News

Ski season in the U.S. is officially here as Wolf Creek opened Saturday, October 16, inching out Arapahoe Basin by one day for the bragging rights as the first resort to open. Winter has arrived (although the slopes aren’t open yet), at one of our upcoming ski destinations. The Colorado Sun reported snow in the mountains around Aspen/Snowmass on October 2

and I just had to include this picture of the snow and aspen trees from the article:

AccuWeather’s long range Ski Forecast says we should have “Excellent” conditions this winter at all four of our western destinations.  Steamboat, Snowmass, and Breckenridge are sold out, but you still have a few days left to sign up for Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Fellow Ski Club member Adam Seiler, of 1-On-1 Personal Training (7429 E Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421; (423) 704-7237; https://www.chattanoogapersonaltraining.com ) was the speaker at our October membership meeting. I think everyone who was there learned something to help us prepare for skiing or other activities. If you haven’t met Adam yet, those of us on the Breckenridge trip will get to know him then, if not sooner.  We will also have an informative guest speaker at our November meeting.

Save the Date – Thursday evening December 16^th.  After missing last year, the Annual Christmas Party is making a comeback! More information will be sent out soon.

We have a new member to report: Glen Urey. Let’s be sure we make him feel welcome.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

Event Listing   

Membership Meeting @ Flat Duck Event Venue, 7742 Three Notch Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736  –   November 2    https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4537383    

Len Foote Hike Inn – November 5-6 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3235020 http://hike-inn.com/

Crescent Ski Council’s Steamboat Ski Trip – December 4-11, 2021  (registration closed) https://www.crescentskicouncil.org/TripFlyers/2021_Steamboat%20Trip_Information.pdf

Christmas Party – December 16    details to follow

Membership Meeting @ TBD – January 4, 2022

Snowmass Ski Trip – January 8-15, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4231819  (Full)

Membership Meeting @ TBD – February 1, 2022

Breckenridge Ski Trip – February 5-12, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4241705  (Full)

Mt. Bachelor Ski Trip – February 19-26, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4254580

Membership Meeting @ TBD – March 1, 2022

Chamonix/Lyon/Paris Skiing & Touring Trip- March 5-18, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4284148 

Fall is officially here, and we’ve had some cool mornings, so can ski season be far behind?  The deadline for signing up for ski trips is approaching fast.  The deadline for the Crescent Ski Council’s Steamboat trip (December 4-11, 2021) is October 1^st.  For our trips, Snowmass is essentially filled, but we might be able to add a group of four.  For Breckenridge, we will be having to drop unsold slots in a few weeks.  Shortly after that, we will have to make decisions about the Mt. Bachelor and Chamonix/Lyon/Paris trips.

If you were at Nightfall the last three Friday’s nights of this year’s series (August 27^th, September 3^rd & 10^th), you may have seen our club’s banner at our information booth.  We were there giving out information and answering questions about the club.  If I only had a dime for every time I heard, “I didn’t know Chattanooga had a ski club,” I could go on more trips.  Thanks to Bill Coolidge for making the suggestion we do this; to Suzanne Grueser for coordinating this with the Nightfall folks; to John Neblett for supplying the tent, tables, etc.; and to Bill, Suzanne, John, Tom & Susan DuBose, Lulu & Robert Copeland, Hilda Jones, Scott Kramer for staffing the booth and talking to potential members.

Our club’s fourth ski trip this coming winter is to Chamonix France, site of the first winter Olympics in 1924 and located at the base of Mont Blanc (which is French for White Mountain, it’s like the French have a different word for everything), the highest point in Western Europe, at 15,777 ft.  The last time our club visited there was 1999, while the James Bond movie, “The World is Not Enough” was being filmed.  So, if you go on this trip, you could end up in a movie.  If you are looking for something to do while there, you could attempt to break the Mont Blanc Speed Record on Foot (ascending Mont Blac from the center of Chamonix and returning), which is currently 4 hours, 57 minutes 34 seconds.  While you are making that trip, you probably won’t have time to stop at Europe’s two highest toilets (at an elevation of 13,976 feet, or 1801 feet below the summit).  In case you were wondering, they were placed there and are “serviced” by helicopter.

