Jeff Shaw

Must Play Beach Games – From 6+ Feet Away!

Author’s Note: With Memorial Day weekend upcoming, warm weather, and lots of sunshine, I am excited for another summer season. While this summer certainly will be different, I cannot wait to introduce my son Jay to one of my favorite places in the world, Cape Cod, USA. While the little guy will not be old enough to do much other than wiggle on a beach blanket, hopefully a “foot dip” in the inlet at Ridgevale Beach, Chatham, will be possible.

I also thought it could be fun to start a new Cape-themed annual tradition for the little guy. Of course, the Chatham band concerts, Cape League baseball games, mini golf rounds, etc would be normal staples of summer days on the Cape, my new idea is much simpilier: find the biggest, cleanest oyster shell over the course of a summer and on Labor Day weekend (around my birthday), detail it to remember that season. Likely just the name, year, and a word or two that described that summer would fit. Call it sleep deprivation or charmingly creative, the Oyster Shell Search game has begun!

Want in on some Cape Cod summer fun? There are plenty of other games — must play beach games – to be had on the beaches of Cape Cod this summer. Even better, most can be played from at least six feet away!

Must Play Beach Games – From 6+ Feet Away!

My family and friends typically spend the entire day at the beach on summer days. We literally arrive around 9:00 am, claim a spot with a wide perimeter, and don’t even think of leaving until a full tide cycle. For us, the term “beach bums,” is a badge of honor worn proudly. We pack lots of stuff; chairs, umbrellas, coolers, blankets, boards and of course beach games. While water activities are a no-brainer (bogey boarding, catching crabs/minnows or throwing the football), below are a list of fun sand-based games to keep your day in the sun, well, fun! Even better, all games listed are HappyCapeCod-approved socially distanced safe!

The sandbox in my backyard is not the best was to illustrate this game, but essentially, your rolling the golf balls into a hole in the sand. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Golf Ball Toss, 30-50 feet apart. No, this is not Chippo, ladder golf or Puttergolf. What you need: two golf balls. That’s it! You literally pack two regular golf balls, dig two holes in the sand with your heel, about the size and depth of your foot, about 30-50 feet a part. The point is to throw (roll) the golf balls in the hole, so you’ll want to clear the area of shells, debris and smooth the area in front of the hole. The game is essentially horseshoes with a twist. One point is earned for every ‘hole-in-one’ tossed/rolled, but you can “send back” both golf balls for an additional turn if you or your partner toss/roll back-to-back “holes-in-one.” First player or team to 5 points wins the game. We tried playing to 7 points, but it took too long, at least for singles. The game is surprisingly fun and best played on a sandbar or near the shore where the sand is damp. Toss the golf balls behind the hole on your side.

Nothing better than Kan Jam on the outer beach alongside giant sand dunes and breaking waves. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Kan Jam, at least 20 feet apart. Not much more needs to be written about this classic outdoor game, but I will offer a beach edition twist. What you need: Two cans, one yellow frisbee. Games are played until 21 points, and you can go over. Rebuttals are only offered if the winner tosses first. The twist is playing defense while playing singles. Hear me out; while you cannot alter a shot in front of the can, you are able to catch the frisbee after it hits the can, and would otherwise be 2 points for the other player/team. Or better yet, catch a frisbee that goes through the slot, but pops out the top! You’d be surprised how many chances one has to catch the frisbee ‘off the bounce’ once it hits the can and gets caught in the wind. At least in singles, it makes the game more fun. In either singles or doubles, you must play best of 7 and switch sides. The wind in beach Kan Jam is always a factor, and it’s a great feeling to break your opponent’s serve.

