Ski Masters European Ski Trips

Ron Lyle Services

2012-01-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Services for Ron Lyle have been set for

January 22, 2012 at 3 PM at

East Shore Unitarian Church

12700 SE 32nd, Bellevue

(This is located just northwest of the I-90 and I-405 interchange off Richard's Road.)

Remembrances may be made to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 202, Seattle 98111.

Ron Lyle Passes

2012-01-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

Fellow Ski Masters,

It is with profound regret that I announce the passing of Ron Lyle on January 2nd, 2012. Ron was, of course, the husband of Lenore and father of Claudeen, Greg and the Ski Masters Euro trips. His last European trip was in 2003 when he was felled by a dibilitating brain anuysm that kept him off the slopes he loved so dearly.

Information on services will be provided when available.

To comment on this posting you need to register below. You will not be putting yourself at risk of annoying future mailings so don't be concerned. The comment section does allow you to let the family know just how much they and Ron mean to all who knew him.

Steve Dennis
Your Blogster

Goodbye to Courchevel; The Group Departs

2011-03-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Thursday, the last day in Courchevel, was a perfect day for skiing, sailing or doing whatever.

Carrie, the catering manager!

The biggest event of the day was the result of Carrie McCabe’s initiative. Wednesday, while skiing at Val Thorens, Carrie found a hillside restaurant she thought would be ideal for a last ski day gathering. She and Vicki took a late run up and made a Thursday lunch reservation for 25. Wednesday, at dinner, she provided a map and informed everyone the place was available. Anybody and everybody was invited.

Val Thorens is the furthest valley from Courchevel. Just getting there can take several hours of lifts and skiing. Despite the distance, 24 Ski Masters converged and had a wonderful last lunch among friends surrounded by some of the finest ski slopes in Europe.

A special thanks to Carrie for conceiving the event. It wouldn’t have happened without her.

Those that chose not to make the Val Thorens trek found plenty to do closer to home.

Tom McGrath, showing no signs of memory loss (at least no more than normal) accompanied his roommate, Judy Wood, up the mountain for her parasail ride. She reports it was exhilarating.

Some skied the Courchevel area. Some stayed near the hotel, taking it easier the last day in town.

Claudeen, our leader, took the day off to fight off persistent cold symptoms that have slowed her for several days.

As the day ended the packing ritual began. Skis and boots were dried and packed. Many were scratching their heads trying to figure out how they got everything in their suitcases in the first place. But, by 9:00 Friday morning all will be tucked beneath the bus and we will be on our way to Annecy, the first step on our way home or other destinations.

Once again SMEuro has put together a fabulous trip with interesting and active people. Plans are underway for the 2012 trip. If you are interested drop Claudeen a note at smetrips@gmail.com . Don’t delay; the trips fill up fast.

Tidbits from Courchevel

2011-03-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

When the ski group gathers stories come out. Here are a few from our stay in Courchevel.

Flag of Savoie

The Wayward Bus: We arrived in Courchevel on our 45 foot bus pulling a 20 luggage trailer well after dark on Saturday last. We wound through several villages before arriving at Courchevel 1850, our destination. The bus continued through the village, winding up switchbacks that grew narrower and narrower as we climbed. Finally, in a residential area with cars parked on both sides and no room to pass our bus on either side, the driver stopped. We were lost.

Claudeen called the hotel and the manager agreed to come and guide us on a proper course. But we still had the problem of extricating ourselves from the one we were on. Our Italian driver was amazing. He backed the bus and trailer down the narrow road to the first curve where he found a narrow slot between parked cars and buildings where he could back the trailer and gain just enough room to make a turn around.

Flag of Denmark

Ed’s Danish Restaurant: Ed Meyer, of Danish extraction, was delighted to see a hill side restaurant festooned with Danish flags. The next day he made a special effort to find the place for lunch. They clomped in and were disappointed to see the Danish theme was not repeated on the interior. Instead it offered the ambiance of a Summit West snack bar at Snoqualmie Pass.

Ed, in his best French, inquired about the Danish flags to an incredulous staff. After much gesturing he learned the truth. His “Danish” flags were actually flags of the Province of Savoie, home to Courchevel, not Denmark.

Tom’s Lost Afternoon: Wednesday afternoon Bob and Paul thought they’d lost Tom McGrath when he failed to arrive at the bottom of a run. But, after a wait, Tom came coasting in with a snow encrusted helmet and no recollection of where he’d been. On the chair Bob did the “what is my name, what day is this, how many fingers am I holding up” test which Tom failed. He knew Bob but little else.

From his manner and condition they concluded Tom had left his short term memory in a snow bank on the hill. A visit with ski patrol and trip to a clinic later Tom recovered his sense of self and humor but it is clear he took a serious whack to the noggin.

As the evening progressed he grew so tired of the “how many fingers am I holding up” question that he began responding with a hand gesture of his own!

We can expect to see him in a helmet manufacturer testimonial ad at some time in the future.

The Runaway Ski: Ski brakes are a wonderful invention, when they work. Wednesday Ralph Bladt exited a gondola station and dropped his rented ski to the ground. Off popped one brake and off went the ski with Doug Stevenson in hot pursuit. But a ski without a brake can really move. Doug, who everyone must have thought was a deranged American, was shouting a warning as he vainly tried to catch the accelerating missile. In the U.S.A. Doug would have been joined by a dozen personal injury lawyers looking for business but here he was on his own.

Finally, with great relief, he came over a slight rise and found the ski captured by a ski school instructor. There were lots of near miss' but no injuries. I suspect Ralph had an interesting conversation with the ski shop.

DiAnne the Shopping Guide: DiAnne McDonald, a non skier, has the villages of Courchevel figured out. If she spoke more languages she could easily hire out as a guide. The villages, linked by lifts, paths and shuttle buses can be a bit confusing but she has left and returned each day successfully, an amazing feat considering the scope of this place.

The Golden Cup of Coffee: Things are not cheap in Courchevel. Hillside food is about twice the price of our Corvara experience. In recent days our lunches have varied from 17 to 30 Euros per person. But even that experience didn’t prepare Lorrie Meyer for her cup of coffee.

On a day off skiing she visited the lovely hotel just upslope from ours for a cup of coffee. She was presented with the coffee, a small plate of chocolates and a bill for 23 Euros. It makes Starbucks look like a bargain. (But the chocolates were reportedly good!)

A Typical Day at Courchevel

2011-03-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

After four days of near perfect skiing at Courchevel a lazy routine has developed.

The skis ready for the skiers.

Most wander down to breakfast between 7:30 and 8:30 to a typical European buffet. Cereals, fruits, pastries, meats and cheeses are available along with liters of coffee and hot water. Breakfast involves lots of “where are you skiing/shopping” and “what time do you want to meet” and “who are you skiing/shopping with” talk as plans are made for the day.

The view from the morning gondola.

When you arrive at the ski room you find that your skis are already set outside with lower room numbers on the left and higher on the right. It is easy to get spoiled! The boots, dried overnight on a very classy shelf unit, are also arranged by room number though you have to retrieve them yourself. Oh such an inconvenience!

Robin, Gretchen and the Masts

Do we go left or right....?

Three liters of ...?

Most groups form up and depart before 9:30 by skiing down the nearby path to the main village, Courchevel 1850. (There are several Courchevel villages referred to by their elevation; 1450, 1650, etc. Ours is the highest at 1850 meters.) There are three gondolas to choose from in the village that whisk the skiers onto the slope.It is a big place so, depending on the directional abilities of your travel mates, frequent map checks are called for to move your group around the mountain seeking the best snow and lunch spot.

Lunch is usually a highlight since the restaurants are so nice. Each has a unique menu and personality so each day is a surprise and adventure.

Between lunch and five o’clock groups make their way back to the hotel with tales of great skiing and eating.

Lunch on the hill.

Five to seven is clean up and cocktail time. Some gather in the hotel bar around 7:00 to review the days events. Dinner is served at 7:30 in the main dining room. Unlike Italy, where we had three choices for dinner each night, we are served a set menu that seems to satisfy most. If you don’t like a course you can skip it and most likely will not starve. There is plenty of food and a generous dessert buffet to fill any menu gaps.

Then it is off to bed to prepare for the next day.

The weather remains bluebird and, though it results in a few hard spots in the morning and soft ones in the afternoon, no one wants to trade this for the “ski in the fog” experience we had in Italy.

One more day in heaven and then we head for home.

Foushees at the pre dinner cocktail hour.

Dinner in Courchevel.

The “M” Party; Creative Skiers Come Out

2011-03-22T23:34:00.000-07:00

SM Euro travelers will grab any excuse for a party. In the past there have been Mexican, Hawaiian and the letter “H” themed parties. For 2011 the theme was the letter “M.” Some costumes were simple and some complex and the range of themes was impressive. Here is what the French hotel staff saw on Tuesday evening. (Apologies to those I’ve overlooked.)

Ann the Mime and grand champion

• Robin, Gretchen and Vicki; an M & M candy theme.

• Steve and Kathy; Harley motorcycle theme (with the assistance of absent Mo and Bob Dixey.)

• Jana (Minnie), Carrie (Annette) and Bob (Bobby); a Mickey Mouse Club theme.

• Kim; Merlin the Magician

• Paul and Ellen; Mardi Gras

• Carol Mast; Macaroni Madonna

• Bob and DiAnne McDonald; A “McDonalds” theme of course

• Greg, Lorrie, Ed and Ralph; A Mexican…

The candy triplets

• Val (Mimosa), Kristen (Manhattan) and Carol Powis (Margarita); Dressed as cocktails

• Claudeen; A musical theme

• Jim; Mummy

• Linda and Todd; I have no idea but they were great costumes.
• Jeff; Moustache
• Marcie; Wrapped herself in Maps

• Ann; A Mime

Mullet and Merlin

• Toby; A Mullet

• Lyndsay; Martha Stewart and Doug; A Mustard theme

Carol, Carol and Kathy

The female finalists

Linda as a ....

Jeff and Jana

The McDonald's "Lovin it"

Jim and Claudeen

How’s that for a range of themes? The pictures say it all (click on the pic to enlarge.)

Oh, by the way, the sun was out and it was another fabulous day on the slopes.

Hotels; Venice, Corvara and Courchevel

2011-03-21T23:54:00.000-07:00

A Word About the 2011 Trip Hotels:

Hotel Bonvecchiati, in Venice and the Posta Zirm Hotel in Corvara are four star in every way. But unlike modern hotels in the U.S. you won’t find long corridors lined with look-alike rooms.

The Bonecchiati hotel is well located about equal distance from the Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, two of the must see and most photographed sites in Venice.

The Bonecchiati is tucked in an old building if indeterminate age. It may even be part of several buildings. The two cozy elevators take you to floors that wander off in different directions to rooms of various shapes and sizes. With canals on two sides and ancient roof tops surrounding in other directions the view from each room is different.

The rooms themselves are comfortable and fitted with all the features you would expect from a four star hotel. My only complaint concerned the scale in the bathroom. Why put a visitor in a city where there is a restaurant or bar every 100 meters to tempt you and then put a scale in the bathroom….most inconsiderate.

Corvara’s Posta Zirm Hotel is now run by fourth generation management. A blend of Austrian and Italian tastes (It is not far from the border) it has both a new and old wing that dates back to 1808. Within each there are a variety of room styles and most seem quite large by any standard. Ours is like two rooms were combined resulting in a sleeping room and separate sitting/eating area complete with refrig and table. The ski room is a mere 50 meters from a gondola.

The staff in both hotels have been four star.

Our Courchevel hotel, Les Ducs de Savoie, is a three star with a ski in-ski out location. The rooms are generally a bit smaller than Corvara, which takes some adjustment. The staff, particularly in the hotel ski shop, has been most friendly. The statuesque bartender would be the one exception. She has what could be described as “an attitude.”

The French hotel beds are always a surprise/disappointment. In a country acclaimed for its lovers you would expect lusty, inviting beds. In Italy we had lovely beds with deliciously fluffy down comforters. Here, and in other French hotels we have visited, we have drab colored heavy wool blankets. They simply do not inspire “le passion.”

The quality and variety found in European hotels is one of the attractions that contribute the sense of adventure you can enjoy skiing abroad.

Courchevel Monday; More Sun and More Smiles

2011-03-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

John enjoying his first aid.

The group was back on the hill Monday to revisit good places from Sunday and explore new pistes. No one was disappointed.

John Powis was the only casualty of the day. When he moved to the edge of a cat track, yielding to a passing skier, he went off the edge doing a nasty face plant that required five stitches below the eye. A lovely ski patrol women provided initial treatment on the hill and the village clinic stitched him up. For the record, his wife, Carol, was not the cause of the incident!

His ski mates, the Masts and Dennis,' enjoyed a lazy coffee near the clinic while he was treated and then everyone returned to the slopes.

Courchevel is a big place; lots of vertical and lots of runs. We have encountered everything from firm faces to afternoon slush but, particularly after the limited visibility in Corvara, there have been no complaints.

You can click on the photos to enlarge.

The Hotel Les Ducs De Savoie is a ski in, ski out facility with a convenient gondola link to the nearby village.

Life is bon!

Courchevel; First Day Smiles

2011-03-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

Courchevel is a part of a huge ski area known as “Les 3 Vallees” or the three valleys. Courchevel, Maribel and Val Thorens are the main areas, setting in adjoining valleys and connected by an integrated lift system. It would be a challenge to navigate its expanse in the fog or clouds. Fortunately that was not an issue as the sun splashed its rays over all the valleys on Sunday.

Though the group arrived Saturday after a 13 hour bus ride most were ready to explore the new resort early on Sunday morning. Several groups hired ski instructors to guide them over the resort the first day. The instructors knew the best slopes and routes and most made it to all three valleys. Others chose to explore on their own.

As the happy skiers straggled home after an exceptional day smiles were much in evidence. If the current weather continues the blog reports will be simple; went skiing, found a great place for lunch and returned home. If so, no one will complain.

A Word About Conversions: When you travel in Europe you need to adjust your thinking on currency, distance and other metrics. For example:

• Dollars become Euros

• Feet becomes meters

• Gallons become liters

Paul Luczak suggested that we should also adjust for Italian time. We were told by the Italian bus company that it would take ten hours to drive from Corvara, Italy to Courchevel, France. It took 13 long hours. So we conclude that you must multiply normal time by 1.3 to get Italian travel time.

Courchevel + Sun + Snow = Great Skiing

2011-03-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday sunrise from Courchevel Hotel

Sun is out. Ski is clear. Snow is fresh. More later....

The Clouds Parted, The Sun Shown.

2011-03-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Friday weather made up for all the whiteout days. You could see, you could ski and it was wonderful. Large contingent headed for 2100 meter high Passo Falzarego, which is the start of an 11 mile, must ski adventure. At the top we were greeted by a bit of wind and an occasional blast of blowing snow but the scenery and skiing made up for it. (Some also discovered hot chocolate with rum on the way down!) The trip was capped by the horse drawn rope tow at the bottom.

A wonderful finish to a good week in Corvara. Now it’s time to pack and move on to France.

Sadly we also bid farewell to Carrie and Jud Heugel and Morgan Stabler, who could only stay for one week, and Robert Halvorsen, who injured his knee in a Friday accident. While we head to France they will go toward Venice and on home.

Robert was our current spoon holder for some Thursday incident involving missing clothing on the hill. The spoon was passed on to Jean Christ for her exemplary performance caring for Robert following his accident. She is a worthy recipient.

Coming Down from the PASSO

The Jewett Family

A Refreshment Stop

The Horse Drawn Rope Tow

St. Patricks Day Party; The Tradition Continues in 2011

2011-03-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

The traditional Ski Masters St Patricks day party was hosted by Carrie McCabe, Bob Gage and Tom McGrath in a private room generously provided by the hotel. Good drink, good food and good conversation prevailed. The pictures say it all. (click on photos to enlarge.)

Hosts McGrath and Gage

Host McCabe

Wednesday Random Thoughtlets and Updates

2011-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Photo by Lorrie Meyer

Paul Luczak, a trip rookie, offered several observations after a day in the blizzard with Claudeen:

• The group couldn’t see but still skis and never stops to pee….
• If heavy snow in the U. S. A. is called “mashed potatoes” is it called “gnocchi” in Italy? (or Risotto?)

Dinner conversation each evening seems to balance out as follows: 25%, where did you ski?; 25% where did you eat and 50% what did you have? There are just too many places to eat and so little time!

Evening Enterainment

Dinner Music was provide by local musicians who moved into the bar following dinner and were joined by a young woman, a member of the hotel owners family. Very entertaining….

Bob Gage and Carrie McCabe, who first met on a Ski Masters Trip, were joined by five others for a Wednesday trip to Cortina, the scene of their wedding several years ago. They seemed to enjoy watching the locals parade along the shopping street in their long fur coats. They also purchased supplies for the St Paddy’s day party back in Corvara, which they are co-hosting.

Bob McDonald set a record for the quickest spoon pass in Ski Masters history. Tom McGrath gave Bob the spoon for some slope side malfeasance. Bob claimed Jason Tang was the real culprit. Jason stood to proclaim his innocence and Bob was able to flip the spoon lanyard from his neck to Jason’s in a flash. Others in the group support Bob’s story; Jason deserved the spoon.

The Blogger spent the day chasing Jeff Foushee and Mark Quandee around above Araba. It was survival sking in the fog with what little form I have cast aside. If the trip founder, Lenore Lyle, had seen my form she would have vehemently denied that I had ever worn a Ski Masters instructor parka.

My day was saved by the discovery of a passable $1.10 liter of Vino Rosso, vintage February. Ron Lyle, cofounder of the SM euro trips and consummate bargain hunter, would have been proud.

The Wednesday Spoon Holder

The Spoon Story: Jason and six others were riding a poma in a murky blizzard when Jason bailed out (in front of the sign that said to not dismount at any point other than the top) and headed off. The others had to make a quick decision; let him go and get lost forever or bail and follow him into the murk. It may have been a difficult decision but, in the end, all six followed Jason, against their better judgment. They all agreed, Jason deserved the spoon and, perhaps more.

Snow is falling Wednesday evening. Thursday could be good!

Note: Double Click on the Photos to enlarge them for viewing.

Corvara Forecast; Possible "Precipitations"

2011-03-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Daily weather information is provided to hotel guests in Corvara, elevation 1600 meters. The information for Wednesday, the 16th is as follows.