We have some new members to report: Kelly McGinnis and Shannon Ritzhaupt and family.  Let’s be sure we make them feel welcome.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

Event Listing   

Bardstown Bourbon Trail – October 1-3     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3753468  
Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Things To Do in Bardstown, KY | Visit Bardstown

Membership Meeting @ Flat Duck Event Venue, 7742 Three Notch Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736 – October 5 

Zipline Adventure at the Historic Banning Mills – October 14
https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4446115      North Georgia's Ultimate Zipline | World's Largest Zipline Adventure (historicbanningmills.com)

Crescent Ski Council Fall Convention, Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN - October 22-24   Crescent Ski Council  Cancelled due to COVID

Membership Meeting @ TBD – November 2 

Len Foote Hike Inn – November 5-6     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-323502 (note the revised date)  The Hike Inn (hike-inn.com)

Crescent Ski Council’s Steamboat Ski Trip – December 4-11, 2021  https://www.crescentskicouncil.org/TripFlyers/2021_Steamboat%20Trip_Information.pdf

Christmas Party – tentatively the week of December 13

Snowmass Ski Trip – January 8-15, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4231819 

Breckenridge Ski Trip – February 5-12, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4241705

Mt. Bachelor Ski Trip – February 19-26, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4254580

Chamonix/Lyon/Paris Skiing & Touring Trip- March 5-18, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4284148 

If you weren’t at the August membership meeting at Office Furniture Warehouse, hosted by Beverly and John (JJ) Jerman, you missed an inspiring talk by Olivier LeMaitre, as well as some good information on our upcoming trip to France.  Be sure to see Lulu’s article below, and ask me (at the September 7^th membership meeting at the Flat Duck) about his remarks.

If you are having trouble deciding where to ski this winter, perhaps part of the problem is you are not familiar with the destination for our third 2022 ski trip, Mt. Bachelor (February 19-26), as the club hasn’t been there in the 25 years that I have been a member (although Janet Brooks and A.B. Maynard were there this past winter).

Mount Bachelor is a stratovolcano (built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava), in the Cascade Range of central Oregon, 18 miles from the town of Bend.  It was named Mount Bachelor because it stands apart from the nearby Three Sisters volcanic peaks.  Mount Bachelor last erupted between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago, so I’m not worried about it happening the week we will be there.  In addition to the ski area, the volcano’s summit hosts the Mount Bachelor Observatory, located at an elevation of 9,000 feet above sea level (so altitude sickness shouldn’t be a problem for anyone).

The Mount Bachelor ski area has operated on the mountain since 1958, with the installation of the first chair lift in 1962 (there are now 15 lifts including 8 high speed quads).  The resort is one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest with a skiable area of 3,683 acres (for comparison, Snowmass has 3,339 acres), a vertical drop of 3,365 feet, and six terrain parks.  There are 101 trails totaling 62 miles, with the longest being 4 miles.  A unique feature of skiing this volcano is you can ski 360° around it (so you can always be in the sun or shade as you wish).  There is a lot of terrain for all abilities as the percentages of runs are as follows: Green 15%, Blue 35%, Black 30%, and Double Black 20%.  The average weather conditions (from 2017-2018) are High Temperature: 24°F, Low Temperature: 21°F, Snowfall per week: 20 inches. (Mt Bachelor Snow History (snow-forecast.com)).