The six white buckets in the distance (four are visible) for a long range rack. Once the long range game ended, cornhole commenced. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Long Range, at least 50 feet apart. While usually reserved for yard games because packing three large plastic construction buckets is a pain, this outdoor game works on the beach. What you need: two tennis balls, 6 large plastic buckets, ocean water. You are essentially playing a three rack (triangle) in beerpong (beirut) whether singles or doubles. However, the term “long range” cannot be overstated. You separate the buckets by at least 50 feet. The object, of course, is to throw the tennis ball in each bucket. There are no re-racks. Just like beerpong, or “sand golf balls toss” explained above, if you or your teammate sinks back-to-back shots, you “send back” the tennis balls for an additional turn. The most entertaining part of this game is when someone tosses the tennis ball with a lot of height and it sinks into the bucket unexpectedly, with the water exploding up usually splashing the other team! And just like in beerpong, if one side hits the 2nd to last and last bucket, the game is over without rebuttal. Otherwise, the other team gets a rebuttal shot with each tennis ball.

Flag sticks can be easily placed on sand in addition to land. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Mini Frisbee Golf, varies but aiming points likely over 100+ feet apart. A new favorite of mine, as I designed an 18-hole course around the cottage and a 9-hole course around our yard in Connecticut. What you need: frisbees, flag (optional). The name says it all. Yard mini frisbee golf is easy to “set up” as you simply pick a target (tree, chair, mailbox, etc) and see how many tosses it takes to hit it. You can also stick a flag in the ground and just choose different “tee boxes” (areas) to toss from. For the beach version, you will likely need a flag and lots of space so you don’t upset the neighbors. Most “holes” are likely par 2s (two tosses). If you space out the tee box (first toss) to the flag/target, you will quickly see who can/cannot through a frisbee accurately. Nine holes is probably all you need on the beach to claim a champion, based on number of people playing, wind and space.

The boys of summer. Circa 1996. Photo credit: Bob Shaw.

Pro Kadima (aka, Paddleball), 6 feet apart (usually a little closer). My personal favorite beach and yard activity ever. To this day, Dan Healy and I set record for longest rally ever at 3,023 for the beach; and 5,247 for land. The latter rally took over 2 hours and Dan and I missed most of the BBQ at his house! While the rally records may never be broken, competitive pro kadima (paddleball) is a fast-paced and exciting beach game. What you need: two pro kadima paddles, rubber ball. The game is essentially volleyball. You draw a rectangle (with your foot) in the sand about 12 feet long and cut it in half so you have two sides of the court. The object of the game is to hit the ball safely in your opponents court WITHOUT spiking it. If the ball hits the line, it is a do-over. If the ball hits a player, or your opponent attempts to return the ball and it lands out of bounds, you get the point, just like tennis. The game can definitely take a little finesse, but if you like tennis, you should enjoy this game. Games are played to 15, must win by two. Whoever scores a point, serves. Rally for serve.

A young Mike Shaw, demonstrating perfect follow-through and scoop golf form. Circa 1995. Photo credit: Bob Shaw.

Scoop Golf, distance varies but aiming point usually 50-200 feet away. The evolution of this game can be traced back to building sand castles. While shovels are the more common tool for constructing sand castles, scoops allow one to dig deeper. It quickly became evident not just sand could be “scooped” but tennis balls, wiffle balls, but also (rubber) paddleballs. Eventually, it became obvious that scoop golf should be in the beach game rotation and the Shaw and Healy boys saw to it, taking it to such heights as creating single round tournaments such as the Clamshell Classic, Sam Adams Open to multiple round “majors” such as the Quarter Moon Open; Ridgevale Open, Farewell Tournament and of course, the Cape Cod Scoop Golf Masters (a 4-round tournament). There were multiple courses at Ridgevale Beach; the dunes, the ocean sand bar, inlet mud flats and pretty much any open area where we could fling rubber balls and sand in the air without upsetting strangers. What you need: plastic “scoop” shovels and (rubber) paddleballs for each player, flag, and tin coffee container for the hole. Note: The flag is key so other people walking along the beach don’t step into the hole!

