Thank you for completing the form, here is your download: "+jQuery("body").attr("docName")+" Thank you for completing the form, here is the link to your on-demand webinar: On-Demand Webinar Link Stevensville firefighters participate in training with Two Bear Air Rescue — The Stevensville Town Council reluctantly approved an $1,800 payment to grant writers for the town’s 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Program grant application at their April 25 meeting noting that “communication should have been better.” will be spent on new radios for multiple Ravalli County fire departments According to Stevensville Rural Fire Department Town Chief the town owes $1,800 to the New York grant writing company for the draft they drew up in December of last year The grant would purchase 127 radios for Stevensville Fire Department Florence Fire Department and Sula Fire Department Stevensville would receive 21 of the 127 radios Although Motley’s numbers were later disputed at Thursday’s meeting he told the town council they would have to pay $6,048 to match 5% of their $105,000 share of the grant “The grand total that it will cost the town is $7,848 for 21 radios with a $105,000 value,” Motley said “There’s no way this town could go out and buy $105,000 worth of radios we can afford to hop in on a grant and try to see if we’re successful doing it that way.” Motley said that the need for new radios in Ravalli County was crucial citing the state’s slow transition over to 800 MHz radio frequencies He added that in addition to the narrowing frequency bandwidth the Stevensville Fire Department had been “piecing and parting together” radios off of eBay for “a number of years.” “There is a need for radio communications in the fire department,” said Stevensville Rural Fire Department Town Chief “With all the changes in regulations that have come down the road our handhelds are no longer capable of communication because of the frequency changes and the different bandwidth… We ran into a fire a week ago up on the eastside and we were at the top of the hill and bottom of the hill and we didn’t have radio communication from the top to the bottom of the hill.” Members of the council were slightly skeptical of the proposal price and the process timeline Stacie Barker explaining that the request felt like a surprise “The one thing that I don’t like is that the money was asked for in the claims before this even came forward,” Barker said “We’ve known this since December…Why did we wait so long to bring it forward?” Motley told council members that the Fire Department had budgeted for the expenditure and that they had been in discussion with the Mayor other town officials about the grant status since December Town Director of Finance and Human Resources pointing out that the $6,048 match rate he quoted the council was more than 5% of the $105,000 number that he reported earlier in the meeting after running some of the numbers herself at the meeting “Right now I don’t have the documentation,” Motley said “I would like to go back and check the numbers on this proposal.” Council members concluded the discussion by approving the grant writers fee payment in a 3-0 vote but they also noted that going forward grant applications should be better communicated to the council “I feel that communication should have been done better,” said council member Cindy Brown I would personally not be able to live with myself if one of our volunteers got hurt because we didn’t approve this.” Looking to navigate the complexities of grants funding? Lexipol is your go-to resource for state-specific, fully-developed grants services that can help fund your needs. Find out more about our grants services here © 2025 Missoulian, Mont.Visit www.missoulian.com.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Copyright © 2025 Lexipol. All rights reserved.Do Not Sell My Personal Information Chibougamau Independent holds a 2% Gross Metal Royalty on all iron and vanadium produced from the property and Globex a 1% Gross Metal Royalty on all iron production The Cerrado Mont Sorcier Project Update is reproduced below in full “At the Mont Sorcier high-purity iron project detailed metallurgical test work and flow sheet design continued during the quarter 2024) test work has reaffirmed the potential to produce high grade and high purity iron concentrate grading in excess of 67% iron with silica and alumina content below 2.3% Ongoing test work is focused on flotation testing grind size and reagent optimization programs as well as equipment sizing Current test work and overall process design are to be at the core of the NI 43-101 Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS") which is targeted to be completed by the end of Q1 2026 The Bankable Feasibility Study will look to provide greater detail of the potential for the project that was highlighted in the previous 2022 NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") that delivered a project NPV8% of US$1.6 Billion based upon iron concentrates grading 65% iron All principal consultants are now actively engaged in the BFS process.” Jack Stoch wrote this press release in his capacity as president of both Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc West Columbia – Visitation and Funeral Services for Betty M Visitation will begin in the church sanctuary at 12:00 prior to the funeral service at 2:00 following a life of devoted service to those around her and was a 1952 graduate of Lexington High School Betty worked several years for Lexington School District 2 She went on to work at Midlands Technical College Airport Campus as an office secretary and retired from there after many years of service She was a partner of Wise Furniture Company in West Columbia with her late husband Betty was a past president and active member of the Cayce-West Columbia Jaycee-ettes and supported her husband in his many Jaycee activities She co-chaired the Bernhardt Circle for twelve years and her later years were spent as an active member of the Ladies Aid She cherished traveling with her family to the beach and lively tailgating with friends and family at Clemson football games Betty’s giving spirit shone brightest in the kitchen where she delighted in cooking for her entire family filling their lives with the warmth of her meals Betty was a remarkable woman whose legacy will live on in the hearts of her family She lived a full and vibrant 90 years marked by kindness She shared a 65-year marriage with the love of her life She was a cherished mother to her children Betty is survived by her children Gale McLeod and Allen Wise (Willette); her beloved grandchildren and Robert Wise; and her treasured great-grandchildren Betty was also a beloved aunt to her nieces and nephews She was predeceased in death by her brothers Franklin Monts and John Monts and her sisters Louise Shull and Ellen Wingard The family would like to thank The Columbia Presbyterian Community – Davega Drive for their excellent care and loving attention during her years of residence Tabor Lutheran Church Ladies Aid Society or Music Ministry Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Here’s how we break down the shoe in every review We use cookies to provide the best experience on our website. Read our Cookie Policy We independently review everything we recommend maybe quite literally hundreds of shoes ago There were less than a handful of those that commanded the arena We were on the steep end of the exponential hook for trail running growth when many companies started to alter foams and other tech to tackle the specific demands of trails Trail running tech was finally at a place to start sharpening the end of the spear a shoe would come along and spice things up for me (as long as you leave out the heel counter construction) wide-toebox company’s first true trail racer that iteration of Ego Max foam is one of my favorites for the trail the Vanish Carbon 1 and 2 have been released on the road side and so has the Mont Blanc Carbon for the trails we have the third generation to welcome to the party: the Mont Blanc Speed the Alta Mont Blanc Speed comes in a zero drop package (29 mm stack) and is built on the “Standard” last but I haven’t had much experience with Altra shoes the zero-drop design has always intimidated me since I’m used to a more comfortable 5 millimeters I approached this review with caution (don’t worry no calves or feet were harmed in the process) as anyone should when transitioning to a different heel-to-toe drop I was also curious to see where the Mont Blanc Speed would fall within Altra’s range — would it lean toward a more minimalist feel or follow the trend of thicker more cushioned models the brand has been adopting The combination of zero drop and ample cushioning is still an odd concept for me to wrap my head around MICHAEL: Since I’m coming off writing a novel for the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro review and since my fellow reviewers have had such a great job teeing this one up I must admit I’m coming up a bit short for the ol’ intro Because you know what provides no lack of inspiration (or pollination) The redbuds have been incredible this year and have provided the perfect backdrop for which to test out the latest lightweight uptempo trail racer from Altra: the Mont Blanc Speed a roomy fit is integral to the Altra experience The Mont Blanc Speed also has a wider fit throughout Think of the Standard last it is built on as the brand’s medium width the forefoot and midfoot had a comfortable amount of room for daily and long runs Even though I expected a more fitted experience The more structured and durable engineered mesh upper allowed for consistent fit throughout the foot I’ve previously had such voluminous uppers caving in on my foot and sacrificing fit Even though the extra room typically means a lack of security and flat profile allowed for a surprising amount of control My foot was able to rotate within the shoe in a functional way that never left me feeling insecure The main character of the Mont Blanc Speed is certainly the midsole which is comprised of Altra’s softer yet structured Ego Max foam (also found in the Olympus etc.) and its energetic Ego Pro foam (found in Mont Blanc Carbon It’s quite a luscious combination of noticeable cushion and mild reactiveness that makes for easy cruisin’ At 29mm (which is a very mid-stack height for today’s standards)and a lightweight TPU Stoneguard sandwiched between I also appreciated the adequate ground feel of this stacked-up package It has a very Altra feel in that sense of feeling “natural” without actually sacrificing too much underfoot in the Mont Blanc Speed As for the Vibram Megagrip Litehase outsole which I can only describe creatively so many times I’m finding myself very satisfied with the performance they dug into a lot of surfaces and transitioned well between them thick mud sections and slush made their presence known when traversing This particular rubber is quite tacky and is one of the industry leaders in durability as well Confidence was easily found in this outsole Many have had serious issues with Altra’s build quality This package should provide a longer-lasting experience I was pleasantly surprised by how light the Mont Blanc Speed felt trail shoes can feel bulky or weigh me down but this one allowed me to pick up speed effortlessly The combination of agility and stability gave me confidence on rocky and uneven paths making my runs feel both smooth and controlled One of my biggest concerns with lightweight trail shoes is the potential loss of cushioning The balance between cushioning and responsiveness is spot on—I never felt like I was sacrificing comfort for speed Many lightweight models lack the necessary support for longer runs providing comfort even on extended outings this shoe feels like a grippier version of the Torin which makes it an excellent choice for runners who love the fit and feel of Altra but need something with more traction for the trails the Mont Blanc Speed has all the makings of a light airy upper for keeping things light and staying cool as the weather gets warmer as well as the high-performing and versatile Vibram Litebase outsole the star of the shoe was the combination of the Ego Pro midsole with the updated TPU StoneGuard rock plate Since I found the carbon plate in the Mont Blanc Carbon to essentially be a fancy rock plate of its own it was refreshing to see Altra bring back the good ol’ TPU rock plate and really let it shine here I enjoyed the simplicity of this midsole combination on technical and smooth trails alike and found that the extra pop from the Ego Pro foam really took this shoe to another level of fun so zipping around corners and trees with a smile on your face just comes naturally in this shoe I think I prefer this midsole to the one in the Carbon I anticipate the line between cushioning and protection to be perfect for zero-drop believers who are looking for a sub-ultra uptempo or race-day shoe clack… that’s my soapbox dropping on the floor Attention all brands: Naming conventions should, in fact, be a representation of what to expect when wearing a particular shoe. It’s honestly a little distasteful when it can’t live up to its name. For example, The Nike Zegama 2 is a shoe I would never wear at the Zegama race The original Altra Mont Blanc wouldn’t be on my consideration for running around the Mont Blanc Massif The Altra Mont Blanc Speed is not a shoe I would think of a shoe that exudes “speed.” Don’t get me wrong but it doesn’t make me feel like ripping a workout or has the responsiveness to pick up the pace It’s simply a good shoe to stack mile after mile on… I guess it did feel on the lighter end and durability really gave it more of a pepped-up Lone Peak vibe rather than a “speedy” counterpart to the Mont Blanc Carbon Even after slinging these through the upper eyelets and stuffing them through the lacing chain It was very structured for a nice overall fit It’s a stout construction that curves slightly toward the Achilles If you typically have an issue with feeling heel counters just know this one could be a little nippy ALLISON: I’ve always been hesitant to run in Altra shoes due to their reputation for notoriously wide “clown-like” toeboxes and somewhat sloppy uppers While I appreciate the concept of allowing toes to splay naturally my foot had too much movement within the shoe which made technical trails and sharp turns feel unstable at times The upper didn’t do much to improve the situation either foot-hugging fit I prefer in a performance running shoe this lack of a secure fit became even more noticeable making the experience frustrating rather than enjoyable While aesthetics aren’t the most important factor it’s always nice when a shoe looks as good as it performs and these just didn’t deliver in that department I just don’t find the look of the shoe convincing I understand that the gray fade into lime green may just be an unfortunate case of the bad colorway Of course, not every shoe has to be visually stunning, but this one does carry the Mont Blanc moniker after all and, perhaps most crucially, is priced at $185. In today’s world, if the shoe doesn’t have the looks to justify the price tag, it’s gotta have mad performance to match. For reference, I’m still gushing over the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro we just reviewed which was probably my favorite shoe of all time and MSRP’d for just ten dollars more at $195 The Mont Blanc Speed is still a simple and fun shoe but I do think it would be much more approachable for a larger crowd in the $140 to $160 range My concerns with the price tag were not at all helped by the fit of the shoe turned out to be surprisingly loose and imprecise to be expected of Altra models towards the toe box but even the midfoot and heel counter of the Mont Blanc Speed felt quite baggy synched down tightly enough to keep my foot from going all over the place Altra’s fit through the midfoot works great for me in shoes like the Timp TAYLOR: Besides a few minor annoyances and me being at odds with its identity the Altra Mont Blanc Speed was a very pleasing shoe this would feel a whole lot more like an Altra Lone Peak Plus… but whatever I’ll let it go… but probably should harp on it one more time The Mont Blanc Speed boasted a more relaxed fit and a nice balance of protection-to-ground-feel ratio It was a really solid option for anything from daily miles to weekend long runs Some will also really enjoy this as a race day option the ideal would be a moderately technical course that’s a shorter ultra distance I do know that many Altra-folk would gladly take this out for days on end Altra has a really nice addition to its lineup with the Mont Blanc Speed ALLISON: If you’re a fan of Altra and are already accustomed to the brand’s signature wide toebox and foot-shaped design then you’ll likely appreciate the zippiness and lightweight feel of the Mont Blanc Speed allowing for quick transitions and speedier efforts on the trail while still maintaining the natural feel that Altra is known for The shoe provides a good balance of agility and cushioning making it a solid choice for those who enjoy long-distance trail running without feeling weighed down I’m going to echo Taylor’s sentiment here and suggest that Altra still has a really nice addition to its quiver in the Mont Blanc Speed Its balanced yet nimble feel makes for a fun shoe to pick up the pace in but I can confirm that for the Altra faithful plateless design will be a welcome refresh for their rotation You can pick up the Altra Mont Blanc Speed for $185 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below EGO MAX DOSE NOT APPEAR IN THE OLYMPUS BUT Can you comment on how it compares to the Mont Blanc Carbon but it sounds like the way you describe the fit I actually really like the fit of the carbon and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Taylor Bodin is a trail and ultra runner living in Estes Park As the head of the Dirt Division at Believe in the Run trail running is pretty much the only hobby he can manage right now and loves it he will pop off a race or FKT attempt because competition is pure and the original motivator for him getting into running anyway Allison is a die-hard sports enthusiast and long distance runner As co-leader of Trail Sisters and FKT manager she’s dedicated to fostering community and empowerment in the outdoors An engineer living with his wife and cat in Birmingham Michael loves chill morning runs in the neighborhood but especially enjoys soaking up long miles of technical southeast singletrack he’ll get a racing itch and actually string together some “organized” training for a trail race or FKT Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed NASHVILLE – The Titans have signed former Seahawks edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones with the Broncos and Seahawks since entering the NFL in 2019 The Seahawks waived Jones last week to create cap space and the Titans snatched him up just a few days after parting ways with edge rusher Harold Landry The 28-year-old Jones had 8 ½ sacks in two seasons in Seattle $51.5 million deal in 2023 after he spent his first four NFL seasons in Denver After playing defensive tackle and end for Seattle in 2023 Jones dropped weight to play more in an outside linebacker role in 2024 Jones battled through a shoulder injury in 2024 and he was scheduled to make $16.5 million in 2025 before the Seahawks opted to release him 281) appeared in all 34 games for the Seahawks over the past two seasons starting 16 games in 2023 and seven games last season 12 tackles for a loss and 25 quarterback hits A third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 2019 draft Dre'Mont Jones signs his contract at the Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on March 14 Denver Broncos defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (93) lines up during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III (79) blocks Denver Broncos defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (93) during an NFL football game on Monday Denver Broncos defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (93) rushes during their game against the Tennessee Titans Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones during the first half of an NFL football game Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) maneuvers to get around the block during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday San Francisco 49ers tight end Charlie Woerner (89) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks and defensive end Dre'Mont Jones during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) tackles Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) after a throw during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday Thompson was taken out of the game after the play after an apparent injury Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) lines up during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) in action against Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) during an NFL football game Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) runs during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Your official source for all Titans signings throughout the 2025 NFL Free Agency period Lockett joins the Titans after spending the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks where he ranks second in team history behind Hall of Famer Steve Largent in receptions (661) Hardee joined the Titans in the middle of last season after playing previously with the Saints and Jets bigger contract quarterbacks in free agency did he Titans signal they're picking one of the quarterbacks in the NFL Draft released two others while opting not to re-sign several of their own and some of those players have landed elsewhere A sixth-round pick of the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft Proche has played in 62 career games with the Ravens and Browns in his NFL career has made 147-of-180 field goals (81.7 percent) and 163-of-182 extra points (89.6 percent) in the NFL Jefferson signed with the Titans last week after playing previously with the Rams The move to Tennessee seemed perfect for a lot of reasons for Moore who was raised not far from Houston and knows all about the roots of the franchise as well as his new linemates with the Titans and he ran for a career-high 102 yards on 22 carries while recording a pair of catches for 11 yards Chestnut also returned 13 kickoffs for 337 yards Levin has played in 71 games for the Titans and also spent time on rosters with the Broncos Woods has played in 123 games in his NFL career Titans + Nissan Stadium App presented by Verizon Stay up to date with team and stadium news Get Titans news sent straight to your inbox It’s playoff time in District 1.  