Austin Skiers: A club for snow sports and travel enthusiasts

Don't delay any longer, because a number of our trips are either close to being sold out or will be adjusted to be filled. Spots are going fast! We're going to have to make some final decisions over the next week or so to adjust the size of some trips, while others are virtually full with one or two spots left. So again, if you've never considered some of our trips with extra spots left, here they are again in brief:

Whistler features the best of British Columbia scenery, tons of snow (already off to a great start!) and a superb Canadian dollar value (and some of the best resort food in the world!). You'll also love the quaint, European style village and the incredible variety of the world's largest single resort! Steamboat is one of the best laid-out resorts anywhere, and is opening a portion of a large, 770 acre expansion this year. This is the TSC Traditional trip, which is the usually the largest Texas trip of the year (and has just been reduced by $60!). And, if you're lucky, you could even take a picture (or even a run!) with Olympic medalist Billy Kidd! Sestrière is also off to a good snow start this year, and you can preview the 2006 Winter Olympics in this Northern Italian Shangri-la! Experience the world's largest interconnected chain of resort skiing (into France), or visit nearby Turin or Milan. This wonderful trip has it all for your mid-January escape! Back in the States, Jackson Hole promises to whip up a real February treat, TSC style. "The Hole" provides magnificent, challenging skiing, a wonderful Western town experience in Jackson (with its famous country bars!), or convenient access to spectacular Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks, plus an optional "powder day" at Grand Targhee. Wow! Or maybe you're more in the mood for Heavenly/Lake Tahoe's nightlife, casinos, shows, and tremendous variety of experiences surrounding the other-worldly lake splitting California and Nevada. This trip also gives you access to over seven other resort areas lining the lake, including the world-famous (and Olympic) Squaw Valley resort. The amount of activities and experiences for this very low price makes this a first-rate bargain! And finally, see the article to the right for Québec's almost innumerable, exciting attractions.

So what are you waiting for? Time's running out. See the articles on pp. 4-5 to read more, and contact the appropriate trip chair. This year's low prices on these trips may never be seen again, so act now! See you on the slopes!

Québec calls itself "the most European city in North America" and it's hard to argue with this claim; going to Québec is like taking a trip to France without a long overseas flight! Yet the French culture is only one of several Euro-American flavors you can sample in North America's only walled city! From its native Indian and Inuit migrations, to its 16^th centruy Basque fisherman, to the "New France" explorations of Cartier and de Champlain (and his settlers in 1608), Québec City has sat at the crossroads of North American history, attracting visitors, and attackers. Champlain's "Kébec" trading post on the St. Lawrence's north shore Place Royale soon became a bustling trading port and cultural center of France's New World colonies. It's high scenic bluff location on Cape Diamant soon proved to be an attractive target, and by the mid-1750's the English arrived on the scene to try and wrest Québec and the region from France. The famous 1759 "Plains of Abraham" battle in a howling early season snowstorm resulted in an English victory, and suddenly this French city was in English hands. Supplemented by a treaty, France ceded ownership of Canada to the English by 1760, and sparked a flood of new colonists from England, Ireland and Scotland (among other European countries). Yet Québec retained its French culture, even through the mass exodus of the French to Louisiana, and has even bolstered its French presence in the long-growing "Frenchification" of Québec through the 20^th century. So for the tourist, a myriad of cultures exist and can be easily experienced in this wonderful city!

And all this history is situated within one of the most beautiful areas in North America! The city lies on the St. Lawrence Plain, which is a lush setting of lakes, forests, grasslands, and islands, surrounded by scenic mountains. And of course, mountains mean skiing - three ski areas are within 30 minutes of downtown: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Stoneham, and Le Massiff (plus over 30 cross country ski centers in the city). "M-S-A's" 56 trails, and 2050 impressive vertical feet provide more than enough room to cut your turns, while viewing a breathtaking St. Lawrence river. Stoneham features 30 trails with a 1,378 feet vertical, and one of the most complete ski centers in Eastern North America, while Le Massif features the highest vertical in Eastern Canada at over 2,400 feet! And you can "go flat" on one of the region's 30 cross-country centers and courses.

