Bethel Citizen 2/11/16

For further information contact Terri Messer at tmesser@aol.com or 207-671-0715

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, skiing in Maine is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. How about those soft, spring-like conditions last week when temperatures at Sunday River ski area rose above freezing and we received some liquid precipitation which made for delightful soft snow underfoot if you didn’t mind sleet pellets pounding your face. Some other days we’ve had well-groomed trails and on other days we’ve had our share of “New England hard packed.” As I write this, we are expecting a storm before this column is published so we may even have a powder day or two to enjoy.

Besides a winter known for not much natural snow, it has also been a winter of many sunless days, creating flat light conditions which make it difficult to see the contours of the snow while skiing. These flat light conditions have prompted several of our Prime Time Ski Club members to look for ski goggles that are effective in low-light conditions and I thought I would share some of the goggle information they have gathered. All ski goggles will offer some basic protection from wind and cold but the biggest difference between goggles is the lenses. There are cylindrical lenses that curve horizontally while remaining flat vertically. They offer good performance at a lower cost. Spherical lenses curve both horizontally and vertically around your face which gives you better peripheral vision, reduced glare, less distortion and reduced chance of fogging but cost more than cylindrical lenses.

There are dozens of lens colors to choose from and each color will filter light differently. Some lenses are designed to perform much better in low light, low visibility situations. Typical colors for low light lenses are yellow, rose and blue. Lenses that function better on sunny days typically come in dark colors such as black, gray and gold. Some goggles have interchangeable lenses so you can select a color lens that works in either low light or on sunny days. Another consideration in selecting goggles is the size of the frame. There are women specific goggles which have a smaller size frame and there are over-the-glasses frames if you wear prescription glasses. When you try on a goggle, make sure that there are no gaps between the foam and your face for wind or snow to flow through especially around the bridge of the nose, that the goggles fit with your helmet and that there is no gap on your forehead between your helmet and the goggles. Once you invest in a new pair of goggles use only a soft cloth to blot (wiping is abrasive) the outside of the goggle lens to dry. Don’t wipe the inside of the goggles as you could remove the anti-fogging coating. Store your goggles in the soft sack that usually comes with them which also doubles as a goggle cleaning cloth.

Once you have your new goggles you’ll be anxious to ski in all light conditions so why not join the Prime Time Ski Club members for a fun, mid-week ski if you are 50 or older. Club members meet at 10 a.m. at North Peak Lodge, upper level to the right, just beyond the bar. Some members also meet at 8:30 a.m. or so in the Mahoosuc Room at South Ridge base lodge to boot up and get to the lifts as soon as they open at 9. Check out our website at www.primetimeskiclub.com and plan to join us for some fun runs.