"The Weather Promises:"

"Significant at times bad weather, overcast sky with widespread moderate precipitations (100%), strong at times in the Prealps and Southern Dolomites. Snowfall level between 1500/1800 meters rising at times in the Prealps, whereas falling in the closer Dolomites valleys in case of heavier snowfalls. Abundant rainfall amounts as well as significant new snow amounts above 1800/2000 meters."

In other words, mixed rain and snow in Corvara. Despite the forecast half the group ventured out seeking higher elevations and fresh snow. They were not disappointed but, overall, it was a wet day. The snow accumulating at higher elevations and possibility of snow in Corvara raises the spirits’ and everyone is looking forward to Thursday.

Tuesday; Skiing and Eating Continues

2011-03-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Church at St Croce

Tuesday, March 15: Weather was much improved for Tuesday skiers. Again, some tackled the Sella Ronda, changing direction from the day before, while others ventured off the Sella.

Monday trip leader Claudeen raved about the snow and scenery on the way to St. Croce, a small church, tucked in the mountains above the nearby town of Badia. We didn’t know how much of her story to believe since she has never found a ski run she didn’t like but we took a risk and eight of us headed that way. It was wonderful and far better than the Monday skiing. Our group (Meyers, Powis’, McGrath, Heeren, Dennis’) ran into seven others (Kaisers, Mitchell, Halvorson, Bladt, Stevenson, Christ) at a restaurant in the shadow of the St. Croce church.

We understand at least one other group (Stabler, Foushee) visited the church but dined lower on the hill.

All reports indicate skiing was good everywhere and fun had by all.

Breakfast at the Hotel

For dinner, half the group opted for the special dinner at the top of the gondola followed by either a ski or snow cat ride down. We await the report on that event.

Lunch Near the St. Croce Church

Four star hotels come equipped with a bidet and eEach year the question comes up; how do you use the thing? Click HERE for all you have ever wanted to know on the subject.

Monday on the Sella; Conditions Variable, Skiers Intrepid

2011-03-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

March 14th, Monday: The first day at a resort can be chaotic. Clothes must be unpacked, tickets purchased and ski groups assembled. Somehow out of the chaos various groups came together and most hit the slopes before noon.

Claudeen, Our Esteemed Leader

A trip around the Sella Ronda attracted the most interest and a number of people made the trek. Our group of nine started around “anti-clockwise” but, after a time consuming unplanned diversion that included the men’s world cup downhill course, we changed plans and returned the way we came after completing only about one third of the loop. Claudeen led a group off the Sella and claimed excellent conditions and scenery.

Overall the ski conditions could best be described as variable. There was some fresh though heavy snow. Groom, slush and bumps could all be encountered from time to time and the fog was a persistent visitor at some elevations. Corvara veterans have all seen better conditions on the hill but complaints were few and good sports plentiful. Improved weather is in the forecast.

First Day in the Ski Room

Prior to dinner the hotel hosted a traditional welcome reception in the lounge which allowed us to see their excellent staff at work.

At dinner Greg Nelson introduced the new comers to the spoon tradition. There were two candidates.

1. Greg Nelson: After explaining the use of plug adapters and transformers to his daughter Greg returned to his room, plugged in his electric toothbrush without a transformer and turned it into a smoking ruin.

Scenery on the Sella Ronda

2. Vicki/Ed Koehl: Ed, who is not on the trip, is keeping an eye on the Nelson’s eastside home. He visited the house, failed to secure a door and set the alarm off which resulted in a call to Greg in Italy asking if security should call the police. All was straightened out and Ed acknowledges his culpability.

Vicki received the spoon. Now, it would appear that is very unfair for her only sin is marriage to Ed. But the spoon holder makes the rules and Vicki is here and Ed is not so…congratulations Vicki.

To learn more about the spoon tradition click HERE.

Ski Masters misbehaving at a slope side pub.

Web Cams and Weather in Corvara

2011-03-13T23:27:00.000-07:00

Wonder what the weather is like in Covara this morning. Click on MOUNTAIN CAMS. and take a look. The view they show is very much like the view from the hotel. You can share the joy and/or sorrow or sun and/or fog. But we came all this way and we will ski..................

Corvara Group Arrives: People and Luggage All Present

2011-03-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Day One Friday: The 2011 SM Euro pre trip gang, 24 in number, made it to Frankfurt, the first leg of the trip, without a hitch. Lufthansa did a great job. The next leg was a bit of a challenge. Due to an Italian “work action” the flight to Venice was cancelled. The planned three hour Frankfurt layover extended to a 12 hour visit.

But the intrepid travelers were not deterred. Warned of the possible delay before leaving Seattle, Val and Greg Nelson prowled their laptop exploring “things to do” in Frankfurt. As soon as we landed in Frankfurt Kim Kaiser was on his IPad searching for nearby hotels. Kim was able to identify several options (Sheraton at airport $220; Steigenberger near airport $95). The group gravitated to the Steigenberger where four couples purchased their own room and said adios to the group. The rest pitched in and purchased one room to store hand carry luggage in and then headed out to “do Frankfurt."

In the end both groups seemed pleased with their choices. The “hotel” group was able to log about five hours of welcome sleep in a four star environment followed by a very German dinner at a charming restaurant on the hotel grounds.

The “tour” group spent much of their time in motion;

• Bus, airport to hotel to drop luggage.

• Bus, hotel to airport to catch train.

• Train to Frankfurt, tour and eat.

• Train to airport.

• Bus to hotel to recover luggage and catch a nap in group room.

• Bus to airport.

While in Frankfurt the group engaged in what they referred to as a “meat festival.” Apparently a meat platter was recommended and ordered that contained an incredible variety of meats, most of which could be identified.

A Canal View from the Hotel Room

The rest of the day went as scheduled, just twelve hours later than planned. All luggage arrived, skis were stored and the group boarded three water taxies for the short trip to Venice and a waiting hotel room. Arrival time: about midnight.

Day 2 Saturday: What a glorious day to tour Venice; sunny, light wind and cool weather. Planning for the trip we were prepared for the worst (rain, wind and hill) so were delighted to be greeted with relatively balmy March weather.

It was an open day for the travelers; i.e. everyone was on their own. Some did a tour in the am while others employed a guide in the pm. Mostly people just wandered. Venice is a wonderful place for wandering as long as you have the name of your hotel in your pocket. You can easily get lost but, if you look for the landmarks, like Plaza San Marco or the Rialto Bridge, you can find your way back from whence you came.

A Guided Venice Tour

Report for the day are good and no one is lost as of this date.

Day 3 Sunday: Everyone is together at last. The Venice group wrapped up their touring and boarded a 12:45 water taxi back to the airport. The only mishap reported was Bob McDonald's mogel run down the stairs at the hotel. He caught his foot on a loose carpet and rode the carpet down about four stairs ending up on his back at the bottom. We will see how he feels Monday AM.

At the airport we met the other 8 independent traveler and waited a short time for the Seattle group of 15. All people and luggage arrived on time; a good start!

The bus ride was longer than anticipated due to snow on the primary route. It took almost five hours to make the Corvara run with a single pit stop at a very surprised but welcoming bar/rest room on the way. The McDonald's were kind enough to purchase an ample supply of local wine to share on the bus. Bob and Jim Smersh managed to pour for all wished to imbibe and (to the best of my knowledge) spilled nary a drop.

The snow falls and the group anticipation builds.

Corvara Italy, One of Our Favorites

2011-03-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

It would be hard to pick a favorite European ski destination. If you like furs, fashion and flash then Cortina, St Moritz or Zermatt might have some appeal. But if you are up for friendly people, fabulous food and scenery to die for, Corvara Italy, on the Sella Ronda, is hard to beat. It’s one of our favorite resorts.
Corvara, the village, is no head turner. It has everything you need, however; shops, bars and hotels. There are other villages on the Sella Ronda; Arabba (too small), Val Gardena (too big) and others you just pass through and whose names I don’t recall. Covara is just right.

The Posta Zirm Hotel, our base, is family owned, well located and very friendly. Oh, and the food is good.

The Horse Drawn Rope Tow

As for the skiing, each day you can pick a new adventure.

1. Bus to Passo Di Falzarego and take half the day to ski down and back to the Sella Ronda loop. The run even includes a horse drawn sleigh as a rope tow across a flat area at the bottom.

2. Circumnavigate the Sella Rona clockwise.

3. Circumnavigate the Sella Rona “anti-clockwise.” You would think it wouldn’t matter which way you went but each direction involves different runs, lifts and, if you choose, restaurants. (Did I mention the food on the hill?)

4. Ski over to nearby San Cassiano, a decent ski area all by itself.

5. Ski over to Arabba, another nearby village.

The choices and combination of choices mean you can ski new slopes each day or go back to any favorite you discovered the day before.

Weather and schedule permitting night skiing is an option. You take a chair ride to a slope side restaurant for dinner and entertainment followed by a snow cat ride or ski down. Just another adventure! (If interested in the ski down pack a headlamp. The slope is unlit.)

A Word About the Ski Down: In 2004 I decided to ski down and joined the “hot dog” group.Big mistake. I tightened my boots, looked around and found myself alone on the mountain. Never trust the “weasels.” Fortunately for me I was able to hear them whooping and hollering down slope and just skied to the sound of the laughter.

So, stop number one on the 2011 trip, Corvara, Italy, should meet the expectation of even the most discriminating traveler.

War Comes to the Dolomites?

2011-03-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

In 2000, after enjoying lunch in the sun at the Sella Ronda resort of Arabba, I wandered into a nearby mountain top building marked as a war museum. Though the captions were in Italian I deduced that the area had been the scene of heavy fighting during World War I, nearly 100 years ago.

Curiosity led me to read more about the area when I returned home.

The Dolomites, on the border with Austria, have been fought over for centuries. During World War I, when Italy and Austria were adversaries, the border moved several times. The small Arabba museum told some of that story. Soldiers spent summer and winter months perched in caves and bunkers on the hillsides, defending the few passes through the mountains. It was not a great place to be.

Other evidence of war can be found at the top of the nearby Passo Di Falzarego (which is also a wonderful place to ski). A number of mountainside caves and bunkers have been restored and are available to tour. Wear your ski helmet. Space it tight and head bangs are guaranteed.

Interested in learning more about wartime life in the Dolomites? There is a wonderful novel by Mark Helprin, A Soldier of the Great War, that I can highly recommend. It is more than a war story and a good read.

Over the Counter Drugs: Pack’em if You’ve Got’em

2011-03-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

You might assume that Italy and France; first world nations with all the comforts of the good old U. S. of A, would have all the consumer goods we might want on our trip? Yes and no. In almost every instance, you can find what you are looking for or a reasonable substitute in a local market. But with over the counter drugs, maybe not.

On early SM Euro trips it wasn’t a big issue. Ron Lyle, a professional pharmacist, seemed to have pills for every malady tucked in his luggage. I’m not sure how he did it and never asked questions. But he could treat and cure most conditions from the depths of his boot bag.

Last trip to Switzerland I was shopping for basic cold medications and came up empty. The ladies in the white uniforms at the local pharmacy couldn’t come up with NyQuil, my favorite nighttime cold medication, or anything else that was familiar. Perhaps they don’t allow the sale of cold remedies that we take for granted. I don’t know. Now, they didn’t leave me without treatment. I explained my condition, in my best fractured French or German, after which she went behind the counter and came back with some small white pills that were supposed to do the job. They didn’t and, since I couldn’t read a word on the box, I wasn’t sure what they were intended for so tossed them when I returned home.

I don’t recall what is on the pharmacy shelves in Italy and France. It’s just that they might not have the ones you are comfortable with and you can’t read the box to make a reasoned selection. They may have meds for any condition you might have. But if you have a favorite, that you are comfortable with, why not take along a few pills from home to avoid the confusion and increase your peace of mind.

As an aside, some experts suggest you keep pills in the original packaging so there is no confusion at customs as to what the pills are for. We don’t want anyone busted on drug charges.
Read more on the topic at Martha’s Travel Blog

The Sella Ronda & Courchevel; Destinations for 2011

2011-03-05T15:34:00.000-08:00

The 2011 trip will take the SM Euro travelers to two of the best ski areas in Europe. Let's look at each of them.

Sella Ronda and Corvara:
The following is an excerpt from the Sella Ronda web site:

Joining the skiing circuit is easy: just follow the roads that take you to one of the four villages around the Sella mountain. The length of the circuit, including both, ski lifts and ski runs, is a little less than 40 km and it is an easy route to ski along.

But, because it is high up in the mountains, you need to check the weather forecast in order to avoid running into snowfalls or high winds which can turn what is supposed to be an enjoyable day out into an unpleasant and risky enterprise, with the danger of getting stranded. Any skier interested in doing the Sella Ronda must be fit, even if the runs themselves are of middling difficulty rather than advanced.

The time spent on ski lifts is about two hours altogether, without counting the time spent queuing for them or having a break in one of the many refuges dotted along the circuit.

To learn more, visit this Web Site. It is full of information for the traveler.

Double Click the Photo to Enlarge

Courchevel

Courchevel is a part of Les Trois Vallees (which means the three valleys to those of us from Ballard.) Resorts at Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens inconnect and offer a huge range of ski options.

SM Euro stayed in Val Thorens in 1998 and some of us made it to Corchevel during our time there. My only recollection was that Val Thorens was a modern town with good skiing and little charm. Corchevel, on the other hand had much more of the charm and old world quality some look for on a European trip.

Fellow traveller, Ed Meyer, was kind to do some research and uncovered a wonderful site on Courchevel that should answer all your questions. Click here for Ed's site.

It won't be long new before we climb onto the big German bird for the trip to Frankfurt!

Ski Weather Watch: Que Sera Sera

2011-02-27T19:11:00.000-08:00

As the departure day for the 2011 trip approaches there is a temptation to check the ski resort weather and snow depths on a regular basis. My advice; don’t.

Why? Doris Day said it best. Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.

Blizzard Alpe d'Huez 2009

It may snow and it may not and there is nothing we can do about it. We may get a chest high dump of snow so pack warm and bring your powder cords. Or we may have two weeks of blue sky and old snow. Be prepared for some fun spring skiing.

One bit of advice for the Venice pre trip travelers; bring warm clothes. We have been there twice in March and, though we had blue skies on occasion, it was cold. Remember, it’s March, Venice is on the sea and the breeze is a regular factor. Think Seattle weather in March. (A small umbrella might be appreciated as well.)

Regardless of the snow depth we will most likely have a wonderful time. The resorts are masters at stretching whatever snow they have into a white carpet thick enough to ski on and the hillside food, whether we eat out of the wind inside or on a sundrenched outside deck, it’s Europe. Enjoy it!

Claudeen's Excellent Italian Adventure

2011-02-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

The 1996 San Cassiano Sleep Over

Today, Claudeen Lyle owns and operates Ski Masters European Trips and her mother, Lenore Lyle, sometimes comes along as a guest. In 1996 the roles were reversed. When the ski group headed for Cortina Italy, Lenore was the leader and daughter Claudeen was a guest. Keeping track of Claudeen on that trip may be one of the reasons Lenore now has such silver hair.

Lenore had a reputation for running a “tight ship.” She took responsibility for her guests and did not rest well until they were all accounted for whether it was on the plane, a bus or tucked into bed at the hotel. So one evening when Claudeen called Lenore to report that she, and the three other guests who foolishly followed her, were stuck in a small mountain village, one can only imagine the gist of the conversation. But I’m getting ahead of the story.

Those who’ve made one of the seven SME trips to the Italian Dolomites know that the highlight of the area is a trip around the Sella Ronda. The “Sella” is a giant butte that is ringed, at its base, by a series of small towns (Selva di, Val Gardena, Corvara, Canazei, Arabba) which, in turn, are linked together by an integrated lift system. The trip around covers about 25 miles and can be taken either clockwise or, as they say, anti-clockwise. To do the skiing, the views and the food justice the trips can easily take an entire day.

That was root of the problem. Claudeen, and her seven loyal followers, didn’t begin their circuit until noon.

The plan for the day was straight forward. A bus would pick up the skiers at their Cortina hotel and transport them about 18 miles to the top of a breathtaking pass, the 7000 foot Passo Di Falzarego. From there the skiers would board the tram to the top of the peak and begin an 11 mile journey down a magical valley to the small town of San Cassiano. While San Cassiano was not on the Sella Ronda, the lift network there connected to the Sella and the skiers would be free to explore parts of the Sella, returning to San Cassiano for a late afternoon bus pickup and ride back to Cortina.

Foolishly, as it turned out, my wife Kathy and I joined Claudeen, David, Marsha Hines, Sharon Harker, Tom McGrath and a fourth male (whose name I’ve forgotten) for the race down the mountain from Passo Di Falzarego. When we reached the Sella two decisions had to be made. Do we go left or right and, most importantly, do we try for the entire circuit even though it was well past noon. We chose left, or clockwise, and those familiar with Claudeen’s sense of adventure can guess the answer to the second question.

Soon we were flying across slopes and whisking through lift lines in our attempt to make the full circuit. There was no sympathy for laggards and, as one of the slowest in the group, I was confident I would be left behind if I faltered. A single potty break was allowed. We grabbed a quick snack at an outdoor bar and maintained our breakneck pace.

The uncontrollable element was the lift lines. They were long and slow. The current area guide indicates the lift rides take two hours, not including time in lines. In 1996 they took even longer as many of the high speed lifts hadn’t been installed. I can still recall the old single chair that took us at a painfully slow pace from the town of Val Gardena.

In the end, we failed. We coasted back into San Cassiano as they were shutting down the mountain, a full half hour after the bus had departed. I thought we had a problem. But for Claudeen it was just the start of another adventure. The group plan for the next day had included a bus from Cortina straight to Arabba, on the Sella, so that everyone would be able to spend the entire day going around the Sella Ronda.

“Why go back to Cortina,” Claudeen asked? “Why not just stay in San Cassiano and meet the group when they return tomorrow?”

The desire for clean clothes and fear of the tour director drew four of us onto a $60 taxi ride back to Cortina where we were greeted like long lost explorers.

Claudine, David, Marsha and Sharon elected to stay at a local pension and thus began part two of the days great adventure.

The good news was that there was a small restaurant at the pension and they didn’t seem to mind serving dinner to four Americans in long underwear and stocking feet. The bad news was that they didn’t accept credit cards forcing the intrepid travelers to pool their meager cash hoard, stretching it through cocktail hour, dinner, lodging and breakfast.

As a famous writer once said,” all’s well that ends well.”

The next day the “lost” skiers were reunited with the main body of tour and everyone successfully made the trek around the Sella Ronda.

