The Flakey News. Publication of the Fox Valley Snowdrifters Ski Club April, Flakes from the SKI-EO, Happski Easter everyone!

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1 The Flakey News Publication of the Fox Valley Snowdrifters Ski Club April, 2018 PRESIDENT: Leo Ahasic VICE PRESIDENT John Gamble TREASURER: John Walsh SECRETARY: Gwenn Bosshardt PAST PRESIDENT Tom Quetsch TRIPS & INS AGENT: Frank Hodowal SOCIAL: Pat Quetsch Flakes from the SKI-EO, Happski Easter everyone! With our ski season coming to an end we now need to start looking at destinations for next year. I hope we can go back to Europe, but it will certainly be hard to top our time in Morzine and Nice, France. Japan has been mentioned as a possible destination for 2019, but I do not know if we can get enough members to get a good price point as the travel is long and the cost is huge. Let us know your thoughts. At the meeting on March 19 th, my brother Gary and I toasted our Dad (his birthday would have been March 17 th ). He had been a member of the club for 30 some years and we have him to thank for leading us to join the Snowdrifters. Don t forget to save the date for our annual year end dinner party on Sunday, April 22 nd at the Fireside Grill in Sugar Grove. I hope everyone has a Happski Easter Egg. Your Pre-Ski-dent, Leo Ahaski CMSC & RACING: Mike Baurle mbaurle@comcast.net MEMBERSHIP: Sue Stanciu skstanciu314@gmail.com PUBLICITY & HISTORIAN: Sarah Richardson sricha10@yahoo.com NEWSLETTER Joe & Dana Hopp Jhopp23@hotmail.com WEBSITE Chuck Salisbury c.salisbury@computer.org 1

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3 SNOWDRIFTERS 2018 TRIP REPORTS JACKSON HOLE The timing was perfect. In the days and hours leading up to our departure, we watched the dire forecasts of the coming snowstorm that was going to shut down the airport. On Thursday morning, 33 Snowdrifters beat the storm by just a few short hours and flew out of O Hare without incident. After we checked into the comfortable and cozy Parkway Inn at Jackson, we were joined by our good friend Pam Murray and two others who came in from other parts of the country. The wonderful hospitality that we enjoyed during our entire stay began with the welcoming party hosted by the Parkway. The remainder of Thursday was spent by most of us exploring and sampling the noted landmarks and establishments of Jackson, including the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the town square arches built from elk antlers. Despite seeing no snow in town, we found plenty of nicely groomed corduroy when we got to the mountain on Friday for our first day of skiing. The morning started out clear but as the day progressed it clouded over and snowed on and off. The temperature was comfortable throughout the entire day so everyone was pretty happy and satisfied by the time they stopped in at the legendary Mangy Moose for some refreshment before the bus back to town and that evening s pizza party. Conditions stayed pretty similar for the remainder of our stay comfortable temperatures and clouds causing varying visibility at the higher elevations. Jackson Hole is a large area, offering plenty of trails for every level of skier. Our more adventurous members rode the tram all the way to the top of the mountain for the intimidating drop down through Rendezvous Bowl. Those who wanted an easier way down from there could still stop in at Corbet s Cabin for a hot chocolate and enjoy the view while riding back down on the tram. On Sunday, several Snowdrifters took the opportunity to tour Yellowstone National Park on trips run by Scenic Safaris. Some took the snowmobile tour while others chose the snow coach option. The narration and amenities, including breakfast and lunch, were first class. Due to the absence of large crowds, winter is an excellent time to tour Yellowstone. Those on the snow coach were treated to the dual eruptions of the Beehive geyser followed by nearby Old Faithful. The geysers, thermal springs, and eerie terrain at the Norris Basin made it seem as if the group were visiting another planet. After the final day on the mountain, the small group that headed to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar had to commandeer more tables because of the ever growing contingent. A very patient gentleman was kind enough to give up his seat at the bar for a while so that each of us could have our obligatory photo taken while sitting on one of the cowboy saddle bar stools. (continued next page) 3

4 All in all, it was a very successful trip, due to a super ski area, a terrific town, good weather, a great group, and, above all, no injuries (at least no serious ones). Trip Leader, Bob Hoffman 4