Vintage certificates of past major scoop golf tournaments. Our imaginations were really kicking in the 90s. Graphic design credit: Dan Healy. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw

Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby, distance varies but everyone takes the field except the batter. Wiffle ball on the beach is right up there with pickle and pro kadima for classic beach games. So, why not make it more exciting with a home run derby. Be sure to have a thin bat, otherwise, every pitch will become a home run. Just like Major League Baseball’s derby, 10 outs is probably about right. Be sure to make lines for men’s and women’s.

Beach games are constantly evolving, and I’m sure a new game will be created or shared this summer.

Quick note on water sports: While I love playing in the water, there are really only a handful of activities you need to know: Waboba toss, bogey boarding, body surfing, and stand-up paddleboard time trails. Snorkeling on a calm, sunny day also qualifies. Happy summer to all!

Kream N Kone(s) on Cape Cod

The classic sign of the Chatham Restaurant. Photo credit: Kream N’ Kone Chatham.

Author’s Note: When it comes to “grab and go,” everyone has their “go-to” spot. The “grab and go” culture remains strong on Cape Cod, current pandemic issues aside. This is not surprising as most people want to spend as much time as possible outside, whether on the beach, water, trails or golf course. So strong is the grab and go mentality, that most breakfast cafes, bakeries, bagel places also make available lunch menus in the morning, featuring sandwiches to go. Of course, there are plenty of quality sit-down restaurants – you already know I like those too – but for a warm and sunny summer day, we all just want to grab our outside spot as soon as we can, with all the creature comforts possible. Enter, fried seafood, inside, outside, or to grab and go!

A rotating and local tap at Kream N’ Kone Chatham. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Kream N Kone(s) on Cape Cod

If you find yourself cruising down Route 28 along the mid to lower Cape, you will pass by two similarly named, but different seafood restaurants, Kream ‘N’ Kone. Indeed, the peculiar spelling of the name, odd placement of the apostrophe ‘N’ and the vintage signage make it hard to miss. While one would assume the restaurants are part of a franchise, they are actually separate restaurants with different owners and customer experiences. Both restaurants started as ice cream, hot dog, and hamburger restaurants, mixing in seafood entrees soon after. Since both restaurants are known for their fried seafood and lobster rolls, it’s ironic their original signs feature hamburger and ice cream icons, rather than seafood. Enough set-up, let’s get to the tasty, fried seafood and soft serve ice cream!

A mix of funny and vintage signs line the walls of Kream N’ Kone Chatham. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

The Chatham location is casual, with a mix of four person booths inside and about ten six person picnic tables outside on the canopy covered patio. They recently added a “bar top” on the patio, where, if you don’t mind standing, you can still eat outside on a busy night. The parking lot is a good size, and gets larger in the evenings as the nearby professional building empties after 5:00 pm. The ambiance inside is a little too cute, though there are both vintage and more modern, humorous signs that still make me laugh every time.

Fried clam strip plate, Kream N’ Kone Chatham. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

The dining room counter service is what you expect, employees call your number over the loudspeaker when your food is ready to be picked-up. The restaurant usually has four beers on tap, all local (Cape Cod Beer, Devil’s Purse, and Hog Island), with the exception of Bud Light. The ice cream counter service is a separate operation, and closes earlier than most other ice cream shops that line Route 28. As you would expect, the restaurant does a brisk take-out business on Friday evenings (Chatham Band performances at 8:00 pm) and any night the Chatham A’s play a home game (7:00 pm). You can also call ahead and they pick-up the phone!

Wishful and whimsical thinking. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

The fried seafood plates and boats are my “go-to,” the only difference being whether you want onion rings or coleslaw with your seafood of choice and fries (onion rings are of course included). The restaurant may hate this, but we find that unless we are ravenously hungry, splitting a fried seafood basket is still plenty of food. The fried seafood is generous and stacked; all you need is another plate and it would look like two entrees at most sit-down restaurants. Interestingly, they offer a gluten-free fried seafood entrees after 4:00 pm only.