No record exists of the discussion that Lenore, the trip leader, had with her errant daughter. We can only speculate. But we suspect that even Lenore would have to smile, knowing where Claudeen got her sense of adventure.

To paraphrase another unnamed writer, the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The "H" Party Report & Wednesday in Soelden

2010-03-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Carol Mast reports that a new SM Euro tradition was started; the "H" party. All the attendees needed to adopt an "H" theme in their dress or manner. Confused? Well, read on and it may make sense.

WEDNESDAY MORNING REPORT: Carol reports and asks:how many “H” ideas did we identify last night?

Yes, there were the predictable Hawaiian shirts on many, perhaps still packed from last year’s trip. But imagination ran rampant, with a genuine Hippie (Craig) doing a perfect young-Ozzie Osborne, a Hypochondriac (Nancy) with H labels taped all over a
hospital gown. Herpes, Hysterectomy, Hemorhoids, Hyperrtension, Hemangioma, and two dozen more. Holy Hotcakes! Two Hunchbacks, and a HoneyBear. Your reporter put a Happy Face sticker on everyone, just Happy to be Here! Claudeen, with wings and a halo, was our Heavenly Hostess, and conducted the spirited voting from the bed, as every bit of floor space in the room (we held the party on a balcony as there was
more space there..at least until it got too cold!) was filled and pronounced the winner…Craig, the Hippie! The prize was a box of liquour-filled chocolates PLUS a tiny alpine cow-bell with the letter “H” on the keychain tag. VERY Austrian, VERY “H”.

The Spoon was awarded to Bob McD for reasons beyond comprehension, some convoluted story regarding a 2+ hour wait on the mountain for others who had promised to be at a certain spot and, being Bob, he waited, and the saga goes on from there. It involves the three beers he drank wihle waiting, but you’ll have to ask him for further details.

Several of us had “packing” dreams overnight, and it is only Wednesday.We have been told repeatedly that we MUST have a small overnight bag to take into the hotel in Munich on Friday night before early Saturday departure to Frankfurt and on to Seattle, and it is beginning to sink in. The Party is not over, but we have only two days to ski together and that isn’t a happy prospect at all! The sun is out skys are clear and the wind direction has shifted, promising even warmer weather tomorrow,
according to our hotel owner/manager, who recommends heavy sun screen.

It appears that our group virus has run it’s course, with 8 of us missing a day or more of skiing. Our only casualty is Dr. Mark, who suffered two broken ribs, but is skiing none-the-less. Brave or crazy, you decide!

WEDNESDAY APRES SKI REPORT: We are back at the hotel, having danced through the softening snow on the slopes above Soelden. You may notice that yesterday’s entry used the S-o-with and umlaut-den spelling, but that was computer whiz Jazon’s expertise and this typist is going to use the Anglicized version that appears at about the same frequency as the o-with-umlaut variety. The same goes for the Ice Man, Oetzi and the Oetztal and Oetz River…all have that o-with-umlaut so be advised that these words will be spelled in both ways when you read about them here and elsewhere.

OK, so about the skiing; icy morning even though a large contingent went up at 10:30 today. That softened up fairly soon and turned to corny snow briefly before becoming coconut shave ice, really a lot of fun to ski in until it was time to come back to the valley floor. Some decided to download and celebrated the decision when it became obvious that two bare roads would have required stepping out of skis and
carrying them across. It’s springime in the Alps even though trees are not budding and the hillsides are showing no green as yet. We are all skiing in windshirts with single layers underneath and slathering on the sun block with varying levels of success. Bob McD, Claudeen and Nancy have tans like magazine models. Jason looks like a Hawaiian beach boy. Larry looks like a nuclear bomb blast victim. Others are wearing varieties of protection with zinc oxide, so we are a mixed lot as far
as appearance goes.

But we are a championship lunch bunch, for certain. Today featured a planned stop at the Lopple (I think that’s the spelling) in a little dip down a killer steep cat track in slush-covered ice. It was worth it! Nice cold beers, goulash soup, wurst, sauted spuds with a sunnyside egg and sliced onions on top, crispy hot frites, wiener schnitzel and another version of yesterday’s featured recipe, Kaiserschmarrn.

Toni, our waiter, patiently took everyone’s camera for group shots and a half dozen of himself mugging between cameras. Vickie told us that there was live music at the next hut down the hill, so we suited up and followed…perhaps two turns and 100 yards. The band was off today but the sound system played 60s music and we enjoyed a second beer or a pear schnaaps with an Austrian flag stuck into a chunk of pear…or an egg liiqour that didn’t seem like enough to get a repeat dance performance by Vickie, to the regret of all who saw yesterday’s rock-out on Jason’s I-Phone.

More tomorrow, but perhaps no other report from this laptop, as Carol and Larry leave the group on Saturday and internet connection in Saas Fee is uncertain. Perhaps someone in the Seattle-bound group can be persuaded to take over the blog. Cheers!

Sun, Smiles and Spring Skiing at Soelden

2010-03-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

Claudeen reports that the sun gods have blessed the 2010 tour group in Soelden. You can look at the photos and judge for yourself.

Last evening the traditional "Crazy Hat" party was replaced by an "H" party. Each guest was to devise a costume based on the letter "H". For confidentiality reasons (or so she says!) Claudeen was unwilling to share photos of fellow travelers. (Perhaps she thinks the photos will have blackmail value at some later date.) In any case she did share her own creation for she came, if you can believe it, as the Heavenly Hostess!

I am sure Carol's report will shed more light on the festivities.

Click any of the photos to enlarge them.

European Hotels; Part of the Grand Adventure

2010-03-23T14:42:00.001-07:00

Over the past 22 years this blogster has traveled to Europe 11 times with Ski Masters. I can’t recall how many times we’ve been asked, “why go over there? Is the skiing that much different than in the U.S?”

The simple answer is “no; the skiing is not different but the experience is quite different.” The SM Euro trips are about the ski areas, the group, the food, the language, the customs…. Traveling and skiing in Europe is just different and, as you might surmise from our 11 trips, we enjoy it.

Ron Lyle, the co-founder of SM Euro Trips, made the point again and again. If you want a U.S. travel experience, stay in the U. S. If you want something different, something more adventurous perhaps, come along and taste the European ski experience.

Nowhere are the differences more pronounced than in the hotel system. There are fewer chain hotels. Many are family owned. Room sizes vary from hotel to hotel and, at times, within the same hotel. I recall our room in St Moritz. It was the “brochure” room; big enough for a party with a view all the way to Italy. Others on the trip were in the “old” part with less space and no view. We did not bribe the trip leader. It was the luck of the room assignment.

From early reports the 2010 crew had a wonderful hotel week one and a less wonderful one week two. The week two rooms are smaller and the staff is, how shall I say, more Austrian!

It isn’t always the facilities that make or break a hotel experience in Europe or the U.S., for that matter. The staff makes a big difference. A few years ago we stayed at Le Post, in Covara Italy (also a destination hotel for the 2011 trip.) It was and is family owned, the staff was a delight and we couldn’t have had a better experience. I frankly don’t recall too much about the rooms….they were fine. The next week was in Verbier, Switzerland and things changed. The hotel was fine but the front desk and bar staff seemed to have their shorts in a knot. The staff took the delight out of an otherwise delightful hotel.

The setting also impacts the hotel atmosphere. In 2009 the group visited Wengen, one of our favorite areas. The town is so charming that it rubbed off on our family owned and equally charming hotel adding synergy to the whole Wengen visit. Because the hotel was older than most of the guests and had been modernized several times, no two rooms were the same which added to the sense of adventure.

The next week was at Alp d’Huez, in a contemporary hotel in a contemporary ski town with a wonderful lift system and skiing. The rooms were pretty consistent and the service more than adequate. But the place couldn’t avoid comparison with the family run hotel in the village of Wengen.

So what’s the point? The point is that each trip and hotel experience creates myth and memories for the SM Euro travelers. If all the hotels in Europe were Hiltons then what would be the point in traveling nine hours to ski. But the hotels, food, staff and the whole experience is what makes the SM Euro trips what they are.

And I think we are signed up for 2011!

Monday in Soelden

2010-03-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

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Carol Writes: It is Monday in Soelden, and we now remember why we should have headed farther down the Oetztal (valley of the Oetz River) to HochGurgl and OberGurgl yesterday. How is it that we could forget the Sunday crowds here in Soelden and how much better the skiing is to the south? Not to mention the lunch possibilities, which have improved since our last visit to this valley, original home to Oetzi, the early Stone Age mummified man who was discovered in 1991.

Oetzi was literally stumbled on during the late summer glacial melt by a pair of hikers who strayed from the recommended route. Thinking that they’d found a more contemporary loss, they hot-footed it back to Soelden to bring officials to examine the remains. The body was preserved remarkably well and what protruded from the melting glacial surface appearing to be much more modern than the 5,000 year-old corpse they’d found. The ensuing hubbub about Oetzi’s actual location when discovered was complicated by the fact that some time passed between the time the hiking couple had alerted authorities and the date that the location was specificially identified by border officials.

In addition, it appeared that the Italian border was the top of a vertical face, inaccessible from Italy, even by helicopter, as landing would involve Austrian territory. The ensuing argument between Austria and Italy was solved when Italy paid an undisclosed sum to Austria for the rights to the body following scientific examination (which happened in Austria) with the result that Oetzi now resides (as well as a 5K year-old can be said to reside) in Bolzano. Rather than relate a lot of maybe-correct information about that scientific examination (and have
to correct it later) here is a website that should answer any questions you may have. This is right up there with Kennewick Man for palentological controversy!

But back to Skimasters. We woke to 41ºF temps and fog clinging to the hilltops, but all could at least imagine seeing thinning spots, especially to the south. Claudeen was back from the Land of the Ill and arranged for taxis to take us down the valley to HochGurgl and OberGurgl. Translation from the German is pretty straightforward: Hoch means High and Ober means Over, or Higher. The Gurgl is the river in the valley floor, which feeds into the Oetz River. Why take a taxi? Well, you need a skipass to ride the bus (which most of us did on the return) and you could not buy that pass in Soelden. Your reporter watched a German family who arrived at the lifts in OberGurgl with their Soelden pass and were turned back without apology. Auf Wiedersehen!

But Claudeen knows all, and we got our passes and hit the hill without a moment’s wait in line. This was much appreciated after yesterday’s 45 minute line-up, but we discovered a bit of local
knowledge: the slopes are glare ice early in the day, and our skiers enjoyed our exclusive moments on the high runs with varying amounts of pleasure. And varying levels of success.

There is a spectacular vista at the top of the Gurgl range that could only be accessed by a rickety single chair from mid-mountain, with a small antique hut that served hot wine and jaeger tea and little else. Oh, boy! What a difference a few years make! The panorama from the new Hohe Mut Alm (this is probably dialect, but I’ll venture a translation of “High Mother Mountain”. Really) is still as amazing, but the hut has been replaced by a Disneyland version of a mountain restaurant, and of course, a number of us found it. Independently, and within 20 minutes
of the first arrival.

Independent observation noticed orders for: Tea with Rum, Jaeger Tea, Tattinger champagne, Hefewiessen, Pilsner beer, white and red wine in very nice glasses. Food included several orders of piping hot crisp pommes frites, wiener schnitzel, spinat knodel (trust me, this is great…a dumpling composed of bread crumbs tossed with chopped spinach and grated parmesan cheese (formed into a tennis-ball size) then simmered in chicken broth and served in a bowl with browned butter which floats on the chicken broth run-off from the dumpling. There were 3 of them in a serving. This is a thrifty-hausfrau dish, but on the Hohe Mut, it is heaven!

But there’s MORE! There were at least 3 servings of house-made sausage with sauerkraut and browned potatoes, followed by Kaiserschmarrn. Sorry: this requires another translation/recipe: make browned egg crepes and cut them in small pieces. Melt butter in a pan, add sugar and start to brown. Add pancake pieces and sprinkle with more sugar, toss again. Arrange on the serving plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with crème anglais…vanilla sauce…and whipped
cream on the side. Oh, and apple sauce and a currant sauce, which is something like cranberry sauce’s more piquant sister. There was also apple strudel, not only on the Hohe Mut, but after descending to ObderGurgl later in the day. And here’s the real confession. The preceding served just NINE of us!

At dinner this evening, the rest of the group shared similar experiences in different locations. But let’s face it: boilerplate is hard on everyone and not much fun. Slush is more fun but also a challenge to our skill, and we were all happy to be sitting in the dining room together. The Spoon was awarded to Asa by Terry, for arriving late to lunch (following a profoundly wrong turn) to discover that the huge platter of ribs ordered as the group lunch had been reduced to bones. Undeterred, Asa found a beer and gnawed off the leftover bits and powered on. Hurrah for Asa!

Tomorrow, we return to the slopes of Soelden, in full confidence that the mobs of Sunday are gone. Tchuus bis Morgen! (Kiss until tomorrow morning!)

42º at 7am Tuesday, with sunny skies giving rise to speculation that higher slopes here in Soelden may be less icy than yesterday’s glaciers. A 10:30 walk down the river to one gondola, 90 minutes after skiers departed, shows NO lineup where the Sunday mob had gathered, so that’s
tomorrow’s plan, at least for this reporter. A bit later, mid-day at the ParkHotel, one can see skiers trudge past in all directions. Have they finished for the day or are they on their way to one of the gondolas ascending to the high slopes? Wind has picked up a bit along the valley floor, flaunting rainbow flags (it’s Gay Week in Soelden, we were told) but t-shirts are as common as parkas on passersby. Lunch at the Central Hotel for a couple of today’s Lay-abouts is on the
program, as is this week’s party, with a theme of “H”. That’s all. Just “H”. Tomorrow’s report will list interpretations of “H”, Hopefully.

Ubergurgl Greets Ski Masters

2010-03-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Our traveling blogger, Carol, has been quiet for a bit but Claudeen was kind enough to send along evidence of the groups activities in Ubergurgl. We assume skiing was invloved as well but the food seems to have center stage with the group.

Not that eating is an unusual activity for Ski Euro travelers. The on the slope food is one of the high points of a trip to Europe.

Click on the photos to enlarge them.

Last full day in Courmayeur

2010-03-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Carol Mast Reports: This is our last full day in Courmayeur, and we already speak of returning. Small sub-groups have ventured off in different directions; some took the public bus back to La Tuile, some headed to the local slopes, some had guides to regions that may require them to harness up and carry their skis up metal steps (so it is rumored) to a tenable place on the glacier. This morning’s threatening cloud cover has given way to full sun with no wind, and only a gentle haze to soften the bright sunlight. Some chose to hang in town to absorb the particular viewpoint of this small mountain town in the Val d’Aosta. And, of course, to shop, especially as woodcarvers from this valley are the pride of Italy.

From the balconies on the street side of our hotel, one can see the bright red cable car ascending the slopes as well as the Dent d’ Geant (the Giant’s Tooth, which is so vertical that no snow covers it) and one of the numerous paired tunnels which connect adjacent valleys with ease, rather than the tortuous narrow winding 2-lane roads of former times. It is no surprise that uniquely local features can be observed in some most mundane details.

For instance: chimney caps are topped here by two varieties of architectural detail. One looks for all the world like an avian condo, with multiple verandas and gabled roof. The second version was repeated in Chamonix, (which is in France) but not in Italian La Thuile, a flat tile over the chimney opening, topped by a triangular single chunk of stone, a mini-Matternhorn. Some variations exist on this second theme, with a cone of smaller stone creating the pinnacle, but the most
attractive exemplars of the form are single triangular blocs of stone with a bit of a curve at the point. Are they functional? Do they deflect snow accumulation? Cut down on flue draft for the fire? Who knows? Who speaks fluent Italian?

The vista down the main road shows off the handsome rounded 2-foot diameter slate roof tiles (which surely came from La Thuile) which boast of the stout construction beneath them. There is not a single blue tarp in sight! There are numerous sattelite dishes which have all but replaced roof-top antennae, although a few remain alongside the dishes, perhaps on the summertime “HoneyDo” list.

We don’t see any sign of ostentatious EuroTrash visitors here; perhaps we are early or late for their arrival. There is a Hermes shop on the plaza, so someone must shop there, but in this lovely warm between-High Seasons week, it is pretty much locals and hard core skiers like ourselves and the Japanese group with whom we share the breakfast room We did hear some American English this morning, two 40-ish men who
talked business non-stop, thought they were suited up for skiing.

Wildlife report includes sighting of a butterfly on the ski slopes at 10,000 ft yesterday, a possibly suicidal black squirrel that performed an almost-fatal crossing of the cat-track on descent to La Thuile, barely missing the chance to decorate someone’s helmet. Dang! Today, there are deer-fly type buzzing insects about the valley floor at mid-day, perhaps looking for a nibble of the dried beef and cheese on the table. Lunch in Val d’Aosta… with a view of a cleft mountain and
distant snow fields lined with retaining walls that are intended to keep the downhill residents safe from avalanche. This is a geologist’s paradise. Who speaks fluent Geology?

Typing those words, I heard a rumble, thinking it was some sort of cart on the cobbled path behind the hotel, but it was a pale grey waterfall of melted snow and rubble across the valley that continued for two minutes or more. It stopped well above any possible habitation, but the image remains. And five minutes later, a softer rumble from the same area of the mountain slope showed a replenishment of the first snowfield, lower in altitude. Now I hear rumbles elsewhere, beyonc the
enclosed valley, and I no longer think of carts on the cobblestones, waiting in anticipation of the return of our friends. And the rumbles continue, prompting a search of the hillside for the source, like counting seconds between thunderclaps and lighting bolts. It must get to be second nature after a while, but at the moment, it is disconcerting.

The SkiMasters version of the Norovirus seems to have run it’s course. Both of our victims are skiing today and no new symptoms are reported. We have had no injuries (your reporter declared a Personal Day to allow a return of the knee to normal size after two 8-hour days on the sticks) and there can’t be a better report than that. At least until dinner!

La Thuile (It) and La Rosiere (Fr); New Adventures

2010-03-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here is Carol's Thursday report. Be sure to read on as we also have a post with photos from Claudeen. The good news is that by reading the reports we can share most of the experience without the calories.

