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The Chattanooga Ski Club Vail 2017 trip commenced on January 14, 2017. The lift tickets were good for Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapaho Basin for a total of over 14650 acres and 651 trails. No way to take advantage of all this in a week. May want to consider a two-week trip with this much to offer. Most folks would ski Vail alone however, some went to Beaver Creek for a day.

The conditions at Vail/ Beaver Creek were outstanding. Within a week and half of our arrival they received around 48” of fresh powder. This set us up for an outstanding week of skiing. Our first day we woke up to about an inch with an additional two inches on day two. Did not add a lot to the base but made for some nice ski conditions. The high temperatures remained in the mid 30’s to lower 40’s for the first two days. The balance of the week the high temperatures remained in the low to mid 30’s. The snow base was maintained throughout the week. We had three blue bird days in a row mid-week. I see now why they call it “Blue Sky Basin”. If you go, be sure to check out Cloud 9, Grand Review and The Star but my all-time favorite was Big Rock Park run. This was a glade run with patches of trees that made for what would seem like endless runs down the mountain. Needless to say, the conditions were exceptional. The last day we got 3” overnight with an additional 2” snow during the day for a total of 8” all week. The last day Rich Wilson and I dropped into China Bowl with it snowing and near white out conditions. Had to “feel” our way down the mountain. We felt like the back bowls and Blue Sky would have to wait for another day under those conditions.

This year we stayed at Vail Spa Condos. The accommodations were exceptional, conveniently located in the Lionshead section of Vail with a short five min walk to the Eagle Bahn Gondola or the Born Free Express Quad lift. The condo has hot tubs, indoor/ outdoor pools, sauna, and massage rooms. I took full advantage of the outdoor hot tub. Great way to cap off a full day of skiing with an adult beverage and friends. They also include a conference room which we used for our Tuesday night get together.

Some folks rented their gear from Charter Sports. We received 35% discount. They are knowledgeable and conducted business in a professional way. Even the folks who had their own skis/boots could store there gear overnight.

About two months prior to the trip I read in the paper where Moes Original BBQ from Vail Co was coming to town here in Chattanooga. Thinking this would be a great opportunity to reach out and get an advanced taste test on the new restaurant and perhaps a good deal. On Tuesday the 19th Moes Original BBQ catered pulled pork, smoked turkey, mac and cheese, baked beans, slaw, corn bread and desert. I got some real complements on the food. Moes will be opening up the week of February 27th and will be located at 221 Market Street. Ask for Laura Ryan and tell her you are with the Chattanooga Ski Club.

While most folks skied some decided to discover Vail, Minturn Co. (who knew – oh Faith), The 10th mountain museum or even go snow shoeing. From what hear Dave Flower is quite the ladies man and lead his “harem” on a snow shoe adventure. Go Dave!! I did not realize but the 10th mountain division trained near Vail during WWII. Our dough boys trained for mountain combat. Mullenix took a group to the 10th mountain restaurant near Mid Vail where they enjoyed culinary delights such as soda crackers and grits while perched upon a snow stump. J/K Apparently, they had a five-course meal at ski resort prices. Mid-week Jerry Hicks and I spent the day at Beaver Creek. We ate at the Ritz-Carrolton in Bachelors Gulch. Think $15 is pricy for a burger? Try $25. Well I settled for a loaded spud with bison chili which was actually very good and filling.

Overall this was a great trip. The weather cooperated, Vail Spa is an exceptional destination resort, Vail mountain and Beaver Creek has a challenge for most any skier skill level but most of all, the folks we went with were a lot of fun to be around – just a great group of people!

Twelve people drove to Gatlinburg for our novice and tune up ski trip.  The snow started about 6 p.m. after we were all there.  We had wine and cheese and snacks.  We went to our cabins and chalets a couple of hours later with a inch of snow.  By morning there was 3-6 inches on the mountaintop where we were staying.  Larry's rental units were first class in all ways.