We will be staying the Doubletree Hilton in the town of Bend in the geographic center of Oregon at an elevation of 3623’.  In February the average high and low temperatures in town are 46°F and 24°F.  The Bend metropolitan population is about 200,000 (about 40% of Chattanooga’s metro population).  Besides skiing, some other things to consider include ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, sled dog touring, snowmobiling, and Nordic skiing (there are 59 miles of groomed trails).  Some things to do off the snow include caving, helicopter tours, walking the Roundabout Art Route (a collection of over 20 pieces of public art on display outdoors), and exploring the town via Riddle Routes which guides you through town using a variety of clues.  You may want to take the Bend Ale Trail, as largest such trail in the West it is divided into 7 territories.  There are more than two dozen breweries as well as a bunch of distilleries, cideries, wineries, and kombucha brewers.  Prizes are given for each territory you complete.  https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4254580

Our summer activities are going full blast.  I think everyone enjoyed the SUP party hosted by Barbie Standifer at the Harbor Heights Subdivision Clubhouse.  Don’t forget about the Hiwassee Raft Trip on Sunday August 29^th  https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3933037 , the Bardstown Bourbon Trail – October 1-3   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3753468 , the Zipline Adventure October 14
https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4446115.

On July 20^th, the International Olympic Committee unanimously approved the addition of ski mountaineering to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (Cortina was the destination of our 2002 Europe ski trip, and just up the road from our 2019 trip to Ortisei).  If you are like me, you might be wondering what is ski mountaineering?  The “individual” discipline is a mass-start race that follows an established trail, challenging skiers to race up and back down mountainous terrain while passing through a serious of checkpoints. The races typically last between 1 1/2 and two hours.  “Sprint” races, as their title suggests, take skiers through a fast-paced fixed course featuring an uphill ski section, a hiking section and a descent around race gates. These races typically take about three minutes to complete. The relay race is based on the sprint format, with a team of three or four athletes taking turns completing the course.  The 2026 games will feature five medal ski mountaineering events: men’s individual and sprint, women’s individual and sprint, and one mixed-gender relay event. I suggest you start practicing now so you can make the 2026 team. Ski mountaineering to make Olympic debut at 2026 games in Italy | SkyHiNews.com

Telluride just announced a new wrinkle to their lift ticket and season passes, included in the price is a $25,000 no-deductible insurance policy covering medical expenses from accidents on the mountain.  Telluride passes, lift tickets will include insurance coverage for accidents (coloradosun.com)  I hope no one in our club needs to use this, and wonder if this is the start of a trend or a one-and-done deal?

Speaking of season passes, most of us are aware of the EPIC and IKON passes, but how many of you know about the Indy Pass?  The Indy Pass covers 2 days of skiing (and you can buy a 3rd day’s pass for 25% off the daily rate) at 76 small to midsize ski resorts (in 25 US states, 2 Canadian provinces, and just recently 2 Japanese Prefectures). Indy Pass resorts near Chattanooga are Ober Gatlinburg TN, Cataloochee NC, and Winterplace WV. Indy Pass | 76 Resorts ❄️ 152 Days ❄️ $279 (indyskipass.com)

We have several new members to report: Alecsa, Asa, Ashton, & Lisa Hendrick; Estee & Jay Jackson; Joan, Michael, & Savannah Pinchot; and Sandy Battles.  Let’s be sure we make them feel welcome.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

Event Listing   

Hiawassee River Raft/Duckie float trip – August 29   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3933037         Webb Brother's Rafting on the Hiwassee River (webbbros.com)

Membership Meeting @ the Flat Duck Event Venue – September 7 
https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4462741 

Bardstown Bourbon Trail – October 1-3     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3753468  
                              Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Things To Do in Bardstown, KY | Visit Bardstown

Membership Meeting @ TBD – October 5 

Zipline Adventure at the Historic Banning Mills – October 14
https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4446115      North Georgia's Ultimate Zipline | World's Largest Zipline Adventure (historicbanningmills.com)

Crescent Ski Council Fall Convention, Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN - October 22-24   Crescent Ski Council

Membership Meeting @ TBD – November 2 

Len Foote Hike Inn – November 5-6     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3235020
                              (note the revised date)            The Hike Inn (hike-inn.com)

Crescent Ski Council’s Steamboat Ski Trip – December 4-11, 2021  https://www.crescentskicouncil.org/TripFlyers/2021_Steamboat%20Trip_Information.pdf

Christmas Party – TBD

Snowmass Ski Trip – January 8-15, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4231819 

Breckenridge Ski Trip – February 5-12, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4241705

Mt. Bachelor Ski Trip – February 19-26, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4254580

Chamonix/Lyon/Paris Skiing & Touring Trip- March 5-18, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4284148 

We had an excellent lake party this year, especially after having to cancel it last year.  The weather cooperated, we had good food, and great company.  We are indebted to Bobbi and Chris Witt for preparing the chicken, fish, and fixins.  Be sure to thank them for their hard work.  I also want to thank everyone that brought salads, desserts, etc. 

