Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone. If you didn’t attend the Christmas Party at the CHI Memorial Stadium a couple of weeks ago, you missed a great time. Hilda and Jinksie did a truly outstanding job organizing everything: the facility was decorated beautifully, the food was great, the DJ played wonderful tunes, Bobbie “The Grinch” Witt worked the room providing entertainment, everyone had a good time, and we raised just under $300 for our charities. In case you missed the results of the “How many M&Ms are in the jar?” contest, the correct answer was 747, and Kathryn Fortune nailed it. Maybe she would be willing to help you out the next time you’re buying lottery tickets. Honorable mention (aka close-but-no-cigar) goes to Sonja Harris who was only 11 short.
Our members who went on the annual Crescent Ski Council Race / Ski / Ride Camp at Steamboat in December may have noticed that two lifts were still under construction, a 10-passenger gondola from the base area and a high-speed four-pack. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case this winter. As of the first of December, supply chain issues have resulted 40% of lift projects still unfinished across the Rockies (25 of 60). Also contributing to the delays are the increased number of orders for chairlifts in North America - for the 2019-20 ski season there were 30, that increased to 45 for 2020-2021, then for the current year there were 60 new chairlifts ordered. One delayed project is Telluride’s Chair 9 replacement with a new four-pack detachable. It should be running before we arrive on February 4th. At Whistler/Blackcomb there are two new lifts, both on Whistler Mountain, that were to be running by opening day, that were delayed - the new Big Red Express and the replacement Creekside Gondola. The Big Red Express just opened, but the opening date for the Creekside Gondola is uncertain (and it is the only lift out of the Creekside area, fortunately we are NOT staying in that base area). To help the situation, “the resort will offer free and frequent bus service from Creekside to Whistler Village until the new lift opens. Guests arriving from Creekside will be offered priority access to both the Whistler Village and Blackcomb Gondolas”. https://coloradosun.com/2022/12/19/supply-chain-issues-delaying-new-chairlift-openings/?utm_source=The%20Colorado%20Sun%20Newsletters&utm_campaign=SUNRISER_20221220&utm_medium=email
Have you ever wondered why some snow is light and fluffy (i.e. Steamboat’s legendary “Champagne Power”) and some is heavy as a brick? An article from the Steamboat Pilot & Today (https://www.postindependent.com/news/whats-happening-in-the-colouds-to-make-steamboats-champagne-powder/) explains what combination of temperature and humidity makes the perfect snowflake.
By the time you read this, the shortest day of the year will be behind us, which means it’s time to go skiing! I hope you are on one of these trips, because, with apologies to Bruce Springsteen, tramps like us, baby we were born to ski:
Trip Dates Trip Leader Snow Depth Base (on 12/20)
- Whistler BC January 21-28 Roy Brunner 49”
- Telluride CO February 4-11 Beverly Cleek 20”
- Park City UT February 25-March 4 Scott Kramer 48”
- Kitzbühel / Scotland March 16-30 Jim Mullenix 22”
Speaking of ski trips, Scott Kramer is already hard at work looking into trips for the 2023-2024 ski season. We are having to do this much earlier than we did just a few years ago because some accommodations we like are already filled for 2023-2024, and are taking bookings for the 2024-2025 season. So, we are looking for trip leaders, while it is some work, it is also rewarding. Contact Scott or myself if you are interested in running a trip before or at the January membership meeting.
We have several new members to report: Al Brown, Tom Edwards, Frank Flinn, Bill Lytle, and Connor Moore. Let’s all welcome them.
Stay safe everyone,
Bob
Event Listing
January Membership Meeting @ TBD January 3, 2023
Whistler/Blackcomb Ski Trip – January 21-28, 2023 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4813143
Telluride Ski Trip – February 4-11, 2023 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4813162
February Membership Meeting @ TBD February 7, 2023 CANCELLED due to Telluride Trip
Park City Ski Trip – February 25 – March 4, 2023 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4813189
March Membership Meeting @ TBD March 7, 2023
Kitzbühel / Scotland Ski / Touring Trip – March 16-30, 2023 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4818156
April Membership Meeting & Election of Officers @ TBD April 4, 2023
Virginia Creeper Bike Ride & Barter Theater Trip- April 27-29, 2023 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3168543
Crescent Ski Council Spring Convention @ Myrtle Beach – April 27-30, 2023
Lookouts Baseball Game @ AT&T Field’s Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air Lounge – August 25, 2023
Len Foote Hike Inn Trip – October 20-21, 2023 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3235020