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Goodman's book will get you started. The best way to find areas to ski is to go out skiing and visit some possible locations. Stop thinking about peaks; think about aspect, elevation, and forest type. Expect to be skunked. Hone your survival skiing skills, because you will need them when your...

I agree 100% with forestgnome. Unless discussing the people who actually make policy, there's no reason to be calling anyone out by name.

Nope: Apparently Wildcat is doing their best to discourage two the of the fastest-growing skiing trends. Good luck with that. Someone should let them know that encouraging skiing will likely lead to more (paid) skiing.

Route 108 through Smuggler's Notch has plenty of snow compared to anywhere else. Of all places in VT/NH, Stowe and Smugglers Notch seem to be doing the best for snow coverage. Long Trail to the summit of Mansfield, or Sterling Pond Trail to Sterling Pond are both excellent hikes. I would avoid...

What?! Aren't a few "zero" days in town and resupply stops a pretty standard way to complete long distance hikes?

This is true, and from my point of view it has not reflected well on ordinary hikers, especially those who claim to love the mountains. However, this point is incidental to the hypothetical removal of the bridge, which is all about the level of adventure, challenge, and uncertainty that people...

Really unlikely it was a lizard, as others have noted. Salamanders are possible but are don't "dart" this time of year -- they move in very slow motion. How about a mole of some type, though? Their legs would be more on the side, like a lizard. Like this, which is one of two species found in...

First, I want to announce that under this standard I will now be assuming that most of you VFTT frequent posters have no idea how to read a map. Second, B - Sure sounds promising. The only way to know is to set it up and see what happens. In terms of providing reliable info, I don't see how...

I've never heard of Barstool Ridge, but I have heard of Barstool Mountain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QY6b7Gel1c Leaf, if I ice climbed, I'd be out there early season. Winter is too short to not take advantage of whatever you've got!

Right, there are several species of Populus here in New England. Both quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) and big-tooth aspen (P. grandidentata) are relatively common, early-successional species that grow in disturbed areas. Pretty sure that traditionally most people wouldn't bother distinguishing...

Oh man, I've been hiking for more than "a few years" and I've never completed any list whatsoever. I feel like such a failure. And now I learn the bar to success is so much higher? I don't know if I can take it...

You'd want to check the status of the CCC road prior to heading up there... it was damaged in Irene and may not be open.

Also Hooker's Orchid generally flowers in May/June and I think would be further gone than what you've got there.

It will be technical, along the lines of Gleason and Cronquist, or The Flora of Maine (same author). But that said, it will also be a very good book if you can use technical keys.

While I think there is probably a great spirit of camaraderie and fun in these endeavors, I find the glorification a little over-the-top. Thru-hikers are on a voluntary hiking vacation. Sure, it may be challenging and uncomfortable, but no one has to do it. It's awesome that some folks want to...

Park at the lot on County Road, like Jrbren says. You can also park overnight on the Underhill side, at the end of Stevensville Road.

This brings up an excellent tangent, which is that the biggest fear I have is not getting lost in terms of the macro-terrain, but the micro-terrain. It's pretty easy to know which drainage you're in or which ridges are nearby. But at a small scale it's remarkably easy to become turned around in...

If you're so lost that all you can do is go uphill or downhill, there is no reason you should head uphill. What happens when you reach the top of a small wooded knob? Now you can only go downhill. Which way do you go? Then, when you find more uphill to go, do you go back to climbing? Now what...

Did you say you wanted to downhill ski at resorts? And eventually go to Tuckerman Ravine? If that's the case, I'd skip the Excursions and invest in a heavier boot, like the Scarpa T2 or the Garmont equivalent.

Another +1 for the Voile Switchback.