Austin Skiers: A club for snow sports and travel enthusiasts

It's hard to imagine a greater thrill than skiing the dramatic chutes, canyons, drops, and glades of the ultra-famous Jackson Hole resort. And this mountain certainly lives up to its reputation as an advanced/expert playground. But Jackson also has an undeserved reputation as a "keep out" resort for intermediates. This is certainly misguided at best, for Jackson has some of the most rewarding "blue" runs you'll ever ski! There's even an entire mountain for the "bluers" Aprés Vous Mountain! That means over 2,100 vertical feet of groomers and gentle glades, and the high speed Apres Vous Quad gets you up top quickly! And of course Jackson's "other" mountain (Rendezvous) is where you'll find that famous eye-popping, world-famous terrain of hotshot chutes, bowls, couloirs and glades. Rendezvous is serviced by the Tram, which travels Jackson's 4.139 vertical feet (3^rd highest in the Western Hemisphere); or take the 8-Passenger Bridger Gondola for quick access to a great deal of the mountain from its summit, just below the headwall. The most remarkable feature for all skiers is Jackson's unique "fall line" runs, which span the entire height of the peaks from the valley floor to the summit. This means much more skiing per chair ride than usual!

And after the sun sets, Jackson provides a host of great activities. Jackson town is a short ride from the resort, and is well-known for its ranching/Western flavor, interspersed with cozy shops and cafés. Come have a brew at the Silver Dollar or kick up your boot-scootin' (or rockin') heels at the massive Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Jackson's efficient layout means easy walking around to a variety of shops. And you can always skip a ski day to take in incredible Yellowstone National Park, just an hour north of the resort; you can go by snowmobile, snowcat, or even hike to experience this beautiful, wild corner of Wyoming (Old Faithful is much less crowded and to many even more beautiful in wintertime).

This year, there's a nice treat - we're staying at the resort on the mountain instead of in town, which means a short walk to the base lifts. We'll have an easy 20 minute bus access into the Town (and famous Silver Dollar Bar and all the shopping, dining, and exploring you can "round up!"). As the TSC Winter Shootout, there'll be parties, races, and mixers a-plenty with clubs from throughout Texas, along with some surprises (no doubt!). There's just no better challenge for any level of skier than Jackson Hole, so join us for what's always a memorable time in Wyoming's premier resort!

It's always a good time when we get to go to the Lake Tahoe area, and this year will be no exception! Skiers will have their choice of spending their time at North America's largest single mountain resort, a massive 5,200 acres of 79 trails! Or, there's the opportunity to head "around the lake" to some of the best skiing in the world at such world-renown resorts as Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, or Kirkwood. After the skiing ends, the fun never stops, thanks to Nevada's South Lake Tahoe's casinos and Vegas-style buffets and shows. There's also boutique shopping, hiking, cross country skiing, even renting a Harley! The unique setting makes this a favorite place for casual skiers as well as pros, so you'll only be bored if you want to be.

As is usual, home for the week will the quaint 2/2 Forest Inn condos, with their lovely, wooded surroundings, hot tubs, and even an on-location rental and ski shop! The staff at Forest Inn is terrific and helpful, and can arrange a variety of outings beyond skiing, including the activities listed above, or even a balloon ride or a beautiful, memorable trip across the sky-blue lake on the Tahoe Queen (hot breakfast included!). Our Forest Inn stay also includes a continental breakfast included in your trip price! Forest Inn is an easy 5-10 minute walk from the heart of the casino district, a quick walk to a nearby supermarket, and now with the new in-town gondola base, just a 1 to 5 minute hop to begin your ski day)!

So join us and see why our past trips to Heavenly and the Forest Inn have always been rated very high on skiers' satisfaction lists. Take advantage of a California-Nevada vacation and get the best from both states. Join us at Heavenly/Lake Tahoe!

Well it won't be long before our first ski trip of the season leaves. The TSC VP for the Breckenridge trip has advised the clubs that snow has been falling in the area, and that the resort plans to start making snow this week. I have also been told that Loveland plans to open this week. Let's keep our fingers crossed for lots of snow at all the ski areas the club plans to visit this year. So far, it looks like we're off to a good start!

Your club's Executive Committee has voted to appoint Neil Martin as our new VP Trips, replacing Liz Earhart, who resigned last month (Neil had been Acting VP Trips for the past month). As a former Club President and VP Trips Neil has lot of valuable experience which made the changeover very smooth. We wish Liz well in her future endeavors.

