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around the globe. This is the news archive of April 2010. Get your daily skiing news updates
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ChamonixInfo, a leading information website, highlights that, although the 2009/2010 winter ski season is drawing to a close in the Chamonix Valley ski area, the action and the closing parties are far from over.
With excellent late season snow conditions and glorious weather, Chamonix is one of only a handful of ski resorts in the French Alps still open, with skiing offered at Les Gran... Read Full Storyds Montets right up until the 9th May 2010.
Not only is the action still happening on the slopes of Chamonix, but also off the slopes. The closing parties are gathering pace and ChamonixInfo has updated, relevant information on all the parties, festivals and all-nighters the length and breadth of the valley.
To celebrate an exceptional year of snow conditions and as a final goodbye to the 2009/2010 winter ski season, the party venues include the pistes at Brevent, with an after party event featuring live music and DJs. Flegere will be hosting an outdoor dance night in Paradis les Praz - an idyllic wood cabin nestled in the pine forest, and no season in Chamonix would be the same without the legendary Freeride Days at Les Grands Montets full of tomfoolery on the slopes, fancy dress, music and dancing.
This year the Brevent, Flegere and Balme ski areas are due to close at the end of the day on the 25th April before reopening again for the summer hiking and mountain biking season. Les Grands Montets will stay open every day until the 9th May 2010, offering skiing up to an altitude of 3275m above sea level on the Argentiere Glacier.
Chamonix itself is unique in that it is a year-round destination with a 'proper' town feel, so once the winter season comes to a close, ChamonixInfo.com will still be updating all the activities and events information for Chamonix during the inter-season.
As well as providing essential information on what to do in Chamonix, ChamonixInfo.com has a full directory of all the Chamonix restaurants, bars, cafes and shops in the resort including visitor feedback.
Eastern Mountain Sports, one of the nation's largest outdoor retailers, will host a grand opening of its newest location in Waterford, CT on April 30 - May 2, 2010. After 15 years in the Crystal Mall, Eastern Mountain Sports has moved to a new, larger location at Charter Oak Commons. The new, 14,600 square-foot store is nearly triple the size of the former location and features an expanded boat d... Read Full Storyepartment, road running shoes and expert service, a climbing gear test area, as well as a full-service bike shop. These improvements complement an extensive selection of outdoor apparel and gear for backpacking, camping, climbing and hiking.
"For 15 years, our staff of experienced athletes here in Waterford has been preparing our customers for all kinds of outdoor adventures," said Will Manzer, CEO of Eastern Mountain Sports. "With more products to choose from and an upgraded shopping experience, we look forward to exceeding the expectations of every outdoor enthusiast who walks through the door."
A grand opening community celebration will take place April 30 - May 2, with a portion of the weekend's proceeds donated to Connecticut Forest & Park Association. Since 1895, CFPA has been working to protect forests, parks, walking trails and open spaces for future generations by connecting people to the land; CFPA has been instrumental in the acquisition of more than 100 state parks and forests for public use and enjoyment.
Kayaking is the signature sport of the Waterford store with an extensive selection of boats and accessories for recreational paddling, sea kayaking, and fishing. The selection of gear and apparel available at the new Waterford store includes Eastern Mountain Sports' proprietary products such as its outerwear layering system SYNC and Techwick®, its versatile, moisture management base layer. Like all other Eastern Mountain Sports stores, the new store will have Foot Gurus, sales associates specially trained to analyze feet and to custom fit athletic footwear.
About Eastern Mountain Sports
Founded in 1967 by two New England rock climbers and based in Peterborough, N.H., Eastern Mountain Sports is one of the nation's leading outfitters of outdoor gear, clothing, footwear and accessories with 64 retail stores in 12 states. Eastern Mountain Sports designs and sells products for outdoor adventurers who participate in a variety of sports, such as mountaineering, backpacking, camping, hiking, adventure racing, climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and snow sports. More information is available at www.ems.com.
Eastern Mountain Sports, one of the nation's largest outdoor retailers, will host a grand opening of its newest location in Hingham MA on April 30 - May 2, 2010. After 14 years at Anchor Plaza, Eastern Mountain Sports has moved to a new, larger location at The Launch at Hingham Shipyard. The new, 14,900 square-foot store is nearly triple the size of the former location and features an expanded ka... Read Full Storyyak department, a climbing gear test area, as well as a full-service bike shop. These additions complement an extensive selection of outdoor gear and apparel for backpacking, camping, climbing and hiking.
"For 14 years, our experienced staff here in Hingham has been preparing our customers for all kinds of outdoor adventures," said Will Manzer, CEO of Eastern Mountain Sports. "With more products to choose from and an upgraded shopping experience, we look forward to exceeding the expectations of every outdoor athlete who walks through the door."
A grand opening community celebration will take place April 30 - May 2, with a portion of the weekend's proceeds donated to The Trustees of Reservations, a conservation organization that oversees over 100 properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts, including three in the Hingham area.
Kayaking is the signature sport of the Hingham store with an extensive selection of boats and accessories for recreational paddling, sea kayaking, and fishing. The selection of gear and apparel available at the new Hingham store includes Eastern Mountain Sports' proprietary products such as its outerwear layering system SYNC and Techwick®, its versatile, moisture management base layer. Like all other Eastern Mountain Sports stores, the new store will have Foot Gurus, sales associates specially trained to analyze feet and to custom fit athletic footwear.
The hustle and bustle of Atlanta will soon head north to Lake Sidney Lanier and Lake Allatoona, as the days grow longer and the waters of Georgia's favorite recreational lakes get warmer.