Barb Wise: Chicken Whisperer.  How else do you explain Barb winning the Chicken Poop Bingo game at the Lake Party?  If you don’t know how the game is played, use your imagination.  Anyway, we raised $214 for the American Legion Post 95 Honor Guard’s Funeral Fund; and I can’t think of a more deserving person to also win than Barb.  She spends a lot of time organizing special event for us to enjoy, like the SUP party on August 1^st (which is for everyone whether you want to kayak/SUP or not).  Congratulations Barb!

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the August Membership meeting (August 3^rd).  Thanks to the hospitality of Beverly and John (JJ) Jerman, we will be meeting indoors at the Office Furniture Warehouse, 1900 Stuart Street, Chattanooga, TN 37406.  We are also fortunate to have as our guest speaker Olivier LeMaitre, VP with Sandler Training, President Elect of Chattanooga Chamber's International Business Council and member of Tennessee French American Chamber of Commerce. If you are considering our March 2022 trip to Chamonix, Lyon, and Paris France, you won’t want to miss this meeting.  Due to reported increase in COVID cases and low vaccination participation in GA and TN, we will not offer food or drinks at this meeting.  Please bring your own food and drink.  We will have some water bottles available.  Mask will be required for those not vaccinated.

Where is our second ski trip this year, are we going to Breckinridge or Breckenridge?  The story I have heard for years was that the town was initially named for the 1857 to 1861 Vice President John C. Breckinridge, but was later changed due to his siding with the Confederacy.  However, an article from the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance tells a slightly different story.  It says that a member of John C. Fremont’s 1844 expedition, named Thomas Breckenridge lost a pack mule in the area.  The expedition made camp while Breckenridge searched for his mule.  After two days Kit Carson was sent to look for both of them.  Eventually all three returned, and Fremont named the area “Breckenridge Pass”.  In 1859, George Spencer (“Spencer’s” Restaurant, in the resort where we are staying, is named for him) laid out the town of Breckenridge.  But two months later he mailed an application for a post office to Washington DC, changing the name to Breckinridge, hoping to improve his chances for approval.  In January 1860, the application was granted and Breckinridge had the first post office on the Western Slope.  That name didn’t last long.  In late 1861, the former VP and runner-up to Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 Presidential election, now US Senator from Kentucky, John C. Breckinridge went south and was commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate Army (fighting at both Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge).  Because of this, in 1863, the people of Breckinridge changed the town’s name back to Breckenridge, as it is today.  Historic Myth-Busting in Breckenridge, CO: Is it BreckInridge or BreckEnridge? (breckheritage.com)

We have several new members to report, Thomas Bumgardner; Katherine, Elizabeth, & Paolo Davini; Tom & Carol Hackney; and David & Nancy Rice.  Let’s all welcome them.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

Event Listing  

Standup Paddleboard (SUP) party – August 1      https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-2920338  

Monthly Membership Meeting, 1900 Stuart Street, Chattanooga, TN 37406 – August 3     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4419532

Hiawassee River Raft/Duckie float trip – August 29   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3933037   Webb Brother's Rafting on the Hiwassee River (webbbros.com)

Bardstown Bourbon Trail – October 1-3     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3753468 
Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Things To Do in Bardstown, KY | Visit Bardstown

Crescent Ski Council Fall Convention, Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN - October 22-24   Crescent Ski Council

Len Foote Hike Inn – November 5-6     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3235020 (note the revised date)   The Hike Inn (hike-inn.com)

Crescent Ski Council’s Steamboat Ski Trip – December 4-11, 2021  https://www.crescentskicouncil.org/TripFlyers/2021_Steamboat%20Trip_Information.pdf