The various leagues that make up the four suburban Philadelphia counties are all transitioning from the regular season to the postseason this week with championships early next week and the District 1 tournaments to follow.  Here’s a look at each bracket in the Ches-Mont League Grace Hodges (above) and Downingtown East captured the Ches-Mont National title The Ches-Mont is wide-open on the girls’ side heading into the playoffs with most of the major players from last year’s playoffs graduated or lost to the season due to injury Downingtown East certainly has had the strongest season the Cougars rolling into the playoffs with a 20-2 record (11-1 Ches-Mont National) which has them in the top five seeds in the District 1 6A tournament.  But they didn’t even qualify for the Ches-Mont playoffs a year ago so this is new territory for a junior-led group Chloe Hunold and Charlotte Aldridge joined by sophomore Kendall Chiavelli as regular double-digit scoring threats.  Joining Downingtown East in the semifinals are American division champs Unionville (15-7 which suffered a major blow in the season opener when senior guard Elle Johnson went down with a season-ending injury seniors Shannon Megill and Izzy Della Barba leading a defensive-minded unit that also features 6-2 Bethany Bowden They’ll have a tough one in the semifinals whether it’s Great Valley (13-8 both of whom can pack a punch; the Patriots feature sophomores Kate Weikert and Maddie Walsh plus juniors Reilly Lackman and Kacee Magee; the Whippets feature junior point guard Hayden Blair alongside a deep group including seniors Liv Young Sami Schurtz and Caitlin Grant and some impressive freshmen which rallied late to grab last seed in the National division has a lot back from last year’s Ches-Mont runner-ups junior guard Lauren Horan and senior forward Sofia Keith though they're without junior guard Carly Bickle who went down with a season-ending injury just before the year got underway 8-2) has done well through a coaching change and with the graduation of its best players from the last few years with junior point guard Jenna Kraft stepping up as the Golden Knights’ latest star along with senior Sara Betchyk and a number of sophomores and juniors Nasir Williams (above) and Coatesville went unscathed through the Ches-Mont slate While the girls’ tournament seems wide-open the boys’ tournament — while stocked with talent — has a no-doubt frontrunner in Coatesville 12-0 National) didn’t lose a single game to a Ches-Mont opponent all season; their only losses came to three out-of-state teams the Suburban One favorites in Upper Dublin and the defending PIAA 6A champs in Central York talented group featuring senior guards Amon Fowlkes and Nasir Williams junior forwards Larry Brown and Jonah Chester and a freshman to watch in wing Colton Hiller.  One team that’s itching to get a shot at Coatesville is Sun Valley (18-4 which just wrapped up the best regular season in program history Steve Maloney’s Vanguards don’t have a true big man but have some really good guards in seniors Kaiden Robinson and Aaron Freeman plus junior wing Aden Bambgose who scored a career-high 26 points in the season finale win over Rustin; they play an aggressive 1-3-1 zone trap defense which has worked well for them since last year which has battled through injuries this season but has some real talent on the roster Senior forward Sean Griffin is a versatile 6-8 ‘4’ man who’s garnering D-I interest with a planned post-grad year ahead and junior guard Danny Keenan is a strong-two way combo guard with senior David Maddry-Rylander another quality ball-handler and scorer As for the rest of the league: Downingtown West (13-8 athletic senior wing Donovan Fromhartz (West Chester) and sharpshooting junior guard Brady Moore; Great Valley (15-7 8-2) has senior wing Henry Person and high-scoring junior guard Chris Woodard; Rustin has a talented senior backcourt in Ben Malley and Vincent Iacone Penn State University is considering closing a number of its campuses due to a bleak outlook on enrollment and Penn State Mont Alto is among those at risk Pointing to a sharp decrease in the number of college-age students starting in 2026 Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi announced this week that she established a committee to review 12 of the university's Commonwealth campuses for possible closure "We cannot continue with business as usual The challenges we face — declining enrollments demographic shifts and financial pressures — are not unique to Penn State but they require us to make difficult choices institutions are grappling with similar headwinds and we have reached a moment where doing nothing is no longer an option," Bendapudi said in a statement on Penn State's website Penn State believes its seven largest Commonwealth campuses -- Abington Harrisburg and Leigh Valley -- are positioned for long-term sustainability and will therefore remain open "While it is clear that not all 12 campuses can continue it is equally clear that a number of them will," Bendapudi said The seven campuses not at risk for closure account for almost 75% of enrollment among the satellite campuses and 67% of faculty and staff, according to the statement. Penn State enrollment data dating back to fall 2020 show they had an average undergraduate enrollment of just under 2,400 in fall 2024 while the 12 at-risk campuses had an average enrollment of about 500 Enrollment is down across the board since the fall 2020 undergraduate semester is Penn State Schuylkill; it had 698 undergraduate students enrolled for fall 2024 Mont Alto's enrollment in fall 2024 was its second-lowest in the five years represented Originally opened as a forestry school in 1903 the wooded campus north of Waynesboro had 612 students enrolled last fall compared to 710 in 2020 and about 670 the next two years A Penn State Mont Alto spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment According to its report on fall 2024 enrollment Penn State overall showed a 2.7% decrease in first-time "We have made enhancements in enrollment management enrollment at many of our Commonwealth Campuses continues to decline and many of the counties that host these campuses are expected to decrease in population for the next 30 years," according to Bendapudi Franklin County has been growing for years and that is expected to continue for at least another 15 years according to projections from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania The organization also lists projections for population by age The number of 15- to 19-year-olds in the county is expected to drop by 1,357 people The teen population will go up slightly after that but there could still be about 1,000 fewer people in this age bracket in 2050 compared to today students are 18 when they begin a four-year undergraduate program the number of 20- to 24-year-olds is expected to grow over the coming decades The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shows a projected population of 9,068 this year The projected early-20s population falls by 1,290 people through 2040 and remains just over 9,000 over the following 10 years the center's projection shows the county's total population peaking at just over 157,000 between 2030 and 2040 Funding to fix roads: Franklin County bridge closed for 6 years to be replaced with $354K state grant Eat for a good cause: Chambersburg Rotary's revamped Chicken N' Stuff shifts to new date in 2025 Campuses identified for closure will stay open through at least the end of the 2026-27 academic year This timetable allows associate degree students who begin their studies this fall to complete their degrees and students allows students beginning their studies this fall to complete their associate degree or obtain credits needed to transition to another campus to complete their bachelor's degree Penn State will continue admitting new students for fall 2025 at all Commonwealth campuses and every student who begins a degree at Penn State will be able to complete it within the university system The review process will not include the Great Valley campus that focuses on graduate programs Dickinson Law in Carlisle or medical programming at Penn State Health Milton S Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com SUPERIOR — While many residents enjoyed temperatures above 40 degrees in the Twin Ports area on Thursday dozens of ice cross racers were hoping for cooler conditions on Friday at Mont du Lac Resort for the opening day of competition for the United States Ice Cross Association's (USIX) Cup Series event Mont du Lac hosted a number of ice cross events in the past with 2025 marking the 10-year anniversary of the first USIX race at the resort “This is my fourth year doing this,” Beatson said “I started when I was 16 and this (Mont du Lac) was actually my first event While hockey and ice cross share similarities in skates there are differences between the two sports such as the elevation changes You have people going downhill on a track on ice skates there’s potential for cuts and bad falls and the ice is super hard “We decided we should really enforce them (neck guards) especially with people going such high speeds,” said Kale Johnstone “We've had people slashed in the legs and stuff before so we want to take every precautionary measure necessary too Thursday’s warmer weather affected practice time for the ice cross racers and temperatures above 32 degrees early Friday afternoon delayed the qualifiers from the scheduled 3 p.m the racers were able to get in some practice runs The finals are scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m and the races are free for spectators to attend If you’ve ever thought about giving ice cross a try “For anybody that's interested that maybe didn't compete this weekend We're gonna have a bunch of the athletes that are skating this weekend stay behind and kind of teach everybody the ropes,” said Johnstone Located on the second floor of the library at 320 Campus Drive the archival exhibit highlights artifacts and documents from the campus archives “As the oldest of the Commonwealth Campuses Penn State Mont Alto has an extensive archives collection dating back to the early 1900s,” said Kristi Addleman Ritter “These materials are indispensable in telling the story of our campus They help to illustrate historical aspects of campus culture athletics and academics that would be harder to show otherwise.” The physical exhibit will be on display through spring semester 2025 during the library’s normal hours of operation The Mont Alto Campus Library’s varied special collections include a compilation of resources related to forestry education in Pennsylvania As part of Penn State University Libraries, the Mont Alto Campus Library has access to the Libraries’ entire collection of books, journals and databases, through which they can help students and faculty find material for their projects and research. Pennsylvania residents are eligible to register for a resident borrower card at any Penn State library by presenting a valid photo ID For more information, call Addleman Ritter at 717-749-6042 or email kra132@psu.edu The Seahawks released four players a week before the start of free agency The Seahawks parted ways with four veteran players on Tuesday outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones and defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris The moves come a week ahead of the start of free agency which begins on March 10 with the two-day negotiating period before the new league year begins on March 12 and they also come on the heels of the NFL Scouting Combine which in addition to being an opportunity to evaluate draft prospects as general manager and president of football operations John Schneider noted a chance for teams to start to figure out the offseason landscape "We're down here to figure out what the offseason's going to look like this is our start," Schneider said Tuesday in Indianapolis who the Seahawks signed as a free agent two years ago has appeared in all 34 games in two seasons with Seattle 12 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hits in his two seasons for the Seahawks who began his career in Seattle as an undrafted free agent before signing with the Jets as a free agent in 2020 returned to the Seahawks as a free agent in 2024 to provide veteran tackle depth and with Abraham Lucas coming off offseason surgery an option to start at right tackle to open the season Fant did indeed open the season as Seattle's starter but unfortunately suffered an injury in Week 1 then had another injury sideline him upon his return meaning he appeared in just two games during the season opened the year as a starting safety alongside Julian Love but after he went on injured reserve midway through the season with a hand injury Coby Bryant took over his starting spot and never gave it up Jenkins finished his season starting nine games and appearing in 13 who the Seahawks acquired in a trade with Jacksonville during the 2024 season The Seahawks signed linebacker Dre'Mont Jones on March 16 Check out the best photos from his two seasons with the Seahawks linebacker Dre'Mont Jones recorded 77 tackles The Seahawks waived four players on Tuesday which opens more roster spots ahead of signing undrafted free agents later this week The Seahawks waived nose tackle Cameron Young on Wednesday bringing back the quarterback who spent two seasons with the team from 2022-2023 Tight end Brady Russell signed his exclusive rights free agent tender on Wednesday The Seahawks signed receiver Steven Sims Tuesday adding receiver depth and a candidate to handle kick and punt returns The Seahawks signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert on Monday The Seahawks added to their secondary Monday adding safety and special teams standout D'Anthony Bell The Seahawks re-signed linebacker Josh Ross and added receiver River Cracraft on Friday The Seahawks signed cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles on Wednesday Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks Tuesday making official a return home for the Yakima native The Seahawks agreed to terms on a deal with former Rams standout Cooper Kupp a Yakima native who will be returning to his home state The Seahawks made a big splash early in free agency She worked in education as a kindergarten assistant at Kirkland Kindergarten and Wood Elementary for 32 years where she was strongly committed to  children and their learning Sandra also was an employee at Lexington Medical Center Sandra worked as a volunteer for many years helping many patients She was a loyal member of Faith Lutheran Church for numerous years where she was active teaching Sunday school and participating in the LWC she was a member of  Emmanuel Lutheran Church where she volunteered in different capacities and John Gilreath; and her 8 great-grandchildren She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Naomi Roof and her brother Richard Roof The Celebration of Life Service for Sandra will be held 11:30 a.m The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church; 2491 Emmanuel Church Road; West Columbia Image: Susie B / FreeDigitalPhotos.net An impending snowstorm on Tuesday forced a number of championship games to move to Monday night meaning five different leagues — the Catholic Academies (AACA) Pioneer Athletic Conference and Suburban One League — will also hand out trophies on the same night it’s a chance to defend titles; for others it’s a chance to bring home a trophy for the first time in decades Here’s a look at the various championship games on Monday night: Sophia Tray (above) and Villa Maria will face Gwynedd Mercy in the AACA championship for the third year in a row The last two teams to have won an AACA title Gwynedd Mercy is the defending champion while Villa Maria took the crown two years ago - fittingly they beat each other in each of those games - will meet for a rubber match which is after a third title in four years overall won both regular season meetings but the Hurricanes generally do well in championship opportunities under longtime coach Kathy McCartney first-year Monarchs coach Taylor Sweeney is seeking to lead her team to a title that eluded her as a player in her time at Gwynedd Mercy Both teams will look to follow the lead of a standout junior guard with Gwynedd Mercy Academy’s Bailey Balkir and Villa Maria Academy’s Sophia Tray also the leaders to be named league MVP after the game has thrived in taking on the lead role while getting plenty of support from a senior cast including Cara Lapp Carsy Kelly and Carli Amos and supplanted by some talented underclassmen is no less dynamic and her toughness sets the tone for the Hurricanes although seniors Abby Ferry and Sierra Dean add veteran experience getting plenty of production out of Rebecca Croft The Big 3 in the Central League is down to a final two after Conestoga beat defending champ Haverford in a hard-fought semifinal while Garnet Valley dispatched Lower Merion in the other Garnet’s taken both matchups so far this season playing one at ‘Stoga’s venue and tempo (29-24) and another at GV’s (50-43) Joe Woods’ Jaguars come into Monday night on a 17-game winning streak dating back to their only loss of the season on Dec 17 at Haverford; Conestoga (18-5) doesn’t have a record to sneeze at as AJ Thompson has a veteran group to rely upon as well Conestoga’s biggest advantage comes in the post in 6-1 Army West Point commit Janie Preston as Garnet Valley doesn’t have a true forward in its starting lineup the Jaguars’ guard-heavy attack is led by Lafayette commit Haylie Adamski a 6-foot-tall sharpshooting wing who’s one of the best scorers around And she’s got help in fellow 1,000-point scorer Kylie Mulholland defensive-minded senior wing Savannah Saunders and her own younger twin sisters who both have their sister’s shooting ability Conestoga’s got its own quality backcourt in senior Ruth Lanouette (MIT) junior D-I recruit Ryann Jennings and junior Maggie Neary with additional support from senior Rebecca Schmidt and junior Libby Brown Carson Kasmer (above) and Lower Merion take on Penncrest in the Central League championship because this one might need more than 32 minutes to settle it took not one but two overtimes to settle the score hitting a 3-pointer to send things to the second extra session Even though Penncrest has a couple district titles in the last decade it hasn’t won the Central League since 2010; Lower Merion as Gregg Downer’s program continues to be the class of the league.  