Lakes Sidney Lanier and Allatoona, just outside of Atlanta, are two of the most frequently visited lakes in the nation, averaging a combined 14 million visitors annually. Atlanta's urban sprawl can be... Read Full Story found along the shorelines of these lakes, yet Carters Lake, situated one hour north of Atlanta in Gilmer County, looks much like it did when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed it in 1977.
"Carters Lake is unique in that commercial and residential development is prohibited, resulting in 62 miles of pristine shoreline," says Lu Ann Lackey, Park Manager. "The only structures on the lake are at the Carters Lake Resort and Marina, which accommodates park guests with boat slips, fuel, marine supplies, concessions and cabin and boat rentals." When you begin planning your next lake outing, consider Carters Lake:
Great for Family Skiing - For those using starter skis, or for wakeboarding and water skiing enthusiasts looking to practice some new tricks, Carters Lake is perfect due to its size, depth and limited boat traffic. At 3,200 acres, Carters Lake is the deepest lake in the state, reaching depths of 450 feet.
Boat-In Camping - Most folks are used to hiking to their favorite campsite, but how about boating to your campsite? Twelve primitive boat-in campsites are available, and campers can tie their boat up next to their tent. The lake also has plenty of sites for RV goers.
Day-Trip - Carters Lake is perfect for a family outing or reunion. The area offers group picnic shelters, playgrounds, game courts, fishing decks, scenic overlooks and hiking and biking trails.
Fishing - The clear, deep waters are home to a variety of freshwater fish, including walleye, a species not often found in the Southeast. Largemouth, striped and hybrid bass are favorite species for guided and recreational fishing trips.
Exploring - Visitors often take to the lake's many hiking and mountain biking trails to explore the vast array of ecosystems and wildlife. Carters Lake is designated as an Important Birding Area by the Audubon Society, and its Hidden Pond Songbird Trail features blinds for viewing and managed areas to attract songbirds.
Kayaking & Canoeing - The Coosawattee River is well known for its excellent kayaking and canoeing, but is better known as the story behind the James Dickey canoe-adventure novel, Deliverance, which became a classic movie starring Burt Reynolds. Several organizations are currently working on a kayak and canoe trail, launching in Ellijay, passing through Class I/II rapids on the Coosawattee River, and ending on the calm waters of Carters Lake.
For visitor information and traveler specials, visit www.gilmerchamber.com, or join our fan page on Facebook at The Ellijays.
Despite Recent Reports of Fatal Avalanches, Heliskiing Remains A Popular Winter Pastime For Many Thrill Seekers. B.C. Companies Like Mica Heli Guides Specialize in Getting Skiers To The Best Spots While Adhering To the Strictest Safety Standards
Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada, April 11, 2010 – According to a recent article in USA Today, the 3 fatal the avalanches that recently c... Read Full Storylaimed the lives of several people in British Colombia were triggered by snowmobilers in two cases and skiers in the third. The author of that piece also stated every one of these tragic events were attributed to unstable snow conditions as well as the fact that the people involved had chosen to disregard warnings. While remote mountain areas throughout North America are home to many deadly snowslides each year, the majority of these phenomena tend to have causes similar to those cited above. Basically, they are usually due to human error on the part of of individuals who have a blatant disregard for safety and often choose to ignore obvious warning signs altogether.
But the threat of avalanches doesn’t discourage fanatical skiers and snowboarders from constantly seeking to push the envelope in search of ever more thrilling mountain rides. In fact, the popularity of backcountry activities such as catskiing and heliskiing has skyrocketed in recent years, sparking the emergence of many different companies that specialize in getting skiers into more remote mountain locations, without the use of traditional ski lifts.
Perhaps the most well known and well respected of these outfits is Mica Heli Ski Guides, a small company, which is based just outside of Revelstoke British Columbia, on the Western Slopes of the Canadian Rockies. Each winter, Mica runs exclusive, private tours from its remote alpine lodge to dozens of pristine locations throughout its more than 178,000 acres of premium backcountry ski tenure. The company is well known in ski circles for providing quality personalized service while adhering to the strictest standards of safety.
One of the advantages of heliskiing over more traditional ski lifts is the fact that helicopters allow skiers and snowboarders to access some extremely remote, uninhabited locations, where they can lay fresh tracks and experience the thrill of downhill skiing in fresh, deep, dry powder. While traditional resorts are often overcrowded and overused, causing snow conditions to deteriorate quite quickly, the backcountry remains unspoiled, accessible only to those who have the motivation and the wherewithal necessary to get there. This makes heliskiing a far more exclusive experience, which relatively few skiers are fortunate enough take part in each year.
But backcountry heliskiing is not without its drawbacks. In fact, while the two biggest hurdles for many are the required skill level and high cost of this activity, many people also have serious safety concerns. Nevertheless, those factors need not necessarily serve as deterrents, provided that those who chose to engage in this exciting activity, do so with the aid of skilled professionals.
That is where companies such as Mica Heli Guides come in, providing the expertise and equipment necessary to ensure the safety and enjoyment of thrill seekers of all different ages and backgrounds. In fact, Mica has received a great deal of recognition due to the extensive experience and spotless safety record of its pilots and guides in addition to the quality of the equipment that the company uses. While Mica’s powerful, modern mountain helicopters seldom remain on the ground for more than two days each winter, extensive avalanche awareness training combined with the use of tools such as probes and transceivers, helps to ensure that skiers avoid the perils of snowslides. Mica’s professional ski guides know this country like the back of their hands and provide the guidance necessary for skiers to enjoy themselves thoroughly and stay out of harm’s way.
Source: http://www.pr-usa.net
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