The vintage sign. Photo Credit: Kream ‘N Kone, West Dennis.

The Dennis location is similarly casual, but with a cruise-ship buffet feel. (I swear, I’m being complimentary!) The bright pink hues of the walls help the large windows illuminate the dining room with natural sunlight. Evenly spaced wooden four-person tables with also wooden backed chairs line the dining room and scream summer vacation. The Dennis restaurant is much larger than its evil twin sister in Chatham. Like the evil twin, they have a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, though the Dennis location wins the prize for outdoor seating with a view. The expansive deck has about a dozen metal tables with umbrellas overlooking beautiful Swan River.

The outdoor patio overlooking Swan River. Photo credit: Kream ‘N Kone, West Dennis.

The counter service goes the extra mile, as once you place your order, you receive a number, and a server delivers your food to wherever you are seated. The menu items are similar to the Chatham restaurant; fried seafood plates with fries and onion rings, broiled seafood dinner, seafood rolls, salads, and sandwiches. And of course, they offer ice cream (soft serve!), frappes and other beverages.

The fried scallop plate. Photo credit Kream ‘N Kone, West Dennis.

You cannot go wrong at either location, so on your next vacation to the Cape, stop by both!

Local Intel on Cape Cod

The visitor center on Route 6. Photo credit: Affordable Cape Cod Vacations.

Author’s Note: I recently started listening to podcasts. (Thanks Matt.) The topics run the gamut from restaurants, to movies, to local happenings, to politics, to sports. I was quickly reminded (again, thanks Matt) that everyone who starts listening to podcasts thinks they are witty and sharp enough can do their own. Enter my light blub moment – and queue your eye roll…Fortunately, my podcast idea is not about Cape Cod; a very entertaining one already exists (more on that below), which according to host Eric Williams, www.HappyCapeCod.com compliments quite well. Nice!

My podcast idea is rooted in my winter season passion; skiing. While the format is a work in progress, three episodes have been written, two episodes recorded (find episodes at @PowderHoundSkis, jsshaw9.podbean.com or subscribe to PowderHounds Podcast on iTunes). Launching any project, learning new technology, navigating nuance of the medium, scheduling guests and attracting listeners is already a heavy lift. I remain optimistic thanks to ideas constantly – and randomly – popping up in my head. It’s already been a lot of fun just scripting and researching content for the episodes, especially pleasing when coming across unexpected articles and topics. Of course, just clipping in my bindings provides a sense of excitement as the next trail, apre cocktail or conversation may provide a nugget of an idea for a topic or segment. A couple friends have offered advice and support, which I appreciate. Hopefully this whole thing will come together. At least the Cape Cod Ski Club may appreciate it!

The podcast artwork. Photo credit Cape Cod Times.

I consume a lot of information about Cape Cod. Whether daily e-newsletters, printed weekly newspapers, monthly travel guides, books about or authored by Cape Cod residents, podcasts, word of mouth, and through social media mentions, there are a lot of ways to learn about happenings on Cape Cod. While there is no wrong door to learning about Cape Cod, local intel is always best. Below are my picks of people and resources to stay up-to-date with everything Cape Cod!

The Cape Cod Fun Show Podcast. The description says it all, “join Eric Williams and his zany cohorts as they give you the inside scoop on beaches, restaurants, upcoming events and peculiar adventures. Get stoked for fun on Cape Cod!” While the podcast is professionally produced, via CapeCodOnline, Eric, Mung, Greg and the other guest hosts keep to a fast-paced script that includes food finds, outdoor activities, upcoming events, and of course, the tide charts. The Fun show covers the entire Cape, from Bourne to P-Town. Speaking of both Cape towns, I’ve added a dessert stop in Bourne and pizza stop in P-Town to my “to try” list. Episodes are produced weekly.