Mike Doyle’s got one incredibly well-coached group of its own — and most impressively the 6-3 Gladue is the only senior in the rotation The junior class of wing forward Mikey Mita (6-6) and guards Sean Benson (6-1) Connor Cahill (6-0) Ben Stanton (5-11) will ensure that Penncrest will be good for the next little while as it’s a well-rounded group that can all score Lower Merion will have to find an answer for Mita as the Aces are also guard-heavy: senior Carson Kasmer (Gettysburg) and classmates Sam’i Singletary Rashyne Patterson and Gus Wright carry the load but the 6-3 Patterson is the tallest of the group Even though LM’s the defending champs most of the rotation are first-year contributors so neither group has a ton of experience on this stage; “handling the moment” might be the biggest X factor The two district schools and archrivals will bring all of Downingtown down to West Chester for the third game between the two this year and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them meet again in districts and/or states West (20-4) winning the December matchup and East (21-2) repaying the favor West’s win over East’s was the Cougars’ only loss to a PIAA school all year long with its other loss coming to Germantown Academy West coach Mike Young relies on his team’s depth in an attempt to throw different looks at opponents and wear them down over the course of games Sophomore guard Hayden Blair leads a group of talented underclassmen including freshman forward Kylee Domsohn and freshman guard Eme McComsey along with upperclassmen including Liv Young Downingtown East’s Darren Domsohn relies more heavily on a starting five of sophomore Kendall Chiavelli and juniors Chloe Hunold but they’ve gotten some good bench minutes too of late Sean Griffin (above) gives Shanahan an inside/out presence Coatesville first had to survive Downingtown West in overtime and now advances to play yet another Downingtown-based opponent a Shanahan squad that’s one of the hottest in the district at the moment The Eagles (16-8) have won 15 of their last 17 games overall since an injury-plagued 1-6 start though one of those losses came to the Raiders (18-5) — a 67-64 margin at Shanahan on Jan A 41-39 win over Sun Valley has Bishop Shanahan back in the Ches-Mont championship game for the first time since 2018 when it beat Coatesville in the championship game.  Shanahan’s attack features 6-8 senior forward Sean Griffin a versatile inside-out threat who can stretch the floor with his shooting but also does a great job around the rim senior guard David Maddrey and junior guards Danny Keenan and Andrew Corcoran all can handle the ball and create for themselves and others and 6-4 senior wing Ryan Keating gives them more size Coatesville responds with two 6-7 forwards in juniors Larry Brown and Jonas Chester two talented senior guards in Amon Fowlkes and Nasir Williams and one of the area’s top freshmen in 6-5 Colton Hiller; Coatesville also has a deeper bench so pace dictation will be a major part of who comes out victorious but can’t let this become a 32-minute track meet It’s no secret what’s been happening in the Pioneer Athletic Conference this year has been absolutely stomping every opponent up 422 this season; not a single league opponent has been able to stay within 25 points of PV all year long with most of the games blowouts by 30 or 40 points That includes both games against Spring-Ford: the Vikings pillaged the Rams 64-31 at Spring-Ford on Jan 4 and 83-40 on its home court three weeks later PV coach John Russo has an incredibly talented top five to lean on: 6-3 center Quinn Boettinger (Navy) and 5-5 point guard Bella Bacani (Jefferson) It’s a group that’s been clicking together for the last two seasons and is playing as well as any around with fellow senior Julia Smith and sophomore Hannah Evans providing quality minutes off the bench Mickey McDaniel’s Rams are senior-led too 5-9 guard Lilly Brescia and 5-4 guard Devon Chamberlain all in the starting lineup with 5-10 forward Haley Prophet playing big minutes off the bench.  The PAC has seemed wide-open on the boys’ side all year long and that’s exactly how these playoffs have turned out as both Spring-Ford and Pope John Paul II have quite a bit of firepower and neither one’s shy about using it The two tied for the PAC Liberty title this year with PJP II (17-6) and Spring-Ford (17-6) both finishing 8-2 Spring-Ford is going for its second league tournament title in three years; PJP II is going for its first since 2011 though it won the COVID-shorteened 2020-21 season which didn't include a league tournament.  Spring-Ford’s primary three offensive options are senior guard Jacob Nguyen senior wing Tommy Kelly and junior guard Syaire Barnes all of whom can go for 20 points on any given night and junior guard Jack Kennedy has been a spark as well They’ve got toughness in some football players and a few bench pieces who don’t need to score to have an impact PJP II’s got its own high-level scorers in juniors Jason Green and Ayden Wise two talented combo guards who work well together in the backcourt and senior Jake Robinson gives them good size up front at 6-6 to go up against the 6-5 Kelly Don’t be surprised if this one takes 70 to win Tamia Clark (above) and Upper Dublin are one of two Cardinal teams going for SOL titles an Upper Dublin team running on adrenaline in the wake of Megan Ngo’s knee injury was able to find its way past CB East in the SOL semifinals inching a bit closer to 100 percent with each passing week and whatever the junior doesn’t have yet in terms of ability The Cardinals have played at a high level all season coach Morgan Funsten unlocking a group laden with juniors and sophomores that was bolstered by the offseason arrival of wing Emilia Coleman Sophomore Tamia Clark has been a breakout player and classmate Bridget DiMartile has also added to her game despite splitting her time between three varsity sports Freshmen Ella Morris and Lexi Ngo round out the top end of the rotation CB East got some payback on UD in last year’s district playbacks and the Patriots won the regular season meeting between the two this year so there’s definitely precedent for a good game here East coach Liz Potash also has a group with a heavy influence from its juniors and seniors Junior forward Jess Lockwood has emerged as a top scoring option a knockdown outside shooter who can also score inside while sophomore Haley Moran has broken out after taking over as starting point guard this year Senior Sydney Ralph and junior Natalie Berndt are both athletic solid defensive wings who can knock down some shots and Emma Penecale has fit in well in a similar role as a starter while senior Savannah Hayes adds another defensive option off the bench That’s been the motto for Upper Dublin since the first of December the Flying Cardinals carrying a 23-game winning run into Monday’s final as they seek to become the first boys’ team to repeat as SOL tournament champion Derek Brooks has built a winner in Fort Washington UD going back to back as SOL Liberty champions but he’ll be the first to tout the willingness of his players from the seniors down for their commitment to doing it together Seniors Ryan Mulroy and Idris Rines play team-oriented games and the same is true for junior point guard Kobe Bazemore the supporting cast including junior Brandon Altman and seniors Reilly McLaughlin and James Castronuovo and has even spread to the next wave in sophomores Justin Ragsdale and Horace Jackson This year’s Upper Moreland team has some similarities to last year’s Upper Dublin team that broke through to win its first SOL title The Golden Bears shared the SOL Freedom title their first league title in four decades and coach Dan Heiland has developed a team with a strong identity and plenty of depth UM’s backcourt of senior Colson Campbell and Nate Best is terrific Campbell a capable three-level scorer and Best a sharp-eyed facilitator who play off each other well plays taller than his 6-foot-4 inside and the Bears have a strong supporting cast led by seniors Jadon Cybok Aidan Tuffy and Luke Roussell and sparked by freshmen Cannon Campbell and Jose Fernandez Share price 8408.00p 2 May 2025 at 16:42 News releases An elegant escape enveloped in the French forest IHG Hotels & Resorts welcomes InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal to its growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio Redefining a quintessentially 19th Century Château this individualist property is just 30 minutes by train from Paris and promises an enchanting escape that feels worlds apart from the fast-paced French capital InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal blends storied history with the natural beauty of northern France positioned amidst the renowned forests in Hauts-de-France A transformative renovation project has thoughtfully restored the building’s original heritage whilst introducing an elegantly restorative design tailored for today’s modern luxury guest General Manager of InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal said: "It is a great honour to be custodian of InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal – a jewel of French heritage Now reimagined for today’s modern luxury traveller InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal is truly a remarkable property and the first countryside destination for the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand The team and I are thrilled to welcome guests to this individualist property and to connect them with the culture of our remarkable region.” the original building of Château Mont Royal is in the Louis XVI architectural style and designed by Guillaume Tronchet The palace’s first owner Fernand Halphen was said to have commissioned the building to offer his wife “a view which enchanted her” guests of InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal can continue to be enchanted by this very same vista The hotel’s 109 guest rooms and suites have been redesigned to instil a sense of calm and elegance with interiors inspired by the beauty of the hotel’s biophilic surroundings Each room is flooded with natural light from expansive windows balconies and terraces which overlook the luscious surroundings The château’s former music salon is now the setting for gourmet restaurant L'Opera where guests dine beneath majestic chandeliers and sky-high ceilings Once the library and smoking room of the building’s original owner Fernand Halphen Le Stradivarius is now a warm and inviting eatery for business lunches The menu across the hotel’s two signature restaurants – L’Opéra and Le Stradivarius – reimagine classical French dishes and celebrate the region’s resplendent seasonal produce Chef Cédric Jean-Charles presents classic French dishes Spa Biologique Recherche – in partnership with the celebrated French cosmetics brand Biologique Recherche – offers a dedicated sauna and wellness rooms providing tailored treatments and rejuvenating therapies such as the Skin Instant Lab This diagnostic experience employs five advanced sensors to assess hydration enabling treatments to be precisely personalised to each guest's unique skin profile InterContinental Hotels & Resorts colleagues across the globe serve as cultural connectors helping guests embrace and explore cities and local neighbourhoods in over 70 countries where its hotels and resorts reside Bringing to life the Insider Expertise of InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal is The Concierge on hand to facilitate cultural exploration by introducing guests to in-the-know discoveries and bespoke experiences such as the Chantilly Racetrack rich in equine heritage for which the region is recognised or the remarkable private painting collection of the Castle of Chantilly nestled in the picturesque Oise region of Northern France just 50 kilometres from Paris At its heart lies the magnificent Château de Chantilly a Renaissance masterpiece surrounded by expansive gardens and the serene Chantilly Forest Chantilly is renowned around the globe for its equestrian heritage hosting prestigious horse races and showcasing the art of horse training at the Living Museum of the Horse Accessible via a short train ride from Paris making it a perfect retreat for history enthusiasts The world’s first and largest luxury hotel brand InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is undergoing an end-to-end brand evolution aimed at cementing its place in the hearts and minds of the modern luxury traveller InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal joins fellow InterContinental properties in France including Marseille and is IHG’s third luxury opening in France in the past five years following InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu in 2019 and Kimpton Paris St Honoré in 2021 InterContinental Chantilly Chateau Mont Royal is now open with rooms starting at €330 per night. More information and reservation details can be found here IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes IHG has more than 6,400 open hotels in over 100 countries and a development pipeline of over 2,200 properties InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales Approximately 375,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the world’s first and largest luxury hotel brand with over 220 hotels spanning 70 countries and representing over 73,350 bedrooms around the world InterContinental is guided by the belief in the power of travel to expand the mind and connect cultures Opening doors to a ‘world of fascination’ InterContinental is reimagining the luxury travel experience with the modern luxury traveler at its heart Striking a harmonious balance between freedom and familiarity InterContinental focuses on satisfying a guests’ yearning for knowledge and culturally rich experiences building on its heritage as a beacon of approachable luxury travel Joseph (Mont.) head coach Matthew Juneau takes a photo with his players after the Bergen County Tournament boys ice hockey final between Don Bosco and St Joseph (Mont.) at the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne 2025.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Brian Bobal | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comThere wasn’t a team that took the state by storm in the 2024-25 season more than St This was a program that won four state titles and played in six state finals between 1984 and 1992 but had fallen on quiet times The only one of the four where the team didn’t finish below .500 was last winter Matt Juneau’s first season behind the bench The Green Knights finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 9-9-1 record but building blocks were in place for a drastic turnaround this winter “The program just needed a culture change,” Juneau said He worked hard to convince his returning players to avoid transferring That kept things going in the right direction and four key transfers landed in the middle of the season and suddenly Juneau was piecing together something special Joseph made program history by winning its first-ever Bergen County title and the team was one shot away from knocking off Delbarton in the Non-Public semifinals Juneau has been named the 2024-25 boys ice hockey Coach of the Year “We have a defensive zone coverage that I don’t think anybody else runs in the state they just had a better idea of how to defend so I think that really helped across the board.” Augustine capture consecutive Non-Public titles in 2023 and 2024 All of the pieces were there and it focused on everyone’s play away from the puck you need to have a purpose when you’re not in possession of the puck You need to defend off the puck and you always need to be aware of where your guy is that you’re supposed to mark,” Juneau said Joseph (Mont.) head coach Matthew Juneau talks with his team against Delbarton during the NJSIAA Non Public semifinal boys hockey game at Mennen Arena in Morristown “What a big part of it is the kids buying in they do all the things that they’re supposed to do Getting a group of kids that actually buy into that is not easy.” With everyone from Gabe Florio in goal to Logan Hughes up front buying in the results were apparent The Green Knights allowed three or fewer goals in 19 of the team’s 23 games The structure in the defensive zone was so strong that Hughes at one point after a win over St Augustine in the Non-Public quarterfinals said they effectively looked at each game as a race to three because the defense and Florio were that stout The team was 14-3 when scoring at least three goals Even though the team doubled its win total from last season and finished with an 18-5 record Joseph dropped a 6-1 game to Don Bosco Prep Any momentum built in the preseason was quickly halted I felt like someone took my dog,” Juneau said But I did say to the team leading up to that game It’s a measuring stick for where we are in the season.” The team rattled off six consecutive wins after that Joseph lost an in-state game in regulation this season The Green Knights got a second crack at Don Bosco Prep in the Bergen County final and the group had a completely different mindset “I walked into the locker room before the game that was the first game they didn’t play music before any game,” Juneau said 2025A 20-save shutout from Florio and goals from Hughes and Hunter Beanland led to a 2-0 victory That was the fifth of a nine-game winning streak that ended in overtime against Christian Brothers in the Gordon Cup quarterfinals Another run started there that ended against Delbarton in the Non-Public semifinals Midseason arrivals Oleksii Koval and Nikita Bogatyrev among others fortified things on the defensive side of the puck and suddenly this team had one of the deepest defensive cores in the state with veteran Dante Mangarelli in the mix he had a .918 save percentage on the season but went through a stretch where he allowed one or fewer goals in 10 of 11 games between Dec you’re spending a lot less time in the D zone in the defensive end when you have two guys that are impacting the game like that So you got a little more time in the neutral zone and then more time in the offensive zone.” That enabled Hughes and Kondratowicz to steal the show The two were a perfect one-two punch down the stretch Hughes collected 13 goals and four assists and Kondratowicz added three goals and nine assists of his own Juneau and his assistant coaches Jon Fuchs and Carl Antifonario have done a great job in two short seasons Brian Bobal may be reached at bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @BrianBobal. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appears in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices a piece of serac fell down Mont Blanc du Tacul triggering a tragedy during the peak climbing season The incident took place at 3 am this morning when the chunk of ice fell from the upper part of the peak’s north face Mont Blanc du Tacul is a part of the Mont Blanc massif about halfway between the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc itself The avalanche reached the Col du Midi and hit a line of climbers on their way up Mont Blanc via the popular Three Peaks (Trois Monts) Route. The slide caught 11 to 15 climbers. One has died, and four are reported injured At least four roped pairs of climbers escaped injury and tried to help those in trouble Search efforts continued this morning for other potential victims The operation was eventually suspended because of the high risk of further avalanches This was far from the first tragedy around Mont Blanc du Tacul Its north side is infamous for frequent avalanches triggered by serac fall Climbers ascend the mountain via its NNW flank (the so-called Epaule du Tacul) The route to Mont Blanc then passes through a second avalanche-prone area after the Col Maudit with nine deaths in 2012 and three in 2016 The weather in the Alps has been remarkably warm this past week, increasing the risk of falling rocks and ice. Yet serac fall on Mont Blanc du Tacul also happens in cold conditions and at night. French glaciologist Melaine Le Roi noted on X that the area where yesterday’s serac fall took place was not even the most dangerous Previous incidents tended to happen elsewhere Left: The areas on Mont Blanc du Tacul’s NNW face most frequented by climbers. Right: most common ascent routes. Photos/info from research by Ludovic Ravanel et al Mont Blanc climbers usually divide between the normal route (the Voie Royale) from Saint-Gervais via the Dôme du Goûter The first option includes crossing the dangerous Grand Couloir known as the Bowling Alley or even the Corridor of Death Others choose the longer but more rewarding Trois Monts route It departs from the Cosmiques mountain hut near the Col du Midi The route links three summits over 4,000m: Mont Blanc du Tacul (4,248m) and Mont Maudit (4,465m) on the way to the top of 4,809m Mont Blanc In a thorough work for the Journal of Alpine Research last year Ludovic Ravanel and a team of experts compared the risks of both routes The normal Gouter route has a high accident rate with an average of 3.7 deaths per year They estimate that 17,768 people passed the Grand Couloir during the summer of 2019 and seismological instruments registered 2,648 rockfalls The researchers went on: “At Tacul (on the Trois Monts route) where an average of 0.6 deaths occur each year 6,770 passages were recorded during the summer of 2017 as well as 31 serac falls unrelated to temperatures the risk is about half that of the other route Angela Benavides graduated university in journalism and specializes in high-altitude mountaineering and expedition news She has been writing about climbing and mountaineering adventure and outdoor sports for 20+ years Angela Benavides spent time at/worked at a number of local and international media She is also experienced in outdoor-sport consultancy for sponsoring corporations Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week over their skis professors and years of talk unless you’re Penn State in Happy Valley and then we’re going to just get all sorts of grants and funding for Beaver Stadium I don’t think can be discounted on this They’re looking at the funding failures and over spending on some of these grants does that also make an impact on what’s going to happen with some of these colleges that are probably on the chopping block and does Penn State Mont Alto make that chop?”  We’ve been talking about this for the past year She came in from the University of Louisville and immediately said but she’s saying they still need to cut another $100 million from their budget just to make things balance What she cited in her announcement yesterday is this term we’ve talked about the demographic cliff that’s coming to higher education There was a sharp plunge in college student aged enrollment starting this year and going into 2026 and we know birth rates keep hitting an all time low every year and going back to about 2007 that’s when that birth rate decline started So this demographic cliff is coming this year and into next year and that’s a huge problem for colleges You need x number of bodies in those seats to meet your budget year after year and the problem is this declining student population It’s not going to just correct itself very quickly there will be announcements made that some of these 12 campuses will close This will be devastating to the Mont Alto borough in our region in general if they close that campus because economic development groups cite having a campus like that available it’s very attractive for economic development in general There are a couple things going for Mont Alto They’re the oldest commonwealth campus in the system They’re also the home base of Penn State’s forestry program which fits very squarely into their land grant mission 600 students and the number just keeps dropping it may not make economic sense to stay open.” The Tri-State Alert is a News Talk 103.7 FM publication.  Any views or opinions expressed in this publication are of the host author or group and not the publication, owner(s) AI technology assists in content creation on this site; verify independently for accuracy Privacy Policy The Seahawks were back on the practice field on Wednesday as they prepare for a Week 9 game against the Rams and while receiver DK Metcalf was not expected to participate the hope is that he'll still be back for Sunday's game so we'll kind of play it day by day," Macdonald said Asked if he was still optimistic that Metcalf who missed last weekend's game with a knee injury Macdonald also gave a positive outlook on defensive end Dre'Mont Jones "We're going to take care of him throughout the week to make sure he's ready to go on Sunday but we're optimistic he'll be ready to go." who returned to practice last week from injured reserve will increase his workload this week with an eye on possibly returning on Sunday "George should start practicing in more of a manner of let's possibly get him ready to go," Macdonald said who continues to work his way back from offseason knee surgery Macdonald reiterated that a decision on his return won't come until after the bye It's hard to tell right now where that's going to land after the bye." With Tre Brown and Riq Woolen both sidelined by injuries two weeks ago Nehemiah Pritchett and Josh Jobe both took on starting roles then last week Jobe stayed in the lineup with Woolen back and Pritchett out with an ankle injury and now that he is working his way back to full health Macdonald said there will be a competition between Brown Jobe and Pritchett to be one of Seattle's three primary cornerbacks along with Woolen and Devon Witherspoon who starts at outside cornerback in base defense but plays nickel when Brown/Jobe/Pritchett comes on as a third corner "It's going to come down to how we practice and how they show up now through Friday," Macdonald said "We'll probably make a decision on how we're going to work out the reps going into Friday Whether or not we're going to make that public or not we'll leave that up for grabs… Any one of those three guys we're really confident in what they're able to do for us." While Anthony Bradford has been the starter throughout the season rookie Christian Haynes has rotated in at that spot for most of the season but Macdonald indicated that rotation will not happen on Sunday Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' Week 8 matchup vs Seattle's Uchenna Nwosu arrives at the stadium Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo gets warm during early pregame Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe during pregame wore a t-shirt reflecting his Nigerian ancestry Seahawks defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris gets loose during pregame warmups Seattle defensive tackle Byron Murphy II works on technique with assistant coach Justin Hinds during pregame Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald meets with player-turned-broadcaster Tom Brady before the game Seahawks mascot Blitz swapped jerseys with football legend Tom Brady Seahawks receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett make their way through the tunnel to the field Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon makes his way to the field for pregame warmups Seahawks safety Julian Love pumps up the defensive backs before the game Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith talks to the team in the locker room before kickoff Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is fired up during pregame introductions Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen deflects a pass in the end zone Running back Kenneth Walker III turns the corner Seattle tight end AJ Barner gains yards after the catch Seahawks kicker Jason Myers converts a field goal in the first half Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe returns an interception off of Bills quarterback Josh Allen Members of the Seahawks defense celebrate with cornerback Josh Jobe after his interception defensive quality control assistant Nick Perry confers with safety K'von Wallace Riq Woolen makes a diving tackle as Julian Love closes in Seahawks defensive line coach Justin Hinds talks with Johnathan Hankins and Dre'Mont Jones on the sidelines in the second half Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith scrambles up the middle head coach Mike Macdonald addressed his team in the locker room Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 18 matchup at the Los Angeles Rams Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 17 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 16 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 15 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 14 matchup at the Arizona Cardinals Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 13 road matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 12 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 11 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 9 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 8 matchup vs Details on the Seahawks' injury situation heading into their Week 7 matchup in Atlanta vs Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Anna DeMonte reflects on her groundbreaking achievement and the challenges she overcame to become the fastest woman to ski the iconic peak When Rab athlete Anna DeMonte set her sights on the women’s ski fastest known time (FKT) on Mont Blanc she wasn’t just looking to break a record—she aimed to challenge a longstanding historical pattern While Mont Blanc is a coveted objective for ski mountaineers speed records on the peak have predominantly been set by men was drawn to the mountain’s storied legacy and the opportunity to join the small group of elite female athletes who have attempted the challenge and endurance skills in a pursuit that would test the limits of her grit and resilience From preparation and equipment to overcoming harsh alpine conditions, DeMonte shares the highs and lows of setting the new women’s ski record on Mont Blanc Outside: What inspired you to go after the women’s ski FKT on Mont Blanc I was shocked by the scarcity of women on the list I feel the most connected to the mountains when I can combine my aerobic background with technical skills in skiing and climbing Mont Blanc offers the perfect blend of these disciplines Successfully navigating it demands glacier travel and handling ice and exposure with confidence My decision to make a speed attempt was inspired by the style of previous male records: carrying all my own gear from the church in Chamonix to the summit and back My goal was to not only test my limits but also set a precedent for women’s ski speed attempts on Mont Blanc and I really hope we see more female attempts on this How did you prepare for such a significant challenge My training was a culmination of my last few years in the mountains paired with highly focused time on Mont Blanc I’ve dedicated a significant amount of time to honing my technical skiing I’ve ticked off major objectives in the American West and a trip to Ecuador where I skied glaciated volcanoes like Chimborazo dedicating ourselves to Mont Blanc from February through June Jack was simultaneously attempting the men’s ski FKT on Mont Blanc it was crucial to not only understand the finer details of the route but also be physically prepared Jack and I committed to long hours of training each week to ensure we were ready for the challenges I believe I summited Mont Blanc five times before my FKT attempt and Jack and I spent countless days exploring different sections of the mountain We first attempted the summit in March and had the opportunity to witness the mountain’s conditions change over the following months as it allowed us to rely on our own observations and assessments of the conditions when deciding the optimal time for the FKT attempt Did you face any unexpected hurdles along the route The biggest challenge on FKT day was finding a weather window with favorable conditions and the trail is runnable for the first 3,000 feet then onto the glacier and the more exposed serac-heavy sections that lead to the summit you also have to consider the descent: Will the ski conditions be icy Has the mountain melted enough for crevasses to open While I anticipated the inherent variability of a mountain like Mont Blanc to be difficult choosing the right day for the FKT attempt proved to be even more challenging than I expected and each step felt like a struggle to stabilize on the ice this experience highlighted the dynamic nature of big mountains and it leaves room for improvement on the time That uncertainty and the opportunity for growth are what I find especially inspiring about the challenge and it’s something I really loved about the whole experience What essential tools and layers supported your attempt The goal with my clothing choice was to manage the transition between the warm start and finish in town and the cold conditions at the 15,771-foot summit Instead of going with a typical skimo suit I could easily shed layers on the way down running in just the shorts and top to stay comfortable during the hot descent back to the church What did this experience teach you about yourself and about what keeps me coming back to them The mountains have a way of putting you in your place and I think that’s one of the reasons I love them It pushed me to reflect deeply on my own risk tolerance and the balance between calculated risk and ambition when faced with big objectives this experience reinforced how essential strong partnerships are in the mountains Trust and understanding are critical when you’re operating in such harsh environments I’ve been fortunate to have that with the people I’ve climbed and skied with These relationships are the foundation that make those moments possible—and safe But perhaps the biggest lesson I took away was about the process itself What I loved most wasn’t just the FKT; it was everything that led up to it and the mental and physical buildup—this is where the real value lies for me It’s not about achieving a specific goal but the body of work that goes into preparing for it has shaped me more than any single outcome could ever do this experience reminded me why mountain objectives are so addictive They’re these beautifully impossible puzzles—ones you’ll never fully solve The mountains will always offer something new you find endless motivation to keep coming back More than 40 years since its founding, Rab continues to find inspiration in the untamed spirit of the mountains we explore and our enduring mission: to grow our community of mountain people and equip them for adventure Blink and you’ll miss it,” people joke about driving through Mont Vernon slicing through hay fields and woodland while hills rise in the distance Verdant pastures give way to splashes of autumn color and winter’s icy treachery that has waylaid many a traveler The sign welcomes visitors to Mont Vernon as they travel north up Mont Vernon’s Grand Hill on Route 13 While the view from Mont Vernon’s hill is one of the town’s most spectacular there are other wonders to be found in this community of nearly 2,700 people tucked between Milford Mont Vernon has an outsized hold on some of the area’s natural and cultural assets that draw people here whether they come for a morning hike or stay a lifetime “It just has that quintessential New England feel to it — Main Street It’s really picture-perfect,” says Dan Bellemore the town’s sole retail establishment.  Besides visitors from around the state and nation tourists come from “all over the world,” including China “We had the Brazilian bike team in here,” Bellemore adds noting it’s a popular stopping point for motorcycle and bicycle groups traveling Route 13.  That’s the appeal of Mont Vernon.” The town has its own “Purgatorio” hidden deep in the woods Hikers and seekers from far and wide make the descent to see Purgatory Falls plunge through the granite chasm Legend has it the devil even visited it and left a molten impression of his footprint The falls were a popular attraction during the height of the town’s resort hotel era in the late 1800s How to get to Purgatory Falls remains one of the most commonly-asked questions at the general store The Pomeroys operate the town’s remaining dairy cow farm which according to the New Hampshire dairy industry And Julie Whitcomb and Matt Gelbwaks run Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy The married couple previously operated Julie’s Happy Hens a 3,000-bird chicken farm that they closed to transition to sheep in 2024.  “It hearkens back to the days gone by when you could go to the farm People told us they came and bought eggs from us because this is what grandmother’s farm used to be like,” Gelbwaks says And residents salute their agrarian past at Lamson Farm Day held each year at the former 310-acre dairy farm which the town bought when it ceased operating in 1975 who co-owns the Mont Vernon General Store with Mike Wallenius The store is in the center of Mont Vernon’s historic district and is the only retail establishment in town It’s a popular stopping point for both locals and out-of-town visitors Aspiring artists once studied at the village watercolor school operated by Phoebe Flory The town is widely known for the annual “Messiah Sing!” held at the Mont Vernon Congregational Church About 120 singers from as far away as Massachusetts and seven-piece professional orchestra perform Handel’s powerful oratorio.  “The effort … to bring that joyful noise at the beginning of the Christmas season is what we’re all about,” says publicity and staging manager Anne Dodd of the event that began in 1988 Many townspeople have sung in it at least once She moved here in 1962 after she married Alwyn Carleton a son of one of Mont Vernon’s founding families Mont Vernon was a quiet town of about 500 to 600 people when the couple settled at the crest of the hillside farm where Al Carleton’s parents raised dairy cattle and chickens but people were friendly and always pulled together when something needed to be done The sense of community and raw natural beauty are what she loved most.  