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Thursday in Espace San Bernard, which encompasses La Thuile (IT) and La Rosiere (F), completely unknown treasures! Claudeen got a tip from our hotel owner’s sons that we should NOT miss this ski area less than 30 minutes from Courmayeur; La Thuile, translated by French-speaking Michelle as “The Tile”, as in roofing tiles, which are huge slate slabs hereabouts. We began the morning with a dead battery as Dietmar, our Austrian bus driver, intended to warm the bus for us. The Italian version of AAA drove up in his mini-Fiat with two batteries and jumper cables and we were off. Dietmar made up for the delay with heroic hairpin curve driving skills, getting us to the gondola through what we concluded was a pedestrians-only passageway just inches wider than the coach. Bravo, Dietmar!

The group split into a half-dozen crews heading in every direction from the tramway exit, with everyone deciding independently to lunch over the border in Le Rosier, France. It seems that we were all thinking “French Fries”, but not until we were able to comprehend and enjoy the size and scope of this gigantic open area that wasn’t on anyone’s list of Must Ski. In fact, we liked it so much that most SkiMasters will go back tomorrow on the public bus, since Dietmar has his formal “day off”” on Friday. As we are staying in an actual town with hotels, he
doesn’t have to spend his off-time in the slide-out mortician-style drawer accommodation which his default sag wagon. He is a gentleman of substantial stature, so it cannot be his favorite option.

This bus driver gig is interesting, and as Dietmar speaks idiomatic English, your reporter was able to pump him for details. He drives for weeks at a time all over Europe, with his customers providing his accommodations wherever they stop. He has driven for rock bands (the name he dropped was Madonna) and ski exhibitions, various special interest tours (geologists, anthropologists, WWII vets from all armies, some of them traveling together to their former battle sites) and groups like ours who want to go into impossible places to park. The good news is that we can always get onto the bus if we come down from skiing early, as he is sitting at the wheel with his laptop or his book. He always has enough cold water and beer for us when we board after skiing, and so far, hasn’t lost patience with any of us. Yet. OK,
should anyone think we are enchanted by our bus driver, think again. But it COULD be an interesting retirement job!

Tonight is the first time we have figured out how to work the SKY television system in our room, and we are surprised to discover that, apparently, nothing has happened in our week away from the USA. CNN featured an interminable Rose Garden daily news conference in which the current mouthpiece (uh, spokesperson) said Nothing over and over. The lead item on FOX TV was a mother and child missing in WA with the Thurston County police phone number listed. We’ll be on the outlook for them; the kid has a Mohawk so he should be easy to spot. MSNBC is blathering on about CEO compensation. BBC reported that the US Medicare system will be bankrupt by 2017 so we are all considering having our hips and knees replaced soon.

The local Italian news channel had an amazing report on a blind skiier’s downhill race in Vancouver, with Guides leading Racers down the course, shouting directions over their shoulders as they flew down the course. No kidding. It was all in Italian, and we wondered if it is being reported in Seattle. There was a big US contingent at the bottom with flags (not seen by the skiers, for certain) where the racers finish. The blind skiers look better than many of us on the slopes.
Really.

Another TV news item reports that a cruise ship departing from the east coast of the US was forced to return to port after a breakout of Norovirus, and we have had a mini-version of our own. Two of our compadres have missed ski days, Larry and Robin, with symptoms of some sort of GI distress followed by fever and exhaustion. They were together the first day on a trip with a guide in Courmayeur, but another of our group who skiied with them is unaffected, and so far, no one else has any signs. May it be so!

Images are promised to the group by various photographers at the Italy/France border, all of our lunch stops, which, miraculously, happened to be simultaneously reached by most of the SkiMaster Variable Speed Cells that depart from the bus with unlimited destinations. We think that there may be some special SkiMasters magnetism at work!

Tonight's dinner started with "Local dried meat, oil and walnuts" which, though unappetizing in description, was a paper-thin arrangement of air-dried beef drizzled with virgin olive oil and dusted with ground walnut meat. There is no way to duplicate this back home, unless Mario Battali's father, ex-Boeing engineer Armandino Battali makes it at his Salumi in Seattle. AMAZING. Two soups and a light version of lasagne followed with main courses of lamb, veal and ham, served with winter vegetables (potato and turnip slices, sauteed nicely) and an improving
cheese trolley preceding the dessert selections. A bright green pistachio torte would have been more appropriate last night (St. Paddy's Day) when we were more likely to voluntarily ingest unnaturally green food.

The spoon passed from Ed to Linda, who apparently commented in public that she very much enjoyed her ride on The World's Longest Poma Lift. No protests were heard from the other Spoon Contenders, who were mostly in the ranks of Forgot Gloves, Trolling for Women with Unzipped Pants...random normal stuff. Thus our week in Italy winds down; tomorrow, we expect increasing clouds and the specter of packing to
leave for Solden. Ciao from Courmayeur!

Skiing and St. Paddy's Day; Claudine Captures the Spirit

2010-03-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

NOTE: CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM.

Hi Blogsters From Claudeen,
We had a great day at another new area, well, two areas: La Thuile and La Rosiere. They had great off-piste skiing and on - with wonderful slopes for any level. We had the troublesome task of deciding whether we wanted French or Italian food for lunch... French won. Tomorrow, many of us are returning to the area, and to an Italian lunch.

Attached are a few pictures of our day at Chamonix yesterday, today at La Thuile and La Rosiere, and the traditional St Patty's Day party. Of course, the party was dedicated to Tom and Jay.

Tomorrow, many in the group are hiring guides to ski the Valley Blanche from Courmayeur in to Chamonix.

It's so great to know people are checking the blog. Love sharing this with everyone.

Claudeen

Courmayeur, Cervinia and Zermatt; And All Returned

2010-03-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

Evening #3 in Courmayeur. Ciao from your SkiMaster friends, who had a terrific day in Cervinia, with weather that ranged from frost-bite white out to lunch in the sun on the terrace at the Hotel Astoria. Bob cDonald assumed the Great Mountain Guide role and led 25+ of us across the border from Italy to Switzerland, where the salad and pasta and pizza and Chianti warmed us for the trek back. People who love to pole
were in their glory as we trekked for miles, and rode the longest vertical t-bar in anyone's memory. But the hour-plus bus ride back to Corumayeur was unnaturally quiet as everyone napped following the harrowing return. No lives were lost and no arrests were made.

Ed Koehle graciously received the Spoon from Robb Rough, deservedly, as three friends had to help him retrieve the family heirloom flask he’d dropped from the chair. He was the hands-down winner, and could hardly protest with so many witnesses. In fact, he and Vickie volunteered to change their family name to O’Koehl for tomorrow night’s St. Paddy’s Day party, to be held in their room.

The last report of the mysterious loss (and even more mysterious re-appearance) of a boot bag was incorrect; Robin Calderon got all of her luggage, and though Terry Behme was the one without her boots for a day, she’d rented and fallen in love with the replacement pair, so all’s well and Hal gets to haul three pairs of boots back home.

Dinner back at the Pavillion Hotel was an improvement over last night. We all enjoyed a Caprese Salad (mozzarella on tomato slices with a basil dressing) before choosing between oglio/olio (thin spaghetti with olive oil, garlic and pepper flakes) or two soups. The main courses were beef, veal and lamb dishes, with the dessert trolly featured a chocolate crème cake, a flaky Napoleon and other delicacies. Claudeen must have lit a fire under the chef, as the offerings are much improved over our past two dinners.

Off tomorrow to Chamonix for skiing for most and shopping (for some) with a reminder to wear something green in honor of the day. Without Tom and Jay, it seems a hollow exercise!

Caio!

Here ya go: Day 1 in Courmayeur

2010-03-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hallo to SkiMasters everywhere from beautiful, sunny Courmayeur. Thestory in brief on the journey here: not much to report, other than the remarkable surprise of a case of lovely red Italian wine hauled on our bus by DiAnne and Bob McDonald, bought at the growing restauarant enroute to Bormio where we stopped for a 3 hour lunch not long ago. Bob wishes to repeat that the Italian restaurant owners are cousins of proprieters of a favorite Glacier, WA Italian restaurant, and NOT relatives of the McDonalds, much to the regret of all! Bob reports that the restaurant has added a number of rooms to the enterprise so that diners can sleep off the amazing menu, and that the son of the owners still talks about our lunch with them as if it were their personal high point of history.

Various members of the group arrived in Milan early on several airlines and spent the extra time in random activites. Some took a train up to view Alpine glaciers, while others toured LaScala and caught a choral mass in the Duomo. But the good news was that Claudeen had all of her ducks together and on the bus within an hour of the Seattle group’s arrival, and with the sun shining down , we did the 2 hour trip in
comfort and red-wine induced euphoria.

Arrival at the Hotel Pavillion went smoothly, with the exception of one lost boot bag. Several people remember seeing it in the hotel lobby with our mountain of bags, so it is surely safe (and pretty useless) tucked into someone’s closet or forgotten under a bed. Robin Calderon is skiing with a guide and three SkiMasters compadres, in expectation that her missing bag will find it’s way back to her by dinner tonight.

We seem to be sharing the hotel with a group from Japan, a cheerful lot with tanned faces who may have been in the Alps for a while. One woman encountered on the elevator was clutching six bottles of Coke, saying “for gas”, leaving with and apologetic smile and mini bow, making me wonder if I was to return the gesture. I said Ciao instead.

As promised, the Menu Maven has comments on the first dinner, not all entirely positive. Several people seemed surprised by what they’d selected from the menu card, including an undercooked slightly crunchy risotto (al dente is not crunchy) a plate of veal that was NOT cooked at all, as expected. Well, Carpaccio isn’t cooked, but that was not indicated on the menu translation. I guess that we’ll need menu
consults for the rest of the week. Salads are not self-selected at a bar, but offered from a trolley, but the trolley did not make it to all tables. Dessert was a selection of indifferent slices of indeterminate composition, one in un-natural colors. Well, the cheese tray was nice!

Breakfast offerings were scanty, with scrambled eggs disappearing early and not replenished. This is always a learning experience!

Your reporter decided to skip the first day’s skiing, as a former Rotary exchange student (Vincent Mercy, Bellevue High, Class of 1988, coincidentally a classmate of Larina Davis!) is visiting for the day with his fiancé, Minh Trang, from Lausanne, Switzerland, which is equidistant to Courmayeur from Milan. Vincent went skiing with the group, while I decided to stay in town with Minh Trang, to hear the story about her horrific snowmobile accident three years ago in Quebec. Let’s just say that skiing is still my choice of winter sport, so you can keep your SkiDoo.

Not being able to describe the on-hill experience, I’ll say that it is a gorgeous Alpine view from our hotel on the valley floor, with the skiers’ choice of three cable cars and gondolas headed up to the broad open slopes of Plan de Gabba, or the yet higher point of Cresta D’Arp. Mont Bianco (Mont Blanc) is Door Number 3, with the chance to ski over the top to Chamonix at Punta Hellbronner. There seem to be many opportunities to get lost, so surely there will be serious competition for the first Spoon Award of 2010.

A light breeze and 34º temps on the valley floor promises interesting snow
conditions. The north side had to be Styrofoam hard in the morning, and with several of our group renting skis, we’ll certainly hear reports of equipment challenges. All-day sun may make snow chunky as the hours pass, and we’ll get the viewpoint of the group who hired a mountain guide, as well as commentary from those intrepid souls who venture out with Robb Rough’s declared walkie-talkie channel written in
ballpoint on their wrist.

More tomorrow, with Spoon News, weather and snow conditions from Those Who Dared! Ciao from Carol Mast

Courmayeur; The Facts About the Resort

2010-03-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

Is Courmayeur a new area for you. Well, here is what a reporter from Britain's "Telegraph" newspaper thinks of the place.

Courmayeur is a traditional old Italian mountaineering village that has retained much of its character. Pila, La Thuile and Chamonix are an easy drive or bus ride and Cervinia is reachable.

WE LIKE
• Charming old village, with car-free centre and stylish shops and bars
• Stunning views of Mont Blanc
• Access to the famous Vallée Blanche run to Chamonix (day trips there are possible by road, too)
• Heli-skiing available
• Comprehensive snowmaking
• Some good mountain restaurants
WE DON'T LIKE
• Relatively small area, with mainly short runs; high-mileage piste-bashers should stay away
• Lack of nursery slopes and easy runs for confidence-building
• No tough pistes
• No pistes back to the village, only to Dolonne (where you catch a bus)
• Crowded at weekends
VILLAGE CHARM
Attractive and sophisticated
The village has a charming traffic-free centre of attractive shops, cobbled streets and well-preserved buildings. An Alpine museum and a statue of a long-dead mountain rescue hero add to the historical feel.
The centre has a great evening atmosphere, focused around the Via Roma.
As the lifts close, people pile into the many bars, some of which are very civilised. Others wander in and out of the many small shops, which include lots of smart clothes shops, nice delis and a good bookshop.
At weekends people-watching is part of the scene, when the fur coats of the Milanese and Torinese take over
CONVENIENCE
Buses to the lifts
You cannot ski back to the village itself. But a huge cable car on the southern edge will take you to and from Plan Checrouit, at the heart of the slopes.A gondola from Dolonne (a few minutes’ bus ride away) offers a popular alternative way up and you can ski back there. Both the cable car and the gondola are bus-served, and while parking at the cable car is very limited, there’s a big car park at Dolonne. Many hotels run shuttles to and from Dolonne.
Drivers can also go to Entrèves, up the valley, where there is a large car park at the cable car. Most people leave skis or boards and boots in lockers up the mountain or at the lift base. Buses, infrequent but timetabled (though a 2009 visitor could not get a timetable to take away), go to La Palud, just beyond Entrèves, for the Monte Bianco cable car to Punta Helbronner (for Vallée Blanche). Taxis are easily arranged for evening excursions to valley restaurants.
SCENERY
Mont Blanc rules
The high glacial slopes of Mont Blanc’s massif overlook Courmayeur’s slopes. The views from the high points at Cresta d’Arp and Cresta Youla are stunning.
SNOW RELIABILITY
Good for most of the season
Courmayeur’s slopes are not high – mostly between 1700m and 2250m.
Those above Val Veny face north or north-west, so they keep their snow well, but the Plan Checrouit side is too sunny for comfort in late season.
There is snowmaking on most main runs, including the red run to Dolonne in the valley.
So good coverage in early and mid-season is virtually assured – we’ve been there in a snow drought and enjoyed decent skiing entirely on man-made snow.
SCHOOLS AND GUIDES
Good reports
The Monte Bianco ski school gets good reviews: ‘the best instructor for ages – possibly ever’.
There is a thriving guides’ association ready to help you explore the area’s off-piste; it has produced a helpful booklet showing the main possibilities.
The Courmayeur school has ‘a more snowboardy and young funky image’.
FOR FAMILIES
Some facilities
There are children’s playgrounds at Dolonne and Val Veny and a nursery at Plan Checrouit.

Courmayeur, Italy and Soelden, Austria: Ski Masters Are on the Way

2010-03-13T13:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 2010 Ski Masters Euro trip blog. In 2009 I initiated a daily trip report from Europe so that friends and families could follow the skier's antics without enduring a nine hour flight. I suspect the three readers enjoyed the reports. Since I'm staying home this year Carol Mast has agreed to apply her considerable talent with words to keep us informed as to the progress of our skiing and traveling friends

She is so anxious to begin that she has written a sample report to give you a hint of things to come. Enjoy the sample. More is on the way. Check back. She will try to send frequent reports and I will try to post them frequently.

Carol Writes: Well, it's started already! We drove back from Ketchum recently and arrived to find an email saying that our BA Europe flight COULD be cancelled due to a possible cabin staff strike. TERRIFIC! I think that Bob and Dianne McDonald fly BA also, so there could be some Ski Master MIAs from the get-go.

I'm going to be doing a blog for the SkiMasters back in Seattle and will begin when we reach Soelden. In the past, people have done reports after returning, but now with laptops, we'll be able to keep the Folks Back Home in touch. Normally, there is a blow-by-blow from the ski instructors that details numbers of runs, vertical feet skied, narrowness of chutes...who biffed said chute. My entries will probably be like this:

"Skiing OK with overcast skies, zillions of out-of-control Stem Christie people from Innsbruck swarming the mountainside. Moguls formed by 9:25am, knee deep Cascade Concrete off piste. Ice at the bottom, bare spots...had to ski through farmer's yards to get down in cow poop.

Rode 32 T-bars for a total of 4 minute downhill run to next T-bar.

FABULOUS lunch at AlpenHut with a really terrific beer. Spaetzle (mac and cheese but hand-made) and schweinhax'n (roast pork with crackling skin) so the cholesterol levels are higher than Mont Blanc! Two of our skiiers got lost and had to spend $106 each to get back to the hotel by taxi. Their leader got The Spoon, (explained below) as he insisted that they turn right instead of left at a Y on the trail at 4:35pm. They missed dinner, but appeared in time to get The Spoon.

Dinner at the ParkHotel in Soelden, as usual was 5 Stars. First course was a wild mushroom strudel with a brown butter sauce. To die for. Main course was duck, grilled with peaches preserved from the hotel's orchard, in a demi-glace reduction over garlic-studded creamed potato gratin, with sauted baby green beans the size of toothpicks, sweet and tender. The ParkHotel salad bar is open before and during dinner, and one could live on this feature alone. Lobster salad, freshest baby lettuces and grilled vegetables sit alongside every kind of arranged fruit and smoked fish, sausage platter and cheese.

Tonight's dessert bar features frozen treats, with 14 sorbets and ice creams on offer, all made in house. Fresh berries and three chocolate sauces were in silver bowls and Schlagobers (whipped cream) stood in a crystal urn with a 3' diameter. Larry likes the wine list here and between him and John Anderson, we're working our way through it."

I am not kidding. Not one little bit. And THAT is Austria...can you imagine Italy? Well, I am not just joking when I say that I go on this trip to eat.

The Spoon is an ancient (1947) award for the big FUBAR of the day. You can get it for getting lost, breaking a bone, leaving your heirloom family jewelry in the public bathroom...and then get it AGAIN when it is TURNED IN to the desk three days later. Larry got on our last trip for lighting a match in the bathroom (he is soooo considerate) which set off a smoke alarm, which in turn, closed and locked all the fire doors on the floor. Some people were locked into their rooms/hallways for over an hour. They called him "The Ring of Fire".

So, this is the kind of reporting your can expect from this trip! My next posting could be from the BA lounge at Heathrow...on March 22nd!

Carol

Whistler 2010: Bring Your Travel Pass and Money

2010-02-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

The Whistler Resort is ready for the 2010 Olympics. Information kiosks are spotted throughout the village, TV anchor booths are being readied for the arrival of the broadcasters, the medals stage is nearly finished and you can sense an air of anticipation.