There is Even More Fun This Week on Cape Cod & Cape Cod Bucket List, courtesy of CapeCod.com! Ann Luongo, who writes both sections, is the Marketing Writer and Lifestyle Reporter for CapeCod.com, having spent a decade plus covering similar ground on the South Shore. If you subscribe for CapeCod.com e-daily, “The Cape’s Top Stories,” chances are one of those editions will have Ann’s list of featured upcoming events as well as a list of other community events occurring that week. New within the last year or so, Ann also writes a weekly ‘Cape Cod Bucket List’ section, of must-do’s, such as camping on the outer Cape, watching a double-feature at the Wellfleet Drive-In, having a bonfire on the beach, catching a Cape Cod League Baseball game, enjoying a summer band concert, and much more.

Radio Ocean 104.7. As written before, Ocean 104.7, “custom crafted for the Cape,” provides hourly news updates on the hour. Queue the ship bells! Dave Read greets listeners in the morning, with regular updates from Justin Saunders, Brian Merchant, Luke Leitner, and the gang. Favorite radio personality Cat Wilson anchors the afternoon into evening schedule, with a special segment “the cheap seats” featuring local bands every Sunday from 8-10 pm. You do not have to be in your car to listen to Ocean 104.7. The station can be played via Alexa at “WOCN” or through the Ocean 104.7 app. The radio broadcast usually cuts out around Raynham along I-495, but it once lasted in my car all the way up to Hopkinton. I actually posted on Twitter just to capture that occurrence. And of course, Ocean 104.7 rocks those delightful and charming old fashion radio jingles for local businesses.

Newspapers – Cape Cod Chronicle. The Chronicle is a weekly newspaper focusing on the Lower Cape towns of Chatham, Harwich and Orleans. The two-section, weekly newspaper, with e-edition options, features detailed reporting of local news, especially Board of Selectman activities, with plenty of commentary from residents in sections dedicated to local businesses, history, nature, real estate and of course, letters-to-the editor. You can sign-up for free weekend as well as breaking news e-editions.

Newspaper – Cape Cod Times. The Times is a daily, Cape-wide newspaper with a robust website. I mean robust, tons of photo galleries, links to national news, videos, entertainment, etc. Because of this Cape Cod Times offer three different subscription plans; unlimited digital access, 7-day home delivery with unlimited digital, and Sunday only home delivery with unlimited digital access. While their paywall is quite generous, local newspapers especially need our support so subscribe in one way or another today!

Cape Cod Best Read Guide. The free booklets/mini magazines are printed by a national company, and can be found at many restaurants, tourist attractions and visitor’s centers around the world. Locally, there are June, July and August editions just to keep pace with upcoming calendar of events, with “shoulder season” editions for fall, winter and spring when not as many tourists are pouring over pages and clipping $1 off coupons for mini golf, ice cream and whale watches. There are multiple forms of these booklets/mini magazine, similar styled guidebooks created by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and even guidebooks for each town in collaboration with local Chambers of Commerce. While the content is mostly paid advertisements by the local companies included, these booklets can still be quite informative, if nothing else as a mini telephone book and map of attractions. As the company states, “Think of the Best Read Guide as the shortest path from discovery to experience.” The visitor center after Exit 6 on the mid-Cape highway (Route 6) has every free guidebook available, so that’s the place to stock-up.

Happy learning, listening, talking and reading about Cape Cod!

Mac’s Chatham Fish & Lobster

The winter season is quieter at Mac’s. Come summer time, a line of people may very well be forming along that walkway. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Author’s Note: There are signs of spring teasing us as the temperatures slowly rise and days grow longer. My inner skier does not like this in-between winter and spring period, as it’s too warm for snow to fall, but cold enough to keep lawns brown. For me, the NCAA March Madness tournament weeks are the unofficial season transition. Additionally, “Opening Day notices,” whether from seasonal businesses, golf courses or Major League Baseball gets us all excited for spring. Spring (and fall), the so-called “shoulder tourist seasons” on Cape Cod, have only increased in popularity so essentially, spring kicks-off a ten-month marathon of economic activity. Here’s to another great season for all Cape Cod merchants, businesses and community-based organizations.

