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depositing snow in the winter. Some skiing is often possible in November but good conditions arrive by early December. The VIC is a great family ski destination as well because of the modest grades, beginner friendly trails and affordable prices. The prices are low, about half that charged at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. Day passes are $7.50 for children and $15 for adults. Winter season passes are just $125 for adults or $250 for a Family Pass. Gear rental is available. A ski setup is $15/day and snowshoes are just $10. We also frequently hold free ski lessons. To get you all set for a winter of skiing, we have scheduled free ski lessons on Sundays from December 12th to January 10th. Group sizes are kept small for quality instruction. You will want to register early for these popular clinics before they fill. For those looking for a more primitive experience, primarily for snowshoeing, we don’t groom our renowned “Boreal Life Trail.” This trail heads north from the facility and into a peatland complex that is part of the Barnum Pond outlet. This ecosystem is home to many species more commonly found in Canada. Here they are at the southern extent of their range. It is a particularly good spot to find the friendly Canada jay, which actually nests during the winter. Most Saturdays this winter those who are interested in finding a Canada jay and other birds that winter here can participate in our free Winter Birding program which starts at 9 a.m. Once you have finished your outdoor excursion on the VIC trails come back inside and warm up. We have a limited food menu, live music on Saturdays from 2
The summit of Jenkins Mountain
to 4 p.m., a gift store, exhibits and an art gallery. Children love our classroom, interacting with our stewards, watching movies in our theater, using our playground and meeting our educational animals when available. We don’t charge an entrance fee for the building; all those services are free. The winter season trail pass is required for trail use only and allows us to fund the grooming. We also have winter camping opportunities and you don’t have to fight for a spot. At the PSC VIC, we have three waterfront lean-tos that can be reserved for
Connecting outdoor recreation, experiential education, and the arts ... naturally. Winter 2022
overnight trips. A lean-to provides a dry platform in the winter. We allow campfires and tents to be utilized inside the lean-to, something that is not allowed on the Forest Preserve. If you have never tried winter camping but want to learn and practice those skills, we will be hosting a winter camping program. Participants will learn from retired forest rangers about the principles and techniques needed for a warm, fun and safe experience. Want to give ice climbing a try? Renowned local guide Kevin MacKenzie will be instructing
clinics for beginners. This is another very popular program with limited slots available so we recommend early registration. To learn more about the PSC VIC, follow us on social media, sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and visit our website to see program schedules and register online. Our trails are open from dawn to dusk 7 days a week. This winter, the building will be open Thursday through Sunday. Trail Passes and rentals can still be obtained when the main building is closed via our self-service terminal found in the foyer.
518.327.6241 paulsmiths.edu/vic @thepscvic
EMBARK ~ Get Up, Get Out
@pscvic
@pscvic 3
