Still River Outfitters Inc.

Team SRO by:  Lyndsie Cammarata

The Fast And Furious:

My fifth time going snowboarding and I was a part of Still River Outfitters at Ascutney Mountain ripping and tearing up the mountain. Lyndsie says “Ascutney is an awesome place to go tear up the mountain and it’s a nice steep terrain. I felt like I was flying down that mountain! The snow was like fire behind me!” When she was asked her favorite part of the whole day snowboarding she said “ My favorite part of the whole thing has  got to be when I was strutting my stuff to people going down the mountain or talking to the very nice lift people here.” When asked how far she went up and how fun it was she said “I went to the top of the mountain and when I got to the bottom I felt like I melted all the snow off the mountain! It was really fun! I inspire everyone to come to Ascutney Mountain!!”

A Great Moment in Time: by Caithness Cammarata

It was my first time going skiing downhill and I had to learn how to turn, stop, and do side stepping when your going on the lift, pretty much all the basics. when asked what I liked the most I said , ” I love to show off my moves.”  “I did a 360 by accident but I played it cool and made it look like I knew what I was doing,  no one  would have known it was my first day! Although, the first time I was a little slow and I had butterflies in my stomach going on the lift, but the second time I was on fire!”

Erik Baker and the awesome WCBH youth group activities.

Hey this is Erik from still river outfitters, and I wanted to talk about our awesome day on Monday. I worked with West Central Behavioral Health an we did all kinds of stuff. First we started with some team builing games inside and then we shifted gears into snowshoeing around the challenge course here at the shop. While snowshoeing we had to play a game of ultimate chicken….. yes ultimate chicken, just like ultimate frisby except with a big rubber chicken. After we got a quick snack we went tubing on the mountain here. Incredibly just one crash! After tubing we cam inside and had lunch and played some more games. After lunch we wroked as a team to carry kayaks and swimming gear to the resort pool here, and along the way sang some songs. Once we got to the pool we had 2 stations, one that involved swimming with Raina and playing some games, and I took the kayaking station. The kids and adults had a great time and we received nothing but positive feedback! Hope to see you soon!

Who says you can’t kayak in New England in the winter?

Best Day Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Still River Outfitters Top 14 Snowshoeing Tricks & Tips

 By Craig Carmody  

 1. Get outside. No joke. There is no better way to really experience a mountain, or wooded area, or even a meadow than on snowshoes. My favorite part about snowshoes? Snowshoeing you can go pretty much anywhere you want. If you can walk you can snowshoe through it if there’s enough snowshoe.

2. You need snow. Seems obvious, but for my money, if there’s not at least 6 to 8 inches on the ground,  you might as well leave the snowshoes home and go for a plain old hike. The point of snowshoes is to “float” on the top of the snow, it’s worth waiting for the deep stuff.

3. Check the weather forecast. Don’t just look up at the sky. Get the report. Weather can change very quickly in Vermont, and you don’t want to get caught in a squall your unprepared to face.

4. Be prepared to face the weather.  How you dress for snowshoeing will depend on the weather conditions (how cold, how wet, how deep) and how much you plan on exerting yourself (how far, how fast, how long). For anything other than a simple snowshoe stroll, bring a backpack so you can peel (or put on) base, mid, and outer layers at will.

5. Snowshoeing is less fun with cold feet. No mater what, bring an extra pair of sox. (I usually bring two.)  Good hiking socks, and some type of waterproof hiking boot.  Gaters are a good idea as well to keep the snow out of your boots.

6. Choose the right snowshoes. There are lots of companies out there selling snowshoes. Take your time. Know your weight and adjust it up for your boots and whatever you might carry while snowshoeing I love TLS Snowshoes website www.tsloutdoor.com  Find a knowledgeable salesperson to help you; there’s a lot of choice in style, sizes, bindings, frame materials, decking, etc. Three types of snowshoes, recreational snowshoe, mountaineering snowshoe, and racing snowshoe; they are all different.

7. Be realistic about your level of fitness. If walking a half-mile on a sunny day is a bit strenuous for you, don’t plan on making your first snowshoe a five-mile hike. Snowshoeing at its most basic is no harder than walking, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier than hoofing it.

8. Walk, don’t run. Yet. If you are new to snowshoes, be sure to spend some time walking around on them, gradually practice increasing your speed before you sign up for a snowshoe race—even a short one. I’ve seen too many people land face first within the first twenty steps when they try to run on snowshoes.

9. Leave a note. Let people know where you are going. It’s much safer to let your loved ones, or at least someone, know where you are going, just in case something comes up. If you get lost and go missing, you’ll want someone to know you’re gone, and where in the world to start looking for you.

