January 4, 2026 by patmccloskey

PSIA- 50 Years

My good friend Angelo Ross who is the current National Education Development Manager for PSIA ( Professional Ski Instructors of America) presented me with my 50 year pin yesterday, commemorating 50 years of membership for me as a Level III Certified instructor. Now all I expected was Angelo giving me my pin and then we could ski together. Little did I know that Angelo had assembled a group of all of our friends who we know from ski instruction, to come to Laurel Mountain for the event. I was truly flattered and totally shocked, but so grateful to see everyone.

Jamie Hess, Angelo Ross, Bill Copeland and Christa Ross

It all started with the opportunity to ski in the morning with the four people above. We have shared a lot of teaching experience together and it was a pleasure to ski with them in the morning. My good friends Tina and Mark Sauers gave me a nice Laurel Mountain vest along with some really heartfelt sentiment on cards, a nice new Chair Report hat and lunch and a cake. Wow. I was overwhelmed.

Monty Scott, Dixon Rich and Mark Sauers ( Shark)

But I must say that really, the spirit of the day was not about me, but rather about celebrating our group of folks who have made skiing a lifetime passion. There were a lot of years of coaching and teaching represented there. Lynne Hartnett, Jace Pasquale, Stoney, Bill Copeland, Christa Ross, Angelo, Jamie, Big Rig, Randy Springer, Charlie Hinchliffe, Bob King, Porter Scott, Tim Shipley, Mark Sauers, Rich and Nancy Critchfield, and a host of others who have made skiing and teaching in our little neck of the woods so wonderful. Angelo said it right when we discussed operations at Laurel. He stated that the big corporate conglomerate that is Vail, needs to understand the culture of a place like Laurel Mountain. Lots of history there from the first trails being cut under the direction of Hannes Schneider, the father of American Ski Instruction. Howard Head tested his first metal skis on the slopes and trails of Laurel. People from the Rolling Rock Club and Ligonier and Laughlintown, see Laurel as their own ski area. Culture is alive there and this needs to be recognized by the large corporate entities that own and manage ski resorts today. When you see all the smiles of the people assembled yesterday, you realize we not only have a lot in common, but we share a friendship that has stood the test of time on the slopes of the Laurel Highlands. Sure, we all travel and ski elsewhere, but our own little neck of the woods has a lot of character and that is what was celebrated yesterday.

Friends like Shark and Tina made it special along with Angelo.

The always beautiful view into the Ligonier Valley.

On the drive home, I thought about the last 50 years with the organization. I thought about teaching at Laurel years ago during college with the Ski Academy and how Larry Cohen, Chip Kamin, and Bob Irish introduced me to ski instruction. I thought about my winter after college teaching skiing at Sugarloaf, Maine, staying in Bob Irish’s cabin for the winter. I remembered all the great PSIA clinics leading up to my certification at Killington. I remembered my clinic leaders- legends in ski instruction- Stu Campbell, Peter Duke, Bill Tate, Sears Raymond, Bruce Fenn, Cal Cantrell, Woody Woodward, Joe Wood, Kathy Wood, Bob Shostek, and many others who would shape my skiing and teaching so many years ago. Jamie, Bill Copeland, Christa, and Angelo chuckled at our experiences in the exam- usually in the rain the first day, and the bullet proof ice the next day.

I have spent a lot of time teaching skiing over the years including 34 years running the visually impaired ski program with BOLD ( Blind Outdoor Leisure Development). I have retired from teaching but yesterday reminded me of all the good times, the friendships created and fostered over the years, and the culture of skiing. 50 years – a long time as a certified member of PSIA. Thanks again to Angelo, Tina, Shark, and all of my other friends who made the effort to really honor our culture at Laurel and our friendships in ski teaching. I am so grateful for you all. Think snow and thanks for reading.

Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com. It helps me.

