The 2026 Untopic

Back in the earlier days of DCSki, one of the Forum’s longest-running threads was The Untopic — a place where people could post whatever was on their mind, whether or not it had anything to do with skiing.

It became especially useful during the slower months, when there wasn’t always much ski news to talk about but people still wanted to check in, chat, and keep the community going.

So I thought it might be fun to bring it back.

Welcome to The 2026 Untopic.

There really aren’t many rules here beyond the normal Forum guidelines. Post something interesting, amusing, random, useful, or completely ordinary. Tell us what you’re doing today. Share a photo from a hike. Mention a good meal, a weird weather observation, a trip you’re planning, something you’re watching, a project you’re working on, a random thought, or something that happened during your day.

Skiing is certainly welcome too, but it doesn’t have to be about skiing.

The idea is simply to give everyone an easy place to drop in and say something, even when there isn’t an obvious topic worth starting a whole new thread about.

I'll get started.  One of the big projects I've been working on this summer (besides upgrading DCSki) is building a pole barn.  You can learn more about why I decided to do this in this YouTube video that I made.

The project has officially reached the stage where it's "one month from being finished."

It's been in that stage now for several months.

But, it's getting closer.  It got connected to the electric grid a couple of weeks ago, and the garage doors just went up this past week.

It will have plenty of space to store ski gear.  :)

Yesterday I took a bike ride on the W&OD and then joined friends for some super delicious BBQ beef brisket at The Pit Stop in Ashburn, VA, about a mile from the Dulles Town Center.  It's family owned and open Thurs-Sun only - until the meat runs out.

... Also if you happen to find yourself in downtown Cleveland, take a look at Mabel's BBQ.  Pretty good stuff.

AI style overviews lookin' good!  ;-)

Scott wrote:

I would not be disappointed if this thread just becomes a discussion of the best BBQ joints.  :)

I’m Jim’s BBQ pusher…

Money shot from the day before I introduced Jim to Pit Stop:

Brisket, ribs, Mac and Cheese, smoked kale, sweet tea. Their chicken and sausage are real good also. I was in NOVA for only 6 days this past week, had lunch there twice, an hours drive. This place is that good. 

I'm pretty loyal to Carolina Bros along the W&OD. I pretty much stop there every time I'm in Loudoun and when I make my annual autumn ride, that's usually where I turn around. Of course, that's for pork, not brisket.

JohnL wrote:

Scott wrote:

I would not be disappointed if this thread just becomes a discussion of the best BBQ joints.  :)

I’m Jim’s BBQ pusher…

Money shot from the day before I introduced Jim to Pit Stop:

Brisket, ribs, Mac and Cheese, smoked kale, sweet tea. Their chicken and sausage are real good also. I was in NOVA for only 6 days this past week, had lunch there twice, an hours drive. This place is that good. 

wfyurasko wrote:

I'm pretty loyal to Carolina Bros along the W&OD. I pretty much stop there every time I'm in Loudoun and when I make my annual autumn ride, that's usually where I turn around. Of course, that's for pork, not brisket.

JohnL wrote:

Scott wrote:

I would not be disappointed if this thread just becomes a discussion of the best BBQ joints.  :)

I’m Jim’s BBQ pusher…

Money shot from the day before I introduced Jim to Pit Stop:

Brisket, ribs, Mac and Cheese, smoked kale, sweet tea. Their chicken and sausage are real good also. I was in NOVA for only 6 days this past week, had lunch there twice, an hours drive. This place is that good. 

Eastern Carolina style? I’m real particular about pulled pork, needs to be doused in a tangy vinegar sauce. Not a catsup fan. Did Chapel Hill, NC for grad school, taste buds for pork formed there. Best pulled pork I’ve had was from my old neighbor in VA.

I should have promoted Tour de VRE on here, though it rained...

35 miles - Backlick station to Manasass Airport/Broad Run. Only about $40 with proceeds for Triple Negative Breast Cancer foundation. A train ride back too!

Tour de VRE recap

wfyurasko wrote:

I should have promoted Tour de VRE on here, though it rained...

35 miles - Backlick station to Manasass Airport/Broad Run. Only about $40 with proceeds for Triple Negative Breast Cancer foundation. A train ride back too!

Very cool.  Too bad the weather was a little rough for your ride.  Back in the 1990s I commuted from Fredericksburg to Crystal City on the VRE for a few years.  Very civilized way to avoid I-95 driving.  In 1995 my son and I did a special VRE promotion and caught a train from Manassas to Baltimore to see an Orioles game.  It was just a few games before Ripken broke Gehrig's consecutive games record.  Camden Yards ballpark was only three years old at the time. Nice memory. 