If shopping, eating, or exploring is your bag, you're can do no better! This historical-cultural treasure trove has simply too many sites and activities to list here. How can you begin to describe the variety in the region's over 1,000 restaurants, except to say that the French-seafood cuisine features some of the best restaurants and cafés in the world! Tour and shop the oldest commercial district in North America (Old Québec), see Petit-Champlain, or visit the Place Royale, the Île d'Orléans, the colonial military Citadel, or the Old Port (an antique collector's paradise). You'll find premier shopping, museums, galleries, artisans' workshops, and renowned designers' boutiques. You can also visit aboriginal cultural sites, or even the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine, North America's most heavily visited pilgrimage site. Afterwards visit a maple syrup shop, the Roger-Van den Hende Gardens, or the Chez Marie, where bread is still baked in outside ovens! Boat rides, hikes, pre-planned do-it-yourself excursions, and more make this one of the most enchanting places you'll ever visit. And if you're adventurous, Montréal, with its equally fascinating attractions, is only a three-hour ride away.

We'll get a great birds-eye view of the city as we're flying directly into Québec City - no long bus rides! We'll be staying in the core jewel of the city, the fabulous, historic 19^th century Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, which sits high on a scenic bluff. From the five-star Chateau you can view the entire St. Lawrence valley and the City, or eat at one of its outstanding restaurants. You'll feel like royalty with the luxury and treatment you experience here! The TSC is hosting its Final Showdown on this trip, which means even more activities and parties, and even a few pre-arranged tours and excursions. So come see what the English and French found so magnificent they went to war over it. Join us for a French-flavored taste of Canada in Québec!

Wow, what a great turnout for the recent November 2-3 Snowfest event at the Convention Center! Our booth was plenty busy with folks inquiring about the Club and picking up literature. Neil Martin, our VP Trips, says we had several new sign-ups based on contacts made there. Kudos to Marcia Honeycutt, our VP Marketing, who managed the myriad details and activities involved in organizing our participation, and a big thank you to the 50 Club members who volunteered their time manning the Club booth and helping out with the Snowfest activities in general. We could not have had so much success without the assistance of these dedicated people.

Some of the new and potential members followed up by attending the November monthly meeting at Sail and Ski. Jon Martin, our VP Programs, has done a spectacular job setting up our meetings and this was no exception. We had quite a large turnout, the food was great, and the store manager, Scott Meyer, gave an excellent presentation on the new integrated binding system. Thanks to Sail & Ski for hosting the meeting and for their great door prize contributions of the goggles. Additional thanks also go to Paul Swanson from Vail Resorts for the updates on our upcoming trips to several of their ski areas (and for the liquid refreshments, not to mention those great door prize lift tickets!). So say a hearty "¡gracias!" next time you see them.

Regarding trips, I'm sure you have seen stories about the fluctuations in airfare recently. As you know, Austin Skiers prices our trips to break even. What you may not know is that the taxes and fuel surcharges are not finalized until we actually submit a name for each seat and pay for the ticket. This may occur several months after we make reservations and pay the deposit, so occasionally an airline will ask for more money than we budgeted for. If the difference is a small one we try and cover the cost from elsewhere in our operating budget. If we can't, or the increase is too much to cover, the trip chair will contact you about the fare increase. It's not their fault; we're just passing along the increased cost from the airline. We appreciate your understanding of this situation and thank you for your trip support!

You should have received this year's membership Directory by now. If not, or if there's any problem with your information, please contact Donna Peterman, VP Membership (see p. 7 for more on this). This one is the best ever, thanks to hard work by Mike Hagye, our Newsletter Editor, Marcia (who obtained our advertisers) and Donna (who redesigned our member database and supplied your information to Mike!).

See you at the Holiday party on December 10 at Canyon Café (see pp. 1 and 9 for details) and we appreciate your donations benefiting Austin's Blue Santa. Finally, on behalf of the entire Executive Committee let me wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!

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 but are filling fast. 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.

There are several opportunities for you to give us your assistance involving Club matters:

Trip Signup Process: As we said here last month, anyone who wants to provide comments on our new trip signup mail process this past July and August should contact Neil Martin (Trips V.P.) at trips@austinskiers.org or Gary Roth (Trip Planning V.P.) at tripplanning@austinskiers.org.

New Directory: You should have received your new Club member Directory by Thanksgiving (unless you've joined the Club since the November meeting). If you didn't, contact Membership V.P. Donna Peterman at membership@austinskiers.org. Also, if your information was inadvertently left out or incorrect (sorry, we apologize!), or you have other comments or questions, please also contact Donna for those, or to arrange delivery of a Directory if you've just joined.

Trips Survey: Many of you are used to filling this out during the annual sign-up meetings, usually in past Septembers. This year, the survey is on-line at our Web site. We really need you to take a few minutes and express your interest in where and why you go on our trips, plus suggestions for the future! Simply go to our Web site www.austinskiers.org and look for the Survey link. This should be quick, and it's important! We'll also have hard copies of this survey available at the next few meetings and other Club functions if you don't have Web access.