December 29, 2025 by patmccloskey

Rolling Along

So after a sumptuous Christmas, I took it upon myself to head out to ride to try to stay in some semblance of shape. Trying to beat an upcoming ice storm, I got out early and put some miles on the winter bike. I try to ride all winter and seeing that I didn’t want to fight the ice storm to go skiing, I thought I might as well get a ride in. Skiing could wait a day because of the weather. So rolling along, I had time to think about what lies ahead for 2026. Now being the planner that I am, I was thinking about riding, skiing, ski trips, and further down the line, some other trips for Janet and me. I also thought about the upcoming wedding for my son and his fiancee. But then I thought about staying in the moment, enjoying the ride, and the fact that I got over on the weather and beat the storm. Maybe the resolution should be to enjoy the moment instead of always trying to plan ahead. Sure, to get anything done, you need to plan. But not all the time, and as I get older, I am starting to see the wisdom of enjoying the day and the moment. Every day is a gift and should not be taken for granted. There are no guarantees, and we should always enjoy the moment and the blessings that we have.

Riding along I also got to thinking about how the year will progress and if I will be able to continue to do the things that I have enjoyed doing for years. You get that little thought that maybe you need to slow it down a bit because you are getting older ……in 2026? But then I go barreling through some rocks on the bike and maybe make some nice GS turns skiing and I think…………….”yeah, I can still do this.” Just keep going. Just keep rolling along.

New Stockli Stormriders for this season.

Some of the things that encourage me are statements like you hear from author Chris Crowley in his book,” Younger Next Year.” Chris always encourages older athletes to always get the best equipment. Not only for optimum performance, but to give yourself some treats in your older years. Why not? And why not give yourself the best advantages that technology will allow to enhance your athletic experiences? Keep rolling along with the best stuff you can buy. Skis, bikes, shoes, etc. When you get those little gnawing thoughts that make you a little uneasy….. just do do it- like Nike says. If you keep doing things, and stay active, you will be able to “roll along” for a lot longer. Dr. Peter Attia in his book, ” Outlive” always promotes that if you have stayed active for most of your life, and have kept doing the things that you like to do, the “marginal decade” of 70-80 can be enjoyed as a reward for your hard work. If you wait until you are 70, it probably will be too late and your hope to roll around the floor with your grandkids will be marginalized. I have always been a skier, a cyclist and a runner, and I hope that all of those years, including the current ones, will pay off for me down the road. Just keep rolling along and don’t think about it.

I would like to keep skiing Climax for many years to come.

The final thing I thought about while I was rolling along is not to take things so seriously. I was always pretty good at that and I enjoy humor – especially the self-deprecating type where I make fun of myself and the crazy things that I do and think. You have to smile and know that laughter is the best medicine. And if you can’t laugh at yourself, you will take life way too seriously. Now, again, there are no guarantees at my age. Things happen. And you have to deal with them. But if you can handle adversity with kindness, sympathy, and some self-deprecating humor, you can get through most anything. You always also know that God is always in charge. No matter what. Your faith can get you through most anything as well. Probably the most important component of positively rolling along in life.

So, if you think about a New Years resolution, you don’t have to stretch too far. Just enjoy the things you like to do – and keep doing them. Chances are, if you keep yourself in shape, you can enjoy them for a long, long, time barring any catastrophic setback. And even when the storms in life do show up, you know that you can get through them. You know that positivity and humor also go a long way, to reaching the other side. And as Chris Crowley always espouses, time is short……..enjoy it to the max. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful New Year in 2026. Keep rolling along.

Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

December 22, 2025 by patmccloskey

From the Best of Chronicles of McCloskey

The Night Visitor

December 15, 2025 by patmccloskey

From the Best of Chronicles of McCloskey

The Old Man and the Skimobile

December 8, 2025 by patmccloskey

Timberline is Perfect

So, about the title- I will get to that in a minute. But first, let me tell you, the opening day at Timberline down in West Virginia this past week, was nothing short of spectacular for a first day out on the slopes. I met my crew- Porter, Craig, Chris and John down there and we all rode the fabulous high speed 6 pack all day. One thing about skiing with friends with whom you have skied most of your life is that you know how they ski. No surprises, each person has his own style, line, and no one gets in the way. I have skied with Porter and Craig for over 50 years and John a little less. Chris I just started to ski with, but we all have that infectious enthusiasm for the sport.