Neil advises that although some trips are full, some others still have available spaces. Unfortunately, we are nearing deadlines where we have to cancel unused reservations or pay a penalty. If you are still considering which trips to sign-up for please contact the appropriate trip chair as soon as possible for current information and availability.

A special thank you goes to Wendy Buck, Phyllis Penniston, Nancy Roth, Gary Roth, Diana Biscan, and Linda Raymer for volunteering to help in the Lake Travis cleanup this year. The weather cooperated, and several hundred people turned out to help keep Travis one of the cleanest lakes in Texas. Everyone enjoyed the get-together afterwards, especially Nancy, who won a free visit to Sea World.

Hope you enjoy the Snowfest exhibition at the Convention Center if you're going. Our VP Marketing, Marcia Honeycutt, did a wonderful job in arranging our booth and securing volunteers. I'm really looking forward to seeing this first-ever convention of winter sports and activities companies and enthusiasts in the Austin Convention Center. See p. 7 for more details on Snowfest, and there might be time for some last-second volunteers if you're interested! Just call or e-mail Marcia (see p. 10 for numbers and addresses).

Mark your calendars for our next general membership meeting on Nov 12, at Sail and Ski on North Hwy 183. This should be a good time to see the latest in gear and equipment. And mark your calendar down for December 10, which will be our annual Holiday Party at Canyon Café. This has always been well-attended and we hope to see many of you there. Details will be announced next month, but remember admission usually requires a toy or donation for Blue Santa plus a small admission fee. Anyway, keep these dates in mind, and see you at November's meeting!

Editor's note: At press time, the Lillehammer, Vail, and Sun Valley trips are full with waiting lists; all other trips currently have space available. However, contact the trip chair for any trips in which you are interested, as spots frequently become available or are added.

Spend Thanksgiving with Austin Skiers and the Texas Ski Council (TSC) in Summit County, Colorado, one of the most popular ski destinations in the U.S. "Breck's" four interconnected peaks offer 3,400 vertical feet over 2,000 acres served by 25 lifts. That's a lot of skiing in an area where half the mountain is geared toward intermediates and 35% to the hotshots; and Breck runs the gamut of groomed rides to high alpine bowls to tree-filled plungers. And after the on-mountain thrills end for the day, take in the legendary Breckenridge town, full of shops, eateries, clubs, and countless avenues to explore. Our TSC trip includes the usual package of great parties, races, and special events; we'll be staying at the fabulous Beaver Run Resort with its own ski-in/ski-out quad to whisk you to the mountain each day (check out all their amenities at www.beaverrun.com)! And, something to be thankful for there's an optional Thanksgiving dinner available! All in all, a terrific way to spend your November holiday!

First time exclusive! The TSC has just scheduled a trip especially for folks who have never (or barely) set foot on skis! This is a great way to become acquainted to the ski (and after-ski) life. We'd like to keep most spots for rank beginners, but for those who want to come to improve on their skiing or just ski while a friend or family member learns to ski, lift tickets will cost you just $30 per day. The trip should run around This trip includes air to and from Denver, ground transportation to Winter Park, lodging for 5 nights and 3 days of a Beginner Package of lifts, lessons and rentals, and free shuttle to/from the hotel and mountain. The lodging is located in the centrally to downtown, putting the restaurants, shops, and nightlife within easy walking distance. This is a great, unprecedented opportunity!

It seems that once we find a good thing, we know how to keep it! This is our third straight holiday trip to the Olympic haven in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Located 17 miles east of Ogden, Snowbasin averages 400 inches a year of famous Utah powder, and offers superb skiing on 3,200 acres, with 54 trails and 3,000 ft. of vertical, for all ability levels (20% beginner, 50% intermediate, and 30% advanced). And, of course, add to this the thrill of being able to ski on the Olympic Downhill and GS courses! We'll also have the option of skiing that untracked snow at Powder Mountain, and also the fabulously upgraded Canyons. The Club will be staying in downtown Ogden with an easy walk to the 25th street historic district and the Ogden mall. Dining, shopping, museums, pubs, antique and art galleries, boutiques, etc are nearby. Our suite hotel has a separate living room and bedroom, plus a free buffet breakfast and a weekday happy hour. Our trip price includes air from Austin, airport to hotel transfers, daily shuttle service to the ski areas, and 6 nights lodging. Ogden is the spot for your post-Olympic holiday fun, so don't miss out!