Trip Planning Committee: We're also looking for a few more folks to complete our list of Trip Planning Committee members. This committee will begin meeting in January, and probably about 3-4 times more until May to discuss, plan, and research our trip destinations for next year; a small bit of independent work is expected. Ever wanted to have a say on where we go and what's included? Now's your chance!

For questions about our trips survey and/or to inquire about being on the Trip Planning Committee, contact Trip Planning V.P. Gary Roth at tripplanning@austinskiers.org.

TSC Bid Meeting Help: The annual TSC Bid Meeting, held in early April in San Antonio, needs volunteers to help with various meeting activities (registration, errands, etc.). If you think you might be interested, contact Past President Tere Ayson at pastpres@austinskiers.org.

Anyone interested in doing occasional bicycling tours should contact Kevin Collins, who will be leading biweekly or monthly outings. Contact Kevin at 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 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, send an e-mail to her at belinn007@austin.rr.com once you've been signed up!

As usual, our monthly meeting for December is our annual Holiday Party, which will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 7-9 p.m. Canyon Café is the place (like last year) and we'll have the large middle dining room to ourselves! Canyon Café is at 701 S. Capital of Texas Hwy (360), in Westlake Center (Bee Cave Rd. & 360). Come prepared to eat, drink, and meet, and mingle in the holiday fashion. There is a $5 admission fee payable at the door, and as in past years, a donation of an unwrapped toy or equivalent monetary donation is also appreciated. Donations will go to Blue Santa, the Austin Police Department's charity program which provides toys to needy area children. Thank you for your generosity!

Sunday, December 22 we'll meet for a noon lunch at Frank & Angie's, 508 West Avenue (directly behind Hut's Hamburgers). Then we'll go onto the annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar at the Austin Music Hall, 3^rd and Nueces, for music by The Derailers, from 12:30-3 p.m., and eclectic shopping, Austin style! Admission to the Bazaar is $4. Contact Rhonda Keenan for more information at rhonda.keenan@eds.com.

Friday, January 17, we'll be meeting up to see the spectacular, critically acclaimed film "Everest" in all its 70mm IMAX-sized glory at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum theater. We'll meet up outside the theater at about 7:30 to pay and go to the at 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $6.50 ($5.50 over 65, $4.50 under 18). We'll also be going to the Texas Chili Parlor after the movie.

Smith goggles (courtesy Sail & Ski)	Mike Hagye
	Greg Bryant
	Gary Goble
Copper Mountain hat	Barbara Bobo
2 lift tickets (1 day) for any Vail resort	Christina Montoya

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/insidetsc-news/inside-tsc.htm . The TSC appreciates your continued support!

From the Editor...

Peace, love, joy, fellowship, giving. These are among the key watchwords (in as non-religious a fashion as we can manufacture!) for this time of year. And of course, the seasonal focus on the "good" is welcome and beneficial, with its charity drives, free dinners, and general good will (if you ignore the rampant commercialism!). Yet to some degree I wonder why we've always seemed to place a "seasonal" emphasis on these in conjunction with Christmas, and yet seem to reduce that emphasis around other holidays and holy days the rest of the year. I'm sure many of you wonder, too.

This point was made starkly clear to me some years ago, by a little girl. As a musician, I've had the experience of touring nursing homes, hospitals, and other places where the "less fortunate" dwell (you'll see why I put quotes around that in a minute) around holiday time. One particular Christmas I was in college, and our caroling group sang one night for a group of kids in a children's' hospital. Some of these kids were very sick, terminally so. After we sang (which I believe they really enjoyed), we mingled around and talked with the kids. We talked about the usual Holiday fare, largely as in "what do you want for Christmas?" Many kids gave the expected answers of a truck, a doll, a puppy, and other such favorites. However one little girl, apparently her short little life racked with hospital stays, told me with an unflinching face "I'd like to make mommy and daddy smile more this year."

Stunned, I felt a welling of tears coming through my masked smile I could say nothing. Here was a girl, probably critically ill, who would have every reason to focus on herself, but incredibly actually worried about the welfare of others! Can you even imagine how humbled I felt leaving that hospital? That was some time in the early 1980's I never knew what became of that little girl (and the signs weren't good) but in those five seconds she did more to show me unconditional human love than any movie, novel, or song could ever hope to do. About the only consolation I could have is that this little girl's spirit was never the "less fortunate", no matter how savagely her body sabotaged her. I'll never forget it.

There's a lot of sorrow in the world, but a lot of good will to overcome it a yearlong task. May you and yours find the spirit of that little girl, not just for this season, but all year 'round. Happy Holidays!

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:

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Issue 12:02

Contents

From the Editor...