Also, don’t forget that the price you pay typically covers boot fitting on top of the boots themselves at the local shops. Pinnacle and Mountain Ops both move a ton of boots per year and have a ton of experience. I live an hour away from Mountain Ops. I paid full price for my touring boots there. But I happily make the drive for any (free) adjustments because they are just so nice and skillful about them.

OGE, Skirack, Race Stock, Pinnacle, and Mountain Ops (also in Stowe) are all great. I buy a lot of stuff at Alpine Shop but didn’t love my boot fitting experience with them. I would not buy boots from REI.

https://www.kitlender.com/

Cochran’s only does rentals if you take a lesson. It’s possible to request Barbara Ann. She teaches Sundays.

A lot of the racism in Vermont is of the “I didn’t mean to do it so it’s like I didn’t do it” variety.

Kids get taught to accept diverse cultures and backgrounds but they’re also very sheltered so they say dumb shit all the time.

This past weekend I rode up a chairlift with a little kid (at ski school’s request) and the kid, who was being nice and trying to ask about my life, asked me if I had to learn a language to move to the US. Kiddo, why would you think I moved here, I was born in New England. He also told me he has never left Vermont, so…yeah.

Huntington 100% out. Our house is on battery backup. Think I’ll roll into the office to get work done though.

There is a walking group in Huntington for new parents. Not sure how to get in touch with it though… I bet if you called the town clerk she’d have ideas.

Contact https://www.computersforchange.com/ to see if it’s of any interest

Stop at edelweiss deli on mountain road and get one of everything out of the beer case. They definitely have heady topper there in case the alchemist is too mobbed.

Check out the Catamount Trail Association— there’s a wealth of info and ideas.