Craig and Porter- old skiing and masters racing buddies forever.

Porter and I talk skiing all year round, even on mountain bike rides. We talk about the World Cup races, new equipment, technique and other various topics, but his enthusiasm is so very similar to mine. It is gratifying to have such friends who share a very important pastime in our lives.

So, last Thursday, I left the house at 5:55 AM and put on my Pandora, Morman Tabernacle Choir Christmas station and got in the spirit for the 3 + hour drive south. This is my favorite time of the year especially when there is snow on the ground. The Christmas lights, the decorations, the music, all get me going and the drive down is so peaceful with my music surrounding me. I pulled into Davis, WVa. just before 9 and headed 7 miles down the road to Timberline Four Seasons Resort. So, the post title? It outlines not only the conditions of the place, but also the name of the family that invested 15 million to bring this gem of a ski area back to life several years ago. The Perfect family is from mid-west and operates two ski areas there- Perfect North in Indiana and Swiss Valley in Michigan. Now, you would not think that these places are much for skiing, but there are record numbers of skiers who go there. In 2019, the Perfects invested in Timberline and it has been a huge success since.

Timberline has a lot going for it. First of all, it is about 1300 feet above the elevation of our Laurel Highlands. So oftentimes, more natural snow falls there and it is a little colder due to the altitude. Secondly, for skiers around the mid-Atlantic, it has over a 1000 vertical foot drop which give us just a little more elevation per run than all the runs in the Laurels. With a high speed lift, multiple trails open, and excellent snowmaking and grooming, we were able to rip off close to 30 thousand vertical feet with roughly 1000 vertical feet per run. The snow was so good I even broke out my new pair of Stockli Stormrider 88s and really enjoyed the way that they perform. It is not often that you break out a new pair of skis on opening day, but the area makes great snow, lots of it, and grooms to perfection.

Some of side features are things like the food. We went up to the bar to order some specialty sandwiches for lunch and lo and behold- they had a lobster roll on the menu. Now just having returned from Maine this fall, I had my share of New England lobster rolls. So I was a bit skeptical eating one in a ski area in West Virginia. But I have to tell you, it rivaled the ones we ate in Maine and I told the kitchen crew the same. Davis is a cool little town. Lots of neat little shops, eateries and breweries. It also has one of the best bike shops in the region- Blackwater Bikes. Davis is a great town for those looking for adventure all year round. Challenging mountain biking and also really good skiing at Timberline. White Grass Ski Touring Center is nearby for those who like cross country skiing. The Lodge at Blackwater Falls State Park is an excellent choice for lodging and all in all, you can’t go wrong taking the trek from Western Pa to Davis.

The high speed 6 pack chair and the friendly crew at Timberline

Our crew will be back and can’t wait to once again enjoy the challenging slopes at Timberline. And I can’t say enough about the friendly employees who are happy to share their mountain with you. And, if you can be with your buddies with whom you have skied most of your life, that is an added attraction. People wondered who those old guys were ripping up their mountain, but the friendly conversation with the lift operators, ski instructors, and the general skiing public was welcoming and encouraged us to come back often- which we will do.

If you want take a good little road trip, look no further than Timberline. It really is Perfect with no pun intended. Think snow and thanks for reading.

December 1, 2025 by patmccloskey

From The Best of Chronicles of McCloskey

The Standard Race

November 24, 2025 by patmccloskey

Todd the Dairy Farmer

You know, you meet some real characters along the way when you have skied as long as I have. My friends from skiing are special, and I always look forward to reconnecting with them when the new season arrives. Some of them I see during the summer from time to time, and I always give them my tired old greeting…..” hey I didn’t recognize you with your clothes off.” But we laugh and catch up and can’t wait to see each other during the upcoming ski season.