While Al was a skilled hunter and outdoorsman Eloise never fired a gun until one day early in their marriage She sat in the car reading a book while Al “was shooting those stupid rats running around the Mont Vernon dump,” she recalls and Eloise became certified hunter safety training instructors and hunted in the surrounding woods with family and friends for decades Mont Vernon has changed a lot in recent years busier and is much more of a “bedroom town.” What does she miss most about the way it used to be “I loved the trees and the close proximity to the woods,” adds Eloise but still calls Mont Vernon home and visits often “Those of us who like it a little bit wilder don’t like it quite as well (now) We love the animals coming into our yard — the bear Then there was what Eloise calls that “one awful day” in 2009 when Kimberly Cates was murdered and her daughter maimed during a home invasion Residents were stunned by the brutality of the random attack which shattered any sense that living in Mont Vernon could shield them from that level of violence “It was not something you would expect in a small town The year the Carletons married was a turning point for Mont Vernon whose history has been a series of boons and busts since it broke away from Amherst and incorporated as a separate town in 1803 The town’s population hit a high point of 763 residents in 1830 then steadily declined to about 300 people in the 1920s-1930s The town rallied from prior downturns largely by tapping in to advances in transportation and technology It was on the cusp of another comeback.  A view of the western side of Route 13 unfolds before travelers leaving the hilltop village of Mont Vernon that was a big influx of people,” says Eileen Naber adding they were warmly welcomed when they came in 1962 “We just felt so embraced,” she says The Rorabachers settled in the former South Schoolhouse on Old Milford Road remembers the town was so small that residents came to their house to conduct town business with her mother and “(I) love it more than I ever did as a kid “I love (Mont Vernon’s) topography I love being in a rural place where Boston is still pretty close,” says Rorabacher Szok who is president of the Mont Vernon Historical Society the population surpassed its 1830 high point with 906 residents in 1970 but less of them know each other,” Naber says Community groups and activities either have fallen away or been subsumed by government “We’ve gone to an upscale residential community but all the new ones are big and fancy and very expensive,” she adds “What’s happening in Mont Vernon right now is if you don’t make a lot of money you can’t afford to live in Mont Vernon,” Rorabacher Szok says noting some of the new houses are selling “for almost a million dollars.” Median family income in 2023 was $171,429 the state Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau reports Some of those interviewed say this growth and the changes it brings strain the fibers that keep community life strong While the town still hosts its annual Spring Gala and holiday tree lighting they say fewer things bring townspeople together on a regular basis Even the weekly trip to the dump is going by the wayside as more people pay for private trash pickup.  and it becomes easier to say unkind things about someone when you won’t face them in person This partly explains the “vitriol” and “just plain old mean” things being posted on Facebook at a level unseen before Residents celebrated the addition of the Mont Vernon Town Hall to the National Register of Historic Places with the unveiling of a plaque at a brief ceremony on Aug The Town Hall is in the midst of rehabilitation and renovations It is the second local site to be listed on the National Register; the other is Lamson Farm “The library certainly was a lightning rod for this,” he says While the town has faced divisive issues before plans to build a new $5.99 million library — $1.99 million of which is to be raised from taxes — plus a $683,600 access road flamed especially bitter divisions The library article drew record voter turnout at the last two Town Meetings where it failed by 20 votes in 2023 The library should open in fall 2025.  Eloise Carleton says the librarians have made the existing library “a real community center” where children “I think the divisiveness will heal and people will be happy with what they’ve got.” Others say they hope the town can heal from the rancor and factions can coexist again “What I think is still special is that we are a small intimate town that has a fair degree of pride over who we are and what we’ve been…There is no reason why we should not celebrate the fact that we are an archetypical New England town,” Gelbwaks says He sees the town at a “tipping point” if the harm is not healed.  we lost everything that is special in the town Picture by Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesBy Matt NelsenWhile the heat of summer gives way to the mild days of autumn, the world’s best mountain bikers are preparing to end the UCI Mountain Bike World Series with one final blaze of glory in Mone Sainte-Anne from 3-6 October. The venue, nestled amongst the gorgeous Laurentian mountains of Quebec, Canada, will host the UCI Mountain Bike World Series for a record setting 29th time. The familiarity of its wooded trails will be a welcome sight to athletes worn out from a long season, even if it puts the focus squarely on racing rather than exploring. Olympic champions, World Series winners and rising stars will all be in attendance, with vital world cup points on offer across cross-country short track (XCC), cross-country Olympic (XCO), and downhill formats. With multiple titles up for grabs, there’s bound to be plenty of action during the final round of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Read on to find out more about the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Series Mont Sainte-Anne, including the schedule, key athletes to follow, and how to watch mountain bike action live from the mountains of Quebec. The 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Series wound its way through the jungles of South America mountains of Central Europe and rugged backcountry of North America to arrive at the final race weekend of the season One of the most compelling battles heading into the final weekend of racing this season is the men’s cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup title fight South Africa’s Alan Hatherly leads the XCO world cup rankings but he’s yet to seal the deal ahead of the season finale A win in the short course (XCC) race would be enough for him to claim the XCO world cup title the title fight could come down to the final XCO race of the season if Hatherly is beaten in the short course race on Friday France sits second in rankings behind Hatherly and will need to ride superbly in Mont Sainte-Anne to stand any chance of beating the South African Nonetheless, Koretzky will be encouraged by his recent XCO victory in Lake Placid, and boosted by his silver medal performance at Paris 2024. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alan Hatherly (@alanhatherly) The women’s XCO world cup title fight is much more straightforward. Switzerland’s Alessandra Keller will leave Mont Sainte-Anne with the title if she finishes 34th or better in the short course on Friday Switzerland has yet to win an XCO world cup race this season but her consistency and steadfast attendance at world series events has been rewarded with a massive points haul The season finale in Mont Sainte-Anne represents a dual opportunity for Keller who could snag the XCO title and win her first XCO race of the season in the same weekend She’ll certainly be among the favourites for victory in Mont Sainte-Anne but it won’t be a ride through the park for the Swiss rider who are the only riders mathematically capable of snatching the XCO world title away from Keller While the possibility of Keller losing the title fight remains slim the pair will certainly fancy their chances at victory in the XCO race on Sunday Team USA’s Savilia Blunk has produced strong results throughout the season while South Africa’s Candice Lill has found her best form late in the season Both riders finished off the podium at Paris 2024 and missed the podium once more at the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Vallnord making victory at the season finale all the more appealing Richards recently won the short course event at the world championships, while Stigger has a history of victory at Mont Sainte-Anne. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alessandra Keller (@alessandrakeller) Legend: XCC – cross-country short track; XCO – cross-country Olympic discipline I celebrated yet another turn around the sun this past weekend One of the rare pleasures of an early January birthday is that it lines up nicely with the ski snowboard season whenever anyone has asked me how I want to celebrate my answer is always the same: go snowboarding the rain that battered the snowpack throughout the holidays is a distant memory and the snow gods have been gifting resorts in the northeast with powder day after powder day for the past two weeks Developed in 1960 by local visionary Réal Boulanger Sutton maintains the independent vibe that the Boulanger family cultivated here for decades Blessed with considerable snowfall due to its microclimate and proximity to Lake Champlain Sutton boasts some of the best glade skiing in the region for all levels Sutton is known and loved throughout the alpine community When my friend Veronique asked where we should go riding on the weekend We planned to leave my place on Montreal’s south shore early Saturday and meet up with her uncle Robert who rents a ski-in/ski-out chalet here through the winter and is at the lift for the first chair every morning through the week At 77 years young Robert Lesperance is an absolute beast on the slopes who learned to ski under the tutelage of her uncle and was on a snowboard by the age of eight I never miss an opportunity to spend a day with friends who grew up in these mountains Quebecers are well-versed in ‘no fear’ and ‘pura vida.’ Not only am I guaranteed great craic my snowboarding improves every single time We all know the score; there will be crowds This is the reality when you work in the city through the week Robert asked to ride with me on our first chair I quickly surmised it was to assess my snowboarding skills we explored all Mont Sutton offers to advanced and expert skiers and riders No gentle greens or leisurely blues are on the agenda when you spend a day in the mountains with Uncle Bob “Boring.” We spent the next few hours making our way across the mountain sampling all the black and double black runs and enjoying some untracked powder ‘sous-bois’ (under the trees) While the holiday rain compromised the base We hit some icy patches in the higher elevations we were skiing and riding on packed powder with snow continuing to fall throughout the day By around 2:00 p.m., we decided it was time for a snack and a breather. The best place to rest at Mont Sutton is Chalet Alt. 840 m With a central fireplace and breathtaking panoramic views of Sutton’s Green Mountains nature reserve – the largest private protected area in eastern Canada – the unique wooden chalet at the summit is a quintessential part of the Mont Sutton experience and the best place to snap some photos to commemorate the day parting ways with Uncle Bob around 3:00 p.m Veronique and I spent the last hour of the day doing a few more leisurely runs under the tree canopy before our snowy drive north back to Montreal it was the perfect way to celebrate my 52nd year you read that right; I can hardly believe it either age is but a number when it comes to the alpine and Mont Sutton is the place to be this coming weekend and beyond with three inches (eight centimeters) of snow falling in the past 24 hours and 29 inches (74 centimeters) in the past seven days and there is a seventy percent chance of snow in the forecast for Saturday & shredding the northeast with family and friends There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here He is Director of Operations at Adventure Base and passionate about skiing mountaineering and other Alpine adventures More posts by Olly Alkema So, you want to climb Mont Blanc? Here, Chamonix local and mountain expert Olly Alkema talks us through what it's like to climb to the highest point in western Europe - looking out over all of the Alps Mont Blanc sits on the border between France and Italy in the Alps and since the first Mont Blanc ascent in 1786 by local mountaineers Jacques Balmat and Dr Michel-Gabriel Paccard is widely considered to be the birthplace of modern mountaineering It's a peak that has inspired everyone from the romantic poets - Byron referred to it as the "monarch of mountains" - to contemporary Alpinists Looming large over the mountain town of Chamonix glaciated beauty and relative accessibility make it a challenge any wannabe mountaineer can realistically aspire to a good level of fitness and the right mindset it is certainly achievable for most we'll be discussing the various routes up Mont Blanc and answering frequently asked questions about this mighty peak Mont Blanc straddles the French-Italian border and also extends into Switzerland The massif stretches southwest from Martigny for about 25 miles (40 km) to Moûtiers in France Mont Blanc's summit lies between the valleys of Ferret and Veny in Italy The region around the massif includes the Graian Alps to the south the Chamonix Valley and Savoy Alps to the west Other notable peaks within the massif include Mont Blanc du Tacul The height of Mont Blanc is 4805 metres (15764 feet) - five metres lower than when it was last measured in 2013 and 3 metres more than the 4807 metres originally recorded back in 1863 As the highest point in Western Europe it’s by no means a walk in the park though and remains a rite of passage for many alpinists worldwide There are many many ways to climb Mont Blanc The difficulty of ascent varies across the various Mont Blanc routes but the most common route - the Goûter Route via the Dôme du Goûter - is manageable with some previous trekking and/or mountaineering experience a decent level of fitness and a heavy dose of determination The Goûter Route has become the ‘voie normale’ route to summit Mont Blanc, even though the first ascent took a very different path back in 1786. Starting from Les Houches and going via the Refuge de Tete Rousse and Refuge du Goûter, this is considered to be the least technical route to the summit. For that reason, it’s also the route used on our classic Climb Mont Blanc trip. It's also worth noting that most guided climbs of Mont Blanc won't take you directly up to the summit - you'll spend a few days learning some basic mountaineering skills and doing some acclimatisation hikes in the surrounding mountains Climbing Tête Blanche (3429m) - with an ascent up a rocky ridgeline carpeted in snow - is an ideal warm up ahead of Mont Blanc The route description of the 'voie normale' below doesn't include this training and acclimatisation as each tour will offer slightly different options you take the Bellevue cable car up to 1800m From here you take the old Tramway du Mont Blanc train up to the Nid d’Aigle at 2372m where the hike begins to one of the two huts en route to the summit The Refuge de Tete Rousse sits at 3167m and is a popular choice for the first night of the ascent Hiking here takes between 2 and 3 hours over fairly easy terrain with beautiful views down to the Chamonix Valley and the Aravis mountain range in the distance An early departure the next morning from Refuge de Tete Rousse sees you climb up to the Refuge du Goûter via a 700m high rock face that ascends next to the Gouter grand couloir notorious for rock fall in warm temperatures This section requires good scrambling techniques and rope work with your guide as well as prudence Once at the Refuge du Goûter at 3835m you reach the mellower upper snow slopes of Mont Blanc where crampons are required for the rest of the ascent on the glaciated slopes towards the summit Continuing from the Refuge du Goûter you ascend the Dome du Goûter to 4304m before reaching the Vallot emergency shelter at 4362m From here the ascent takes the Bosses ridge to the summit with spectacular views in all directions The ridge can be narrow and very exposed at times requiring total concentration and skill to ascend and you can normally stay there for a few minutes before starting the descent Swiss and French Alps and a never-ending horizon greets you in all directions It’s been known that on a very clear day you can even see the Mediterranean in the distance You truly feel like you’re on top of the world and it is a feeling that will stay with you for a lifetime Normally people will either descend to the Refuge du Goûter or to the Refuge de Tete Rousse for a particularly long day - we recommend the former Return along the same path from Refuge du Goûter to the start point of the hike you'll be able to get public or private transport back to Chamonix Here are some quick summaries of alternative routes to the summit Many of these are more technical than the voie normale - even experienced climbers should go with a guide Starting from the Aiguille du Midi station at 3842m you climb via Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit to the summit This is more technical than the Gouter Route and requires 1:1 guiding The descent can be done the same way or via the Refuge du Gouter and down the Gouter Route to Les Houches This is a spectacular and quieter alternative to the Gouter Route although it is normally only in condition in the early summer months of May you ascend the Miage Glacier to the Gonella Hut and on summit day you ascend to the Col de Bionnassay and then join the normal Gouter Route to the summit This is the original route taken by Jacques Balmat and Dr Michel Paccard in 1786 which takes the most direct line up to the summit as viewed from Chamonix Nowadays people will start by taking the cable car to the Plan de l’Aiguille station and cross the Bossons Glacier to the Grand Mulets Hut which sits at 3051m From here you ascend to the Col du Dome which is exposed to crevasses and serac fall before joining the Bosses ridge to the summit This route is commonly used for ski touring in spring for those aiming to ski from the summit of Mont Blanc People often ask if climbing Mont Blanc is harder than climbing Mount Kilimanjaro While Kilimanjaro might be higher at 5,895m climbing Mont Blanc is significantly more difficult You will need to be extremely fit to climb Mont Blanc Many guides recommend training in the hills and mountains for months before climbing - hiking with a backpack for hours at a time and making sure you're able to spend 10-15 hours on your feet previous technical mountaineering experience isn't essential the more mountain experience you have the better your chance of making the summit Consider a winter skills course (learning to use kit like ice axes crampons and focusing on winter navigation) then tackling some lower mountains in the Alps before taking on the biggest mountain in western Europe You are technically allowed to climb Mont Blanc without a guide but doing so without extensive alpine mountaineering experience would be a bad All guides on Mont Blanc will be members of the IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Association) and so when you do hire an accredited guide Mont Blanc may not be the most technical climb in the world This isn't a mountain you should climb at a few days notice Then you'll have a good shot at making it to the summit - and back down safely While a few people have been known to run up it in a day(!) a guided Mont Blanc summit hike typically takes 3 days The first day for the ascent to the first hut (3-4hrs) the second day for the summit attempt and descent to the second hut (8-10hrs) and the third day for the descent back to the valley (4-6hrs) It’s common to do a 6 or 7-day Mont Blanc package to include training and acclimatisation before a 3-day ascent to the summit It’s a brilliant week packed full of amazing trekking and climbing on top of Mont Blanc itself while learning or refreshing all sorts of skills The best time to climb