Talk about a slam-dunk sure thing! This perennial Austin Skiers favorite is also most-frequently cited by ski magazines and polls as the number one world destination. And why not? The Whistler/Blackcomb complex is the largest single resort in the world, boasting over 7,200 acres on two mountains. That figures out to over 200 trails, 35 lifts, plus over a vertical mile of skiing on each mountain highest in the Western Hemisphere! But all this size shouldn't fool you the beautiful, quaint, internationally flavored Village, tucked into Whistler's V-shaped valley, allows quick, convenient access to either mountain from the base. And, Whistler's low elevation means less panting and more carving in that 360 inch per year snowfall! You'll find shopping aplenty and a remarkable choice of world dining cuisines (plus don't forget the mountain itself some of the best resort food at remarkably low prices!). The TSC Traditional trip will have the parties, races, and activities that you've come to enjoy, and the great news is that we'll staying in the ski-in, ski-out Apen's Resort on Blackcomb, where you can take advantage of the great exchange rate for the Canadian dollar. When you're talking a number one value, you're talking Whistler!

Steamboat's Western heritage was born out of ranching. This friendly, neighborly, and adventurous town takes these same pioneering ideals of the past and offers up a tremendous present-day ski and resort experience! The resort's six peaks - Mount Werner, Sunshine Peak, Storm Peak, Thunderhead Peak, Pioneer Ridge and Christie Peak - offer an entire mountain range of 2,939 skiable acres. The gladed areas of Sunshine and Storm Peaks are Steamboat's particular claim to fame, with "Champagne Powder ®" in the trees for the most avid powder hounds. And there's more coming - the four-phase Pioneer Ridge Expansion, a 770-acre area of intermediate and advanced terrain to the north of the existing ski area began in 1998 and adds more this year! And when you're tired from all this great skiing, take in Steamboat Springs town, complete with its quaint Western-meets-Scandinavian architecture and countless restaurants, shops, and places to dance the night away! This year, we're in our home away from home, the Lodge Condominiums. Come see why Steamboat has produced more Olympic athletes than any other town it's simply the place to be if you want to ski!

A first time adventure! We're going to the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics! Beautiful, sunny Sestrière sits high on a plateau just off the French border in Western Italy's high Alps. Largely built by the Fiat car company from 1934, Sestrière enjoys a long history and has earned a reputation as a practical, friendly, and total ski town. Sestrière's fame for terrific snow is not exaggerated its resorts' high altitudes and brisk climate assure an average of over 350 inches per year. And what a choice of skiing the local Sestrière area is on one flank of the famous "Milky Way" range circuit with 400km (250 miles) of 66 lift-linked trails on the Cesana e Sansicario, Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx areas, all the way over the border to Montgenèvre, France (be sure to take your passport along on these runs!). All of these mountains offer over 5,000 vertical feet in the high Alps, with superb trail grooming. For après ski, check out the town and its famous "Round Tower" and a host of superb eateries, shops, and dance factories. Or you can venture out of the area to the close by hub of Turin, Northern Italy's largest city (about 70 miles). Other excursions ( i.e. Milan) are also in the works. We're staying at the Edelweiss Savoy Hotel an alpine, balcony laden chalet-style hotel, where breakfast is included in the price. So say "bon giorno" to a unique ski week and join us in Sestrière!

Another first time adventure! This winter, the TSC couldn't have chosen any better - we're off to Scandinavia for the first time ever, to the site of the 1994 Olympics! Lillehammer may be small in size, but it's huge in life! Lillehammer's city center, with its famous old-world wooden architectural style, provides a charming base for all the regional activities available. Skiing is of course available at close-by Hafjell alpine center (the largest downhill area in the region), and cross-country Mecca's of Nordseter and Sjusjøen, and hiking and touring is also a good choice in these areas. Or, you can ice fish, take a sleigh ride, see a moose, or even be towed by a reindeer! The Olympic Park is a must-see, which includes: Håkons Hall (with the new, vast National Olympic Museum), Lysgårdbakkene Ski Jump Arena, Birkebeineren Skiing Stadium, Kanthaugen Freestyle Arena and the Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track. And, if exploring the Lillehammer region isn't enough, how about this? We'll first arrive in the capital of Oslo (a breathtaking city!) and are you ready? there's even a post-trip excursion to St. Petersburg, Russia! We'll be staying in Olso for 2 nights, then make our way to Lillehammer, where we'll be for 5 nights and all with breakfast and dinner included in the price! The TSC Winter Expedition assures us of some great activities as well. So what are you waiting for? Join us on our maiden voyage to the beautiful Scandinavian Peninsula and Russia!