10. Don’t leave home without them. If you are going out for an extended snowshoe adventure, put some emergency supplies in your backpack: water, high-protein snacks, extra socks, hat, gloves, and a cell phone.

11. Give yourself a break. If you are breaking trail, know that it can become very tiring very quickly. If you are out snowshoeing with other people, take turns breaking trail to avoid over exertion.

12. You may want to take a pole or two.  Poles are very good for maintaining balance on snowshoes and are excellent for climbing. It’s nice to have them, but know that it’s tough to get used to them if you have never tried them. I personally like the collapsible poles from TSL, but in any event, you definitely want something lightweight.

13  Snow is not see-through. The deeper the snow, the more likely it is that there are obstacles lurking below the even expanse of level plain. Things like barbed wire fencing, a culvert, dips in the terrain, downed trees. If you take a step, and suddenly find yourself waist deep in snow, don’t panic. Just know that it can take a while to extricate yourself and your shoes. If you don’t know the terrain at all, proceed with caution or stick to the trail.

14. Take a night prowl. It’s worth going snowshoeing at night; it’s so amazingly quiet. Even if you are a beginner, night snowshoeing is not to be missed! BUT, do not snowshoe at night alone. Check out the touring with Still River Outfitters or ski places; many offer guided group snowshoe tours at night, even midnight.

 Night Snowshoe on Mt Ascutney 2-22-09

 Moonlight Snowshoe Mt Ascutney 2-20-09

Sunset is my favorite time of day here in Chile with New River Academy. We are back at our Pucon base, having study hall, and everything is so peaceful. The sky is glowing and all the summer trees sway softly, basking in golden light. God I love it here.

Two stray puppies that lived under my hostel in Choshuenco Chile

We just got back from Choshuenco, Chile, which was super fun, like everything on this trip. There is so much to experience here, so much to take in and learn. The culture is rich and the landscape…I can never drink enough in; Its too beautiful. I have always hated cities and big towns, but there is something about Pucon, Chile that is just…cool! It is laid back and attractive, with lots going on, and yet a slower pace. You can find everything you could possibly want there, including some truly delicious ice cream (totally my weakness, don’t even get me started). Although I do not wish to live someplace that urban, it is definitely cool to have it a minor bus ride away.

Me about to go off Los Leones Falls on the Rio Fuy in Chile.

There are so many waterfalls, rivers, creeks, and amazing areas here, I wish there was a way to see them all. I have seen some really stunning swimming holes and mountain trails with New River Academy, but there is still so much, and so little time! Suddenly 7 weeks in chile seems…too short! I love paddling down a river with mountains surrounding me, waving to the chilean fishermen and little kids playing. I love buying fresh picked fruit at the little local fruit stand around the corner from New River Academy’s base (the nectarines are to die for). I love doing homework in the afternoon sun, and paddling in turquoise water. 

The little town of Choshuenco, Chile on the Rio Fuy

My goal is to live every moment I am here in Chile to the absolute fullest. I suppose I could just make that my general goal in life, but I’ll start off here in Chile. I hope you all are staying warm (sorry, the sun is shining here, and I could not resist)!

-Tracy d’Arbeloff

Hey guys!

My name is Tracy and I am one of the instructors at Still River Outfitters, and the Youth Embassador as well. I am currently in Chile with New River Academy, which is an accredited whitewater kayaking highschool. It is pretty sweet. It is warm and…well it is raining right now, but it is usually sunny, which is an awesome change from cold New England weather!

The kayaking down here is amazing. The water is so clean and beautiful. Some rivers even look turquoise! I, along with other students, sometimes flip during easier rapids and just watch the rocks rush under us. It is the coolest feeling, and such a new experience from the darker waters of the USA. The cool thing about Chilean rivers are that they range from creek to big water, sometimes even in the same run. Every new river we’ve gone so far has been totally different from the last. Let’s just say I am never bored

And talk about culture shock! Not only is it a different language down here (spanish), but just the people in general are so different. Everyone is really nice and friendly, and where ever you go, you’ll get smiles from strangers. Little stands in random places hold everything from empenadas to woven wool shirts! The land itself is gorgeous! Everything is rich and green and exotic looking. There are constantly mountains in the distance, and even for a while there was a smoking volcano is sight! I have to admit that made me a little nervous!

Anyway, I am in love with this country, and having the time of my life. Keep checking for more updates about my travels!

-Tracy d’Arbeloff

Welcome to our blog. This is the place to keep up to date with what our instructors are doing on the river, mountain, ocean etc. Some will be what they are doing for SRO, some on their time off (most of us still paddle, ski, and spend ALL our time outdoors), some of we older staff members may even relive our best (and worst) trips from the past. Hey - cut us some slack - we’ve done some cool things in our days! We hope you find this entertaining. I’ll be sure to post our best carnage…. we have plenty of that too!