Christmas Party – TBD

Snowmass Ski Trip – January 8-15, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4231819 

Breckenridge Ski Trip – February 5-12, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4241705

Mt. Bachelor Ski Trip – February 19-26, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4254580

Chamonix/Lyon/Paris Skiing & Touring Trip- March 5-18, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4284148 

I think June’s membership meeting was a big success with a large crowd, but this month’s membership meeting is even bigger – it is time for the return of the annual Lake Party!  After having to cancel it last year after 16 straight years, it is back on July 10^th.  You must register by June 30 so we’ll know how much food to prepare (https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4314805 ).  If you are planning on bringing guest(s), you’ll need to register them by June 30 as well (per the IRS we must charge non-members the cost of the event, so guests will have to pay $10 each (or better yet, they can join the club for $30 individual or $45 family, and be able to enjoy all our events).  The club will be providing the fish fry and grilled chicken breasts along with cole slaw, hush puppies, green beans, potato salad, and bottled water.  Members are invited to bring an appetizer or a dessert (please email Bobbi Witt and tell her what you are going to bring - moonsfrost@hotmail.com).  Also, you may want to bring towels, chairs, water toys, sunscreen, coolers, face mask, hand sanitizer, any games you have to help with entertainment, and your own alcohol.   See you on the 10^th at the Blue Springs Club, 3858 Burning Bush Rd, Ringgold, GA.

There was an interesting article in the Washington Post recently about Aspen/Snowmass, one of our destinations this coming winter.  No, it wasn’t about the skiing, at least not directly.  Eight years ago, Aspen Skiing Co. invested $5.34 million to build a power plant running on methane, which was leaking from a closed coal mine.  The Elk Creek Mine, located about an hour west of Aspen, used to produce $1 million in coal a day, but closed in 2012 after a fire.  It was leaking methane (CH₄ for you chemically inclined, which is also the primary constituent of natural gas), as all coal/oil/gas operations do, at a rate of 250-billion-cubit feet per year.  (Methane, like carbon dioxide, is a greenhouse gas, but pound for pound, the comparative impact of CH₄ is 25 times greater than CO₂ over a 100-year period.)  The new plant produces 24 million kilowatt-hours a year (or just under 3MWs), about as much electricity for the grid as the ski company uses to run its four resorts and hotels.  The reduction in CH₄ emissions is equivalent to taking half a million cars off the road a year.  While it hasn’t made a profit yet, Aspen has been repaid all but $750,000 of its initial $5.34 million investment.  Something to ponder while you are riding the lifts.  So much for today’s science lesson.  A ski company built a power plant fueled by methane. Can it be replicated? - The Washington Post

Another story that caught my eye this week was news that Alterra, which is the operator of Steamboat ski area, is expanding Steamboat’s total skiable acres by 12%, which will make it the third-largest resort in Colorado with 3,320 acres.  The 355 acres of new terrain will extend the resort boundary into the Pioneer Ridge area and will feature advanced/expert-graded terrain with 1,800 vertical feet accessible via the Pony Express lift, which will also gain 25 new chairs.

We have three new members to report, Devon & Evan Simpson, and Vicki Williams.  Let’s all welcome them.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

Event Listing 

Lake Party - July 10 https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4314805 

Standup Paddleboard (SUP) party – August 1      https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-2920338  

Hiawassee River Raft/Duckie float trip – August 29   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3933037   Webb Brother's Rafting on the Hiwassee River (webbbros.com)

Bardstown Bourbon Trail – October 1-3     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3753468 
  Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Things To Do in Bardstown, KY | Visit Bardstown

Crescent Ski Council Fall Convention, Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN - October 22-24

Len Foote Hike Inn – November 5-6     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3235020
(note the revised date) The Hike Inn (hike-inn.com)

Crescent Ski Council’s Steamboat Ski Trip – December 4-11, 2021  https://www.crescentskicouncil.org/TripFlyers/2021_Steamboat%20Trip_Information.pdf

Christmas Party – TBD

Snowmass Ski Trip – January 8-15, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4231819 

