Hogback offered some great ski trails back when it was a popular mid-sized ski area. The lifts are gone, but the back country skiing is still great, if you are willing to climb the slopes under your own power.

If you're a backcountry skier, earn your turns by joining us at 1:00 on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov 25) for our yearly volunteer workday to maintain skiable lines on the abandoned ski slopes that have been approved for this kind of maintenance. (Please DON'T go out there on your own to do pirate clearing.) Meet in the parking lot on the south side of Route 9 next to Metcalfe's Distillery, where we'll break into teams to tackle various projects. Bring your favorite tool — loppers, pole saws, hand saws, and brush cutters are useful. We don't anticipate needing a lot of chainsaws. If you want to work with a chainsaw, please note that you must use a full set of safety gear, including chaps, hardhat, hearing-face-eye protection, and safety-toed boots.

Questions? Send us a note at hmca@hogbackvt.org.