Larry could not get out of his driveway the next day but all others got to the slopes. We had new snow but snowmaking was also in progress.  Children and adults had lessons or free skied.   We met for a party after skiing at a mountain top chalet with beautiful views. On the drive up, we saw many of the burned buildings along the way, but most of the area is untouched and open for business.

We returned to Ober Gatlinburg on Sunday for another half day on skis and lessons for the novices.  A beautiful setting with the new snow and an even better trip for three novices who all loved their lessons and skiing.  Thank you, Larry, for everything you furnished and your hospitality.

This trip was great for new and experienced skiers. Shall we start a new tradition? --from John Neblett, trip leader

Remember, folks, the Spring Conference at Myrtle Beach, SC is just around the corner: Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30, 2017. Those who are planning to go need to give Bobbi Witt their payment at the next meeting. Please make checks payable to the Chattanooga Ski Club. The total amount due is $158.00 per person. This includes two nights at the Brighton Towers and the parties on Friday and Saturday nights, hosted by Crescent.

Bobbi Witt will be at the next meeting selling 16 oz limited edition glass mugs as well as t-shirts - both have the club logo on them. Mugs are $10 each and tees are $15 each. Don't miss this rare opportunity.

Hello Everyone,

If you have been out and about the past several weeks, you know that it is colder and with the briskness we feel, everyone with the Club should know this is our time of year.  Yes, yes, this is our time! We need to enjoy it wholly and completely because after a long year, we need all the refreshment we can get from a cold and hearty “slap in the face.”  Make sure you get outside and thank the gods for any kind of chilly weather that you may have and the pleasure of having contact with it this winter.  Especially at night!

CHRISTMAS PARTY A GO-GO

 I want to offer a sincere thanks to all of the members and guests who attended and put together the Christmas Party December 1^st.  It really was the Hamilton County social event of the year.  The Car Barn is a neat facility, and it was just a great time. I think I was hugging or being hugged all night long.  To a certain degree, because I saw so many people at the Christmas Party, I kind of felt that I fit in and was wanted (fat chance). Hopefully everybody else felt the same. We had upwards of approximately 140 to 145 people attended and it was, once again, just a real special time.  I think it was the perfect way for all of us to start out the Christmas party season right. 

SKI TRIPS

Ski trips are starting and Vail is on the way. Do not forget we have two weekenders for Gatlinburg that are great deals that come up in January. Contact John Neblett or John Hildebrand about the details. 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE ROLLING STONES!!!!!!

With it getting cooler and it just being such a wonderful time of the year, I think we need to look into how the Rolling Stones, cold winters, and skiing all are so closely connected. So anyone does not get a brain lock, I will be more than happy to say there is no connection whatsoever between the greatest rock and roll band in the world and our ski club or any ski club and winter. But you must admit, they are always fun to talk about.

I would like to point out two things the Rolling Stones did as good or maybe better than other entertainment group in the entire college of our existence and knowledge has ever done and that is the following:  being open and changing constantly.

Regarding openness, if you ever see a photograph of Mick Jagger, along with always jumping and moving, you must notice his hands are placed firmly on his rear-end totally exposing everything he has to the crowd.  He has an exaggerated open posture toward the crowd that is purposely done to get everyone to see everything they possibly can about him while on the stage.  He wants to supplement his singing, his actions, and words to songs through his posture. He wants to convey a certain feeling and a mind set to others they will in all probability never experience.  Jagger is a god in conveying his own life experiences to others.

Regarding change, The Stones have been a blues band, 60’s psychedelic drug induced coma five piece (the drug stuff lasted for decades), social change icons, country funk and rock and roll idols, semi punk rockers, and, I think lastly, semi- new wavers in the 80’s. They have been living off their spoils since 1985, I think, while moving on through drug comas, drug deaths, drug arrests, infighting, hatred between everyone, knockdown drag outs, extraordinary nasty talk, and several changes of all parts of the band and management they continue to morph into something each year we have never seen previously seen or ever thought could occur with a bunch of old doper drink guys.

Now, I know you are saying will you please get us to the ski club stuff?   Okay, here goes.