Mont Blanc is from late May to the end of September in large part due to the favourable summer weather it also correlates with the opening times of the Refuge de Tete Rousse There is no better or worse time to attempt the climb during this period however early and late summer can mean cooler temperatures whilst mid-summer can be particularly warm A successful attempt is based on many factors coming together; stable weather safe conditions and managing to get hut reservations (which won’t be a problem if you take the hassle-free route of joining a guided trip) can be very difficult and turning up without a reservation is strictly prohibited While many people successfully summit every day with even the classic Gouter route exposing climbers to rockfall in the Grand Couloir Other dangers present across all routes include serac falls (falling chunks of ice) falling into crevasses (cracks in the glacier) Being with an experienced guide significantly improves your safety levels but no-one should ever think they are immune from the dangers of mountain climbing But before you close this window and start looking for holidays on the beach in Greece remember the odds we just looked at are good Accidents tend to happen when care isn’t taken and this can often sadly happen in un-guided parties it is highly recommended to climb Mont Blanc with a guide to get the most out of the experience and it is an achievement that everyone will be proud of If you're looking for to experience Mont Blanc and the Alps on a safer route, consider walking the Tour du Mont Blanc A range of good quality mountaineering clothing is required including protective hardshell and soft shell pants and jackets The technical items that are required include mountaineering boots These items can be rented locally and full kit lists will be provided by your guide it is impossible to take a bad photo in these beautiful mountains The cost of climbing Mont Blanc can vary quite considerably based on the number of days in the summit program and what that cost includes you are looking at between £2,500 - £3,500 but do check the small print to see what that price includes as they all differ substantially Things to look out for include; accommodation on the valley floor Most Mont Blanc trips begin from either Chamonix (France) or Courmayeur (Italy) which is easiest to get to from Geneva Airport via shuttle bus or transfer (1hr) Inspired? Check out our Mont Blanc adventures run by experienced local mountaineering guides and established a stunning new route in one of the most remote corners of Mont Blanc." With these words, François Cazzanelli describes his latest climb in the Mont Blanc massif completed with his friend Giuseppe Vidoni just one month after their remarkable ‘Bianco Invisibile’ on the Brèche de l’Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey a 600-meter mixed climb that ascends the northeast face of Mont Greuvettaz (3,684m) in the Triolet basin After breaching difficulties up to ith difficulties up to AI5 and M6 they reached the ridge that separates the mountain from Aiguille de Leschaux by midday and descended via the south face As usual the times they logged were jaw-dropingly fast: 4:00 AM start from Val Ferret the ascent (with skis strapped to their backs) and return to Planpincieux — all in a mere 9.5 hours Cazzanelli stated:"Greuvettaz is one of those mountains that unlocks beautiful memories Its northeast face in winter guise has a long which is why it’s often forgotten or overlooked The neighbouring north face of the Grandes Jorasses steals the spotlight for its beauty and fame carrying skis in order to descend easily down the opposite side It turned into an amazing adventure where we combined skiing and alpinism he skinned up to scout conditions of the face:“During the first reconnaissance ski tour I immediately noticed this perfect line of alpine ice" he explained adding, "The north face of the Grandes Jorasses lures climbers with its beauty and fame there’s plenty of fun in store!” this isn’t Cazzanelli’s first route on Greuvettaz he opened Centocinquanta on the east face This Australian version of Montgomery’s New Zealand show is a lot of nostalgic fun and deeply maddening in the way that the best game shows are Here’s a fun fact about me: as a child it was my dream to participate in a spelling bee (I unsuccessfully applied to be a contestant on the early 2000s children’s gameshow Download but I did receive a very nice autographed photo of Scott McRae.) So Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee and deeply maddening in the way that the best gameshows are Comedian host Guy Montgomery has been perfecting the art of the spelling bee for a while starting out on Zoom and YouTube during Covid lockdown He then took it to the Melbourne international comedy festival in 2022 A television show in Montgomery’s native New Zealand followed and now this Australian version picks up where that left off from its logo and orange-hued walls to Montgomery’s brown suit which nonetheless feels wonderfully contemporary Montgomery is in character as a wide-smiling recalling James Marsden’s Corny Collins – both charming and slightly deranged His answers to the classic spelling bee questions – country of origin definition – are quick-witted jokes that add to the fun (for example his definition for “desiccated”: “to remove the moisture from something until it becomes completely dry – a bit like the time I wore a fedora on a first date”) with the same atmosphere of banter and friendly competition as the likes of Spicks and Specks Each episode features four contestants: mostly Australian comedians ranging from longtime household names such as Wil Anderson (“making his debut on the ABC” contestants take turns to pick from The Coward’s Cup (easy) Person’s Purse (medium) or Bucket of Bravery (difficult) to spell their first word for one to three points Aaron Chen and Wil Anderson Photograph: James GourleyEvery episode ends with the free-for-all buzz round – contestants hit the buzzer to spell a themed word gaining or losing a point for correct or incorrect answers No matter how well they have performed throughout the game this is the decider – and it’s typically hectic and nail-biting The winner goes on to compete in the next episode and the loser is sent off to the dunce corner Undoubtedly the star of the show is Montgomery’s right-hand man The comedian’s purposefully awkward demeanour and deadpan one-liners coupled with his revolving door of outfits and personas – everything from Owen Wilson to a word-loving policeman – bring a splash of delightful absurdity Guy Mont Spelling Bee is great fun to play along with at home tapping into the primary school energy we all have deep within us while adding a dash of feral insanity I never got to go on Download or be crowned with spelling bee glory in real life but I have now beaten contestants on this show from the comfort of my bed – and that’s pretty T-E-R-I-F-F-I-C Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee airs on ABC on Wednesdays 8.30pm and ABC iview Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting 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along the Tour du Mont Blanc are arduous My first question as I prepared my bag was Opting for camping would make the trek feel really wild let me spend more time in nature and give a bit more flexibility about where and when I’d arrive each night this would mean my home would be on my back (like a turtle) and heavy enough to reduce my walking speed significantly Refuges can range from rows of bunk beds to rooms that are almost luxurious – yet what they all offer in common is a dry place Staying in refuges means no need to pack any camping or cooking gear freeing up a lot of room in your backpack.  Each refuge has its own culture and way of working, says Céline Mila, the gardienne (caretaker) of Refuge des Prés in the Contamines Valley “Usually that means taking off your shoes before entering The best way to get oriented at the refuge is by coming to see us when you arrive – it’s our job to share the mountain culture with you.” I decided to stay in refuges the whole way there was still quite a bit of snow above 1800m (5900ft) and many hikers brought along small snow chains to keep from slipping I loved the extra challenge of the snow and the cooler daytime temperatures July and August are the busiest months for the route when the trail can sometimes feel like a highway things slow down again – but the huts also start to close up for the winter While weather in the mountains can vary each year usually July and August have the highest number of stable Hikers typically complete the loop in between seven and 10 days and the fastest trail runners complete the journey in a staggering 20 hours Regular trail runners tend to take things a bit slower I packed only the barest essentials so as not to weigh myself down: a pair of leggings and a long-sleeve shirt to sleep in I wanted to eat as much local food as possible: crozets (cheesy pasta) in France pizza in Italy and croûtes (a cheesy bread melt) in Switzerland I usually ordered the refuge’s picnic to eat along the way smoked meat and cheese always hit the spot Alix Noblat an ultra-trail runner and specialist in nutrition in endurance sports once told me to eat every half hour – before my stomach starts rumbling Anything that can give me an energy boost is always in my pack Hikers will no longer measure their day by kilometers or hours traveled – but rather by the cols which connects the lush Contamines Nature Reserve with the Alpine pastures of the Beaufortaine Dent du Géan and the treacherous Grandes Jorasses steep climb – and a descent on the other (Swiss) side that’s rolling and blissful which brings hikers back into France for the final few legs before the finish You should physically prepare for the hike Getting in shape for the TMB is a question of cardio training and foot preparation Hikers should be fit enough to cover their desired distance each day But don’t forget to prepare your feet to avoid blisters: break in hiking shoes before the first day of the hike and bring along anti-chafing cream if you’re worried you might have rubs Typically, the route begins and ends in Les Houches (Haute-Savoie) in the French Alps and follows a counterclockwise loop around the mountain range. However, you can also start from other towns on the TMB, such as Chamonix (Plan Praz), Courmayeur in Aosta Valley (Italy) and Champex Lac Although most hikers will go counterclockwise Les Houches is easily reached from anywhere in France using the train and Mont Blanc tramway connection The latter is among the most scenic rail journeys in the world You can also use the tram to access many mountain trails around Mont Blanc Some peaks along the Tour du Mont Blanc are connected by cable cars so it shouldn’t always be an arduous hike.  Mountain trekking is always about preparation you must carefully study your way and know the ins and outs of the route We’re talking about some of the highest peaks in Europe here And the more honest you are about your capabilities Can you walk up to 8 hours a day with constant ascents Does hiking for more than a week sound like a good plan at this moment in your life Equipment is another essential part of the Tour du Mont Blanc preparation. Your safety also depends on the things you take with you. GPS and detailed maps of the route you choose are obligatory. Check out the guide on the best trekking gear for a complete picture of items to take with you on TMB And don’t underestimate the importance of comfortable Mont Blanc translates as “white mountain” in French and comes from the snow cap that covers the peak and the glaciers that stretch from its dome Mont Blanc was first proclaimed the continent’s highest mountain at the beginning of the 18th century The first documented climb occurred in 1786 when Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat reached the summit of Mont Blanc starting from Chamonix One of the magical things about long-distance mountain trekking is the nature you see along the way Tour du Mont Blanc provides a window into the fauna of the western side of the Alps.  Encountering ibex is almost a guarantee during the trail These are mountain goats with long horns that usually feed close to the hiking routes and on alpine meadows Another horned animal you may see is the chamois and they love going up and down rocky slopes The cutest creature you can meet on TMB is the marmot These chubby ground squirrels come out during the warmer months and hang out at higher elevations.  Remember to keep a safe distance from all animals you see on the trail they can be dangerous and cause harm.  This is a trek you should book early – at least two months out – to find accommodation at the refuges. Yet it can be planned at the last minute for those who prefer camping. Autour du Mont Blanc is an easy-to-use website that helps plan daily stages. You can also reserve huts here.  The views…the food…the marmots! The Tour du Mont Blanc delivers at every step. It never fails; the days leading up to the first day out on the mountain each season are a frenzy of emotions Why we ride down snowy mountains on freshly waxed wood seeking natural features to launch ourselves from The most accurate thing I’ve heard is that it must be what it feels like to be able to fly Life is different for the lucky few in alpine sports that live the dream year-round there’s this period between May and December when life is entirely different I am still snowboarding every chance I get But then muscle memory sets in as you cruise off that first chairlift Most of my family and friends live in Ontario I’ve driven past the pull-off for Rigaud a hundred times or more you immediately notice the Canadian Border Services College campus It’s an imposing presence for those who believe Canucks don’t take such things seriously Rigaud is like many places scattered along the 401 and TransCanada highways: bucolic far enough from the buzz and lights of a city The resort is a quick two-minute drive up the main road out of town and a hot chocolate from the cafeteria–fuel for the next few hours The women in customer service told me that I was their first patron on Indy Pass I told them how stoked I was to be there and–jokingly–that I had chosen them over another resort closer to me Rigaud is popular with local families but is otherwise under the radar is better known but has similar terrain and clientele with a number of upgrades to facilities in the early 2000s they had their quadruple Doppelmayr chair spinning The snow-making crew was blowing snow on the rest of the mountain throughout the afternoon I gave them an appreciative nod in the lodge the hardest working people in the snow business working out my legs for a trip to Jay Peak the following day taking photos of a group of local skiers and riders who were ripping and was back at my cozy house about 4:00 p.m Mont Rigaud made a great first impression on me With a summit elevation of 574 feet and 13 trails (40 percent advanced) They also run lifts with 12 miles (20 kilometers) of mountain bike trails in the summer and sunny skies are forecasted when they reopen this weekend I taught my daughters how to snowboard there over a decade ago authentic ski destinations across the United States Created in 2005 in Tours, the Terres du Son Festival takes place every July in Monts, in the Domaine de Candé It was originally a group of friends from Tours who embarked on the adventure of this music festival the Terres du son festival has forged its identity around an artistic The first editions were held at the Parc des Expositions in Tours then the festival moved to Monts near Tours taking over the parks of the Château de Candé.Since its beginnings the Terres du Son Festival has offered national and international headliners alongside promising newcomers over several days the festival is announcing its return in 2025 the Terres du Son festival has unveiled the first confirmed artists for this 2025 edition as will the Lamomali musical project with Matthieu Chedid Also announced are Colombian singer Yuri Buenaventura, French singer-songwriter and musician Emma Peters, the group Caravan Palace, and Aldebert, who will present Helldebert for the occasion. And don't forget Étienne de Crécy, Chinese Man, Hervé, Bagarre and Komodrag & The Mounodor. Stay tuned for the rest of the 20-year anniversary program. Tickets for 1, 2 or 3-day passes are available on the official website Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here and Stoneham.  Planned updates to the mountain include installation of modern ski lifts throughout the area modernization of the snowmaking system that increases snowmaking capacity by 30% and reduces energy consumption by 30% Year round improvements include construction of a mountain coaster (alpine luge) and improvement of access to cross-country skiing The project also entails an ambitious commercial and residential real estate project to transform the mountain's base village According to the mountain's press release this could generate additional investments of up to $450 million and a central square for the mountain to host events. Resorts of the Canadian Rockies and Mont-Sainte-Anne predict that the mountain's update will bring regional economic benefits of $140 million per year."We are proud to be able to count on the Government of Quebec to carry out this major project which will bring significant economic benefits These investments demonstrate our commitment to offering a top-notch tourism experience that will attract visitors from all four corners of the world,” said Maxime Cretin of Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) in a press release A gondola cabin crashed to the ground at Mont-Sainte-Anne in December of 2022 Mont-Sainte-Anne received a host of bad press after several unfortunate incidents at the mountain Nearly two dozen guests were injured in 2020 when a mechanical failure caused a gondola car to stop abruptly that one was empty but it still had guests raising questions and complaints about the safety of the lifts at Monte-Sainte-Anne The resort was allegedly for sale before the deal between RCR and the Quebec government came to fruition. In peak condition Mont-Sainte-Anne is a fantastic Canadian ski destination for those of us who are die-hard imperial system folks) The mountain serves 547 acres of skiable terrain with a vertical drop of more than 2,000ft it's also a well known downhill bike destination and hosts the final stop of the UCI Downhill World Cup annually From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers we are committed to keeping you informed.   