Improvements Beckon Skiers to Distant Hills

Despite the fact that the strip around the caterpillar's middle is narrower than usual this year, winter resorts are preparing bigger and more complete skiing facilities all over New England.

Two loan winters have made this year a must for the thousands of people who live on the wintertime ski trade and they're making an all-out effort to combat the weather device with added lure for the would-be adventurer.

Areas which had previously depended on graded inclines to attract the slat-burdened visitor have added new trails; places which required a good deal of snow to cover their trails have spent time and money grading and treating the hills to make skiing on thinly covered slopes almost a pleasure; the traditional refuge of the snow bunny has added many comfortable couches so that it is now possible to go up to the lodge, never put on a ski, and still have a good time.

All of the major New Hampshire ski lifts plan to start operating sometime this month, some about the middle, others later. Most of the other New England and New York State spots open about the same time.

Typical of the new efforts is the vast program set up by the keepers of Belknap Mountain. New chair lifts with footrests and hand rails have been put in as well as an extra open slope and "Tiger" trail. Lights for night skiing have been installed and the $100,000 recreation lodge has set up a sun deck for the hearty out-of-doors man. Facilities for sales, rentals and repairs are also available here.

Other lavish methods of skyward travel are still available to the person who is in a hurry to get to the top so that he may get back to the bottom. The Skimobile at North Conway for example sends little cars nearly a mile to the summit of Cran-more Mountain at the rate of 1,000 passengers per hour. At Cannon Mountain the enthusiast goes up 2,000 feet in a cable car, if that's your idea of fun.

At Jackson, Thorn Mountain and Black Mountain begin their third season of service with chair life and apline lift respectively.

Prices for beds should be about the same as ever. However, the New Hampshire Planning and Development Commission noted in a recent survey that about one quarter of the resorts will have to raise their food prices to keep in line with the rising costs.

Just what the winter will provide in the way of snow and cold weather is a question a lot of people are gambling on. Resort owners know that it has to be right, their futures depend on it. The student who wants to go skiing isn't looking at the long run situation, he's only concerned with December through March. Of course, the caterpillar may be wrong.

Outing Club Climbs

The Outing Club and the Mountaineering group are two Harvard organizations which have planned extensive winter manuevers to keep their members happy and active.

Climbing and snowshoeing over icy mountains presents the bulk of cold weather activity for the Outing Club. Typical of these yearly expeditions will be this year's attack on Mount Katahdin.

The H.O.C. will prepare for this jaunt this weekend when members sharpen up on Mount Washington.

According to present plans a small group of members will leave Cambridge on December 26 for Maine. Arriving at Millinocket they will snowshoe the two day trip to the base of the mountain and then spend another four or five days trying to gain the summit.

For other activies the H.O.C. has a shelter on Mount Monadnock, near Jaffrey, New Hampshire, the object of several trips through the year. These trips, of course, are co-ed.

The Outing Club has its local offices in the Lowell House basement and is open to interested undergraduates.

Mountaineers Operate

Several members of the Mountaineering Club will ski and practice ice climbing during the vacation, operating from their base cabin on the flank of Mt. Washington. The H.M.C. cabin is reached by driving to Pinkham Notch, halfway between North Conway and Gorham, N. H. and then climbing with skins two and a quarter miles up Hoot Spur.

The primary purpose of the trip is to practice for the spring and summer excursions, such as last summer's three member expedition to the Selkirk Range in British Columbia. A forthcoming Saturday Evening Post story will describe the highlight of last summer, the six man climb of Peru's "unconquerable Carnicero."

Tuckerman's Ravine, a quarter of a mile from the cabin, provides most of the practice in ice climbing. Members climb up and above the side of the Ravine and over to Lion's Head on the other side.

Skiing enthusiasts find plenty to keep them occupied. The trail, starting with the Headwall below the summit of Mt. Washington and ending with the S-turns of the Sherburne Trail, has been described as the toughest skiing in the East. The Inferno Race is run here each spring.

Boot Spur cabin was built in 1938 by students with the help of an old trapper. Members claim the cabin's bedding facilities will house 24, but add that more can sleep on the somewhat damp ground floor. Since the U. S. Forestry Service requires the door to be always unlocked, many college groups use Boot Spur cabin. The H.M.C., however, asks each visitor to contribute 25 cents to the "kitty".

The Club is kept financially sound by the 60 members who pay a $2 initiation fee and $5 yearly dues. From this the H.M.C. pays for their trips and for the new library and clubroom in the basement of Leverett House.