What's your favorite memory of drinking a beer at a ski area?  Bonus points if you have a photo.  Word pictures accepted, as are other drinks including non-alcoholic.

Here's my buddy JohnL with one of my favorite western brews, Cold Smoke Scotch Ale at Solitude, UT, 22 Apr 2025, place was empty with good spring conditions:

JimK wrote:

What's your favorite memory of drinking a beer at a ski area?  Bonus points if you have a photo.  Word pictures accepted, as are other drinks including non-alcoholic.

Here's my buddy JohnL with one of my favorite western brews, Cold Smoke Scotch Ale at Solitude, UT, 22 Apr 2025, place was empty with good spring conditions:

That was an end of ski day birthday celebration for me, so it was a good one. Only day I’ve skied on my birthday. Thanks Jim for the beer. Actually, Cold Smoke is local, can find it in my local groceries. Another advantage of retiring out West.

I’ve had too many amazing ski days which have been followed by apres reebs, so can’t single out a best. But the beach at ABasin is always special place to hang out with friends. Later on that year:

As a skier who skis mostly in Western PA, the apres is typically predictable but sometimes quite enjoyable.  

It's when you go farther afield that you make the memory, for sure, and for me that was at Whistler's Amsterdam Pub.  After a long day of exploring the seemingly unlimited terrain (couldn't remotely get to all of it, even over 3 solid days), this was a cozy place to retreat and have a few pints.  If you happen to be staying in or near the village itself, this is great place to land, and perhaps not leave, for the entire evening.

Apologies for no pictures, my visit was in 2007, and the pictures are small and not that great by today's standards.  Plus, I don't want to incriminate those involved in the festivities. ;-)

Writing in today from beautiful Switzerland, where I'm offsetting chocolate consumption with miles and miles of hiking each day.

I'll probably do a formal writeup for DCSki in the coming days/weeks, but here are a few photos from a couple days ago, where I hiked around the Flumserberg ski resort.  Needless to say, I found myself daydreaming about what it would be like to visit this beautiful place in the winter.

This is my fifth trip to Switzerland, and I continue to search for a part of the country that is ugly.  So far I've been unsuccessful.  I will keep trying.

I've been playing music with friends for an hour or two most weekends..  Mostly progressive stuff, classic rock, and hair band covers.. Some bluey stuff too..

In good health when old injuries stay at bay.  Kids are grown and mostly out.. Youngest still has another year and a half at UNC Asheville then fully empty nest.

I'm expecting to get out first weekend of December, 3-4 days slopeside over Christmas Break at Winter Place WV..  Early morning and late under the lights to avoid massive crowds.. Maybe a day over MLK weekend,  Then likely end of season party somewhere.  

A few shots from today's hike at Mt. Rigi in Switzerland.

I don't know, I guess the Alps are kind of OK.

crgildart wrote:

My best friend from college's dad was Leo form Leo's BBQ in OKC.  His brother Charles kept the smokers going from the time we lost Leo in 1995 until very recently.  He still opens it back up occasionally but health and sanity come first for him now.. Was able to go get some every time I was in OKC to do stuff for my mom and then when the oldest was in Norman at OU.  Sooo good!

I've been playing music with friends for an hour or two most weekends..  Mostly progressive stuff, classic rock, and hair band covers.. Some bluey stuff too..

In good health when old injuries stay at bay.  Kids are grown and mostly out.. Youngest still has another year and a half at UNC Asheville then fully empty nest.

I'm expecting to get out first weekend of December, 3-4 days slopeside over Christmas Break at Winter Place WV..  Early morning and late under the lights to avoid massive crowds.. Maybe a day over MLK weekend,  Then likely end of season party somewhere.  

Charles, I may have an evening and maybe half a day in OKC sometime next October. Any recs for tourist stuff? Sounds like Leo’s only open sporadically. Based on timing, could maybe try a Sooner game, but not sure I want to invest an entire day. And not a big college football fan.

Background: I need to drive to Connecticut from Idaho next Fall to pick up some of my parent’s old possessions. Maybe the last time I drive completely across the country - finding it easier to fly back east and rent a car for 1-2 weeks for extended stays. Besides HI, haven’t been to OK, AR, MS and TN. Thinking of taking the southern route back east, hitting those states.

Would be taking  I-40 through OK. For AK, thinking Hot Springs NP. For MS, maybe all or part of the Natchez Trace Scenic Road. Got TN more than covered. Any destination recs for these states from the forum?