All-Scholars Trip to the Dartmouth Skiway
For many first-year students, attending Dartmouth marks their first experience with snow. Living in the Upper Valley requires a quick adjustment to the cold, blustery winters. But it also presents the opportunity to visit the Dartmouth Skiway, a small local ski mountain open to Dartmouth students and the local community. While winter often encourages students to stay warm and cozy indoors, we saw an exciting opportunity to foster community by organizing a cross-cohort gathering at the Skiway.
We invited scholars from all four programs to sign up for a group trip. The Scholars Programs office covered the costs of rental equipment and a day pass for each participating student. On Saturday, March 1st, 15 students were up and ready to hit the slopes by 10:15 AM. Many of them had never skied or snowboarded before, but they were eager to try something new. Others were experienced skiers, quickly making their way to the slopes in small groups. A number of seasoned scholars stayed behind to mentor those just starting to learn the ropes.
It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to gather, enjoy the winter sunshine, and try something new together.
Josue and Angel Snowboarding
First-year Gerstner Scholar Dayanara Martinez shares her Skiway Experience:
"I had a blast at the Skiway, as it was not only my first time there, it was also my first time ever skiing in general! Since I grew up in Los Angeles, California, I never really experienced snow (besides sledding or building a snowman once) before attending Dartmouth. Although I was pretty nervous at first, given that I had no clue what to do, it was a pretty exhilarating experience. In particular, I enjoyed every part of learning how to ski on the "Bunny Hill," where I fell a couple of times on the way down even though all of the younger children there were honestly much better along than I was. However, I am extremely grateful and privileged to have this experience, especially knowing how much my mom has sacrificed to get me to this point. I'm looking forward to hopefully being able to return to the Skiway at some point in the future."
Scholars Skiway Trip
First-year Gerstner Scholar Vitali Yakovlev shares his Skiway Experience: "Skiing for the first time was an exhilarating experience! At first, I felt awkward and clumsy in all the gear - especially the skis - but after a couple times going downhill I got used to the feeling. It took me some time to build up the courage to go down a steeper hill, but I am glad that I did. Zooming down is unforgettable - the adrenaline rush of almost tripping on a turn, the wind blowing in your face, and the satisfaction after going down without falling. Like all new things, I needed time to adjust and learn, but it was worth every second."
Coulter and Gerstner Scholars Skiing
Senior Gerstner Scholar Ariadna Garcia shares her Skiway experience: "Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to join the all-scholars trip to the Dartmouth Skiway. Although it wasn't my first time at the Skiway, it had been a while (since my freshman winter) so I was excited to see how much I remembered. It was fun to rediscover the thrill of coming down the slopes. Another highlight of the trip was getting to know other scholars. Whether it was by helping someone on the baby slope figure out how to "pizza" their way down or hanging out on the sidelines, ready to check out the ski lodge food court, I enjoyed connecting with everyone. Overall, this was a memorable experience, and I hope it continues in the future for other scholars to enjoy!"