To go skiing, as we have done through the years, means we have a particular lifestyle that we adhere to that includes, festivities, travel, and to say the least physical self-improvement (we have to be in some sort of shape to play on the mountains whether we want to or not.)

We have an open-door policy regarding members and all we ask or want to express to new folks is they get along with everyone, whether they like everybody or not, and have a good time with us. We, through our open-door policy, hopefully convey a sense of community to anyone looking in on the outside of our club, and if you were at the Christmas Party at the Car Barn you know exactly where I am coming from. I bet when employees from the Car Barn saw everybody hugging each other, I wonder if they thought we in the club really did like each other that much, or did somebody put something in the Yuengling beer they were serving (I think Yuengling beer should be given to enemy combatants at Guantanamo and it will gum them up to not be dangerous.)  One of the secrets to our group is our ability to be open and enroll everyone interested. Of course, this is a personal opinion.

With every group, organization, or individual, everybody changes. The ski club is nothing like I remember almost 20 years ago, and for anyone who has been around longer the club probably has more resemblance to a Shriners convention or a medical seminar than the old ski club from the 70’s and 80’s.  I think the fact we have changed and are willing to change is a trait we have in our pocket that will help us continually in the future.

I feel that the past six months we have seen what our club can be in this upcoming year is nothing short of electric!!! With short trips to bike, hike, drink, paddle board, view art or attend any event interesting every month it is my hope we will continue to be there. It is further my hope and dream that we will be able to ski and have no limitations on how we interact or what we do to have a good time together with ourselves or others for 2017.  Hopefully, it is a time to look and see what we can do and push the limits, and not focus so much on what we have done in the past.

I encourage everyone to accept the change and make sure that no hurtles are placed in front of any place we plan to explore. I guess in Star Trek, the Borg kept the Enterprise and its crew down from time in reaching it destination in space. But that, as we all know, was a TV show and you must have conflict like the Borg have decent drama.

Let us all be careful about criticism to change regarding what the Club may do in the future.  Understand, everyone must state what they feel and I wholeheartedly encourage discussion about anything good or bad with the club activities. But please remember, even though someone may be totally correct in their comments and criticisms, they may say it in such a way that the boundaries of the unpardonable sin may be broken: someone may say something that hurts someone else’s feelings. 

As Alex Haley said, “Find the good, and praise it.” 

Let us get ready for a great year!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Atlanta Botanical Gardens
October 22-23, 2016
Idea:  Pat Ownby

Pat & Ashley Ownby Lose Faith at Chihuly Nights

I have to admit that I had to Google Chihuly when Pat Ownby asked me to put together a trip to visit the Chihuly Exhibit at Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  It was a glorious fall day Saturday October 22nd, when 17 Chihulians invaded Atlanta.  (We had started with 21, however many of our fellow CSC members seem to be breaking a lot of bones lately.  Sandy Talbott broke her elbow, Susan DuBose broke her wrist. Be sure to send them both healing thoughts.)

We gathered in the lobby of our hotel around 3:00, then carpooled or Ubered to Campagnoio Restaurant for an early evening meal.

I had envisioned us all walking as group in the gardens looking at each exhibit - boy was I wrong!! There must have been one million people in the garden - ok, that’s an exaggeration - there were thousands of people all wandering around the beautiful, breathtaking glass sculptures.  Pictures do not do justice to Chihuly’s work.  

We were never together as a group at the gardens - whoever we were in the car with upon arriving is who we toured the exhibits with. We never even saw any of our group during the tour.  

Around 9:30 my phone rang it was Pat Ownby asking have you seen Faith?  We can’t find Faith; we don’t know where Faith is.  I was deeply troubled to hear that Pat and Ashley had lost their Faith.  I told her I would pray and hopefully they would find Faith and make a new commitment to do better in the future.

We all gathered as a group back at the hotel courtyard to discuss, share stories and show each other our pictures.  I was overcome with emotion to see that Pat had found Faith.

