Description

Have you ever wondered what happened to your favorite ski area? Why did it close? What was the history behind it? Ever driven by a closed ski area and wondered what it was, its legacy? Can I ski there now!?

NELSAP was created to answer your questions. Stories, pictures, and hard facts are used to describe the lost ski areas of New England and elsewhere. Since October of 1998 more than 670 areas have been listed on the site!

Tonight, site founder Jeremy Davis will join us to talk about the project and his book series including his most recent publication focusing on the Berkshires (for purchase here).

From the 1930s to the 1970s, forty-four ski areas were developed throughout the Berkshires. Only seven remain today. This presentation, based on Davis' 2018 award winning book Lost Ski Areas of the Berkshires, explores the histories of these former ski areas and their contributions to the ski industry. Before and after photographs, trail maps, personal stories, and their new roles in the landscape will be shown to bring these mostly forgotten areas to life.

About the author

Jeremy Davis is a skier, writer and meteorologist. Originally from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, he graduated from Lyndon State College with a degree in meteorology and is an Operations Manager and Senior Meteorologist at Weather Routing Inc. since 2000. In 1998, he founded the New England and Northeast Lost Ski Areas Project (www.nelsap.org), which documents the history of former ski areas throughout the region; the site won a Cyber Award for best ski history website from the International Skiing History Association (ISHA). In 2000, he was elected to the board of directors of the New England Ski Museum and continues to serve today. He is the author of five books: Lost Ski Areas of the White Mountains, Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont, Lost Ski Areas of the Southern Adirondacks, Lost Ski Areas of the Northern Adirondacks, and Lost Ski Areas of the Berkshires. Both Adirondacks books and the Berkshire book have won ISHA Skade Awards. He also serves on the editorial review board of ISHA’s magazine, Skiing History.

This event is part of the Mappy Hour 2021 Backcountry Skiing Series

From uphill at a resort to multi-day hut trips, here's a collection of resources to help you find snow on your skis.

From uphill at a resort to multi-day hut trips, we're building a collection of resources to help you find snow on your skis.

Editor's Note: the mountains take on new dangers and challenges in the winter. We highly recommend you pair any of the below resources with AIARE classes and further snow safety education.

Thanks to our friends at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. for helping to make this series possible. They're providing free shipping of Sierra Nevada brews for Mappy Hour attendees. Use code GETSIERRANEVADA for free shipping from TapRM or visit your nearby Whole Foods.