At this point, eight days before the games begin, the crowd is noticeably younger because many of them are event workers and volunteers, not media execs and notables. Some of the athletes have arrived but the real flood will take place next week.

And, yes, there is plenty of snow at Whistler. While it may be thin for events near Vancouver the coverage at Whistler is not a risk. The down hillers will be able to blast downhill.

For those of us that drive, the road to the resort is new and improved. Legendary curves have been removed and much of the route has been widened. But there are still choke points and a system of reversible lanes will be in force during the Olympics to speed traffic north in the am and south in the pm.

To further control congestion a pass is required to travel the last 40 miles from Squamish to Whistler between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm daily during the games. Regular folks will need to arrange for a pass when arranging their lodging in Whistler. A Squamish roadblock is set to go into effect and they will not let you pass.

In addition to a pass you should bring money; lots and lots of money. First there are “must have” souvenirs everywhere. You can’t leave Whistler without some sort of gadget. Second, be prepared for “special Olympic pricing” at the restaurants. We stopped by one of our favorite haunts and the price rise was very discernable.

“Yes, I was a little surprised by the new menu prices,” our server commented. “But everyone’s doing it.”

With the Canadian dollar trading near par with the U.S. the price you see is very near the price in U.S. dollars that you will pay.

But, hey, the Olympics are a once in a lifetime event. There still may be tickets available to some events. We will find out today. In the meantime we came here to ski and ski we will. More Olympics news later.

Wengen Video plus Think Courmayeur, Chamonix, Cervinia and Soelden

2009-10-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Fall is waning, the Cascades are turning white and thoughts are turning to skiing. It is a time to reflect on the 2009 trip and look ahead to 2010.

First, Kim Kaiser, the consumate trip cinematographer, put together a wonderful video for the 2009 travelers. A short version of the video is available on You Tube, thanks to the efforts of producer Steve Sanford. To view the seven minute video, entitled "Wengen Short 0001," click here.

For details on the 2010 trip click on Ski Masters Euro Trip website.

Here is description of the 2010 trip in the trip director's own words:

Not for 25 years has Ski Masters Euro Trips visited so many ski areas in one trip! During our 2010 excursion, we will visit Courmayeur, Italy, a charming upscale Italian town with access to a remarkable array of premier European ski resorts. Taking advantage of this excellent location, we have our deluxe private coach for the entire week, allowing us to conveniently visit several nearby premier ski areas. We will not only ski Courmayeur, but also Chamonix, France and Cervinia, Italy, which offers easy access to Zermatt, Switzerland as well.

Our second week takes us to Soelden, Austria, where three peaks over 3000 meters beckon us into the vast skiing wonderland of this popular resort. World renowned for its year‐round skiing and magnificent views, Soelden provides extensive slopes for all levels of skiers.

Whether you ski, shop, or sightsee, the 2010 Ski Master Euro Trip promises to be an opportunity to experience European ski resorts in four countries!

Sue Smith's Passing

2009-06-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

It is with sadness that I post this message from Claudine. I'm sure many of you knew Sue as she has been on several trips; most recently the 2009 trip.

Hi everyone,
It came to my attention yesterday that several of you may not be aware that Sue Smith passed away last week. Here is the notification I received from Hal Burchard on May 27:

Susie passed away peacefully this morning. Rich, Morgan and Rick were by her side to say their final goodbyes. Private funeral services followed by a memorial ceremony are being arranged.
Rich, Morgan and Rick want to thank everybody for their incredible support during this hardest of times.

The Service will be this Saturday:
On Saturday June 6th there will be a private funeral service for the family followed followed by a Memorial Service at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue. Please join us in remembering Susie. This service will start promptly at 1:00PM.

What a joy it was to be with Sue on our March trip, share her happiness and be with so many good friends. We will treasure those memories!

Claudeen

Robb Rough's Rough Ending

2009-04-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

Oh mannn…what a way to end the ski season.

Last Sunday Robb Rough, a ski buddy and regular on the Euro Ski Trips, had a season ending accident on the last day of the season. Since Claudeen made the first announcement of the accident I naturally assumed that she might have led him astray with her classic line, “follow me.” But I’m advised by Eva Sabo and others that Claudeen was not involved. It was just one of those inexplicable accidents.

Here is Claudeen’s report of the incident:

Hi everyone,
A few of us stumbled across each other at Crystal yesterday (Sunday) for a fabulous ending day at Crystal. Unfortunately, Robb Rough kept the ski patrol busy with a broken leg. He has a spiral fracture of the femur. After three hours of surgery last night, Robb is resting in the hospital. He is doing well this morning and should be home in one to three days. (As Gretchen reports below, this didn’t happen.)

Robb, of course, has always been there for any of us, anytime. He truly knows the meaning of friendship. I hope everyone can take a moment to wish him well.

His contact information is:
Mailing address: P.O. Box 728, Enumclaw, WA 98022
Email: robb.rough@boeing.com

Robb needs his rest, so perhaps phone calls could wait for a bit (cell 206-849-4145).

Prayers for seamless healing, well wishes, and a few smiles might make the next few weeks brighter for Robb.
Thanks everyone!
Claudeen

Other Ski Master’s friends have stepped up to help out including Gretchen Callan and Craig Weber. Here is Gretchen’s report from Tuesday the 21st.

At Robb's request, Craig Weber and I went down today to retrieve some things from Robb's house (cell phone charger, clothes, etc) and took them to him. We got to the hospital about 2:00 PM and spent about 45 minutes visiting. He had had the IV removed and all systems are working. He had been up once with the walker but got pretty dizzy so did not get much further than the door (same as yesterday.) … He had not seen his doctor today and there is no word about discharge….

Craig and I talked about getting him home. Looking at his home (which is quite wonderful) there should be no problem getting him into the house and making him comfortable with "a little help from his friends". Although we still do not know when Robb will be discharged, we would like to set up some sort of system whereby at least one person goes down once a day. Given the number of people on the team, that seems like it should be do-able. Let me know (reply all) if you want to help and when you might be available -- knowing Robb, all that will be involved is some food and company. I am out of town Monday through Thursday of next week. We will likely need help starting Saturday. Thanks. Robb thanks you for all your prayers, energy, and good wishes --G. (Gretchen)

So a big GET WELL SOON message from the blogger.

If you would like to participate in “Gretchen’s Meals on Wheels” program or help out in any way, give Gretchen a call at 425-941-3222 or drop her a note at gcmstengel@comcast.net.

Wengen and Alpe d'Heuz Are Memories; Courmayeur and Solden Beckon for 2010

2009-04-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Photo by Jason Tang

Life is returning to normal for the Euro travelers of 2009. Now the director of trip planning, Ms. Claudine Lyle, is busy finalizing plans for next year at Courmayeur Italy and Solden Austria. Details about the 2010 trip can be found at Ski Masters Euro Trip.

2009 memories were captured by our resident professional photographer, Jason Tang. Those interested in seeing the evidence can visit his site by clicking HERE.

Now the blogger's thoughts are turning to spring. If the April showers that have pelted the Northwest are a sign, then we will have a good spring!

Farewell Alpe d'Heuz;On to Annecy

2009-03-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Every SM Euro trip must come to an end and what an ending we had. After two days of storms and/or flat light and just “OK” ski conditions Thursday dawned with blue skies and a four inch dusting of new snow. Thoughts of packing were tossed and the group rushed through breakfast and out the door.

Claudine and her chasers attacked the powder on the hill nearest to and visible from the hotel. By the time the next wave of skiers hit the slope the first group had a half dozen runs under their belt. It was a picture of happy skiers. Judging from radio intercepts it sounds like the trip leader led her group into pasture land around noon. Participants claim they didn’t actually ski on grass; rather they were on thin layers of snow….

Some stayed in that area all day while others moved around the mountain to sample new skiing and restaurants. The sun stayed out and, though soft slopes were encountered, you didn’t have to work hard to have a great day.

Now it is packing time, that end-of-the-trip time when you have to pack wet gear and try to figure out how you got it to Europe in the first place.

The blogger will be off line for a few days. A trip recap may be produced but no promises on timing. I will let you know when it is available.

THE GRUPPEN
Good resorts, good weather and good snow all contribute to a successful trip. But the real key is a good group and the 2009 group was indeed a good one.

Robin and Gretchen Callan always bring a balanced energy to the trip; she is exuberant and he is a calm and moderating influence.
Dick and Kay Krutch, though they didn’t ski, were always around with a pleasant smile and a good story.
Eva Sabo took her spoons in stride and made the most of her first trip.
Katie Van Hees also joined the action with aplomb and, in addition to skiing, has become addicted to Sudoko by her roommate Eva.
My wife, Kathy, has put up with my blogging and proofed most of the postings. The good stuff is hers and the errors are mine alone.
Linda Lee has been a goodwill ambassador, engaging in long conversations with friendly locals at every stop.
Her son, Jason Tang, has been a non stop bundle of energy photographing anything that moved both off and on the slopes.
Veteran travelers Steve and Lin Sanford have been enjoyable ski companions and full of good spoon stories.
Larry and Vicki Geist have brought an energy to the group. Even after having their flight was cancelled and their skis lost Larry was a bundle of optimism.
Tom Naden, at eighty years old, is a role model for all of us struggling 20 years behind.
Tom’s son, George, is either crazy or committed. In addition to skiing hard and fast he manages to fit in a run each day, snow or sun.
Rich and Sue Smith are fun to be with on the slope or in the hotel. Rich claims he has imposed a 10,000 word per day limit on Sue but it doesn’t seem to dampen her energy.
Bob Dixey and Mo O’Neil liven up any dinner and his rendition of “Happy Birthday” will live in our memories.
Ed and Lorrie Meyer seem to enjoy every minute on the slope and off.
Stephen and Michelle Turnovsky, with their academic backgrounds, raise the collective IQ of the group and offer most interesting dinner conversations.
Kim Kaiser has managed to balance skiing his brains out with time for Pam, who is on injured reserve for this trip. We are glad she was able to make the trip.
Kevin and Sylvie OKeefe have been kind enough to allow the blogger to visit their room each night and post the blog. The blogger’s computer doesn’t seem to speak enough French to hook to the internet. And Sylvie’s command of the French language has helped in several tight spots.
Robin deRegt is a welcomed addition to the group. She and George Naden were even able to use their medical skills to assist a young skier until ski patrol could take over.
John and Carol Powis are always fun to have around. John has given new meaning to the term “my best friend” and Carol is the most spoon worthy traveler who has never actually received the spoon.
Robb Rough, except for the night he totally forgot about the bargain wine party, is always a key part of the group and conversation.
Mark Matthews appears to be having fun even though his wife has been in Vegas with their daughter doing we don’t know what all.
And finally there is the fearless, competent, care free leader of this whole rag tag bunch, Ms. Claudeen Lyle. She holds the whole thing together and proves that beneath the veneer of carefree whimsy lies an organized trip leader who can “bring’em back alive” after a long two weeks in Europe.

THE SPOON
Kevin was able to pass the spoon on to Kim who was accused of leading the fast skiers off course and into some “walk out” situations. Kim, for his part, claims he wasn’t actually the leader of the group at the time but, never mind, he now wears the spoon.

LATER THAT EVENING
Following Wednesday dinner about half the group gathered in the bar (now that’s a shock isn’t it?) The restaurant manager showed up and began pouring shots of various area liquors. Most were good, though some could double as paint remover. But few turned him down, not wanting to appear unappreciative. After several shots the blogger retired and, it was reported, the shots and new brews kept coming.
We were not sure what motivated his behavior though some believe he was feeling guilty about an incident at the dinner hour.
In any case, when I arrived for Thursday breakfast I was pleasantly surprised to see that everyone appeared to have made it back to their rooms and there were no Ski Masters still reclining in the bar.

Storm Eases; Faithful Return to the Slopes

2009-03-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 25

Tuesday’s storm blew itself out, the lifts reopened and the group ventured out to explore the new fallen and somewhat wind blown snow.

The aggressive group was out by 9:00 hoping to find some off piste pleasure. Reports indicate that, while there were moments of exhilaration, many icy surprises lurked beneath the new snow forcing most back to the pistes.

The more refined skiers departed later in the morning and found lots of available snow. The long run to Oz was not up to Monday standards but everyone took the occasional flat light and sticky snow in stride. Once again skiers were able to discover new areas just when they thought they’d seen it all. This is a big place!

Afternoon breezes in upper areas slowed beer sales but hot wine consumption took up the slack.

TUESDAY EVENING; THE EVENING THAT WAS
The highlight of Tuesday evening was the much loved Ron Lyle bargain wine event. Thirty people packed into Sylvie and Kevin’s room, which was itself noteworthy. Competition for the least expensive, drinkable wine was fierce. Mark Matthews weighed in with a worthy contender in the bubbly category with a champagne like beverage that was high on the drinkability scale. But, at over two Euros a bottle, it was not a finalist. Trip rookie Katie Van Hees contributed a red with a fine looking label and a 1.90 Euro pricetag. While a fine wine she soon learned that price is more important than quality.

In the end it was Kim Kaiser’s 1.25 red that was eased out by my own 1.20 white. I made no claims as to quality but it was drinkable and cheap. In all modesty I owe my success to years of travel under the tutelage of the bargain wine master himself, Mr. Ron Lyle.

Steve Proudly Displays His Cheap Wine Award

The wine portion of the event was closed with Bob Dixey serenading his wife with a wine fueled rendition of “Happy Birthday” in his best Donald Duck voice. Some may remember the event from past trips.
Bob Singing to Mo; A Touching Scene

SPOON REPORT
Kevin was unable to make a spoon presentation. The foul weather had kept the group from committing any reported screw ups. But he was on alert today, Wednesday, and we can assume a new spoon holder will be crowned this evening.

While we were gathered for the wine event and in a small room where we wouldn’t offend the other hotel guests an “Untold Spoon Stories” program was launched. Promised immunity from spooning, attendees were encouraged to tell of incidents on past trips that, while spoonable, went unreported.

Kim Kaiser and Lin Sanford reported on a time they and the Powis’ left a restaurant without paying their bill. Each assumed the other had handled it and, between restroom stops and other distractions, no one did. Later in the day Kim returned to the restaurant, confessed to the crime, paid the bill and was rewarded with several rounds of grappa by a grateful owner.

Several hillside restroom incidents were reported but will not be repeated.

Carol Powis’ name frequently came up amid accusations that she has, in the past, resorted to bribery and granting of unnamed favors to avoid being nominated for a spoon.

Gretchen Callan reported on several occasions when she was new to the group and traveling as a single that watchful and caring Tom McGrath and Jay Kane saved her bacon and helped her avoid the indignity of a spoon.

The spoon’s rich and storied history was enhanced by the evening discussions/confessions.

Winter Comes to Alpr d'Heuz

2009-03-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 24
Monday evening was clear and cool; stars were scattered over a clear black sky. We all suspected Tuesday would be another fair day.

But the front desk clerk said it was going to blow and snow Monday night and Tuesday. The Meyer’s Monday guide predicted similar conditions. The waiter at the slope side restaurant began stacking tables Monday afternoon, predicting high winds. The gondolas were all removed from their cables and stored at the bottom of the lifts. The CNN weatherman said a storm was sweeping across Europe.

The clear Monday skies turned out to be deceiving. Tuesday morning dawned with six inches of new snow, winds whipping around the hotel and drifts in the lobby. By 9:00 am, the normal start time, the lifts that were occasionally visible from the hotel, were not running.

A problem? At 9:15 Claudine led Eva Sabo, Jason Tang, Robb Rough, Mark Matthews, Robin deRegt and George Naden into the white fury in search of an operating lift. She was hoping a poma might be operating somewhere.

The not-so-hardy/sensible part of the group savored their morning coffee while contemplating a more leisurely departure predicated upon a favorable turn in the weather and operating lifts. The weather never turned though a lift did begin to operate.

How bad was it? By 10:30 Claudine and most of her entourage was back in the hotel. According to Mark, the only runs accessible from the lift were wind blown and offered intermittent ice patches to keep you alert. Even for the dedicated, conditions didn’t justify the effort.

Kim, Gretchen, the Turnovsky’s and John Powis were all seen in ski gear but no one braved the hill for long.

Making the best of the weather most of the group took advantage of the downtime to find great places for lunch that didn’t require a lift. From early reports, all were successful.

In honor of Ron Lyle tonight is “cheap wine night.” (Inexpensive wine night for the more refined readers.) The goal is to find the least expensive, drinkable wine in town and bring it to a party being held in the area of Kevin, Sylvie and Mark’s rooms. Multiple rooms are required since none of the rooms are particularly large. It is not clear who will define “drinkable” but one can only assume it will be a fair contest. No box wines or plastic bottles are allowed.

SPOON REPORT
Monday evening Steve Sanford was able to pass on the spoon. He first reported on several runner ups.
On Sunday the Powis’ managed to get separated on the first run of the day. They never reunited. It is unclear who lost who and the parties to the event have yet to agree. They seem to have made up and continue to share a room.
Monday morning, in front of spoon holder Steve, Gretchen managed to get her pole caught in a fence while boarding a chair. She spun from the chair, lost her ski and was dumped unceremoniously into a snow pile beside the line. The lift was stopped and she reboarded with grace worthy of a long time ski masters student.

The winner was Kevin OKeefe. As he tells the story he was speeding toward a lift line when he noticed a woman in red on a converging course. She appeared to be looking right at him and he was certain she would be turning but, alas, turn she did not. When it was too late to avoid a collision he somehow lost a ski and slide into the innocent woman bringing her down. It was then he noticed that, out of 5000 people on the hill he had taken out Mo O’Neil from our group. Hoping he hadn’t been recognized he thought of leaping up and yelling at her in French, to deflect the blame. But the wounded lass rolled over and said, “Kevin?”

For that regrettable act Kevin now wears the spoon.

Sun Continues at Alpe d'Heuz

2009-03-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 23

It was another sunny day at Alpe d’Heuz but, before I launch into a report of the day I need to deal with some old business.

First, it was brought to my attention that last Monday’s spoon report on this blog was incomplete. I reported that Kim Kaiser received the spoon but cut off the reason. I have corrected that report and added last Monday’s report to the end of today’s news so you don’t have to scroll down to get the answer.

Second, several readers have inquired about the use or misuse of bidets on the 2009 trip. Apparently bidets were the subject of much discussion on the 2008 trip and the subject of a previous post on this blog, if you look at some of last year’s postings.

Sorry to say no spoons have been awarded for the misuse of bidets on this trip because we haven’t had any to misuse. Absent the bidets we are finding other ways to wash clothes and cool beer.