The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc—aka UTMB—isn’t just one thing wrapped in Gore-Tex Mardi Gras with a dash of Chafing World Cup It’s a week-long festival of mountain racing that attracts thousands of runners to Chamonix What started as a stand-alone 171K (106-mile) race in 2003 has transformed into a weeklong acronym circus under the banner of UTMB Mont-Blanc The alphabet soup of race names reference the tiny alpine villages in France France (elevation 3,400 feet) at the base of Mont Blanc—the highest summit in the Alps at 15,781 feet—where some of the races begin but all finish amid hordes of enthusiastic fans the French village’s cobblestone streets will teem with compression-sock-clad competitors who will line up at one of the six events throughout the week The six smaller races (perhaps in prestige considered by many to be the sport’s crown jewel Walk through town during the last week of August and you’ll find numerous fun runs it’s a who’s who of trail running athletes and personalities And even if you’re not running one of the seven races it’s still a fun time to be in Chamonix because there are hundreds of miles of trails to be run in between bouts of spectating RELATED: So You Want to Run UTMB? Here’s How to Qualify The marquee and last event of the week-long series UTMB completely circles its namesake summit in just over 100 miles with a whopping 32,808 feet of vertical gain—more than it would take to summit Everest from sea level About 2,300 runners will attempt to traverse the course’s 10 alpine summits in under 46 hours 30 minutes Jim Walmsley became the first American man to win UTMB in 2023 but American women have crushed it in Chamonix since its inception Krissy Moehl won the inaugural event in 2003 Rory Bosio racked up two consecutive victories in 2013 and 2014 and Nikki Kimball claimed the title in 2007 and 2023—the latter of which capped off an epic summer that also included wins at the Western States 100 and the Hardrock 100 RELATED: How to Watch the 2024 UTMB World Series Finals—including UTMB the PTL takes teams of two to three runners over 300K (186 miles) of rugged Named for an adventurous French baker and hardcore volunteer it takes many teams the allowed 151 hours to get to the finish line in Chamonix The PTL begins on the morning of August 26 in Chamonix and the final cutoff is September 1 just before UTMB officially ends The course changes every year and there is no official winner The event is so challenging that finishing is judged as a win The MCC is a 40K (24.8-mile) race for the “bénévoles” and “gens du pays,” the volunteers and locals who help with UTMB it provides an accessible yet surprisingly challenging (7,500 feet of elevation gain) glimpse into the French Alps This year’s MCC begins in Martigny on the morning of August 26 The extra-technical TDS is the “cool-kids” race historically attracting a who’s who of mountain runners from around the world With the advent of the UTMB World Series in 2022 this race has diminished in competitiveness and prestige a bit TDS traverses 148K (92 miles) from Courmayeur This “mid-distance” (by UTMB standards) event hosts 1,600 runners The TDS begins on the afternoon on August 26 and the first finishers will arrive in Chamonix on the morning of August 27 but Hillary Allen ran a ferocious race and finished second in 2019 the ETC is a grueling 15K (9.3-mile) race from iconic village of Courmayeur that includes a beastly 3,937 feet of total elevation gain in the heart of the Italian Alps This year’s ETC will begin on the afternoon of August 27 and runners will have four and and a half hours to complete the race Probably the closest thing UTMB has to an entry-level race this 55K (34-mile) race is a testing ground for many future UTMB competitors The route climbs over 11,000 feet as it winds through the Swiss Valais region with a 14-hour-30-minute cutoff The OCC begins on the morning of August 29 and the first finishers will arrive in Chamonix by early afternoon Previously seen as the “little sister of the UTMB,” CCC has become a respected race in its own right with a demanding 101-kilometer course that ascends over 20,000 feet It just about covers the last 100K (62 miles) of the UTMB course which offers an in-depth preview for many runners with UTMB dreams with notable American victories by Clare Gallagher and the first runners are expected to arrive in Chamonix later that evening just a few hours after the UTMB runners depart from downtown RELATED: The Race That Changed Running: The Inside Story of UTMB Find out what happened when this six-year run streaker and HOKA Global Athlete Ambassador took on an iconic ultramarathon in California's Sierra Nevada but there are still some good days ahead to climb Mont Blanc “People doing guided ascents in 2025 on the normal route should book their climb this autumn,” says Chamonix-based guide Stuart Macdonald booking beds at Gouter Hut may prove impossible “The demand for beds is off the scale,” Macdonald says Stuart Macdonald has climbed in the Alps since the 1990s and moved to Chamonix in 2007 He guides Mont Blanc a maximum of 3-4 times every year “I actually stopped counting years ago,” he admits lies on the border between France (Haute Savoie) and Italy (Aosta Valley) Its allure comes from its status as the highest Surrounded by glaciers and jagged peaks in the heart of the Alps it is near some of the most scenic mountain towns — Chamonix and Saint Gervais in France and Courmayeur in Italy — and is the cradle of mountaineering history by Balmat again and Horace Benedict de Saussure It was previously supposed to be a “doomed place” inhabited by malignant supernatural beings The first accident on the mountain took place during the 10th ascent who had insisted on continuing up despite bad conditions (Sound familiar?) This had a strong impact on public opinion at the time and changed the way future generations approached climbing in the Alps The guides united, and on May 9, 1823, they founded the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix (Company of Chamonix Guides) Similar guiding companies began in Courmayeur and Saint Gervais Professional guides became essential figures in the evolution of mountaineering in the Alps Mont Blanc is considered a serious challenge It requires a previous background on lesser peaks and knowledge of how to move safely in glacial and high mountain terrain a strong climbing background is a valuable asset Yet many clients often attempt the Roof of the Alps without any background in mountaineering This is a suitable option if done with an accredited guide who assesses the fitness and experience of potential summiters can Mont Blanc be climbed without previous experience “It’s pretty normal for someone arriving for a guided ascent to have no experience and that’s fine by me,” Macdonald says I have found that the only way to know that people are ready is for them to spend three days training and acclimatizing (sleeping in mountain refuges) before the summit attempt and then be ready a few days later.” Macdonald insists on leading the acclimatization trips as well “While some companies are happy for people to do their own acclimatization and training I’ve found this seldom works and no longer offer it,” he explains “Mont Blanc involves a long summit day and I find that people who are used to big hiking days “If you can jog your way around a half marathon in two hours or so The worst performers are generally gym freaks with a lot of muscle mass but low levels of cardiovascular fitness.” Climbers on a preparatory climb on the Aiguille Marbree “Preparation is everything,” Macdonald says “I like my groups to sleep at around 3,000m for two nights while training We will focus on crampon work because slips and trips cause most accidents We always practice on some steep and challenging terrain I can see if anyone will struggle between the Tete Rousse and the Gouter refuges or freak out on the summit ridge.” After the would-be client puts in adequate preparation time Macdonald says there’s really only one thing to worry about on Mont Blanc: the weather The route along the Dome du Gouter and the Bosses Ridge is by far the most popular route on Mont Blanc for one simple reason is currently not an option in summer due to glacial retreat The route to Mont Blanc via the Gouter Route Here is how Macdonald does the Gouter Route with his clients It starts with a 2.5-hour walk from the train station at Nid’aigle to the Refuge Tete Rousse sleeping in the Gouter Hut on the way down The most technical section is between the two refuges Shortly after leaving the Refuge Tete Rousse you have to cross the Grand Couloir du Gouter this short section (which takes just a minute or two to cross) is prone to rockfall it’s best done when the couloir is snow-filled and frozen it should be dry (when there is no thawing the rockfall gets so bad that the route closes I’ll only guide the route in June or September you have to scramble for around two hours up to the Gouter Hut The terrain varies from easy paths to low-grade rock climbing Guided clients are roped up from the moment they leave the hut There are also cable-protected sections along the way Happy faces after safely crossing the Grand Couloir du Gouter we normally take a break and drop off a few things that we will not need for the summit push We go up snowfields until the Vallot Shelter we take another break before the final push The ridge is narrow in places and requires good crampon technique and a head for heights The total time from Tete Rousse to the summit is around seven hours The descent back to the Gouter Hut takes between two and two-and-a-half hours Using both refuges increases flexibility and safety you don’t have to cross the Grand Couloir in the afternoon (when it’s warmer) If the weather isn’t good enough to summit on the planned day there is a chance to wait at Gouter and have an early start the next day before heading all the way down The alternative Trois Monts (Three Peaks) Route goes from the Aiguille du Midi over the shoulders of Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit to the summit of Mont Blanc You can either stay in the Cosmiques Hut the night before and overnight at Cosmiques after the climb “That latter approach means that you will be climbing in daylight when it’s quiet and usually warmer,” Macdonald said “This route is generally much more quiet than the Gouter Route but it has some issues to be aware of.” The slopes of Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit are prone to serac fall and perfect for avalanches the route could be completely out of condition.” Many fatal accidents have occurred on the slopes of Mont Blanc, including recently.  Last week, two climbers died in an unfortunately timed rappel accident. At the beginning of August, another died and four were injured in a serac fall The seracs looming over the route may fall any time of day or night and can be difficult to predict The final issue with this route is that melting glaciers have made it steeper The Maudit shoulder is definitely more serious than it used to be it’s a great route when the conditions are right There is a third option to consider: the so-called Pope Route from Italy. It leaves from Val Veny and proceeds via the Gonella Hut. The name comes after Achille Ratti, who first used that route coming down from the summit. Years later, Ratti became Pope Pius XI “It’s a wonderful climb with an incredible feeling of remoteness and solitude it has a few problems,” Macdonald noted He noted that the approach to the refuge is a solid five-hour slog with no lifts or trains to shorten the way It requires a perfect weather forecast and top physical shape “The refuge is small and nice but suffers from water supply problems,” Macdonald said At the time of writing this story (late August) “The glacier is steep and complex,” warms Macdonald Either can render the route impassable.” the options are to return via the same route logistics must be arranged to return to Italy “Climatic change has affected Mont Blanc enormously,” Macdonald says “Snow melts out of the Grand Couloir du Gouter faster than before.” The guide notes that in recent years, the route has been closed most seasons for three to six weeks, something that hasn’t happened before. The Gouter Route has been open all through the season this year but suffered lengthy closures in 2022 Macdonald also mentioned that the glaciers on the Trois Monts route have gotten steeper and more serious “Mont Blanc was always a serious mountain but it’s even more serious now,” he concluded and all of it along the course of the world’s most famous trail race If there is one place in the world to do a multi-day trail running trip a burgeoning number of trail runners are flocking to this route long beloved by hikers from around the world The Tour du Mont-Blanc (TMB) has become trail running’s de facto pilgrimage Starting in the hyperactive mountain town of Chamonix France at the base of 15,780-foot Mont Blanc the 100-mile TMB loop is one of the oldest continuous foot paths in the world The list of glowing adjectives and superlatives reads like hackneyed tourist office boilerplate: high alpine meadows ringing with cow bells and English mixing in the air at cozy mountain huts as bowls of polenta with fresh local fontina cheese as dished out by the resident guardians Running the TMB over the course of four to eight days is as dreamy as it sounds—with the right preparation The rise of trail running on one of the world’s most iconic multi day hikes parallels the ultra trail race that borrows its name (Now UTMB du Mont-Blanc so as to not be confused with the 44 other races in the UTMB World Series.) That race’s history goes back to the fall of 2002 when after a not-insignificant amount of prodding from René Bachelard a group of volunteers met at the Hotel Faucigny and created a daring which that first year was known as The North Face International Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc We all know the spectacle it’s transformed into in those ensuing 22 years you don’t have to run the loop around “Le Mont Blanc” in 19:37:43 as American Jim Walmsley did en route to winning UTMB last year running the Tour du Mont-Blanc can be downright leisurely to make for a 6-day tour with 14-21 or so miles and 3,000- to  6,000 feet of climbing each day Chamonix is 90 minutes from the Geneva Airport with a half dozen or more services happy to shuttle you there And if you use the same hotel for the start and finish you can usually leave a few bags in storage for no additional fee The TMB breaks logically into a six-day trip because of the spacing of villages on the route But if you’re feeling badass and have a headlamp at the ready be forewarned: the scent of  warm croissants can be kryptonite for your Strava times and you’ll get to take in the views and the calories en route (See the chart below for a typical breakout.) One of the real delights of the route is that thanks to luggage transport services around the mountain you can run all day with just the essentials and grab your duffel filled with town clothes Or you can save a few euros and fastpack the route Just don’t be too mopey when Les Traileurs run past toting 12 liters instead of 25 Next, pick your route. While the TMB is an obvious, heavily traveled loop, options—called variants—abound. For a full list of options, see this summary of common variants to make the route both longer and shorter it ends at Buvette du Glacier with plenty of regional treats RELATED: Read More of RUN’s Stories about UTMB and Chamonix  Planning a trip around the range used to be a simple matter of dashing off emails to village hotels and mountain cabins users are confronting a variety of new challenges Default to the standard hours for breakfast and you might find yourself in the midst of a pole-clanging TMB conga line of international hikers and you’ll have quiet trails and can avoid a long mid-day wait for croute au fromage at the refuges Consider TMB variants to keep numbers down Only diehards who aspire to race UTMB du Mont-Blanc one day will stick to the course mostly gone are the days of booking a hotel a few months before your trip and many now take reservations much earlier—often a year or more in advance where you’re looking at some taxi times ranging from 15 to 45 minutes to reach a bigger town with more capacity based on when tour operators come up against dates when reservations become non-refundable Baggage transport services only pickup and deliver to partner hotels Both paying and cancellation terms are a hodge-podge If you like Google Sheets and have time to play Google has another answer: search for “TMB Trail Running Vacation Tour Companies.” Much of those trials and tribulations can be mitigated by eyeing the shoulder seasons of early June or mid-September But you will be trading quieter trails and less-stressed hoteliers for potentially tricky trail and weather conditions some early bird trail runners found themselves on more snow than trail with the consequent risks of unplanned slides down steep snowfields and snowbridges undermined with rushing water And the weather in the Alps deserves your attention While the trail elevation isn’t as lofty as other big mountain ranges—the year-round snow and glaciers are mostly above about 3,000 meters (9,850 feet)—wintry storms can land any month of the year and unprepared travelers at the wrong place at the wrong time can quickly become a statistic When I raced Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 2017 crossing that year’s high point at 8,323-foot high Grand Col Ferret felt more like Fairbanks my friend Federico Gilardi greeted me in a one-piece down suit and yelled for me to start running down right away (Sleet turned to rain turned to clouds over the ensuing half hour.) RELATED: Book Review—”The Race That Changed Running: The Inside Story of UTMB” Busses up Italy’s Val Ferret will conjure up images of the professional packers who work Tokyo’s subways You will never look ahead and see an empty singletrack and a lunch hour with one of the world’s best views will snake out of the entrance to Refugio Bonatti a video filmed by a local hiking guide showed dozens of trekkers leaving the village of Les Contamines spurring on discussion of how to manage burgeoning numbers California’s 211-mile long John Muir Trail the TMB has dozens if not hundreds of access points In place of one country and a few federal agencies and only-God-knows how many agencies are involved in managing the route “I like to think of the TMB as a pilgrimage in part because it’s awe-inspiring and also because of how many people are doing it that can be part of the fun,” says Troy Haines the owner of US-based hiking tour company Alpinehikers “The TMB is not the place to ‘get away from it all.’ Years ago Every year there are more and more people who want to come but still just the few same inns in the more remote valleys You might not notice it when you’re on the TMB but you do notice the difference if you go to other regions there are things you can do to reduce your impact Start by brushing up on the seven LNT principles as the trail passes through several protected alpine areas (For example: swimming is not allowed in alpine tarns where sunscreen can alter the pH of the water.) a few examples include traveling in a small group (the smaller the better) and using established facilities that can handle your impact instead of “wild” camping it’s thoughtful to learn a few key phrases in French and Italian and learn the local etiquette on the trail and at mountain huts Two good places to start are the Chamoniard an association devoted to disseminating mountain information Hiring a reputable tour company is one way to quickly address these concerns “The nonprofits that work here are tuned into the impacts of climate change but personally I’m excited to see ones dedicated to helping people to understand what’s going on and how it is impacting them whether through scientific research or informing them about ongoing challenges.” a late-in-the-game confession: I’m not a disinterested journalist on this topic Serendipity and a career change brought me to Chamonix full-time six years ago I can throw a baguette out my living room window and if the wind is coming off the Le Tour glacier Run the Alps has adopted a statement of values that holds us to being a “net positive” company the questions surrounding overuse on the TMB are something we think about nearly every day Some answers are easy (hop on the rocks when you’re in a muddy paturage How much is too much?) We’ve created LNT guidelines for all our trips and on the TMB our standard groups are no more than seven guests and one guide we’ve developed a 30 page internal handbook for our guides which highlights interpretive tips they can share with our guests Overuse of wild lands is hardly unique to the TMB And slipping into a running pack and running to high mountain huts through three countries is still as dreamy as it sounds Time your visit right (hint: the first three weeks of August) and the likes of Katie Schide or Jim Walmsley just might float past you on the trail one foot in Italy and the other in Switzerland who that August was doing his best Tazmanian Devil impersonation And as for René Bachelard, the man who inspired it all? Happily, he’s still here in Chamonix, and he’s even on Strava though his account has been quiet recently If you’re lucky enough to take in trail running’s Super Bowl during the last week of August sporty-looking nonagenarian meandering along Chamonix’s pedestrian-friendly Rue du Dr I’d just ask that you nod politely in thanks for that one day in 2002 when he twisted arms and talked a small group of traileurs into diving headfirst into what seemed at the time a downright audacious idea RELATED: Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc: A Beginner’s Guide Day 1: Chamonix to Les Contamines via Col Tricot RELATED: How to Watch the 2024 UTMB World Series Finals—including UTMB Crime BeatNewsShots fired at a business in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal boroughBy Rachel LauPublished: May 02, 2025 at 6:23AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved There are several ways up western Europe’s highest mountain but what’s the best way to make the eponymous dessert The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Happily, it’s one of those desserts that looks much more impressive than it actually is – a relatively simple confection of meringue, chantilly cream and the chestnuts that once sustained the local population and, to quote Jay Rayner but guaranteed to delight anyone who scales its heights after dinner – though a bracing walk may be advisable the next morning elevates the whole thing on an upturned cereal bowl but I can’t help feeling a little disappointed by the idea of slicing my spoon through a huge pile of goodness only to hit solid it is preferable to under- rather than overcook the meringue marshmallowy interior proves too similar in texture to the rest of the ingredients you can buy a box of those and pile them up higgledy piggledy thus neatly cutting out most of the work.) It’s puzzling to me that most recipes call for the chestnut layer to feature uppermost; indeed noodley carapace that looks more like a wicker pétanque ball than a mountain (in their picture anyway; my take on it ended up looking more like a bathmat) Only Willan and Lawson understand that the Mont Blanc ought to be capped with snowy cream; muddy-coloured pureed chestnuts feel like a depressing emblem of climate breakdown sweetened chestnut puree that’s far better saved for dolloping on top of yoghurt Try this recipe and many more of Felicity’s dishes on the new Feast app: scan or click here for your free trial.The problem I struggle with is that many of the chestnut pastes I try prove difficult to pipe smoothly – the Angelina recipe calls for solid sheets of the stuff and even in simpler versions shows a tendency to break up as Michalak suggests (though Willan’s sugar syrup also improves matters) If you can find only whole cooked chestnuts or any bits will clog up your piping bag or potato ricer – piped strands of vermicelli are traditional but a potato ricer will also do a satisfactory as Rayner points out: “you can just dollop it on” if you have neither equipment nor patience cream whipped with sugar and vanilla – is the classic choice here Both French bakeries add extra fat to help stabilise it while it sits looking pretty in the window: Angelina in the form of powdered milk and Michalak with mascarpone note that you can make all the elements of this well in advance (store the meringue in a dry airtight box) and simply assemble it before serving Anne Willan’s Mont Blanc is ‘more moussey’ than other contenders.Should you prefer a lighter or use the whipping cream recommended by Angelina Most French cream will have a fat content more akin to this than our own double cream but whipping cream (36%) can for some reason be hard to come by these days The Michalak bakery decorates its diminutive desserts with marrons glacés If you have some squirrelled away from last year’s hamper I think it’s lovely to have a few lumps of actual chestnut in the dessert the creamy chantilly and the slightly mealy chestnut but I’ve suggested a quicker substitute below Best of all worlds: Felicity Cloake’s hybrid tried-and-tested perfect Mont Blanc.Lawson and Willan decorate their mountains with grated chocolate so long as you restrict it to the lower slopes; otherwise it makes the cream look more like that grimy snow that piles up by the side of the road than the pristine drifts on the higher slopes I prefer to evoke fresh powder with a light dusting of icing sugar For the meringue 2 egg whites (30-38g)60-76g caster sugar⅛ tsp cream of tartar heat the oven to 140C (120C fan)/275F/gas 1 and put a shelf in the middle with nothing above it Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and use a pencil to draw a circle the size of a small bowl (about 13cm) then measure out twice the weight of caster sugar If you are using a stand mixer (I find this small amount easier with handheld beaters) put the sugar on a sheet of baking paper that you can later use as a funnel Put the egg whites in a large bowl then whisk on high speed until they form a dense Add the cream of tartar and beat again until the mix begins to hold soft peaks Once it’s all absorbed and the mixture feels smooth turn up the speed and keep beating until the meringue turns thick and glossy and holds its shape building up the meringue into a peak in the middle Put the tray in the oven immediately turn down the heat down to 130C (110C fan)/265F/gas ½ until the meringue feels dry and hollow when you gently tap its base Leave it in the oven with the door slightly ajar until completely cool Lift out and leave to dry on a second lined tray (the remaining chestnut syrup is great in cocktails instead of sugar in the chestnut puree below) Put the softened butter in the cleaned mixer or bowl and beat briefly scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go until the two are well combined and no chunks of butter remain Add the sugar and beat until very smooth and creamy Taste for sweetness and adjust if necessary Once the meringue is cool and you’re ready to serve then beat in the sugar and vanilla until the mix is softly whipped but holds its shape (if you prefer a slightly less snowy peak on your Mont Blanc you could get away with reducing the quantities to 100ml cream 10g caster sugar and a quarter-teaspoon of vanilla extract) Put the meringue on a serving plate depending on your equipment: the first is to pass the chestnut puree through a potato ricer to pile up mounds of puree worms on top of the meringue in a vaguely mountainous shape The second is to use use a piping bag to do the same: if you have a nozzle with one large hole you might like to cover the meringue with concentric circles of puree; if you have smaller vermicelli holes Spoon the cream on top of the peak so the whole thing resembles a snowy sort of scene and dust the lower slopes with icing sugar for maximum snowy wonder Which other desserts would you recommend to add drama to the festive table and what would you suggest doing with any leftover chestnuts Select the event you're interested in Unit SystemMetric (km / m)Imperial (miles / feet)EN fresitMY UTMB25 - 31 August 2025DISCOVERThe event Access Mont Blanc is a non-profit Association based in Les Houches in the heart of the Chamonix Valley we have big dreams for the future of disability sport in the Mont Blanc region and we plan to make the mountains accessible to everyone By wearing a solidarity bib in support of Access Mont Blanc you will be contributing to the purchase of all terrain mobility equipment for the 5 communes of the Chamonix Valley The wheelchairs can be used by visitors to the valley and those living locally who can no longer explore the mountains with any level of autonomy As a mountain runner you will understand that running in the mountains is a great healer of mind and spirit By supporting Access Mont Blanc you will be directly contributing to the physical and mental wellbeing of those who can no longer run free but still dream of mountain adventure and exploration At Access Mont Blanc we are all volunteers sharing the belief that handicap should not be a barrier to adventure We organise expeditions which prove the accessibility and safety of local trails before we incorporate these routes into our free guidebook We also take part in guided hand bike excursions and assist local events with our mobility equipment is our annual weekend of adapted mountain sports Physical activity helps to boost the mind body and spirit and Limitless helps people to discover a new sport so they can benefit from a feeling of accomplishment and wellbeing Please support our Association and make the mountains accessible to everyone If you would like more information you can contact us at accessmontblanc@gmail.com we would be delighted to answer your questions and explain more about the Association If not, you can discover more about our activities at www.accessmontblanc.com; @accessmontblanc on Instagram and accessmontblanc on Facebook. Fast forward roughly a year and a half into his tenure with the Seahawks Jones appeared in all 17 regular-season games for the Seahawks last season. The former Ohio State standout had a minimal impact, totaling 4.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus assigned Jones a middling overall defensive grade of 61.7 Macdonald and the defensive coaching staff have moved Jones around the defensive line in an attempt to fully unlock his potential he lacks the athleticism of a typical edge-rushing outside linebacker Jones earns $17.1 million per season, according to Over The Cap He's currently the 16th-highest paid interior defensive lineman in the league but he ranked significantly higher than that when he signed his contract as several defensive tackles have since surpassed him Jones' earning capacity places him alongside defenders like Vita Vea ($17.7 million APY) and Grady Jarrett ($16.5 million APY who are having much larger impacts for their respective defenses Schneider may have whiffed on committing big-time dollars to Jones The Seahawks could release him next offseason in a transaction that would clear $14 million in financial flexibility but they'd inherit $11.5 million in dead money NFC West Watch: Jaguars hire 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But obviously that’s somebody that the mayor would appoint and somebody that the mayor would bring on I want to make sure that whatever we’re doing that we’re putting somebody there that’s going to be consistent with what we’re trying to do for CPS but ultimately that decision is going to come down to somebody else with the the current financial budget crisis that’s looming for CPS I want as much stability as we navigate through that as possible compounded with that financial cliff that we’re headed towards just doesn’t spell the best outcome for the entire CPS distrist Do you support the school district taking out a high-interest loan to cover operating costs This comes as CPS faces a deficit this year and is looking to get more money from the city but is also considering budget cuts and possible furloughs.No About 31% of Chicago Public Schools elementary students are meeting state standards in reading How would you approach growing reading and math achievement?* We must implement a holistic approach focusing on the learning of foundational elements for math and reading This will require more resourcing and development of an effective curriculum for early elementary education I propose working with leading education experts from districts achieving higher levels of proficiency in math and reading or similar policies and programs suited for Chicago We also need to consider and address our learners nutrition and mental health play a significant role in a student’s ability to learn and focus We cannot expect our students to be at their best when they face these challenges daily CPS allocates resources to addressing these issues and I propose continued support and expansion in these programs where possible Do you support standardized testing more than once a year Do you support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the board of education I want our students to have the most robust curriculum possible My academic successes as a CPS alum directly correspond to the breadth of curriculum offered I want to ensure the baseline of all CPS curriculums increases in breadth and depth of subjects Chicago Public Schools has consistently fallen short when it comes to serving students with disabilities What would you do to improve special education I propose advocating for more resources under the remaining funds from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) I propose advocating and working with our congressional and state leaders to receive more funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) CPS currently receives funding through these federal acts but we can receive and need more mentor and uncle to students who have IEPs [Individualized Education Program] and special needs it is imperative these students receive the utmost support and dedicated minutes possible so as not to create an aggregate and cumulative effect due to lack of dedicated minutes I will zealously advocate for our students especially our students with special needs Chicago’s Board of Education has consistently raised the property tax levy to the maximum allowed by state law every year Should the board continue to raise the levy to the maximum Property taxation is a huge issue in Chicago We cannot continue to simply pass the burden on taxpayers without genuinely pursuing other revenue possibilities state and federal elected officials to better fund CPS while exploring revenue generating opportunities with current CPS assets I have several ideas to address this issue or do you think the school district’s budget is bloated How would you balance the CPS budget?* The CPS budget is bloated in areas but contains opportunities to alleviate this bloat from the budget to relieve the burden on taxpayers while not harming our students or the district both the state and federal government can and should do more to support the third largest public school district in the country I intend to pursue both local and non-local solutions CPS’ Board must look at how it allocates funding throughout CPS for the entire district but there are opportunities for efficiency which helps our suffering taxpayers I propose an audit and review of all independent third-party contracts for goods and services to make sure we do not pay for redundant services I propose liquidating CPS assets we no longer use but still continue to use taxpayer money to maintain including buildings CPS has not used in over a decade or more Do you support the current board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools and shift away from the current system of school choice with selective enrollment I believe in a “both/and” approach to improving the quality of our neighborhood schools and maintaining our magnet school My approach will require the CPS Board and the city to truly look at the disparity in the education system and address it from both a policy and funding position Given the board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools how would you balance supporting those schools without undermining the city’s selective enrollment schools and other specialized programs?* I do not propose limiting parents’ options to choose what is best for their children CPS can and must improve our neighborhood schools by raising the acceptable standard while sustaining selective enrollment schools This will be difficult but worthwhile for our students Difficulty will not stop me from pursuing what is right My family lived the disparity within CPS through my brother’s and my journey through CPS I went to Ogden and Lincoln Park for the IB programs and my brother attended neighborhood schools The difference was the breadth and depth of curriculum access to arts and extracurricular activities We can raise the standard utilizing the evidence-based funding model while tailoring our funding process as we see data trends through this funding model Improving the neighborhood school will not take away from our selective enrollment schools and programs when I am on the board The first charter school opened in Chicago in 1997 and these privately run publicly funded schools grew in number throughout the 2000s Do you support having charter schools in CPS as an option for students how will you maintain your independence from the mayor’s office the Chicago Teachers Union or other powerful forces shaping the school system?* I will maintain independence by listening to the voters who elected me I will hold frequent and consistent town halls and community meetings to hear directly from the community I will invite elected officials and any stakeholders to the meetings so they too can hear what the students families and community of the 9th District needs them to hear I prioritize and will continue to prioritize full transparency in any and all votes I cast while keeping an open door policy to any CPS student employee or concerned citizen to come talk with me Do you support having sworn Chicago Police Department officers stationed in schools in an effort to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities as required by state and federal law CPS canceled busing for general education students who attend selective enrollment and magnet schools and hasn’t found a solution to reinstate that service Do you support busing for general education students Children should not have to worry about how and if they can get to school Our students face many problems and transportation should not be one of those problems students face About one-third of Chicago public school buildings have space for at least double the students they’re currently enrolling Chicago officials have previously viewed under-enrolled schools as an inefficient use of limited resources — and a decade ago the city closed a record 50 schools Do you support closing schools for low enrollment This issue requires a more nuanced approach and solution than simply closing schools The solution should revolve around addressing truancy the school space can and should be used for other purposes beneficial to students and the district CPS has long struggled to comply with state and federal laws requiring bilingual programs at schools that enroll 20 or more students who speak a different language The recent influx of migrant families has exacerbated the problem What policies do you support to ensure the district is supporting bilingual students and in compliance with state and federal laws I support compliance with state and federal law I also support securing resources which will make CPS compliant with state and federal law CPS is often the only choice for many migrants to partake in the education system growing deficit and projected increased deficit I support looking for alternative sources of revenue to support CPS students to improve the district and not increase the taxpayer burden Please share one issue that’s a top concern for your community or your larger elected school board voting district Many residents in my district discussed the issue of violence in the neighborhoods around the schools While not directly an educational or operational issue for CPS it does factor into the overall well-being and ability to learn for our students It factors into creating a safe environment for our students Schools often serve as linchpins in communities with thriving schools as a sign of a thriving local community CPS must be more active and present in their local communities to provide the safe communal spaces for students and families I subscribe to the “it takes a village” mentality schools with active LSCs and active parents reported more sense of community and well-being for their students CPS must do its part to be an active and positive collaborator in this manner Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale