Snowmass 2022 Ski Trip

SNOWMASS (Jan. 29 – Feb. 5, 2022) - Los Angeles Council always participates in the FWSA Annual Ski Week each year and this year was no exception.  Snowmass was the resort of choice, and what a choice it was.  Snowmass, as well as Aspen, had some of The Best Snow I have seen in years.  And to keep it that way – it was a little cold.   [One more at 7:00 a.m. – it was negative 14, yes -14!!; so many waited a bit to go out to ski.]  But the cold is what helps the snow stay great.  It did not matter, there were lots of skiers headed out early to make sure they got First Tracks and lots of skiing in regardless of the temperature!

As happened in Sun Valley last year, once again, there were some Covid issues which meant no indoor group gatherings.  So we got gift cards instead for a fun restaurant in the lower village called Mix 6.  Great staff, owner and manager worked this out so well, it made for a great week.  Nancy Ellis (VP of North American Travel) and the Travel Team worked with them to make this happen.  Yet again, as with Sun Valley, what I found out and that really made this trip - the PEOPLE On the TRIP.  Helpful, Gracious, HAPPY!  And, my thanks to Bruce Lee, President of Beach Cities Ski Club for leading this trip – without him, it would have been much, much different.   A big THANK YOU to  BRUCE! 

One event we did have as a group was the Mountain Picnic.  Our councils were split into groups of 3, and as the picnic area was on the Spider Sabish ski run, not too far up from the upper village, it was easy to get to for lunch and then head back up the mountain.  Typically burgers and hot dogs, this year was chicken or steak tacos with great guacamole and salsa, rice and beans, and WARM cookies (and they came out Warm, even though it was a little chilly at the tables), they were good.  Even those that come on the trip do not realize how much time and effort it takes for the travel team to put these events together and make it look easy – but They Do it, and the Mountain Picnic is just one of the events.  So, our thanks to the FWSA Travel Team on this trip (Nancy and Bob Ellis, Gloria Raminha, Lynnell and Ken Calkins, Marilyn Sigler and Mary Alexander.)  Our thanks for the hard work on this trip! 

Most of the councils searched out the Upper and Lower Villages for spots to eat and drink, everything from steaks and burger spots to Thai food, and a wonderful to go place that had some great food.  There was no shortage of those, and an ice rink in the lower village that seemed to be a busy meeting place.  There was lots to do and everyone seemed to find something:  sledding, snowshoeing, a bit of drinking – well, they had to stay warm you know – and just lots of great skiing.  Most everyone visited over in the town of Aspen with its great shopping and wonderful restaurants.  The 4 mountains that make up the Aspen-Snowmass area (Snowmass, Aspen, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk) have such a great variety of terrain that there is something for everyone on those mountains.  

Racing is a big part of these ski trips, and Snowmass was no exception and LAC has some of the fastest men and women on the hill.  Don Shafe, Larry Gowing, Art Pressel – all 1st places; and Rick Harrington placed; and our lady racers did great – Masako Masuda – 1st place, Joyce Hedlund – 1st place; Michele Shafe placed.  All of these are per class of racer. The race results for the two sets of races are also included in the newsletter.  Congratulations to all our racers!

The Far West Ski Foundation does some big fundraising on these trips, and while Covid has reduced the number of participants, thus the donations are down somewhat, the Foundation raised just over $1100 this year, which will go towards donating to upcoming California skiers as they move up on their way, hopefully, to an Olympic slot.  And, to bolster that donation efforts, Karbon offers a suit (jacket/pants) to the raffle winner. OUR WINNER from the Foundation’s charitable drawing – Katie To Breese (Wailers Ski Club).  Congratulations Katie!

The FWS Foundation also made a donation to a group called Challenge Aspen.  It is a wonderful organization that helps those with disabilities of many kinds – Veterans with PTSD and/or physical challenges, children with disabilities, young adults with issues.  They come for a week, all is paid for, and they get skiing skills of whatever sort they can do.  It is an amazing group, and it was an honor to meet with them and see what they can do.    

Sandy Blackwell, LAC President