We haven't been to Vail for awhile? Why? Well, honestly it's been the price! Vail's treasures are limited to thicker wallets most of the time until now! We got such a terrific deal on this trip that we couldn't believe it - we're psyched at going back to Colorado's largest ski resort! In fact, Vail is 3^rd in North America. It's big 7 miles wide with more than 5,000 acres of terrain stretched out over 3,800 vertical feet! And, Vail's 350 inches of snow per year promises a lot of skiing for your money! Vail is known for its three main areas: the Front Side, the Back Bowls, and Blue Sky Basin. The Front Side's 127 trails include virtually every type of terrain, while the Back Bowls offer six miles of powder paradise and the Blue Sky Basin present a tree-gladed utopia nestled in wilderness. When the downhill fun ends, check out Vail's European-style village, replete with all the shopping, fine dining, and other winter activities at your disposal. Of course Vail is a haven for all the other winter activities, such as orienteering, horseback riding, snowmobiling, dog sledding, you name it! We'll be staying at the spacious SunVail Condominiums, and experiencing the vastness of the mighty Vail!

Jackson Hole always comes up high in our annual surveys, and this year was no exception. With its challenging, beautiful Grand Teton terrain, access to Yellowstone, and quaint ranching culture, "the Hole" keeps us coming back! This time it's with the TSC, with all the usual parties, activities, races, and things you love. Jackson Hole's huge 4,100 feet of vertical drop provides over 400 inches of snow per year, which you'll need to experience Rendezvous Mountain's gut-wrenching chutes, bowls, couloirs (have you done Corbet's?), glades and other world-famous expert terrain, or challenge yourself on the much longer than usual intermediate runs on Rendezvous and the gentler Apres Vous mountain. And this year, a nice treat - we're staying at the resort on the mountain, an easy 20 minute bus access into the Town (and famous Silver Dollar Bar and all the shopping, dining, and exploring you can "round up!"), so we're practically ski-in, ski-out! There's just no better challenge for any level of skier than Jackson Hole, so join us for what's always a memorable time in Wyoming's premier resort!

North America's largest single mountain resort, Heavenly's nine peaks and two valleys split the Nevada-California border and offer the best of both. Don't even think about covering Heavenly's massive 5,200 acres of 79 trails, just do your best! After toasting the day at one of Heavenly's three base lodges, go into Nevada's South Lake Tahoe for the casinos and Vegas-style buffets. Home for the week is the quaint 2/2 Forest Inn condos, just a 1 to 5 minute walk to either the new Gondola or the casinos, where the action never stops. And, as usual, we'll be looking to sample a few other magnificent Tahoe area resorts, interest permitting Squaw Valley, Kirkwood, Alpine Meadows, or another deep snow paradise! But wait, there's more you can also take the scenic Tahoe Queen boat ride, snowmobile, rent a dogsled, even ride a Harley, among South Lake Tahoe's numerous non-ski activities! So join us and go for it all at Heavenly it's a sure bet!

Our recent trips to Sun Valley have been so enjoyable that we're going there for Spring Break 2003! Sun Valley is a place of firsts it was the first destination ski resort in the U.S. (1936), and soon became the first winter stop for the Hollywood elite in the 40's and 50's. After a brief period of decline in the '60's it was once again restored to its former glory, so that by the mid-90's Sun Valley, having regained its original luster and charm, was voted SKI magazine's #1 resort in 2000. Located in the Sawtooth Range, Sun Valley boasts two mountains: Bald Mountain's 2000+ acres stretched over 3,400 vertical feet provide for serious skiing, and Dollar Mountain's excellent learning terrain is among the best anywhere. We'll be staying at the Warm Springs base in the Prospector Condos; this is near the shuttle stop to the Challenger quad, which will whisk you up Bald Mountain in a short 10 minutes. Each of our 2 and 3 bedroom condos offer fireplaces and mountain views. Amenities include heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi jets, sauna and on-site laundry facilities. Shuttle service to Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley, Elkhorn and downtown Ketchum is available from 7:30 a.m. to midnight via the Ketchum and Area Rapid Transit (KART). So don't be last come to experience Sun Valley's many firsts!