A gay time was had by all - just ask two of our lovely ladies to give you the hilarious details of a mistaken encounter to Felix Bar & Lounge - let’s just use the word:  Phallus.  Details are best obtained in person.

Great Time, Great Group,
Go with us next time,
Barb Wise

Pat Finding Faith

Ghost Tour HUGE Success!!

CSC Bardstown Bourbon Trail Trip

Jerry dipping his bottle of Marker’s Mark

September 23-25, 2016

Fantastic Group (missing the Bates).  Jerry & Becca Hicks, Buddy & Teri Carter, Butch & Carol Cook, Tom & Angelika Edwards/Roden, Roy & Trinda Brunner, Lyn Marvil, &  Melodie Thompson, and Barb Wise.  Thank you to Gordon Campbell our DD. 

When Ashley asked me to take the position as “Special Trip Coordinator” the one thing he said to me was “make it fun, make it affordable, and make it special”! He then said, “The first trip I want you to do is the Bourbon Trail in Bardstown, KY.  CSC member Jerry Hicks would really like a club trip to Bardstown.  Here’s to you Jerry & Becca Hicks. Thank you for a Great Idea!!!

Jerry & Becca Hicks

It was a beautiful fall afternoon when we all arrived in Bardstown to start our trek on the Bourbon Trail.  Maker’s Mark was our first stop for the afternoon, and it was an excellent tour. The tasting did nothing for me except make my mouth pucker! Sorry Bill McCallie…

 CSC members Butch Cook and Roy Brunner had a grand time dipping their own bottle’ of Marker’s Mark into the hot red wax.

Our next Stop was Heaven Hill/Heritage Museum.   Leaving Heritage we arrived at my favorite - The Oscar Getz Whiskey Museum, (I love history, and I always try to visit history museums wherever I go,  making it a part of my trip.  I did this when my children were little, turning a vacation trip into a learning trip of local history).  The Oscar Getz Museum was this and more, the museum is housed in a Catholic Boys Home.  The rooms are all full of memorabilia from the 1800’s to today on whiskey and related trivia.  

We then had a private after hours tour.  It was so special just the CSC on a guided tour of this historic building.  One of the items was the bottle of REDRUM from the movie “The Shining”!  Donated by Barbara Wise (for real) from Griffin, GA.   I love history and soak it up like a sponge anytime I can.

Dinner Friday night was at the “RickHouse Restaurant” recommended by CSC member Dr. Jeanne Scanland.  The restaurant is located in the basement of the Getz Museum - how convenient was that?  Just walk downstairs to an old wine cellar turned into one of the finest dining experiences in Bardstown.  

On Saturday we visited four more distilleries.  We went to six all together: Marker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses & Willett’s.  

We are all now experts on bourbon, just ask us and we can tell you all you ever wanted to know about bourbon but were afraid to ask!

A few of the main points that stuck in my head were:

*All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.

*The reason Pappy Van Winkle is so expensive is because this angel comes down and drinks 3/4 of the barrel before it is opened.  Therefore leaving very little to bottle.  And that is the truth!!!  It is called “the angel’s share.”

Oh, I almost forgot the Ghost Tour, oh me, oh my, I knew I was in trouble when I found out Patti, (she informed us) was a Ghost Hunter! Certified and bonafide!!!  When she told us the walls of the Talbott Inn called her name and told her to work there, we lost most of the group to the bar across the street.  The faithful few that remained with me was because I think they felt sorry for me, Tom and Angelika mainly because I think they thought Patti might make me disappear.   Four of us (me, Tom, Angelika & Melody) braved our way to Jesse James’ bedroom where we were to see the Ghost of Jesse James.  Well Jesse did not appear, however Patti did show us pictures of his “ghost” on her IPad.  Patti lost the rest of us when on her IPad screen she was scrolling through the pictures of ghost sightings in Bardstown she said; “Oh here is one of me and Howie Mandell”.  

That’s all folks.

Good Trip, Great Fun, Grand Time!
Go with us next time.
Barb Wise