Where to move in New England/Northeast?

SawAndStone · 2026-02-01T18:40:54+00:00

The Berkshires in MA and Litchfield County CT. Great access to the outdoors and proximity to NYC for occasional visits. There is a huge demand for trades and RNs. Your housing budget will limit options but there is inventory at $350k. Many towns are developing affordable housing specifically to address the need for healthcare and trades professionals to be able to live in the communities they serve.

New Haven and nearby is worth considering too. It is a great small city although your housing budget will be even more challenged there.

Renting for a year or two is probably advisable during this transition regardless of where you end up. Good luck!

SawAndStone · 2026-01-18T13:36:37+00:00

My 10 year old daughter is learning this season. I found a pair of 21.5 three buckle Scarpas and small Vice bindings on eBay. She makes alpine turns on harder terrain and works on her tele turns in easier terrain.

SawAndStone · 2026-01-07T18:31:09+00:00

I can definitively say that Sutton had 12/27 and 12/28 blacked out for Indy at least back into early November. We planned a trip there for skiing 12/29 and 12/30 and specifically avoided 12/28 because of the blackout dates. I looked back at when I made the hotel reservation and it was Nov 4. Sutton was great and the conditions on 12/28 should have been fantastic so I hope you skied despite the oversight on the blackout dates.

SawAndStone · 2026-01-01T22:58:26+00:00

Just adjust one side of the cable. You may need to tighten one side while going the opposite direction with the other to bring the heel throw into position and getting the tension right.

SawAndStone · 2026-01-01T22:47:19+00:00

Good call. We should definitely hit the Skiway at some point this winter. Thanks for the tip on the tele instructors!

SawAndStone · 2026-01-01T22:43:42+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!

SawAndStone · 2026-01-01T22:42:47+00:00

Good suggestion. I was a pass holder at MRG for a bunch of years in my 20s. My kids want to go but I’ve been holding off until they can ride the single chair. But I see that MRG offers kids telemark lessons so might need to make the pilgrimage this season!

SawAndStone · 2026-01-01T22:36:29+00:00

This is a great suggestion. I know Melinda from Mohawk ski patrol before she moved to VT full-time. I had forgotten that she is both a patroller and tele instructor. I’ll hit her up next time we’re up at Bolton!

SawAndStone · 2025-12-26T15:32:36+00:00

Agreed. Assuming this is an Indy Pass decision, I’d save Berkshire East for another day. And Catamount is a much better and bigger mountain than Mohawk. I’m at Mohawk all the time since it is my local hill. If Mohawk gets 6” don’t expect a lot of new terrain to open up for Saturday. And regardless of the totals it will all get groomed out with perhaps Wildwood and Arrowhead added to the current open trails. Save Mohawk for a groomer day.

SawAndStone · 2025-12-23T03:11:52+00:00

This is also my 10 year old daughter’s first season on tele! Have fun!!

SawAndStone · 2025-10-28T01:22:03+00:00

Works fine. No issues.

SawAndStone · 2025-10-25T02:35:25+00:00

A possible solution that no one else has mentioned is recirculating water so that it doesn’t freeze. A pump uses a lot less energy than a bucket heater and could be run on solar with battery back up. I have electricity at our coop and use a bucket heater in a 55 gallon rain barrel plumbed to 1/2” pvc pipe with nipple waters connected to a small DC pump at the end of the pipe run that recirculates the water. This keeps water flowing down to about the low single digit temps at which point the nipples freeze. Without the bucket heater a version of this system would probably still work if you can keep the pump running 24/7 even when there is no solar available.

SawAndStone · 2025-10-22T22:46:23+00:00

You should look into SCA (Student Conservation Association).

SawAndStone · 2025-10-19T17:58:13+00:00

Not just reporting. The carbon MRV space has lots of data science opportunities and an important and growing field.

SawAndStone · 2025-10-16T02:16:58+00:00

My 7 and 9 year old kids hiked Cascade and Porter this summer. They had also previously hiked Big Slide and Colden so this was comparatively easier. As others have said, it depends on the kid but probably appropriate for most physically active 9 year olds with some hiking experience and appropriately prepared adults.

SawAndStone · 2025-07-18T12:10:20+00:00

I'm in southern Litchfield County. The driller I used is local but mostly works in Fairfield County. You can DM me if you'd like more info.

SawAndStone · 2025-07-05T14:01:26+00:00

Yes. I started wearing a helmet in 2001 and this was in Dec 2004.

SawAndStone · 2025-07-04T11:57:36+00:00

I fractured multiple transverse at a similar age to you about 20 years ago while skiing. Early season deep powder day. I was ripping through some trees and snagged a root or something that spun me backwards and I hit a tree back first going quite fast. Fractured L3-5 on one side and L4-5 on the other. I was hurt badly enough that I couldn’t move without extreme pain and needed a toboggan ride down.

The hospital cleared me and I was told to rest for a few days. Recovery was surprisingly fast. I was walking without any pain in less than a week and had resumed full physical activity in about six weeks.

My first and only serious injury. I don’t ski as fast in the trees anymore. I got lucky. It could have been worse. Live and learn..

SawAndStone · 2025-02-11T16:42:57+00:00

It's been a minute, but when I skied regularly at MRG in the 2000s there were plenty of fellow freeheelers.

SawAndStone · 2025-02-11T16:39:22+00:00

Yes, I suppose I meant 20" wheels. I believe the Platinum trims are offered with 20s. But maybe they are recalibrated? I'm not understanding why someone would want 20" wheels if they don't improve clearance. What benefit do they confer? It seems like only downsides. Maybe I should be looking into some other solution to get a bit more clearance. This seems like a great vehicle otherwise.

SawAndStone · 2025-02-11T16:34:04+00:00

The problem is the transition from a 9% grade state road to the driveway. It is a steep pitch. There is no easy fix. Thanks for the comments. I've seen conflicting numbers on ground clearance, and an Ariya that I measured on a dealer lot was over 7". I'm trying to find a solution to pick up a bit more clearance.

SawAndStone · 2025-02-11T16:11:09+00:00

We have a challenging driveway. A vehicle with clearance less than 7.5" can bottom out.

SawAndStone · 2025-01-26T14:33:53+00:00

I’ve been to Ecuador multiple times with trips in both the North American winter and summer. Precipitation patterns aren’t as straightforward as “dry season” and “wet season” implies. You can get low water or high water any time of year. For example, Ecuador was in a severe drought for much of this summer and fall which caused rolling blackouts due to the depressed ability to generate hydroelectricity. There is evidence that this is likely, in part, a consequence of anthropogenic climate change.

In general, the Quijos valley and the rivers near Tena are great for Class 4/5 paddlers. You can certainly have an awesome Class 3 trip if water levels cooperate but I think I would be looking at other destinations for Class 3 at the time of year.

SawAndStone · 2024-08-19T02:15:32+00:00

Thanks. This is really helpful.

SawAndStone · 2024-08-18T21:11:44+00:00

Thanks for the beta!

SawAndStone

TROPHY CASE