am
Oh, I see. I used to vacation in the Catskills when I was a kid and they took us skiing but I have no idea whether the snow was real or not. It was so long ago.
LikeLike
By Marissa Bergen on December 19, 2015 at 2:35 pm
It probably was real back then, Marissa. 🙂
LikeLike
By markbialczak on December 20, 2015 at 2:32 pm
You think…? You probably would know better than me.
LikeLike
By Marissa Bergen on December 20, 2015 at 10:00 pm
I think, yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 21, 2015 at 8:14 am
I use to snow ski. We have quite a few ski slopes fairly close by. But I finally stopped skiing when I got ran over by the slope’s ski patrol on a snow mobile. LOL! (Ouch!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Priceless Joy on December 19, 2015 at 9:18 am
Double ouch, PJ. The hit and the fall!
LikeLike
By markbialczak on December 19, 2015 at 10:36 am
Yes! Thankfully, no broken bones. Just very bruised with a badly bruised ego! LOL!
LikeLike
By Priceless Joy on December 19, 2015 at 11:15 am
I feel bad for the businesses affcted by this great weather….but not so bad that I want it to end…:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
By George on December 19, 2015 at 8:58 am
Agreed, George. Totally.
LikeLike
By markbialczak on December 19, 2015 at 10:35 am
“No pun intended”? That’s hard to swallow, Mark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Ann Koplow on December 19, 2015 at 7:39 am
OK, I meant it. You got me again, Ann. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 19, 2015 at 10:35 am
Some time ago I went skiing with my sister in law who has tried to teach me. Her best compliment was “you fall very well!!!”
LikeLike
By LaCrils on December 19, 2015 at 7:29 am
When I tried I did a very good job of brushing the mountain of excess snow with my butt, LaCrils. Sounds like we had the same amount of skiing skill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 19, 2015 at 10:35 am
Maybe this weekend they say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By silentlyheardonce on December 19, 2015 at 7:09 am
That would be something after this whole month of green, Kim. 😮
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on December 19, 2015 at 10:34 am