Finally, yesterday I reported on a group of intrepid skiers that made the slush run from the very top of the mountain to the bottom thinking that only a small group would be foolish enough to make the trek. Silly me! At dinner it sounded like everyone who put on skis Sunday made the run. It didn’t matter what time of day they made the trip, it was lousy. Typical Ski Masters travelers; there are no challenges they will not tackle. It turns out that even those skiing with guides made the run which suggests that it was not all that out of the ordinary.

The long run still was not very good.

Now for Monday skiing.

The first day the area seemed pretty big. Today, as we explored more areas, we began to discover just how big it is. Just when you think you’ve found all the good runs another one turns up. Areas we thought were too low to ski still had good snow on some faces. This is a big area and good snow can be found in the most unexpected places.

There are also some challenging areas. Round a bend at the wrong time of day and you may find yourself facing a sea of slushy piles. But they are forgiving and, other than being a bit tiring at the end of the day, you can make your way through them and likely will find firm snow around the next bend.

The on-slope food has consistently met with acclaim and this group has high standards. The first night our ski school representative suggested four restaurants in particular. I have sampled two of them and heard outstanding reports on the other two. The only complaint I’ve heard is that we can only squeeze in one lunch stop per day.

The Hotel
We were spoiled by the outstanding hotel in Wengen. The Pic Blanc is good but not quite at the same level. The dinners have been superb but the breakfast arrangement has been a notch below Wengen.

One difference in the hotels can be found in the closets. Yes, it sounds petty but hear me out. In Wengen we had lots of hangers; the kind you have at home that hook over the clothes rod. They trusted us not to steal them.

Here in Alpe d’Heuz they took their closet design from the Motel 6 chain where they assume all the guests will steal hangers. We have hangers with the little straight ends that slip into plastic holders that are affixed to the rod. The problem is that the plastic parts are so worn that the hangers keep slipping out and falling to the floor. You try again and think you have found a secure match and then, before you can cross the room, the hanger slips out and the clothes fall to the floor. Now, to be fair, not every hanger suffers from this defect but enough do that I’ve found it easier to toss the clothes directly to the floor and save the trouble of hanging them.

From conversations with the group the problem is widespread. Ah, the things one remembers about the trips.

SPOON REPORT FOR LAST NIGHT, SUNDAY MARCH 22
The Sunday spoon went to Steve Sanford for tossing his ski pole from the viewing platform at the highest point at the resort, the top of Pic Blanc. Now, in fairness, Steve would argue that the wind actually was responsible for the pole slipping under the rail and there may be some truth to that. But the spoon is not about fairness and Tom Naden was pleased to pass it on.

To compound the problem the pole could only be reached via a very precarious route. His wife, Lin, was unable to watch his trek across a slippery ice face to retrieve the pole. But pole and Steve were recovered and both joined the spoon for a nice evening in Alpe d’Heuz.

SPOON REPORT for last Monday, March 16 and left off of the original posting.
The Saturday spoon was presented to Eva Sabo for confusing cattle feed for snowballs. It may have been unfair to pick on a newcomer but it was Claudine’s choice and bus days are usually slow days anyway.

Eva was able to pass the spoon on immediately to the Sunday recipient, long time SM Euro traveler, Kim Kaiser. Kim the commercial pilot who packs bags and travels many times a month. Kim who has been on the trip 12 times. Kim, who normally has his act together. Kim came to Europe without his ski clothes.

He knows exactly where they are; stacked in the back bedroom ready to be packed. But they weren’t. And Kim received the spoon.

Pam and Kim actually arrived in Europe a few days before the group and were tucked in bed in Zurich when Kim woke up with one of those “Oh S***” moments. So the next day they were able to round up some fashionable gear so he wouldn’t have to make his purchases at the ski resort.

Arrival at Alpe d'Heuz

2009-03-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 22, 2009

We made it! After a train ride down the hill from Wengen, a six hour bus ride (that included a lunch break at a Swiss Burger King) we made our way up the 21 hair pin turns from the valley to Alpe d’Heuz, high in the French mountains near Grenoble. (This is a stop on the Tour d’France though none of us elected to come up on a bike.)

Alpe D’Heuz is a stark contrast to Wengen. While Wengen was a charming old mountain village this place is slick and contemporary. It sits on a treeless hillside, climbing up the hill to create a triangular shaped village with lots of little French cars driven by weekenders eager to enjoy the last snow of the season.

Ski lifts of every type seem to sprout from the village in all directions. I don’t know the area size but it is big. They claim 118 runs and, though some of the lower ones might be closed, there are still lots to chose from. Lifts crawl up sun drenched slopes and there are several snow covered peaks competing for skier attention.

After lunch, the 12 of us that ran into each other on the hill, decided to tackle Pic Blanc, at 3300 meters the highest point in the resort. From there the choice was the Serenne run, the longest in the resort that would take us down to about 1800 meters, or take the tram back down. Six chose wisely and returned to the tram (Lin Sanford, Vicki Geist, Sue and Rich Smith, Mo O’Neil, Lorrie Meyer). The other six (Steve Sanford, Larry Geist, Bob Dixey, Ed Meyer, Kathy and Steve Dennis) decided to try the Serenne “because it was there.” Bad Choice.

The top was a narrow, icy chute with protruding rocks to keep you on alert. The next section was loose snow with rocks scattered about. Then there was a wonderful section of very wonderful skiing. However, the lower half of the run could be characterized as rock strewn slush; lots of work, hard on skis and not so fun. But the intrepid group made is down and will not return. We later learned that John Powis made the same mistake and we will likely hear of others as the evening progresses.

Some in the group availed themselves of guides for the first day so will likely have better news to report.

The bottom line is that the resort offers lots of skiing and there is still a good base to work with.

Oh, by the way, the weather is clear and sunny again. Our luck is holding.

SPOON REPORT
It has been a quiet time for the spoon. Tom Naden received it on Friday for his restaurant antics and passed it on to the Turnovskys who he blames for the whole mess in the first place. Now, by agreement with the Turnovskys Tom is back in possession and looking forward to a Sunday night presentation.

While the past few days have been low on spoonable events early reports suggest that today, Sunday, was bountiful. Time will tell.

Wengen Week Ends

2009-03-20T10:52:00.001-07:00

Friday, March 20th

The week flew by like a comet and the normal end of week Ski Masters notice appeared on the hotel front door Thursday evening. Saturday wake up call will be at…; Luggage outside your door at…; Bus leaves at ….

While we are bidding Wengen adieu on Saturday we will be greeting Alpe d’Heuz with gusto; a new area and new adventures.

Friday did not start out with promise. The temperature had dropped into the mid 20’s and clouds were peeking over the tops of the mountains. But the zip line at First was calling and about 20 of the hardy bundled up and headed out. Lin Sanford and Vicky Geist were game to try the zip as well, even though they were not skiing. So while the skiers made their way up and down hills to First the two intrepid ladies rode one tram, two gondolas and a bus to meet the group at the top of the zip.

While the skies cleared and the sking was surprisingly good, the winds were too high for the zip to operate so no one was able to share Claudine’s, Kim’s and Robb’s Wednesday experience.
The Wednesday Zip Liners

Those that skied stretched the day to the limit and many didn’t make it back to the ski room until nearly 5:00.

Wengen has exceeded all expectations. The weather, skiing and food have been fantastic and some of the veterans believe this may be the best overall Wengen visit in SM Euro history. Suffice the group has made the most of the area.

Since Saturday will be a travel day the blogger may have to take a day off. It is about a six hour drive to the next resort and most bus days are pretty low key events.

SPOON REPORT
It should be noted that after six days Claudine has not received the spoon. Ron and Lenore rarely made it that long. The trip leader is in the limelight and just has too many opportunities to commit spoonable offenses. However, efficient Claudine has performed with flawless perfection and/or she hasn’t been caught.

Instead the Thursday spoon went to four trip veteran Tom Naden. There was some question whether Tom or Stephen and Michelle Turnosvsky should have received the spoon but the decision of Eva was final and Tom got the big woody.

As the story was told, Tom and the Turnosvskys stopped for lunch at a hillside café that was divided into two areas. The restaurant offered table service while the other clearly marked room was self serve with a cafeteria line. The three wandered into the restaurant, dropped their coats, hats and gloves and announced to the 12 other group members, who were already eating in the restaurant, that they were going next door to purchase lunch. They were advised, in a supportive and friendly manner by the Sanford’s, that self serve meals were not allowed in the restaurant. Despite the warning they made their purchases and marched back to the restaurant, where their more refined fellow travelers were dining.

They had barely entered the room when they were confronted by a determined Swiss waitress who turned them and their self serve meals around and sent them off to the other room. With humility they obeyed, returning later to recover their ski gear.

Somehow that story made it to Eva’s ears and the rest is history.

Clouds (gasp!) Come to Wengen

2009-03-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 19

Yes, it’s true; the three day run of sun came to an end on Thursday. While not heavy Pacific Northwest clouds, they were adequate to block most of the sun and create occasional flat light conditions. More challenging they left the snow hard packed in many areas and only the lower mountain softened. But we should complain?

The group has a wonderful spirit and attacked the slopes with cautious vigor. During the afternoon adult beverage call some did switch from cold drinks to hot to deal with the lingering chill in the air.

It was not a big day for group news. Most of the skiers were on the slope; many after a day off on Wednesday. Some of the non-skiers took the train to a delightful rail side restaurant on the hill where they met with a contingent of skiers. That way everyone could enjoy the hill, despite the light clouds. (To be fair, there were times when one could see a faint shadow while skiing.)

On past trips Hawaiian or Mexican themed parties have been held creating memorable scenes in the hotels. This year the theme was “Swiss.” It was perhaps a bit tamer than past years but a good time was had by all and, once again, the Mo and Bob opened up their extra large room for the party.

The Swiss Party: Bob Dixey, Rich Smith, Larry Geist, Tom Naden, Stephen Turnovsky

Ron and Lenore’s ears must have been ringing as trip veterans recounted memories of past trips with the Lyle clan. Some recall their first Jaeger tea with Ron in Austria. Others remember the time Lenore encouraged a hillside bar in Cortina to reopen at the end of the day so she could introduce her 12 followers to grappa, an Italian specialty. As a result of the stop her group nearly missed the last tram down from the slopes. Ah, the memories.

Which leads to the Question:

WHY DO PEOPLE WANT TO SKI IN EUROPE?
I’m often asked, why do you go to Europe? Isn’t the skiing just as good or better in the U.S.?

In my opinion the skiing and much of the scenery in the U.S. is superior to Europe. But that misses the point.

Europe offers skiing, scenery and much more. It is a chance to travel with a wonderful group of people who share a common interest. You are exposed to people, languages, customs and food you would never see at Seattle Ridge in Sun Valley. Maybe it’s that indescribable thing, atmosphere.

Today I rode the chair with Swiss, British and Dutch skiers. We managed to converse! I had a Swiss dish at lunch that I can’t get in Utah. Every restaurant on the hill is a bit different.

And, oh by the way, the skiing is pretty good too. Where in the U.S. do you take a train to the slope? When was the last time you rode a funicular in the Rockies?

In a way, comparing U.S. skiing to European skiing is not a fair exercise. If you just want to ski, stay home. If you want to immerse yourself in a different culture, come to Europe and ski.

I hope I answered the question, why ski in Europe.

SPOON STORIES
Early in the trip it appeared this would be a spoon rich environment. Not so. This group is careful and competent.

There were a few minor T-bar incidents; nothing major. Ed Meyer was assaulted by an aggressive soap dispenser and nearly missed a train trying to wash it off in a sink with but a trickle of water.

But the prize went to Eva Sabo. On Wednesday Eva joined a group headed for the “Top of Europe.” When they arrived at the train station, a 10 minute walk from the hotel, she found she had forgotten her lift pass, which gives free access to most trains. Not wanting to be left behind she purchased a single ride ticket. That oversight alone might have been spoonable.

But when she arrived at the second train to the Top of Europe she received the real shock. If you had a lift pass, the second train was about 50 francs. If you didn’t have a pass the ticket cost 149 francs. It was a costly lesson but it kept her with her friends and earned her the spoon from John Powis who was anxious to pass it on.

Perhaps Thursdays skiing will provide more material.

Lazy Day in Wengen

2009-03-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 18th

The weather was a repeat; what more can one say. Sunny, warm and spectacular.

After two days of trying to do it all the group tempo eased back a bit. One contingent left their ski gear behind and made a day of traveling to the “Top of Europe,” the Jungfraujoch. With two train rides each way, gawking time at the top, lunch at a hillside restaurant on the way back and a stop at a bar in town it was late afternoon before they returned to the hotel.

A second cluster visited the First area and found wonderful snow and an additional way to risk their lives; a zip line. Of course Claudine, Robb and Kim had to try it figuring if anyone could engineer a zip line it would be the Swiss. Kim’s video of the trip will tell it all.

Others took the day off, skied short days or found other ways to soak up the ambiance of Wengen.

BEAUSITE PARK HOTEL, WENGEN
The Beausite Park Hotel has been the SM Euro hotel of choice for most of its past Wengen visits. Situated on one of the highest points in the village most rooms enjoy a postcard southerly view down over the village and to the looming mountains beyond. Both the view and the hike up to the hotel take your breath away.

Photo by Larry Geist

While the hotel dates back to the early part of the last century, the rooms and public spaces have been updated and are truly “4 star.” Small rooms, typical of older hotels, have been combined to create spacious suites on the view side.

It is a bit of a climb from the train station to the hotel but the hotel will send a cart down to pick up weary skiers if necessary. The food and service maintain the 4 star rating. On Tuesday evening a seafood buffet was offered as an appetizer but could have doubled as the main course.

All in all, the hotel is proving to be a fine home for SM Euro travelers.

SPOON REPORT
Poor John Powis. He has the spoon for a second day, being unable to find a recipient in the group. Passing it on may prove to be a problem.
First, with only 33 travelers, there are fewer candidates than with a larger group and
This is a pretty competent group. Except for forgetting to pack properly, the group has proven to be skilled at map reading and following directions. Steve Sanford has not left his wife at any rail stations, Bob Dixey has not made any offending remarks to German skiers and Sylvie OKeefe has behaved herself in the bar.
Finally, there is some suspicion that friends are covering up mistakes made by friends; truly shameful behavior.
So John has the spoon for a second day.

Off to Murren, Tuesday

2009-03-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 17th

Another glorious day in Switzerland.

Before I report on the days events I need to explain the lay of the land for those who have not been to Wengen.

To reach Wengen you drive up a narrow valley to the town of Lauterbrunnen. Vertical rock faces rise on each side of the town. On the top of the left face lies the town of Wengen. On the top of the right lies Murren. To reach Wengen you board a cog railway that winds up the steep slope on a 15 minute ride to Wengen. To reach Murren you take a tram from town to the top of the ridge and then switch to a cog railway for the ride to Murren.

From the Wengen side you can reach two main ski areas; Kleine Scheidegg-Mannlichen (which I will call the Wengen area) and, further away, across another valley, Grindelwald-First (which I will call the First area.) To access these areas one takes a large tram from near our hotel. This area is also home to the 13,000 foot Eiger and the highest train in Europe.

On the Murren side you can reach the Murren-Schilthorn area (which I will call the Murren area.) The top of the Schilthorn was the set for an early James Bond film, His Majesty’s Secret Service.

Do you have it figured out now? If not, I suggest you try Mapquest or Google Earth.

The reason I give you this geography lesson is so you can appreciate the trek most of the group went on today to ski the Murren side; cog to Lauterbrunnen, tram to the top of the ridge and cog toward Murren then trams and chairs up the mountain. The first two hours were more of a hike than a ski run but the scenery is sensational and worth the long series of trains and trams.

The snow was a mix of good groom and mashed potatoes (on the sunny faces.) At mid mountain the temperature was 6 degrees centigrade. You scientific types can convert that to Fahrenheit. Suffice to say it was warm and wonderful and most dressed down from Monday.

It was such a great adventure that it was nearly 5:00 PM before the last five wandered back to the hotel. (Gretchen and Robin Callan, Ed Meyer, Steve Sanford and Kim Kaiser)

Dick and Kay Krutch and Pam Kaiser, who are all on injured reserve, took advantage of the weather and rode the tram to the ridge/restaurant above town for a scenic lunch. With binoculars they might have seen the larger group across the valley.

Day two was a success.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
The St. Patrick’s day party has been a trip tradition for many years, sustained and promoted by Jay Kane and Tom McGrath, our perennial Sons of the Irish. They, in turn, corralled every other group member with a hint of Irish blood and threw parties that are likely legends with housekeeping staffs across Europe.

This year our Irish anchors were absent so Bob Dixey and Mo O’Neil stepped up to host the big event. Lin Sanford pitched in with green ribbons for all and, in the end, a party worthy of old St Patrick was held.

SPOON REPORT: MONDAY EVENING
Kim, the winner for forgetting his ski clothes, made some interesting discoveries while searching out spoon recipients. It seems that this is a forgetful group. Mark Mathews left his boot bag, complete with boots, at home. We wonder if he even noticed how light his luggage was. And Stephen and Michelle Turnosvsky left home without their poles.

But it was John Powis that took the spoon. It seems that John slipped away from dinner Sunday evening and returned to his room to deal with some personal matters. He opened his door and put his card key in the little slot that turns on the room lights. The lights came on. Then, fearing he would forget his card key, he removed the key and went into the bathroom to attend to matters.

John didn’t realize that, once the card key was removed, the lights would go out after a short delay. For John that moment came at an inopportune time. Suddenly he found himself in a bathroom that “was darker than the inside of a goat.” He put things away and began groping for a way out. The first handle he turned was the shower faucet which produced predictable results.

Eventually he made his way out and back to the dinner table where he made his second mistake of the evening. He mentioned the incident within earshot of someone with loose lips. John now wears the spoon.

2009-03-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

Monday, March 16th

Greetings from Wengen.

Sunday evening went off like a normal first evening in a resort; luggage emptied, a quick nap, welcome reception by the hotel, a briefing from the local ski school on weather, snow conditions and lift tickets. Then it was off to dinner and the introduction of the spoon. More on that later.

The hotel owner greeted the group and commented on how much he enjoyed dealing with Ron and Lenore over the past years. And yes, there are lots of “remember when Ron or Lenore did this or that on a past trip” discussions. So their spirit is in Wengen and Claudine is carrying the torch in grand style.

Then came Monday morning, the first day on the slopes. I thought of trying to describe the day in three languages but decided to let the pictures tell it all.