The re-designed counter with more selections of entrees, drinks and raw bar. Photo credit Jeff Shaw.

Nine times out of ten, my first destination after a long drive to the Cape is 1291 Main Street, Chatham. That is not the address of our home, but the location of Chatham Fish & Lobster, now a part of Mac’s Seafood Cape Cod. For as long as I can remember, the fish market/fast-fresh restaurant has been located on the lower level of the main building in the plaza diagonally across from Pate’s Restaurant along Route 28 in between West Chatham and downtown. The fish market always enjoyed a “mad-dash” rush around 5:15 pm as the seafood market closed promptly at 5:30 pm, while the fast-fresh restaurant was open until 7:00 pm and was never busy.

The darkened fish market, open until 5:30 pm daily, in the background. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

In the spring of 2018, David Carnes, former owner of Chatham Fish and Lobster sold the business to Mac Hay, co-owner of Mac’s Seafood, whose restaurants and markets in the Outer Cape were 23-year customers of Chatham Fish and Lobster. As with any ownership change, some customers (well, us) were concerned with potential changes to the menu, quality and preparation. Our family is thrilled that one thing remains the same: all fried seafood, fries, pizza and other entrees remain gluten free. As we have learned over time, most restaurants cannot accommodate many menu items for gluten-sensitive people, unless they have separate kitchens or preparation stations. Those configurations requires extra space and training which has a cost, so most restaurants don’t bother. Thank you Mac’s, for bothering!

A local vibe to the interior decor. The expansive raw bar on the far left. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

While the seafood market side of the business is largely unchanged, the fast-fresh saw a major face-lift. The interior was completely remodeled, with a sleek, new look with a white subway tile wall, illuminated menu boards, and re-purposed “driftwood-style” counter. A fully stocked raw bar captures attention near the expanded seating area. Taps for five draft beers as well as a handful of wines give adults an added order consideration. In the summer, picnic tables line the front patio, as does an actual line of hungry customers, some times all the way into the parking lot!

A Mac’s-branded tides chart calendar. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

In addition to Chatham, Mac’s Seafood can be found in Eastham (Mac’s Market and Kitchen), Provincetown (Mac’s Fish House) and Wellfeet (Mac’s on the Pier, Mac’s Shack). I’ve been to both Wellfleet locations, which are down the street from one another, but offer a different experience. Mac’s on the Pier is the quintessential clam shack, with picnic bench seating, fried seafood baskets, with views of the harbor. On the other hand, Mac’s Shack is a bustling tavern, which use to be a nautical shop set in a 19th century house, featuring freshly caught seafood, spirited cocktails and close tables. I’ve only driven by the newly established Mac’s Market and Kitchen along Route 6, and have not yet tried the Provincetown location. (When in P-Town, I find myself drawn back to The Canteen and that fun backyard.)

Hearty to-go dinners of fried scallops and clam strips from Mac’s Chatham Fish & Lobster. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Mac’s story dates back a few generations. The business model is focused on local, sustainable seafood, and the story goes how Mac’s overcame a number of challenges of changes in seafood markets and regulations. To meet increasing demand, Mac’s even mastered overnight cold shipping to reach folks across the country. Whether you are looking for fresh filets to prepare at home, a crunchy fried seafood basket, or a steaming cup of chowder, try Mac’s!

Skiing from Cape Cod

A tribute to the godfather of modern day skiing, somewhere on AJax (Aspen Mountain), Colorado.

