The day after the Blizzard of 2013 we picked up our son, Ben, and our grandson Saria, and headed over to the Camden Snow Bowl to enjoy the bounty of the storm. The area is one of the few that is owned and operated by a municipality, in this case, the town of Camden.

It harkens back to a day when skiing was all about fun with your friends and family. From the old-time base lodge to the night skiing and ever-friendly staff, this place is a gem.

The day was perfect; brilliant blue sky, tons of soft white powdery snow and not too cold. The only problem was lots of other folks thought it would be a swell idea too. Camden Snow Bowl has only three lifts (one double chairlift and two T-bars) so weekends can get crowded anyway but this day, with just the chairlift running, the lift lines were very long. 

The snow depth had buried the T-bars and, with the focus on toboggans (the North American Toboggan Championships was underway), they did not have the time or man power to get the other lifts operational. 

There was very little grumbling as skiers and boarders, mostly families and neighbors, chatted and waited patiently for there ride up the hill. Just the view looking over Penobscot Bay is worth the wait!

Our grandson is just starting to snowboard so the small handle tow, which was open for beginners, was just right for him to get used to how to turn and stop on his board. By the end of the afternoon he had made a few friends and they had fashioned a “jump” to practice their skills. 

It is always such a wonderful sight to see the eagerness of a new snow enthusiast learning what could become a life long passion. He’s looking forward to the big hill next time.

If you are able, check out the bowl during the week when the crowds are thin. The price is always right at $21 for a full day (10am to 8pm) or enjoy an evening ski for $16 (3 p.m. to 8 p.m.). If you are limited on time or energy there is the 2 hour ticket (any 2 hours) for $13. 

The mountain is closed Mondays and Tuesdays except holidays and school vacations. Prices go up on the weekend but are still very reasonable. Also, if you’re under 5 or over 69 you ski/board for free. For more information, go to www.camdensnowbowl.com/.

See you out there.

Thomas Porter, a life-long skier and outdoor enthusiast, has been writing about his experiences for more than 25 years. Porter competed for his high school and college ski teams, racing at many of the ski areas throughout New England. He continued his engagement with downhill racing by coaching at Windham College in Vermont and the Brattleboro Vermont high school team. Porter has written articles for Explore New England magazine and was the winter sport columnist for The Brattleboro Reformer for more than 25 years before moving to Maine. Porter has contributed to The Maine Outdoor Journal and The Times Record. He is a 26-year member of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and The National Ski Journalist Association. Porter can be reached at tport1950@hotmail.com/.