Breckenridge Ski Trip – February 5-12, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4241705

Mt. Bachelor Ski Trip – February 19-26, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4254580

Chamonix/Lyon/Paris Skiing & Touring Trip- March 5-18, 2022   https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4284148 

Those of you who were at last month’s membership meeting at the Flat Duck know that I missed a second meeting in a row.  Fortunately, Hilda and Tom bailed me out.  However, I fully intend to be at June’s meeting, June 1 at the Flat Duck Event Venue (7742 Three Notch Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736).  Some might say it is because I need to sign up for a ski trip, or two, or more (before they fillup)?  Others might say it is because of the opportunity to be around good friends.  Could it be that I want to hear tall-tales about what went on at the Zip Line Adventure and the Virginia Creeper Trail Ride?  My more cynical (or is it insightful) friends might say it is because we are going to have free food.  Yes, you read that correctly, the club will be supplying pizza, cokes and water.  (If you want to bring other items, please do so.)

We’ll have more details about this in next month’s newsletter, but register and mark your calendars now for the Annual Lake Party, starting at noon on July 11, returning to the Blue Springs Club (3858 Burning Bush Rd, Ringgold, GA).  You must RSVP for yourself and any non-member guests (guests must pay $10 or better yet they can join the club for $30) by June 30th by clicking on the REGISTER button on the CSC website https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-4314805 . This allows us to have an accurate head count for the club provided food (Fish Fry, Cole Slaw, Hush Puppies, Green Beans, Potato Salad, and Grilled Chicken Breasts). 

We have an active summer and fall coming up with these other events:
Volunteering at the Food Bank - June 24
Chattanooga Area Food Bank volunteer day

SUP party – August 1

Bardstown Bourbon Trail – October 1-3
Bardstown, KY October 1-3, 2021
Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Things To Do in Bardstown, KY | Visit Bardstown

Len Foote Hike Inn – November 5-6     https://chattanoogaskiclub.org/event-3235020 (note the revised date)The Hike Inn (hike-inn.com)

For those of you looking to break a ski record, and save money on lift tickets at the same time, here is a story for you. Grace Staberg, a 2020 graduate of Summit County High School, skied up Copper Mountain more than 21 times in 24 hours (from Copper’s Center Village to the top of the Storm King lift at 12,441 feet) totaling 56,153 feet — and falling just shy of the world record set last month in Europe.  Personally, I think ski lifts are out there for a reason.  Teenage Summit County ski mountaineer breaks North American record for most vertical feet climbed in 24 hours (coloradosun.com)

We have a couple of new members to report, Mark & Rene Straub.  Let’s all welcome them.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

Let’s go skiing at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort in the Cascade Mountain range!   It is located in Central Oregon, about 22 miles west of Bend, Oregon, and is on a dormant volcano. It is the 6^th largest ski resort in the country and is a great resort for all types of skiers. 

The skiable area is 5.75 sq miles, with 101 runs. The maximum run length is four miles, with a vertical drop of 3,365 ft, and the top elevation is 9,065 ft.  The ski area has runs of 360 degrees off the summit with skiing above the tree line with excellent views. The majority of the mountain immediately accessible by the lifts consists of blue runs and a few green runs. There are also many black runs accessed from the Norwest chair lift and some off the Summit lift.  

The vibrant town of Bend (“The Unofficial Beer Capital of the USA”) located along the Deschutes River, beckons visitors with many micro-breweries and many other restaurants to fill any food craving.  The Old Mill District in Bend also boasts more than 12 riverfront restaurants that feature everything from exotic happy hours and fine dining to kid-friendly family-style meals.

If you want a day off from skiing, besides spending time in the town of Bend, there are many opportunities for snowshoeing and hiking. Try a Deschutes National Forest snowshoe tour in the day or in the evening guided by stars; or a “brews & views” tour all interpreted by a naturalist.  For more high-speed fun, try dog sledding or Snowblast tubing.  Or spend the day at one of Oregon’s most iconic visitor destinations, Smith Rock State Park, for hiking and wildlife viewing.