Author’s Note: Winter on Cape Cod gets a raw deal (pun intended) from most people since the days are cold, short, and many businesses close for the season. The quiet, gray, chilly days contribute to that desolate feeling that makes us dream of spring. While seeing your favorite restaurant shuttered until flowers bloom can be a bummer, most people would agree it’s completely appropriate as business owners need to re-charge their batteries for the ensuring spring, summer and fall tourist seasons. As Mr. Clement Moore would suggest, winter is the time to settling in for that long winters nap. Let us embrace winter, and one way to do that is skiing from Cape Cod. Huh?

I know, there are no downhill ski hills, resorts or mountains on Cape Cod. The closest mountain is a good 2-hour drive. Distance being what it is, means you may need to be creative with your approach to “dual-planking,” either by cross country skiing, skinning rolling hills or just dusting off some classic skiing movies (Ski School, Aspen Extreme, Warren Miller annual film, etc). To my knowledge, the Cape Cod Rail Trail path is not plowed after a snowfall, so even modest accumulation would provide enough base to cross country ski. While usually thought of for sledding, area golf courses have some steep hills perfect for a quick hike and ski (Hole #6 at Eastward Ho! comes to mind, finishing the run at the shoreline of Pleasant Bay would be quite a thrill. A few years back following a big overnight storm, I actually saw ski tracks on Ridgevale Road from Shady Lane to Pine Drive (down hill section) during an early morning walk. Those examples may seem utterly ridiculous, but with a little creativity, one can find a way to ski on Cape Cod. But for the downhill “Powder Hounds,” you have to head northwest to get those coveted first chair and tracks. Hence, “Skiing from Cape Cod, and the Cape Cod Ski Club can help you do just that.

Peek-a-boo view from somewhere off Temerity, Aspen Highlands, Colorado.

Skiing from Cape Cod

First, thank you to Rob Conery, who’s January 2, 2020 article “Head for the Slopes in January,” introduced me to the Cape Cod Ski Club. The Cape Cod Ski Club has been around for over 40 years and is currently 400+ members strong offering a mix of day trips, weekend overnights, and destination “fly” trips to higher elevations and vertical out West. This ski season, Cape Cod Ski Club will be descending Aspen/Snowmass (Colorado), Taos (New Mexico) and Park City (Utah) for their fly trips, Sunday River, Bretton Woods and Jay Peak for overnight trips; and a mix of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont mountains for day trips. Membership costs $45 (before October 1, $50 after) is open to anyone 21 or older – whether or not you live on Cape Cod. Family members less than 21 years old can join trips as guests with a signed permission slip and adult guests can buy a single day membership for $15, which can be applied to full membership.

The Cape Cod Ski Club season is just beginning. Photo credit: Cape Cod Ski Club.

Ski Clubs are a great value because membership fees are usually inexpensive and end up paying for itself within a few trips. The ski club model is also attractive to ski resorts, as they will offer group rates (on lodging, lift tickets, etc) and/or discount “Awareness Days” for club members to ski/ride a specific mountain on a specific date. These scheduled Awareness Days (clubs essentially buy bulk lift tickets) can be helpful to plan your travel and lodging ahead of time, since you will know the exact date you will be at a certain mountain. As an example, a weekend lift ticket at Killington Resort is $129 “at the window”, though the cost of the same lift ticket on a discount “Awareness Day” through the Connecticut Ski Council is only $65. Joining the Connecticut Ski Council is just $30. In this case, the membership pays for itself after just one day skiing! Point being, even if you just want to ski a few times during the season, membership still makes financial sense.

A sunny, groomer day at Solitude, Utah, is just what the legs needed after crushing 29 inches of powder at Snowbird, Utah, the day before. Photo credit: Funny Snowboard Stranger.