Want to go to France without a long overseas flight? As the only fortified city in North America, Québec City has sat at the crossroads of colonial history, attracting visitors (and attackers!) since it was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Québec City is located on a high, scenic bluff above the St. Lawrence River from atop Cape Diamant. Greater Québec City comprises five historic areas with buildings representing four centuries of architectural history and the influences of Aboriginal, French and English you can experience the heart of French culture and language seasoned with other heritages. And we'll get a great view as we're flying directly into Québec City no long bus rides! There are just too many to-do's to mention here; of course there's skiing - three ski areas within 30 minutes of downtown: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Station touristique Stoneham and Le Massiff (plus over 30 cross country ski centers in the city). Beyond this, there's enough to keep you busy for a lifetime, never mind a week! You can tour and shop the oldest commercial district in North America (Petit-Champlain), or visit the Place Royale, the Île d'Orléans, the colonial Citadel, or the Old Port; you'll find premier shopping, museums, galleries, artisans' workshops, renowned designers' boutiques, and over 1,000 restaurants and exotic food shops everywhere. You can even take in all these sites in from your 5-star window - the TSC is hosting its Final Showdown from the fabulous, historic 19^th century Chateau Frontenac, high on a scenic bluff; you'll feel like royalty with this treatment! And, we'll have several excursions, including one to Montreal. Come see what the English and French found worth going to war over in the 1750's join us for a French-flavored taste of Canada in Québec!

Austin Skiers first-time exclusive! Our first formal trip to Central America features the best of the tropical rain forest, beaches, hot springs, and eclectic and quaint shopping. Costa Rica's reputation as a tourist and residential destination has exploded in the past few years come see what makes it so great! The first night we will be in San Jose at the Barcelo San Jose Hotel Casino. Then we'll be based for the next four nights in the fabulous Hotel Mariposa in Quepos/Manuel Antonio on the mid-Pacific Coast. The hotel is integrated in the rainforest hillside overlooking the Pacific and Manuel Antonio National Park, with a short walk to the village of Quepos' many restaurants and shops. Later that week, we'll move to the Lake Arenal /La Fortuna Region in the Northern Zone, where our stay in the Tabacon Resort features a view of Volcan Arenal and Lake Arenal. The thermal hot springs and mineral pools are within the resort making it a destination in itself; in addition, the Iskandria Spa offers a variety of relaxing treatments. Optional excursions include rafting, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, rainforest tours, clout forest (above the canopy) tours, sport fishing, and hiking, to name a few). The final price will be firmed up in September and includes; air, lodging and ground transportation. So are you ready for a grand time, Latin American style? Vamanos a Costa Rica!! Price includes a TSC dinner and continental breakfest.

This year we initiated a new mail-in process for trip sign-ups. How did we do? Please send any comments about what you liked, and about what could still be improved to either Neil Martin (Trips V.P.) at trips@austinskiers.org or Gary Roth (Trip Planning V.P.) at tripplanning@austinskiers.org by November 16.

Our reasons for the new process were to: 1) bring in more income through earlier sign-ups to cover trip expenses already being incurred; 2) avoid the long sign-up waiting lines before and after general admission to the August meeting, and 3) reduce meeting room costs and the number of members needed to work the meetings. We appreciate any insightful comments you have to offer, and look forward to serving you in the future.

Join Austin Skiers in the fun at the Austin American-Statesman's 1st Annual Snowfest Sat. and Sun., Nov 2-3. This first-time mega-event, held in the Austin Convention Center downtown, will have it all: booths and exhibits by a host of ski and snowboard manufacturers and dealers, the latest in ski clothing, and representatives from ski resorts and lodges, even a 200,000 lb. mountain of snow for tubing, skiing, and snowboarding lessons and even an ice skating rink!. You can also take advantage of pre-season sale, enjoy food and drinks in the sports bar, or catch Warren Miller's latest feature film Storm, which will play 3 to 4 times per day.

Austin Skiers will have a booth as well. We need a few more volunteers to work there and also for the show in general. You can help in our booth or assist the convention producers in a variety of ways. (all jobs will be indoors). In particular, we need someone at 10 a.m. Saturday morning to decorate the Austin Skiers booth! The first 50 people to volunteer at least 2 hours on either Sat. or Sun. will receive free admission and free parking! Please wear an Austin Skiers shirt, whether you are working or just cruisin' the show if you need one, call Marcia Honeycutt at 288-8462 or e-mail her at publicity@austinskiers.org.

Snowfest hours are Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $8.00,$5.00 for children ages 6 12 and children 5 and under admitted free. For more information about Snowfest checkout its website at http://www.emmshows.com/Snowfest1.htm. Hope to see you there!

Led by our industrious Cap'n Hank Miller, two boats went off for more than a "3 hour tour" as they spend a beautiful early September day on Lake Travis. About 10 intrepid mariners set off for an afternoon of sun, relaxation, and gentle breezes. A great time!