I have also made some friends over the years by introduction from other friends. Like my friend from Vermont, ( now Tahoe), who introduced me to his friend from Vermont whom I always called Todd the Dairy Farmer. Todd skied with us at Killington from time to time and we also took him to Tuckerman Ravine back in the day. Todd was a big guy and kind of dressed like he was still working the farm in Vermont. Flannel shirts, baggy ski pants, and changed from cow patty stained work boots into ski boots. He didn’t say much, probably because I dominated the conversation like I usually did. But he was quiet and unassuming. But man did he ski fast. I learned in a hurry not to get in Todd’s way.

Now when you paired up my friend Eric, ( from Vermont and now Tahoe) with Todd, it became an unsaid race between the two and I always followed behind because you didn’t want to get caught in that fray. All of us in those days had 207 GS skis and never wasted any time flying down Cascade and Superstar at Killington, and all points skiers left and right. Eric, as I had always known, was very competitive. He still is. Todd always took up the challenge. The best part about Todd, aside from his competitiveness with Eric, and his lightning fast turns, is that he had already put in a full day on his dairy farm before he had met up with us. He told us his day usually started at the wee hours milking the cows, feeding them, cleaning the barn, with most of the work done before the sun rose. So, when Eric and I thought we were the tough guys being there at the crack of dawn drinking coffee before the lifts started, Todd had put in a full day. He was now ready to rocket some turns before he had to return to the farm. He didn’t say much, like a lot of Vermonters, but when he clicked into his bindings, it was game on.

We usually got a lot of runs in before most of the crowd made their way to the old K chair, and it is no wonder. I was always leary of someone coming out of a side trail and meandering out into our way. The closing speed would have been devastating to the approaching skier, and I always tried to be careful. But those two would never look and run after run, it was a race to see who could get to the chair first. Again, nothing was said. Even on the chair, it was small talk about the farm, life in Bethel, and in general conversations that had to be drawn out of Todd. I had no problem telling them my tales, but these Vermonters were pretty close to the vest. Then it was game on again as we rocketed off the chair lift.

Skis are always first in line with Eric- even to this day.

We took Todd one time to Tuckerman Ravine and he had no problem with the camping, or the climbing to ski. I was not certain whether he had been there before or not, but Eric and I gave him our tips and perspective. But as soon as we climbed to the top and were ready to click into our bindings for our run, Todd was off and Eric chased him all the way down to Lunch Rocks where we stopped and got ready to climb again, and again. We thought maybe Todd would tire out with all the climbing, but we underestimated him not only for his fitness, but his toughness and skill, skiing lap after lap on very challenging terrain. Todd didn’t stay as long as we did during the week, because he had to make it back to his beloved farm. But he made his mark at Tuckerman, and with us, who totally respected the big guy.

It has been years since we have skied with Todd, and I asked Eric this past season if he keeps in touch with him. He said that he had not, but wanted to find out how he was doing. We talked about him on the chair at Diamond Peak, and rehashed the old stories of Todd. He was, and still is, kind of legendary in my mind. It is another example of people that you meet during your life in skiing. Sometimes the stories are embellished. But I have to say, with Todd, my memories of him are pretty accurate. I am hoping he is still skiing and still has his farm. Native Vermonters tend not to ski so much and leave a lot of it to the tourists. But Todd was an example of a native who loved his skiing and always put it out there in a big way with us.

I think of a lot of the people who I have met skiing. Interesting people who can’t wait for winter, like me. I can’t wait to see them soon. I have my locals, but also friends spread out all over in ski country. It gives me the incentive to go see them. Hoping we have a good season and remember to ask me to tell you some Todd stories on the chair lift. Thanks for reading and think snow.

Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

” Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Psalm 100:4.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.