A Ski Bum's business is never done, but at least it's fun. Yesterday I started taking care of business with a telephone interview with nordic ski pioneer and 1960 Squaw Valley Olympian Joe Pete Wilson, owner of the Bark Eater Inn near Lake Placid.

Joe Pete Wilson, owner of the Bark Eater Inn in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, is a nordic skiing pioneer and a 1960 Olympic competitor.
COURTESY JOE PETE WILSON

Then I helped out a bit with an upcoming fund-raiser for the Ski Museum of Maine. Picture a 17-mountain odyssey -- all the areas covered by Ski Maine -- and it's scheduled for the upcoming Martin Luther King weekend.

Next I motored up to the Sports Haus in Bridgton to pick up my new skis, and continued to Sunday River where I tested them out and picked up some more lift tickets for my upcoming "pop quiz" giveaway at the Dec. 5 meeting of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.

Conditions were superb at Sunday River, with four lifts running from four of the resort's eight summits. And judging by the number of snow guns going, the trail counts will increase this weekend. Should be at least another two lifts running.

Note that Santa Sunday is scheduled for Dec. 2.

Leaving the mountain, I stopped by Sunday River Inn and Cross Country Ski Center and chatted with owner Steve Wight about a nordic project I'm doing for several publications -- plus pick up some XC trail passes for the Dec. 5 MOAC show.

Finally I rolled into the Ski Museum of Maine's open house, where I chatted with a number of people, including Joe and Lee Bujold of Farmington. Joe worked many years for G.H. Bass & Company, the Wilton-based maker of fine ski boots half a century ago. In 1965, Joe and Lee were the first couple to marry in the Sugarloaf base lodge.

Joe and Lee Bujold of Farmington check out a pair of Sno-Wings, a children's ski made in Auburn during the 1930s.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

SMOM treasurer Tom Hanson and I discussed a project regarding the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, of which he's a leading member.

He and Megan Roberts, SMOM's consulting curator, talked about some of the historic ski gear and apparel the museum has acquired. Items included Galen Sayward's 1988 Olympic parka and the boots worn by 1968 Olympic jumper Tom Upham. Both men still live within a few miles of the museum.

Tom Hanson and Megan Roberts check out Galen Sayward's 1988 Olympic parka.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Megan holds a boot worn by Olympic ski jumper Tom Upham. Upham lives in Wilton, and the boot was made in Wilton by G.H. Bass & Company.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

G.H. Bass & Company of Wilton was a major manufacturer of ski boots between the 1930s and into the 1960s.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

By the way, note that the open house continues Saturday, Dec. 1, which is also Chester Greenwood Day in Farmington, an event which honors the memory of the native son who invented the ear muff.

The museum plans a float in the 11 a.m. parade; the open house runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 109 Church St., just a snowball's throw from Main St. (Route 4). Call SMOM at 491-5481.

Finally it was back to Portland for some blogging.

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