For questions on Special Activities, contact Cindy Berry, Activities V.P. activities@austinskiers.org

Anyone interested in doing occasional bicycling tours should contact Kevin Collins, who will be leading biweekly or monthly outings. Contact Kevin at 441-6156 or kevinmcollins@earthlink.net.

And for you roller skaters/bladers out there, contact Marcia Honeycutt if you want to join a weekly outing. Marcia's at 288-8462 or marcia@ewenix.com.

Saturday, December 14 is the date for a great time sampling your wine wares at the home of Belinn Higginbotham, 12001 Black Angus Dr., Austin. We'll start at 7:30 p.m. and go until the wine runs out (or we do!). It should be a nice way to spend a pre-holiday evening, so act fast! This event will be limited to the first 30 people who give $5 to Cindy Berry (activities@austinskiers.org) or Tere Ayson (pastpres@austinskiers.org). Prizes awarded for favorite red and white wines. For directions to Belinn's house, e-mail her at belinn007@austin.rr.com once you've been signed up!

goggles	Cherilyn Hack
hand warmers, sun screen, ski socks	Kevin Collins
sun screen, hand warmers, neck gator	Charles Gordon
4 day lift ticket to Red River	Nancy Roth
neck gater	Chris Bataille

See what's news for the TSC in their online "Inside" newsletter. This contains key events, info, and goings on which just might be relevant to you and a TSC trip you're on. To view the latest issue, just go to their link at http://www.texas-ski.org/insidernews/inside-tsc.htm . The TSC appreciates your continued support!

From the Editor...

Oklahoma's trouncing of Texas (again!) in football last week reminds me of another rivalry, this one in skiing called "East" vs. "West," or Eastern vs. Western North American skiing. Before the airline industry changed how we travel regionally, an aggressive competition existed between Eastern and Western resorts for skiers and their money. The thinking was that the West had it all over the East in weather, conditions, and terrain (i.e. lots more vertical and variety), while the East was cheaper, easier to get to, and had better amenities and quainter culture. Today, while each region seems happy to cater more to its nearby populations, there's still that subtle East vs. West rivalry. Who wins?

Well, as one who grew up skiing the East (15 years) and now has skied almost exclusively in the West (15 years), I feel qualified to make a few judgments. In many ways your thinking is correct the West slam-dunks the East with regard to snowfall amounts (although the last few years have belonged to the East!), snow conditions, and weather. I mean, who in their right mind would pick the ice, cold, crowds, and small size of the Appalachians over the wide-open, diverse beauty of Colorado, Utah, California, and Canada? I can tell you that I've never been so cold in my life as sitting on a lift at Killington (-17°) it's no wonder the Army runs their winter survival training camps in New England's mountains. And ice you can always tell Eastern skiers because they always ski on the edges of the slopes. Why? In the East, they've learned that the middle of most slopes quickly turns into an uninhabited minefield of sheer, glass ice, unlike the still-snowy sides. Is it any contest, really?

But wait it's not a shutout! While I've never had to use ice shoes out West, neither did I ever experience the virtually unskiable horrors of thick, concrete-like "Sierra Cement" out East, nor did I ever pant, sweat, and vertigo my way down a Stowe or Smuggler's run due to stratospheric altitudes. I also think for the most part that ski resorts in New England are run better more personable, organized and easier to get to (no double connection flights followed by 5-hour bus rides!). As for the runs themselves, you will find steeps and pitches at Waterville Valley every bit as challenging as you'll find at Jackson Hole. Oh, you're laughing? You go try Goat, Starr, or National on Stowe! So maybe in the ski world, while most of us "go West, young man," but a trip out East (like for you Quebec folks) provides a welcome, different perspective that will expand your ski experience.

The Austin Skiers' newsletter is published monthly, 12 issues per year. Subscription is included with payment of yearly membership fee. Articles and correspondence should be addressed to the Editor by e-mail at newsletter@austinskiers.org or by phone (see above). Deadline for submission is the 15^th of each month. Send issues regarding the Club Web site to skiwebmaster@austinskiers.org. For more information on the next Club meeting or other related activities, contact any of the following:

Home About Us Current Activities Trips SkiBay Contact Us

Austin Skiers P.O. Box 9422 Austin, Texas 78766

Powered by bluehost.com
Send comments about web site content to: webmaster@austinskiers.org

Issue 11:02

Contents

From the Editor...