Yes it was fantastic; warm, sunny and lots of snow. Forecast is for more of the same. As a good omen the Geist’s missing skis arrived in the hotel lobby at 8:00 am, just in time for skiing. What could be better?

So the first day is fading fast and no injuries have been reported. Most groups skied the Mannlichen area, just above the hotel. Tomorrow a new area awaits.

SPOON REPORT
The Saturday spoon was presented to Eva Sabo for confusing cattle feed for snowballs. It may have been unfair to pick on a newcomer but it was Claudine’s choice and bus days are usually slow days anyway.

Eva was able to pass the spoon on immediately to the Sunday recipient, long time SM Euro traveler, Kim Kaiser. Kim the commercial pilot who packs bags and travels many times a month. Kim who has been on the trip 12 times. Kim, who normally has his act together. Kim came to Europe without his ski clothes.

He knows exactly where they are; stacked in the back bedroom ready to be packed. But they weren’t. And Kim received the spoon.

Pam and Kim actually arrived in Europe a few days before the group and were tucked in bed in Zurich when Kim woke up with one of those “Oh S***” moments. So the next day they were able to round up some fashionable gear so he wouldn’t have to make his purchases at the ski resort.

Wengen Group Arrives, Sunday March 15

2009-03-15T09:40:00.001-07:00

Sunday, March 15

The 2009 Ski Masters Euro group has arrived and settled into snowy Wengen. The group is jelling and acts as if they’ve been together forever. In fact, of the 33 travelers only three are SM Euro rookies.

As for the trip over, it can be considered a success in that 31 of 33 people arrived as planned. And, of the 31 that arrived, only one bag was missing. Robin Callan, the victim, hopes it will be found and make its way to Wengen but….

As for the missing couple, the Geists, their final arrival was a tale of intrigue and adventure involving, as they said it, planes, trains and automobiles. British Air canceled their flight which forced a late arrival. The bus was long gone when they arrived in Zurich so they schlepped their bags down to the train station at the airport and grabbed the last train to Lucerne. Once there it was a short taxi ride to the group hotel where they arrived at 10:30, only three hours behind the bus.

Their quick trip was abetted by the fact that, thanks to British Air, they didn’t have to carry their skis. They have yet to arrive.

The first dinner was “spoon free” as the infamous spoon had not yet been unpacked. But, judging from conduct witnessed the first day, spoon worth candidates should not be in short supply.

Rooky Eva Sabo, for example, was impressed by the giant snowballs stacked beside some of the barns until Claudine explained that they were actually plastic covered rolls of cattle feed or silage.

Tom Naden, a trip veteran, made a spoonish confession at the inaugural dinner. On his last trip to Wengen, clad only in his underwear, he had stepped onto his 5th floor balcony to enjoy the view. To his dismay, a breeze slammed the door behind leaving him stranded in a chilly and awkward position. Risking a tragic fall (as he describes it) he went over the rail, around the partition to the neighboring deck and snuck through that room to the hallway and back to his room. His adventure went undiscovered and thus unspooned on that trip. But his conscience, and a belief that there is a statute of limitation on spoon stories, compelled him to tell the story to us. With his conscience clear he is now ready to be spooned in 09.

So, now it’s on to our first Wengen dinner and then, tomorrow, on to the ski slopes. Both weather and snow look promising.

Wengen Awaits; Ski Masters Departs for Switzerland Ski Country

2009-03-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

It won’t be long now. In less than two weeks the 2009 Ski Masters group will lift off for the annual ski adventure. As of March 4th there was snow in the forecast for the Wengen area, the first stop for 2009. The beautiful Beausite Park Hotel awaits our arrival.

Those that cannot make the trip this year are invited to visit this blog on a regular basis and read reports from the “field!” As the resident blogger I will do my best to file frequent reports allowing you to enjoy the trip vicariously. It won’t be as much fun for you but you won’t gain as much weight from the fine food and drink.
So, it’s off to Europe and away from the daily reminders of the latest Dow Jones figures.

Claudeen Lyle; Leading Ski Masters to Wengen and Alpe d'Heuz

2009-02-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

Continuing the legacy of her predecessors, Ron and Lenore Lyle, Claudeen Lyle's European ski trips take guests to some of the finest European ski resorts in a seamlessly executed program that maximized the visitor experience.

How does she do it? First, she is a natural leader, giving clear direction and insuring that all the important details are taken care of before the trip begins.

Second, she is a fabulous skier who can help the guest find the right slopes for their level of experience.

Third, she uses her vast knowledge of European cuisine to steer the guest to the finest hill side dining establishments.

Fourth, with a concern for safety and comfort of guests she strives to bring home as many guests as she takes on the trip, however she gets them to the plane.

And finally, she is a consummate professional.

The 2009 trip to Wengen and Alpe d'Heuz promises to be another wonderful experience. Interested? Contact Claudeen at smetrips@gmail.com

Alpe d'Huez France; Second Stop in 2009

2009-01-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

After 25 years of European ski trips you would think Ski Masters would run out of new places to go. Not so. For 2009 Claudeen Lyle has added Alpe d'Huez to the itinerary. I can't pronounce it but it sounds like a wonderful area. Here is the scoop on the place, compiled from web sources:

Alpe d'Huez is often overlooked when people think about French resorts, which is a shame as it has all the attractions of doorstep skiing in modern apartments combined with a picturesque old town.

These two areas drift seamlessly into one another with lifts going up in a 360-degree pattern, while a clanking people mover, like a string of dustbins dangling from a wire, connects through the middle.

Alpe d'Huez sits at the top of the most famous stretch of road in the Tour de France, 21 hairpin bends over 14km (9 miles) at a height which tends to counter the effects of the south-facing slopes.

The 245km (152 miles) of runs go up to a glacier and down to a couple of old villages, with much in between for everyone from ski-together families to experts.

Mountain facts
· Resort elevation: 1,860m (6,100ft).
· Top elevation: 3,320m (10,890ft).
· Base elevation: 1,120m (3,670ft).
· Number of lifts: 84.
· Number of runs: 123.
· Average annual snowfall: 7.6m (26ft).

Where in the world?
Alpe d'Huez is situated in the Grandes Rousses mountains in the French Alps, high above the Oisans Valley.

Hit the slopes
The main slopes run in a long line across the resort, the bottom runs ideal for beginners. But go higher and you can find far more - the Sarenne run from the top of the glacier, at 16km (10 miles) the longest black run in Europe, or the off-piste terrain from the glacier which funnels through the legendary Tunnel on to the front face and more steep powder.

Intermediates can cruise for miles, taking long sweeping runs down to the villages of Vaujany, Oz and others. Even only moderate skiers can take the gondolas which criss-cross the slopes, leading to a feeling of achievement. The Signal and Signal de l'Homme areas, almost self-contained, are good for family excursions.

The lift pass also includes skiing in Les Deux Alpes and Serre Chevalier, trips frequently arranged by package tour reps.

Beyond the slopes
Your lift pass also includes entry to the magnificent outdoor swimming pool and Olympic-size skating rink, as well as the exceptional sports centre with indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, squash, climbing wall, golf range and more. You can parapente (parachute off the mountain with an instructor), and try ice driving along with more usual pursuits such as tobogganing.

Resort Facts
Green Runs (Beginner): 31%
Resort Height (m): 1860m
Blue Runs (Easy): 26%
Total Piste: 245 km
Red Runs (Medium): 28%
Lifts: 84
Black Runs (Hard): 14%
Ski Pass (approx.): 192 Euro

Activities
Indoor
Tennis, Squash, Gym, Aerobics, Swimming, Shooting Range, Climbing Wall, Concerts, Cinemas, Library, Museum
Outdoor
Ice Rink, Curling, Walking Paths (cleared), Tobogganing, Snow-shoeing, Microlight Flights, Sightseeing Flights, Ice Cave, Off-Road Vehicle Tours, Hang-Gliding, Paragliding, Ice Driving School, Snowmobiles, Quad-Bikes

About the Resort
"Alpe d'Huez has been growing, since 1936, at 1869 meters above sea level Grandes Rousses massif south face. The Pic Blanc, reaching 3330 meters at it highest point, offer an impressive and reviving panorama, ranked 3 stars in Guide Michelin.

At 1 hour from Grenoble, and only 4 hours from Paris or Geneva, Alpe d'Huez is a multiple activities area to share between family and friends.

In addition to its sportshop, ready-to-wear shops, grocery stores, bars and restaurants proposing, for some, Oisans specialities : crozets, farcis, ganafles, gratin dauphinois, triees, caillettes, and more, Alpe d'Huez has equipped itself with structures completing the site and giving to holidaymaker indoor or outdoor, sport or cultural activities.

For the day after you have finished skiing there are a number of restaurants and bars to keep you entertained throughout the night whatever your taste in cuisine or night life!" - Alpe d'Huez

For snow report, click here.

Lenore Lyle, A Customer Service Phenomenon

2008-12-04T20:17:00.000-08:00

Lenore Lyle, the other half of the Ron and Lenore management team, left a mark on the Ski Masters Ski School and European Trips that will be long remembered by those fortunate to have worked and traveled with her. She brought an energy and passion to the business that left her students and fellow travelers coming back for more, year after year.

Lenore has been a fixture in Northwest skiing since the first lifts began grinding up the Snoqualmie slopes. She tells stories of arriving at the mountain early and volunteering to work with the volunteers, side stepping fresh snow on the runs in exchange for a lift ticket. That effort was called “grooming the slope” in the early days.

I first met Lenore back in the 1980’s. My wife, a Thursday ski school bus rider, suggested we sign up for the December “clinics” at Snoqualmie to polish our skills. Little did we realize that the clinics were a farm team for Lenore’s instructor pool. When we finished the clinics it was suggested that we return in January to serve as teaching assistants. That seemed harmless enough and, while we didn’t get paid, I believe we may have scored a modest lift ticket discount. But, by week two, to fill unexpected vacancies we were both elevated to “instructor” status for beginning elementary age kids and were part of the Ski Masters team.

From that “insider” perspective I began to appreciate how Lenore masterfully managed the operation. Lenore applied a “mallard” style of management. When you see a duck on a calm pond they seem to be gliding along with little effort. But, if you could see underwater, you would see lots of action as its busy feet paddle furiously along.

In Lenore’s case, the customer never saw beneath the water. The lesson operation ran with apparent ease as she moved from place to place, addressing questions and issues. During the day she would appear all over the mountain to see how things were going, staying in constant contact with her supervisors by radio. As a novice instructor I confess it made me nervous at first. I had the feeling that, no matter where I took my class, she was watching!

While the customer might be soothed by this calm demeanor, at the same time she would be sorting through the ever present complications of herding classes from place to place while keeping the parents of the smaller kids happy and relaxed. Missing instructors, missing students, broken down buses, lost lift tickets and dozens of other mishaps, some serious and some not, marked each day of lessons. But through it all the customer met a calm Lenore, was given a class A experience and was treated like they were the most important customer of all.

During that era every management consultant was pitching “total quality management,” a customer focused management philosophy made famous by such firms as Toyota, Sony and Honda. Listen to your customer; listen to your staff; constantly look for ways to improve your product was the mantra.

As I looked at Lenore I recall thinking, she could teach this stuff better than any consultant. Whether she took a course or just did it by second nature she had the whole “total quality” thing under control and the quality of her programs spoke to that success.

Then, in 1988, we signed up for our first trip to Europe with Ski Masters and were able to experience the best of Lenore, 24/7. Herding 48 adults to Europe is different from teaching kids but no less challenging. Is everyone at the airport? What did you forget? What, you say, your passport is expired? And so on.

Once again, her mallard management style—calm exterior, busy interior—was at play. Busses would arrive like clockwork, rooms would be assigned, lost luggage recovered all in a way that would put the guests at ease.

Does that mean she is a pussycat? Not on your life. Once the pick-up bus arrived on “Italian” time. Both the driver and bus company management will not forget Lenore. Once a hotel tried to stuff some of her guests in shabby rooms over a nearby barn (yes, there were animals downstairs). That hotel manager will not forget Lenore. One matri’d insisted that the guests dine at the same table each night of our stay. That was their way. It wasn’t ours. That matri’d will not forget Lenore.

As the week progressed Lenore found time to ski with everyone on the trip. Every guest was important and she made them feel that way. While she may have preferred to point her skies downhill and fly, she never forgot that she was in charge and everyone on the trip was one of her customers and guests. And yet, it never seemed contrived. She always expressed a genuine interest in each guest that was reciprocated by the number of repeat travelers. 2009 will be our tenth Ski Masters Trip!

Now the customer service mantel has been passed to the able hands of daughter Claudeen. Lenore is still the most beautiful AARP member on skis and occasionally joins Claudeen on the trips to Europe; now as a guest, not a leader. The current trips often return to places Lenore introduced to many of us years ago. Her legacy lives on in the memory of the hundreds who traveled with her and Ron in the past and were the beneficiaries of her “high touch” approach to guest management. She has clearly left her mark on Pacific Northwest skiing and the thousands that passed through her lesson programs at our Cascade ski areas.

Kathy and I both feel blessed to have known her these many years as an instructor, boss, tour director and, most importantly, friend.

2009 Trip; Space Available!

2008-11-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

What’s new with Ski Masters Europe?
· There is space available on the 2009 trip.
· Carol Mast sends greetings

First, Claudeen Lyle reports that a few spots have opened up for the 2009 trip to Wengen and Alpes d'Huez. (Perhaps some former hedge fund managers had previously signed up!?)

Interested? Act fast as they won’t last long. Contact Claudeen at SMETrips@gmail.com or give her a call, the old fashion way, at 206-799-7141.

Second, after reviewing the Wengen report (Nov. 13th post), Carol Mast, a fellow traveler and prolific writer, offered the following:
“ HI Steve, from Carol Mast, who looks on the coming SMETrip with longing and (already!) regret. It seems [our] son… is going to be a Daddy for the first time …so we are again, reluctantly, going to miss out. …we wouldn't miss this arrival for the world...even if the world includes Wengen and Alpes d'Huez. Not without regrets...but....I'll bet you understand.

Which reminds me that in writing that Kitzbuhel/Corvara bit last year, I managed to mention our "Montlake friends" we spent the winter of 69-70 with in Jochberg twice without naming them. It's probably because it's another Steve...Steve Beaudry (who now teaches for Claudeen at Crystal) and his wife, Susan, one of my dearest friends. Mea Culpa...can you repair my ommission by inserting their names into what I wrote on the SkiMasters Blog?
Thanks from Carol
PS. when we manage to do another trip, I'm happy to write for the blog...and thanks for the bidet links [April 15, 2008 post]. After a lifetime of European travel, I have never used it for anything more than sock laundry and wine chilling (wait a minute...FIRST the wine chilling, THEN the sock washing!) and was glad to see the demo done by a fully clothed Italian man. Very educational!

So now the Beaudrys are duly recognized. We will miss the Mast’s but understand the grandparenting instinct.

Wengen, Jungfrau, Grindelwald; First Stop 2009

2008-11-13T15:16:00.001-08:00

March of 2009 Ski Masters will return to Wengen for the fifth time, and for good reason. The area offers a wide range of terrain, an incredible setting and a rich history.

Two classic movies added fame to the area; James Bond pursued evil guys on the Jungfrau in “His Majesty’s Secret Service.” Clint Eastwood climbed the towering Eiger in the “Eiger Sanction.” Both are "must see" movies if you are going on the trip. Skiers don’t have to climb the Eiger; a modern train passes through the mountain on its way to the ski areas of the Jungrau region.
Wengen has a unique setting. Travelers leave their bus in the valley town of Lauterbrunnen and board a cog railway for the wind out of the valley to the hillside town of Wengen. From the station it’s a short walk to the hotel (not unlike Zermatt for you seasoned travelers.)

Skiing is available on the Wengen side of the valley via a network of lifts and a train that links to other hillside towns. But the Wengen side of the valley is only half of the adventure; the Jungfrau Region, across the valley beckons with altitude and wide open runs.

To reach the Jungfrau area visitors take the cog rail line back down to Lauterbrunnen, walk a short distance to an incline railway that lifts you out of the valley to the Jungfrau area. At the top of the incline another train awaits for a short ride to Murren, the launching point for a whole new mountain experience.

It may sound like you spend your entire time on trains but that is far from the truth. The train rides are short and scenic and, once you reach your preferred mountain, you don’t need to ride again until the end of the day when you return to the hotel.

Recalling Wengen I’m reminded of a spoon story from the 1998 trip.

A small group was gathered on the hotel patio enjoying the afternoon sun and an adult beverage when we noticed a fellow traveler, we’ll call him Steve, returning to the hotel, skis over his shoulder.
“Where’s your wife?” someone called out.
Steve paused, an “Oh sh**” expression crossed his face. He came closer and, under questioning, explained that his wife, we’ll call her Lin, had gone on ahead to shop and was going to meet him at the Murren train station. In a rush he’d passed through the station, boarded the train and was now three train rides away from the station where his wife (presumably) was waiting.
Steve faced a dilemma. If he retraced his steps he could easily pass her as she went one way and he the other. There was only one thing to do; order a beer.
Some time and two beers later Lin arrived. No words were needed. Her look said it all.

There is no record of their conversation in the room that evening. We do know that Steve earned the spoon that day and, despite the incident, they are returning to Wengen for the 2009 trip.
Wengen will be a worthy first stop for the 2009 travelers.

The resort describes itself this way:

Wengen's ski slopes are located on the slopes of Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg above the resort, which it shares with neighbouring Grindelwald. The regional Jungfrau pass covers all lifts in the area, as well as those at the separate First ski area above Grindelwald and, a train ride down the valley and back up the other side, at Mürren. That same train line continues up to Europe's highest railway station where there's year-round snow and ice, but sadly no ski route back down from the top.

The skiing can be reached either by getting back on the train you took up to Wengen from Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen and continuing up to Wengeneralp, a 25-minute journey that, except for upgraded rolling stock, has little changed for skiers in 80 years, or by a cable car from the village. Both runs open up all kinds of exciting terrain and great runs up to 8km (5 miles) long down to Grindelwald.

Whilst the whole area is open to intermediate skiers, beginners will find good nursery slopes right next to the village. More experienced skiers will wish to pay homage to the legendary Lauberhorn race course at Wengen, where the infamous downhill race is staged each January as it has been since 1930. The course is one of the longest, at 4km (2.5 miles), and toughest, descending over 1,000 vertical metres (3,300 feet).