Of course not all ski clubs are the same, but all share the goal of enjoying the great outdoors with friends. The social benefits of ski clubs cannot be overstated. What started out in high school with the “OGs,” carving southern and central Vermont morphed into a collection of groups, the “OGs”, the college crew, Powder Hounds, Team Shred and others. My current “club,” the New England Powder Hounds, has about a dozen members, who are spread out in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut. You can’t even find us online; we exist within the GroupMe App with a secret headquarters near Site 1 in Ludlow, Vermont. Admittedly, our club is more of a group of friends/hilarious pranksters/ski family, but we share the same purpose as CT Ski Council, Cape Cod Ski Club, and others, skiing and riding as much as possible, in as many places as possible, for as little money as possible.

The college crew catches up at Brewforia Beer Market & Kitchen, Incline Village, Nevada. Photo credit: Cool waiter.

There is no way around it, skiing is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that expensive. Through my high school buddies/OGs, I struck platinum at Snowbird for the best day of skiing in my life, an expected 12 inches overnight ballooned to 29 inches and the pass to Little Cottonwood Canyon was open on time. We also caught Mineral Basin a few minutes after the area opened following avalanche mitigation. In just a few weeks, I’ll be joining fellow OG at Big Sky, Montana. An extended family member who is a volunteer ski patrol club at Winter Park has guided me to locally known stashes in Mary Jane (“living room”) and Eagle Wind areas for some of the most consistently powdery runs. Thanks to the Powder Hounds, I’ve gone to Squaw Valley, California for the 2nd best day of skiing ever (first tracks on Siberia after it was closed for 4 days for avalanche mitigation); Steamboat, Colorado, first time skiing bare chested at 6,700 feet and potentially Valle Nevado, Chile, South America, this August if “everything goes perfectly.” Many of us haven’t known each other all that long, but man, skiing and riding brings people together.

Powder Hounds pose for a close-up at the Four Points Lodge in Steamboat, Colorado. Photo credit: Happy Stranger Skier.

Ski clubs also allow you avoid this new phenomenon of picking your ski friends every May. Hear me out. Avid skiers – and even beginners – are all too familiar with the horrors of lift ticket pricing and do everything possible to find the cheapest price. Enter “Ikon” versus “Epic” season passes. The two titans of the ski industry, Vail and Alterra are gobbling up ski resorts as well as mountains to participate in their multi-resort season passes. Not surprisingly, these season passes, which contain a range of lift ticket days at various mountains with or without blackout dates, go on sale in the spring (May) prior to the upcoming season, which usually starts the following November for North American resorts. The question becomes, which pass has access to your “go-to” mountain(s) AND are you flying to a ski destination mountain, thus, which pass is that mountain on? So those decisions/plans have to be made in May, 6-8 months in advance. Indeed, your ski pass dictates which friends you see during ski season. Ski clubs Awareness Days don’t work like that, and can shield you from all that noise.

The sign, located next to the Sugarbush, Vermont access road, might as well be made for our club. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

There are many other ski passes and or discount prices such as Mountain Collective, Liftopia, Ski Vermont, Peak Pass, Four Packs, etc. I’ve bought passes through every one of these sources, and highly recommend doing so as you’ll save a lot of money compared to ticket window pricing, exponentially increase your ski area access, and receive discounts on lodging, food and merchandise at participating resorts. Of course, maxing out all your lift tickets on a season pass or pre-purchased lift tickets becomes the priority, rather than say, an impromptu trip to Mad River Glen that got the most snow from a nor’easter overnight, considering a fly trip to Sun Valley who is not a participant on any collective season pass, or spend a day in the solitude of the back-country. Yes, you can still do those things, but the pass keeps your focus on using up your lift tickets for mountains on your pass first. Okay, I’ve aired my laundry, damp as it may be.

Team Shred meets the New England Powder Hounds at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire. Photo credit: Mildly annoyed waitress.

Regardless of your ability, joining a ski club will pave the way for a great snow season experience. You will meet new people, travel to new places and get better, and likely more passionate about doing the sport you love. And who knows, you may also find yourself part of a ski family.

The early stages of wiping out in the woods off Scott Peak, Alpine Meadows, California. Photo credit: Nolan Wheeler.

See you on the slopes!