The 20/20 Challenge (Explained) 

Vermont boasts 20 alpine ski resorts. I intend to snowboard at each of them this season. Except for that board-averse Mad River Glen. There I’ll ski, or at least attempt to. Thus, the 20/20 Challenge. It’s my goal to carve a few turns at each of the 20 ski areas in the 20 or so weeks of a Green Mountain winter.

I invented this little challenge for myself because, well, why not? The season is long and cold, and I can’t just sit around for five months watching episodes of “Glee” and “30 Rock” on Hulu. What better way to stave off the winter blahs than by visiting every shimmering jewel in Vermont’s tourism tiara?

Each week, I’ll be reporting on my progress. I’ll also provide some nuggets of information about the resorts and try to figure out what makes a Burke Mountain different from a Suicide Six besides geography and terrain.

This project will require nearly 3300 miles of driving. That’s about 1.15 tons of carbon dioxide I’ll be spewing into the atmosphere. To make up for that, Seven Days has purchased a carbon offset credit from Middlebury-based Native Energy. This environmental indulgence will help fund a wind-energy project in Kansas and make me feel better about my toxic emissions.

With Mother Nature and Father Time conspiring against me, I’ve lost a few valuable weeks. But, I’m happy to say, last week the big guns — Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow, Okemo, Stowe and Sugarbush — opened for business, so now it’s on.

If you want to help me with my 20/20 Challenge and show me around your local mountain, please email me...