Steve Jarvis, Chair of the Ski Touring Section (STS) of PATC, is an all-around snow expert and enthusiast. He has done everything from winter camping, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and Nordic skiing. Steve grew up downhill skiing, but it was winter hiking that peaked his interest in ski touring. He remembers snowshoeing in the Dolly Sods one year, saying, “It was really cold, but it was like a winter wonderland out there, a whole different world.”
While most of us enjoy hiking in warmer weather and using the winter months as a good excuse to curl up under a blanket and watch Netflix, Steve prefers to make the most of the beauty that can be found in nature during the off-season. Ski touring, or Nordic skiing, allows one to cover ground more quickly and efficiently compared to snowshoeing or hiking, providing a sense of adventure and the opportunity to see and experience more. After a friend introduced Steve to the Ski Touring Section of PATC, he became hooked, and the rest is history.
The most rewarding part of Nordic skiing for Steve is the connection he gets to make with others in the sport. “The biggest thing is learning the sport, having fun, enjoying the outdoors, and then meeting people and making friends and having that camaraderie.” Along with the community, the incredible places that can be explored through ski touring are endless.
Steve has gone on many personal ski trips and also leads trips through STS, taking the club to snowy destinations both locally and globally. STS takes frequent trips to Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania, Blackwater Falls in West Virginia, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and many more areas within driving distance of the DC area. They have also made trips to Colorado, Quebec, Estonia, and other dream locations around the world.
Upcoming trips include Bend, Oregon, Carrabassett Valley in Maine, the Adirondacks in New York, and more.
STS is always welcoming new folks into the club and strives to provide a supportive, welcoming, and educational environment.
“We always welcome new people with different levels of experience and everybody takes care of each other.” Whether you are an experienced Nordic skier or are just dipping your toes into the water, or snow rather, STS is a great place to enjoy the sport and make new connections.
For more information on how to join STS and to learn about upcoming trips, visit https://patcskitouring.us/.