5 Boyne Mountain 5 On a cold, gray, Friday morning, 36 Snowdrifters set out for Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan for the annual Midwest bus trip. We had trip members as old as 4 years old and as young as 80+. It was wonderful to see the different generations enjoying each other s company. Pizza, snacks and drinks were served on the bus. And the usual camaraderie made the time go by fast. We arrived at Boyne at about 8:30PM Eastern time. Check in went smoothly as it was handled on the bus. After moving luggage to our rooms, in the Clock Tower Lodge, some members grabbed a late dinner and others headed up to the Snowflake Lounge on the 3 rd floor. A few of us kept the dance floor hopping (yes, there is a pun intended there!) and there may have been a few who wandered to the outdoor hot tub. Saturday morning many enjoyed breakfast at the lodge and got out early to enjoy some skiing. It was a very warm, sunny day. The temperature by mid afternoon was 40 degrees. The snow conditions started to challenge some of the skiers, especially yours truly. I am told I won the injury award for the trip! Thank you, Chuck Klein, for letting me borrow your knee brace for the long ride home. Saturday afternoon some of the members took a trip into Boyne City and had a great lunch while checking out the town. After a day of skiing some members met up at the Forty Acres Pub, at the base of the slopes, for a little après ski time. We decided to stay there for dinner and kept adding chairs to our table as other members walked in. Good food and great company. Sunday morning arrived with ski conditions looking ominous. It was sleeting then raining. In addition to that some of our rooms were without hot water!. A small handful of diehards hit the slopes for a short time and a few others hit the Forty Acres Pub for a pre-boarding bloody mary. It was the consensus by the majority to head back home earlier than planned because of the poor skiing conditions. Our bus driver Ken, who was a great driver and a pleasure to get to know, got us back safely to the fairgrounds before 8:00PM. Thank you once again to Gwenn Bosshardt for your help. Also thanks to Kathleen McGrath, Sue Flerlege and Bre Cullen. And thank you to everyone who brought treats and special drinks to share, and to all who helped load, unload and clean up the bus. And last but certainly not least, thank you to Frank Hodowal and Leo Supinski for standing guard of the equipment and luggage. You all make my job as trip leader so easy. As always, new friendships forged and old ones strengthened on a fun weekend trip. Happy Spring, Sue Stanciu

6 Trip Report Fifteen Snowdrifters headed north for a memorable first time club trip to Canada s Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, BC. It was a long air and bus journey getting up there, but the trip lived up to all our expectations of a great ski location. On our arrival at Sun Peaks, we observed about four feet of snow on the roof tops and the walkways packed with about three feet. We anticipated "Great Skiing" for the week! We stayed at the very nice ski-in, ski-out Sun Peaks Grand Hotel in the center of the pedestrian village. The hotel had a heated outdoor pool and three large hot tubs (warm, hot, and very hot). We spent most afternoons after an exhausting ski day with a few refreshments in the "hot" one! Over the week, our group enjoyed the restaurants with many types of cuisine and the drinking establishments that Sun Peaks offered. Although the night life was tame by ski resort standards, we did enjoy ourselves. Well, more time for skiing the next day! During our 7-night stay (5 days skiing), we enjoyed everything from impeccably-groomed runs (topped with new snow on Wednesday), terrific skiing through perfectly placed trees, days of bright sunshine offering fantastic views from the peaks, long cruising runs, bowls, and single & double black-diamond runs. Some our favorite memories were enjoying gorgeous sunny views from Crystal Mountain; flying down the 5 mile run; finding run after run on Mt. Morrissey's slopes (and everywhere else). Overall, Sun Peaks provided the best snow and skiing conditions of the season. The trip back home from Sun Peaks took us via Toronto, there we were delayed a 1/2 hour due to plane equipment problems. Nonetheless we arrived in Chicago and found out that none of our skies were on the plane - not a big issue since they were all delivered to our homes the next day. Sun Peaks was a fitting end to our ski season and as an added bonus - no injuries. Thanks to all fifteen Snowdrifters who enjoyed skiing at Sun Peaks and being such a friendly group. Hope to see you again on our Snowdrifters ski trips next year! Your Trip Leader, Frank the Tank! 6

7 Oh, the places we ve been These snowy sports are hard to learn, the slopes aren t steep but my legs burn. To turn and stop, they ve taught me all. Try as I might, I simply fall. My feet are cold, my nose is runny. One thing I ask don t call me Bunny. My name is Gene. I cruise the green. I like to keep my ski togs clean. I take it slow, I m in control. I ski just like the Ski Patrol. Should I get chilled while cruising down, I ll stop for latte back in town. If speed s your thing, your color s Blue. Come ski with me, they call me Sue. I like the speed, and I go far. I m faster than you in your car. From top to bottom in record time. If I beat you, your soul is mine. If you have knees that like to bend then come ski bumps with your friend, Ken. As for the bumps, I ll take no spill, I ll catch the view from each small hill. Our sign is Black, our bruises blue. If you won t go, then I won t, too. Who am I? My name is Jack. What do I ski? Just double black. I like the steeps, the trees, the bumps. And should I fall, I ll take my lumps. Should I get hurt, well, I ll be back. I ve lots of bones, its brains I lack. If you like fun, then ask for Lee. While skiing s fine, it s not for me. A glass of wine, a mug of beer, a tasty lunch, these I hold dear. I like to watch my friends cavort. When day is done, après s my sport. Thanks to all the Snowdrifters who made this a successful and fun season. 7

8 Snowdrifters Calendar SAVE THE DATES April 16 th April 22 nd May 21 st Board Meeting 6:45 pm General Meeting 7:15 pm End of Year Party See inside newsletter for details Board Meeting 6:45 pm General Meeting 7:15 pm Maybe the best story in Sports Go Ramblers and Sister Jean! 8