Contact Sandy or Mark Koss for more information.  Registration forms are on the CSC website.

From all reports, last month’s outdoor membership meet went well, so let’s do it again this month (did it go well because I wasn’t there?).  We’ll meet at Willis & Hilda Jones’ Flat Duck Event Venue (7742 Three Notch Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736) on May 4^th, with a social time at 6:30 and the business meeting starting at 7pm.  Since we have the Virginia Creeper Bike Ride coming up on May 21-23, Barb Wise has arranged a guest speaker for the meeting, Eric Hunt of Owen Cyclery in Hixson.

Speaking of the Creeper Bike ride, if you haven’t tried this, you should.  You don’t have to be an expert cyclist; all you HAVE to do is coast downhill for 17 miles, if that is all you want to do (if you want to do more, that’s available).  You don’t need a fancy mountain bike; you can rent one from the bike shop there (as I do).  You don’t need form-fitting spandex bike shorts; just wear what is comfortable for you.   Welcome to the Virginia Creeper Trail - a National Rail-to-Recreation Trail (vacreepertrail.org)

Don’t forget about the other activities we have coming up:
   Zip Line Adventure - May 6
   Volunteering at the Food Bank June TBD
   Lake Party – July 10
   SUP party – August 1
   Bardstown Bourbon Trail – September TBD
   Len Foote Hike Inn – October 29-30
With all this to look forward to, it seems like life is finally getting back to normal, finally!

I ran across an interesting article, from the Colorado Sun, about uniformed police skiing the slopes of Vail and Beaver Creek, since 2005 (I’ve never seen them, have you?).  One quote from the article “It’s impressive how little policing is needed for skiers … Vail sees more than 20,000 visitors most winter Saturdays. And police rarely need to help patrollers or safety crews on the mountain. Think about a gathering of more than 20,000 people anywhere. Chances are, there are more than a couple cops there to keep things orderly.”  Maybe this is part of the reason I like skiers in general, and our club in particular. Cops on skis keep the peace at Vail and Beaver Creek. But they’re more likely to lend a friendly mitten. (coloradosun.com)

We have a large number of new members to report, Lauren Caldwell, Michael Johnson, Matthew Kramer, Blake Carter, Breanna Carter, Easton Carter, Emma Carter, Scott Harris, Sonya Lee, Adam Seiler, and Dale Whaley.  Let’s all welcome them.

Stay safe everyone,

Bob

With the warmer weather and people getting vaccinated, the board of directors has decided to hold our April Membership meeting in-person on Tuesday April 6th.  Like last October’s and November’s meetings, we will be outdoors at Hilda and Willis Jones' Flat Duck Farm (7742 Three Notch Rd., Ringgold, GA 30736).  No meal will be served, but you can come at 6:30pm to socially interact distantly, then the regular meeting will start at 7pm.

 

The news everyone has been awaiting: at the April meeting we will announce the dates and destinations of all trips and start sign-up for the western (non-Europe) trips.  Scott Kramer has been working very hard to put together an excellent slate of trips, so bring your checkbook to be the first to sign up for a trip.  As a teaser, you’ll be interested to know that starting at the May membership meeting you will be able to make trip payments by credit card, more information on that will be in next month's newsletter.  For those of you who buy EPIC and/or IKON passes, there are advantages to purchasing them through our vendor, so please hold off until after the April meeting where details about these passes will be provided.

 

Also, at the April meeting we will be holding elections of officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary) for the 2021-2022 year.  Jim Bates has agreed to be the Nominating Committee Chair for the election.  If you are interested in running for one of these offices, please contact Jim at (706)-537-6331 or jimbates18@gmail.com.

 

Speaking of trips, don’t forget that beginning October 1^st (just 6 months away) you must have a REAL ID (or passport) to board a domestic flight.

A REAL ID will cost the same as current Tennessee licenses and IDs. If it is time to renew your license, the cost to obtain a REAL ID driver license or Identification credential will be the standard renewal fee of an 8-year credential. However, if you are not within your renewal period and you wish to obtain a REAL ID compliant credential, you will be charged a duplicate fee.  Federal law requires that your first application for a REAL ID compliant credential be made in person. 

