Abandoned Ski Hill Adventures

Posted by S. , Friday, December 31, 2010 6:41 PM

Spent the day at Ski Mont Shefford. Which is, for the less ski-savvy, or non-Townshippers that might frequent my blog, a ski hill that closed in 2006.
That being said, I discovered last winter, first with Tom (see: torn meniscus), and later with Jess that the fact that it is closed is only a slight deterrent. Sure, there aren't any lifts to the top, nor is there a base or any grooming being done. There are, on the overwhelmingly positive side: no tourists, no lines, and an entire mountain of fresh, fluffy powder to play on in privacy. All, quite literally, in my backyard.
My love of ski hills and love of abandoned places aside, I will return here until it inevitably gets too grown up to ski, board, or crazy carpet down. We have a few good years left, though. (And, if the rumours are true, if the environmental issues ever get solved the owner, a Shefford mountain skiier and not developer, praise Ullr, does intend to re-open someday in a hypothethical future).

This mountain is, in many ways, the mythical paradise of my childhood. Not that everything was rosy. I can still remember laying my first ever tracks on alpine skis on this trail in '94. I also remember that I thoroughly did NOT enjoy this sport. Actually, mental images of beating my phys ed teacher over the head with the oversized straight-cut 1990s neon skis flashed through my mind, as did throwing my boots into the woods, and sitting by the fireplace in the chalet all day. Abandon ship.

Tears for Fears, the smell of Hubba Bubba, and memories of All-Sport (preferably grape) all elicit memories of this place. While dear old Glen mountain (perhaps later this week, or when I come visit in March) has a its share of legends, nostalgics, facebook groups, newspaper articles, and die-hards anxiously awaiting the day it may re-open someday, and a book on its history, Shefford has nothing. Except those who remember it as a slightly archaic, quirky place with its fair share of stories.

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