Boston Plast branch members enjoy ski trip to Vermont resort

by Andrij Kozak

WEST WINDSOR, Vt. - Nearly thirty Plast Scout members and parents spent January 25-26 skiing at Ascutney Mountain Resort. Ascutney is located in West Windsor, Vt., an hour from the Massachusetts border.

Boston Plast members are a small but dedicated and growing group. The members live anywhere from Rhode Island to New Hampshire. Few actually live in Boston and most are originally from elsewhere and have found themselves in communities outside of the city. A significant proportion of Boston's Plast members, and one of the reasons for an increase in membership, are recent immigrants from Ukraine. They, too, have tended to settle outside of Boston proper.

The ski trip was organized as a family event. Eight families came with children ranging in age from several months to 16 years old. The "Ptashata" (boys and girls under age 7) were Yuliana and Lida Lisowsky, and Damian Kozak; "novachky" (girls age 7-11) - Andrea Cybriwsky, Katia Kozak and Nina Lupan; "novaky" (boys age 7-11) - Andrew Lupan; "yunachky" (girls age 12-17) - Melasia Cybriwsky; and "yunaky" (boys age 12-17) - Alex Mykyta.

The day started with temperatures just below zero but quickly warmed to the more manageable 15-20 degrees. Due to the recent Christmas and post-New Year's Day storms and cold weather, more snow had accumulated at this time of the year than in recent memory.

Aside from meeting in the morning, no specific schedule was set for the outing. However, the ski area is small enough that it was not difficult to keep track of kids and to cross tracks with friends. Some of the group ran into each other for a spontaneous photo by the official mountain photographer. Everyone spent the day skiing in smaller groups that bumped into each other and exchanged members as abilities and ambitions required.

The Ascutney ski area is a secret place unknown to the vast majority of skiers. It sits on the flanks of a lone peak overlooking the Connecticut River. To the west lie the Green Mountains of Vermont; to the Northeast are the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Snow-covered fields and forested hills stretch in between. A lone church spire marks the center of the small town below.

The ski slopes rise 1,800 feet up the northwest side of the mountain, with the mountain rising an additional 700 feet. The trails on the upper part of the mountain vary from steep to manageable by the intermediate skier. The trails dip and twist and roll and do everything but go straight and level. Beginners stay on the lower sections of the mountain, where the trails are broader, flatter and straighter. A hotel complex, ski shop, kids' areas and race center form a horseshoe at the base of the ski area.

At the end of the day the skiers made their way to the base of an expert trail named Terminator. Directly in the path of this steep but wide trail sits a cluster of condominiums; one of these served as host to the obligatory après ski party. Everyone gratefully shed their heavy boots and warm clothes. After eating, drinking and swapping ski tales, the skiers headed back to their hotel to prepare for dinner.

The group next made its way to a Chinese restaurant in West Lebanon, N.H. However, since there are two such restaurants visible off the main street and directions had contained the typical "you can't miss it" and not much else, everyone stopped at the first restaurant asking about the second. Better late than never, all were able to sit down together to enjoy a Chinese buffet and swap more stories. The day was declared a success.

The next day Ascutney hosted the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge, a giant slalom race in which several skiers participated. Damian Kozak won the boys' age 6 category and his sister, Katia, placed second among girls age 7-9. In addition to the medals, various prizes were given away during the day and Melasia Cybriwsky was the big winner, walking away with a fleece vest. With any luck this ski trip will turn into an annual event.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 16, 2003, No. 11, Vol. LXXI

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