For details of what you need to get your REAL ID (for those of us blessed to live in Tennessee) see this website: REAL ID Requirements (tn.gov).  To schedule an appointment to get a REAL ID in Tennessee use this link:  Wizard Appointment -Units (cxmflow.com).  For more information on TN and for information on other states see REAL ID | Homeland Security (dhs.gov) and on the US map that appears, click on your state.

Everyone should have received an email on March 12^th reporting the passing of Betty Hubbs a long time member and caterer for our meetings when we met at Finley Stadium.  When the email went out, we didn’t have any additional information, but since then Hilda has gotten the address of her husband, Fred Hubbs, should anyone want to send a card: 249 West Pine Valley Ln., Rotonda, FL 33947.

This is where I usually introduce new members, but we don’t have any this month.  So we’ve all fallen down on our job of recruiting new members!

For those that attended, how did you like the virtual membership meeting last month?  Hopefully we won’t have to do it again, but should the need arise, what, if anything, should be done differently?  Let me know what you think.

Stay safe everyone,
Bob

Since we haven’t been able to meet in person for a while, at the last board of directors’ meeting we decided to try a virtual meeting.   So, Tuesday evening March 2^nd at 7pm, we will have a meeting via ZOOM.  We also have a guest speaker lined up to give a brief talk.  I’m looking forward to at least getting to see some faces that I haven’t seen in a while.  To get an invitation to the virtual meeting, you can either send me an email (rjtram@gmail.com) or a text (423-827-2779) with your name and email address.  We will also be sending out a group email to the membership, probably about the same time this newsletter goes out, with the same instructions.  Then the morning of the meeting (March 2nd), those that have replied, will receive a meeting invitation.  

At the next in-person membership meeting, which could occur as early as April, we will have elections of officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary) for the 2021-2022 year.  Jim Bates has agreed to be the Nominating Committee Chair for the election, whenever we get to have it.  If you are interested in running for one of these offices, please contact Jim at (706)-537-6331 or jimbates18@gmail.com 

Be sure to read Jim Mullenix’s article about the just completed Taos ski trip.  I know everyone is wondering about what trips we will have in the winter of 2021-2022.  Scott Kramer, our Trip Coordinator is hard at work, using the results of December’s survey, determining where we will be going.  As we finalize things we will pass on the information.

In Summit County Colorado two back country skiers are on trial for reckless endangerment.  The District Attorney says they endangered drivers when they skied above the west portal of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels on March 25, 2020 and they should pay $168,000 to replace an avalanche mitigation system destroyed in the slide.  The case marks the first-ever criminal charges filed against skiers involved in an avalanche in Colorado.

On a related, but much sadder note, the first week of February, between the 1^st and the 8^th, a record was set for the highest number of avalanche deaths recorded in a seven-day period since the US Forest Service's National Avalanche Center started tracking deaths.  During this week fifteen people, including an Army Ranger who survived a helicopter crash in Iraq, died in eight separate incidents in seven different states.  So far this season there have been 29 fatalities, surpassing last year’s season total of 23.  In many of these cases the skiers were considered to be highly knowledgeable regarding backcountry safety, and well equipped with the right gear. I think the people at Ski Essentials (Top Five Fridays: February 12, 2021 - Chairlift Chat (skiessentials.com)) summed it up well by saying “Unfortunately, this serves as an extremely sad reminder that the forces of nature do not care who you are or what you know. Avalanches are a very real danger for anyone in the backcountry, and the best piece of safety equipment is a strict vigilance to an awareness of the conditions.”  Before anyone gets overly concerned about this, none of these occurred “in-bounds” at ski resorts, but if you are the adventurous type that goes into the back-country, be aware of the hazards. 

Last, please join me in welcoming our new members: Kimberly Everett and Jaimie Abbott. 

Stay safe everyone, and I’m looking forward to seeing your smiling faces March 2^nd!

Bob