European Ski Destinations; Ski Masters Favorite Resorts

2008-05-08T11:41:00.001-07:00

Since 1982 Ski Masters have made tracks at some of Europe's finest ski resorts. Here is the definitive record of the past trips for those who can't remember when they went where. You may be shocked at how long ago it was that you visited some of these resorts.
1982
St. Anton, Austria
Innsbruck & Five Surrounding Areas
1983
Davos, Switzerland
Innsbruck, Stubai & Hintertux Glaciers
1984
Pozza Di Fassa, Italy & Sella Ronda
St. Anton, Austria
1985
Zermatt, Switzerland
Chamonix, France
1986
St. Moritz, Switzerland
Mayerhofen, Austria
1987
Vigo Di Fassa, Italy & Sella Ronda
Stubai Glacier, Austria
1988
Kitzbuhel, Austria
Champery, Switzerland
1989
Mayrhofen, Austria
Zermatt, Switzerland
1990
Val d'Isere, France
Champery, Switzerland
1991
cancelled
cancelled
1992
Vigo di Fassa, Italy
Lech, Austria
1993
Saalbach, Austria
Wengen, Switzerland
1994
Saas Fee, Switzerland
Val d'Isere, France
1995
Wengen, Switzerland
Val d'Isere, France
1996
Cortina, Italy
Kitzbuhel, Austria
1997
Zermatt, Switzerland
San Anton, Austria
1998
Wengen, Switzerland
Val Thorens, France
1999
Zermatt, Switzerland
Chamonix, France
2000
Covara/Arabba, Italy
Lech, Austria
2001
Zermatt, Switzerland
Val D'Isere
2002
Kitzbuhel, Austria
San Moritz, Switzerland
2003
Wengen, Switzerland
Chamonix, France
2004
Corvara, Italy
Verbier, Switzerland
2005
Soelden, Austria
Val d'Isere
2006
Bormio, Italy
Zermatt, Switzerland
2007
Lech, Austria
Courchevel, France
2008
Kitzbuhel, Austria
Corvara, Italy
2009
Wengen, Switzerland
Alpe d'Huez, France
2010
Soelden, Austria
Courmayeur, Italy
2011
Corvara, Italy
Courchevel, France

Ron Lyle and the Ski Masters Legacy

2008-04-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Since 2003, guests on the Ski Masters European trips have missed a special treat; the presence of Ron Lyle. For the first twenty European trips the Ron and Lenore Lyle team was the heart and soul of the trips. Each played a role, contributing smoothly to the overall travel experience.

Ron’s traveling expertise and Scottish heritage made him a unique resource. His packing list, still in use today, was an invaluable tool for a first time traveler. His little pre-trip tips on everything from money to medications helped insure a successful journey. While bathroom outlets are available in modern resort hotels, twenty years ago his advice to carry an extension cord was appreciated by travelers who otherwise would be drying their hair while kneeling on the floor behind the TV.

Upon arrival in Europe Ron would chase down buses while Lenore herded her charges through customs and baggage claim. Then, once on board the bus, Ron would take the jump seat, by the driver, and use the PA system for announcements and to point out passing features. His signature sign-on routine was often imitated but never duplicated. First he would tap the microphone with his palm to see if it was on. (It usually was!) Then he would announce, “…this is Ron, in the front of the bus,” as if it could be anyone else, anywhere else.

Ron’s taste in travel music ran toward German oomph-pa bands and, if the bus driver had a collection of cassette tapes, you could count on Ron finding them and playing all the traditional music just “to get the guests in the mood.” The music would only be interrupted by the frequent “this is Ron” announcements or group protests.

After settling into the hotel Ron would head out to scout the best options for lift tickets and make a report at the first available meal. That effort was more involved in the pre-Euro days with varied currencies. Each area offered single and multi-day passes in various combinations. Some offered discounts to ski instructors. Some offered guides. Some didn’t take credit cards. Some required photos and so on. But Ron would sort it out, share the information and make that first day on the slope just that much easier.

Once on the slope Ron was available as a guide, whether he’d been to the area before or not. But he acted with confidence and usually returned with the same number as he left with.

In 1988 I had the good fortune to ski with Ron our first day at Kitzbuhel and my first day ever skiing in Europe. It was a gray cold day but we had a ton of fresh snow to deal with and Ron led with the confidence of an experienced mountain guide. Mid-morning he led our group of eight to one of the charming mountain huts that make European skiing special. Part of a farmer’s home had been set aside as a small eating area with a limited menu. Ron introduced his chilly associates to an Austrian tradition; jaeger tea or hunters tea. It is a warm concoction of tea-like ingredients and may, I’ve been told, contain some liquor. In any case, two cups of jaeger tea seemed to ease the pain of my new boots and created indelible memories for our first European trip.

As an aside, David Black led a group to the same hut in 1996. Unfortunately the farmer was no longer operating a café, as Dave discovered after leading seven skiers into their living room and surprising an Austrian grandmother. The intrusion was good for a spoon.

Ron’s left ear was not his best so he always encouraged you to ride the chair or T-bar on his right. For the same reason he preferred the German language to French or Italian. The German, with its crisp, solid sounds, was just easier to hear and understand. He had an appreciation for written German as well. He could look at a word with 27 letters and take it down to its logical components for translation. So words that looked daunting to others were simply a challenge for him.

He was able to use his experience as a practicing pharmacist to good use on the trip. He was always there to provide medical advice and/or appropriate medications when trouble arose.

On of his greatest contributions to the success of the trips was his knowledge of local retail practices and, above all, where to get a good deal on wine. Most resorts sold wine in either grocery stores or specialty shops. But, as he pointed out, you needed to see what the locals were purchasing if you wanted a really good deal and, possibly, a good wine as well. “Look down,” he advised. The local and, often, inexpensive wines were usually on the lower shelves. Wines with creative labels like “Red Table Wine” or “White Table Wine” could be found tucked away near the floor and were typically quite acceptable.

So, after a hardy day of skiing and a quick shower, it was not uncommon to see Ron leave for shopping, later returning to the hotel with a victorious look on his face and a brown paper bag in his hand. You could bet he’d found what was likely the best buy on wine in the entire valley. His Scottish roots are deep!

On many a evening, with the right music in the dining room, Ron would offer polka lessons to all takers and seemed to relish taking the floor with multiple partners. Regardless of how hard he’d skied he had energy left for a good polka. He even tried singing along on occasion, though with less critical success.

Ron no longer travels with the group but the many Ski Masters traditions he fostered live on in the capable hands of Ron’s charming, well trained and competent daughter, Claudeen. But those who traveled with Ski Masters before 2003 will always cherish the warm memories of Ron Lyle’s many contributions to those wonderful and memorable trips.

Cameron's Spoon Report, 2008

2008-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

In March, 2008, The Ski Masters Spoon traveled to European ski slopes along with the annual Ski Masters tour. And, true to form, Spoon winning performances were put in by the participants. Doug Cameron was kind enough to document them for posterity.

"THE TWELVE MOST SPOON WORTHY EVENTS AT KITZBUHEL AND CORVARA - 2008"

12. (A Good Deed) Brittany Barker and Michelle Marikos and Alex and Jim Wise hosted the St Patrick’s Day and the Hawaiian Parties!

11. John Anderson, aka Mr. Rogers singing "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood", as he cruises down the slopes.

10. Connie Cameron getting her glove jammed in the gears at the top of the rope tow causing the tow to shut down.

9. Demeree Schaefer used the "children's sink" in her bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her hair. Everyone else used it as a bidet.
(For the record, Demeree claims these charges are fabrications and is threatening to publish embarrassing photos of trip participants in retaliation.)

8. Nan Hahn totally frustrated as she was trying to open her hotel room door with her ski pass.

7. Rick Seim, "Pappa Grappa", dispensing shots of grappa at the joint US/Italian party at the top of the mountain, until they finally threw us out.

6. Judy Jones recently upgraded from Spoon Award to "Good Sport MVP Award", for her dramatic face plant on the mountain. (We are glad you are on the mend!!!)

5. Larry Mast lighting his personal methane creating a "Ring of Fire" and caused the fire doors in the hotel to close. Song written in memory of this fiery event:
Tune: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash

To get the spoon's a treat
On Larry, it looks so sweet
He only lit a match
His gas made a huge flash
His room turned into a ring of fire
The fire doors closed, but the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns,
The Ring of Fire
The Ring of Fire

Larry Mast responds…………I received the spoon from John Anderson. In Kitzbuhel our bathroom did not have a fan and, being concerned with olfactory sensitivity, I mentioned my concern to Steve Beaudry who then gave me a book of matches to help disperse excess fumes. The first and only time that I used the match in the bathroom, the fire alarm was set off and when I went out into the hall, I noticed that all the automatic fire doors were closed. I couldn't believe that one match would cause the alarm to go off. I made the mistake of telling John Anderson what happened after he asked about the fire alarm that morning. Our conversation was over a beer at the end of the day and in strict confidence. We were laughing because John had just skied through the children’s slalom course at the bottom of the hill and couldn't understand why the kids kept skiing around him. John looked down and saw that he was right in the middle of their course. I told him the story of the match because I felt that I was protected by what he had just done….a mistake. It was a great trip with a lot of laughs.

4. Rick Blumberg and Andy Hill were seen trekking through the cow pies. Andy preferred just walking through with his ski boots, while Rick preferred to slide on his rear end.

3. Nancy Celeron hands down the winner of the "skin game" on Hawaiian night.

2. Spencer Seim - what can we say? Winner of the "hands game" at the international party. Civil law suits should begin soon.

(Mark Quandee believes Spencer should also receive an award for pushing the cork all the way through the Lemoncello bottle into what was left of the free Lemoncello offered to the powder Marmolada group at Bar Diga.)

1. Tie. A. Claudeen Lyle managed to get her ski pole caught in the chair lift pulley stopping the lift.
B. Craig Stuart kidnapped the daughter of the owner of the Posta Zirm hotel to play the "Devil's Fiddle" at our final dinner.
C. Everyone got the "spoon" the final night for the great friendships and camaraderie and many screw-ups.

The legacy of the Ski Master’s Spoon continues.

The Ubiquitous Bidet

2008-04-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

One of the chief attractions of European skiing is the novelty of it all. Food, customs, language and manners are different in each country and different from “home.” One of the European novelties, found in most hotels, is the ever present bidet. It’s not that Americans have never seen a bidet. They are just more prevalent in Europe than in the States.

If you ask an experienced traveler what it’s for you may get a polite smile and a knowing, “…everyone knows what it’s for.” But bidets are somewhat like the subject of “sex” to a high school freshman. Everyone talks big but most have no idea how it all works.

It’s likely that the bidet has been a discussion topic on every SM trip. For example, consider the 2008 Ski Masters travelers. Since their return there has been steady on-line discussion of the little porcelain pedestal and its many uses. For better or worse most of the uses found by the group were not envisioned by the French furniture makers who produced the first bidets in the early part of the 18th century.

Yes, it’s true. Historians suggest it was first developed for the French royalty. And it was a piece of furniture since it sat in the boudoir along with the chamber pot. Separate bathroom were a 20th century innovation which came along with running water and indoor plumbing. The French name, bidet, translates as “pony” or “royal pony” and came from the fact that users were instructed to mount the device, facing the wall, and sit, much like they would on a pony saddle. (Hey, if you can’t believe what you read on the web what can you believe?)

The purpose, then as now, was to rinse off ones “private parts.” But the imagination of SM travelers has significantly expanded the list of uses to include a shampoo basin, a laundry and sock soaking tub and boot cleaner. The Masts found it useful as a wine chiller. Demeree Schaefer still believes it’s a “children’s sink.”

Each afternoon in Val d’Isere, 1994, a group filled the “party room” bidet with roadside snow to cool the beer and wine. It served that purpose well but the melting snow left behind a layer of grit and sand that must have left the housekeeping staff questioning standards of American hygiene.

So, you are thinking, enough about the history of the thing. How DO you use it? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so click here for a tasteful instruction video. If you want to read more, click here for a narrative version.

And if you have any other good uses for the device, pass them on. The whole group will appreciate the educational input.

Carol Mast's Impressions, 2008

2008-04-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

In her words here are Carol Mast’s thoughts on the 2008 trip to Kitzbuhel and Covara.

We joined Claudeen for three of her last four trips. Our kids had the poor timing to plan a wedding last March just before the 2007 trip, and with family and friends in Seattle from around the nation/world, we chose to stay home with them...and missed a good one! Never again, we vowed, and the Kitz/Corvara trip reminded us why we enjoy the group so much.

Actually, the skiing in Kitzbuhel wasn't all that wonderful (much like a rainy week staying at, say, Alpental) but the town is every bit as great as it was when we rented a house there (actually, just down the road in Jochberg) the winter of 1969-70.

Long story; short version...it was Viet Nam era, ten or twelve of us army couples were stationed at the hospital (the "Walter Reed of Europe") in Landstuhl, Rhineland Pfalz. It was a six hour drive to Jochberg and we did it with one of the other couples every weekend all winter long. The larger group showed up only twice...anyway, we convinced the 'other couple', who live in Montlake, to come along in 2008, and it was sweet nostalgia for us.

Not that we could find the house we'd rented...one of the Schwarzer Adler Hotel desk clerks called her mother, who said that the road had been altered around Jochberg and that houses now had addresses instead of "names" as they did back then. Anyway, it was fun to return to the Kitzbuhel bars we'd danced in, revisit the bakery where we'd watched a very young Robert Redford film scenes for "Downhill Racer" (which we screened on the bus to Corvara on the way out of Austria) and remembered the dollar back when it was supreme.

The reason I'm relating this personal minutia is to point out that there cannot be ONE trip summary, as each of us has their own highlight film, underlayed by their own past and expectations. In bringing our Montlake friends (along with a Sun Valley buddy from California, another story entirely) our story was non-linear...time travel, in fact! And believe me, Corvara and the Sella Ronda are our new #1 ski destination...we're going back...soon!

You can see from the constant back-and-forth of e-mails from the group how NO ONE wants this trip to end...we had SO much fun!

Let me mention one huge change: Tom and Jay were not with us; nor was Lenore. Further changing the equation was the presence of four 20-30 somethings, two sons, a daughter and niece of two "adult" SMETrippers...it was a yeasty mix, for sure!

Claudeen managed the group with élan and only a touch of (hardly obvious) worry...but secretly, I think she's probably glad we all arrived back in the US more or less safely. Demeree was a spectacularly effective herding assistant, and Judy's lung clots (not to mention the face plant she suffered) were the only obvious injuries. As far as we know, no arrests were made. Not that some may have been deserved....

As for next year's trip...we skied Wengen/Murren in that long-ago era and can't wait to return. The French resort, Alpe d'Huez, should be a blast as well...I'd better start practicing my "Francais"! Fromage, sil vous plais! Vin rouge, aussi! Tout suite, garcon!

READER NOTE: Are the photos too small. Just click on any of the photos for an enlarged version.

The Spoon; A Ski Master Tradition

2008-04-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Story of the "Spoon"

When introduced during the 1988 trip to Kitzbuhle, Austria, who could have anticipated the ubiquitous wooden spoon could grow to be such a revered and, by some, feared symbol of the Ski Master’s trips. This simple, wooden kitchen implement, inspired by the 88 Winter Olympics, quickly took on a life of it’s own and became a social ice breaker of the highest order.

That year, at the Calgary Olympics, the world was introduced to Eddie Edwards, an inept British ski jumper who didn’t come close to winning any medals. He did, however, win fame and a small fortune thanks to his complete lack of skill and lovably goofy nature. Nicknamed “the Eagle,” he dropped into the public view and was one of the most popular athletes to compete in the games. He also served as the inspiration for the wooden spoon award that was presented by Ron and Lenore to the first, long forgotten, recipient in Kitzbuhle.

While conceived as a way to recognize unsung achievements by trip participants it has evolved into a coveted emblem that is awarded in accordance with vague, unwritten rules the most important of which is “there are no real rules.” This flexibility allows it to adapt to a wide range of situations, events, recipients and the overall mood of the trip.

The process is simple. At the beginning of a trip the spoon is awarded by the trip leader to a worthy recipient. That recipient, in turn, stays on alert for a “spoonable event” during the next day and hopefully awards the spoon to a new holder at dinner that day. If the spoon holder does their job they never have to wear the spoon more than 24 hours. If they fail to find a spoonable event they risk getting stuck with it a second day. However, with such loose rules, it is rare that some excuse can’t be conjured up, even if the spoon holder has to make up a good story. (Remember, we said there were no rules.)

The spoon has been awarded for a wide range of incidents, some serious, most not. Consider the following examples”
· Male recipient misread an Italian rest room sign and tied up the single stall women’s room, much to the chagrin of a tall, buff Italian woman who met him as he exited.
· The recipient simply got lost on the ski hill.
· The recipient skied up behind a German woman he claims looked like his wife and, in German, complimented her derrière. Her response, in English or German, is best not repeated.
· Recipient, claiming to know the mountain after a day with a professional guide, led a group of twelve onto a ice sheathed slope, from which there was no polite escape.
· Recipient had the temerity to suffer a disabling injury while skiing.
· Recipient locked her husband in their hotel room and them complained when he didn’t show up for dinner. (It’s possible to do this in some hotels. To complicate matters further the room lacked a phone.)

This is but a sample of over 200 spoon awards that have occurred over the past 20 years.

Why is the spoon such a big deal. Well, as they say, you have to be there. A good spoonable event relies on:
An incident, serious or not.
Willing witnesses.
The embellishment of the award presention.
The recipients sense of humor.
The quantity of wine consumed by the participants and audience.

Most honorees accept the spoon with aplomb. But a few, fearing public exposure go to great lengths to avoid the recognition. Some:
Simply try to avoid making mistakes in the presence of witnesses.
Ski with close friends all of whom take a vow of silence.
Resort to blatant bribery to silence talkative witnesses. (as in chocolate, wine, hats, etc.)

So the spoon lives as an integral part of the trip culture, cherished by most, feared by some, but always a source of good humor and conversation.

Do you recall a spoon incident from one of your trips? We want to hear about them. We will protect the names if that makes you feel more talkative. Remember the simple questions.
Who did it?
What did they do?
Who made the award?
Just click the comments box below and send them in to share with others. Spoon photos are also welcomed.

Lenore Speaks; Ski Europe, the Early Years

2008-02-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

SKI MASTERS EUROPE TRIPS – 1982 to the present.

Shall we call it a Movement, or a Dream that took on a life of its own? In the late 1970’s, as owner and Director of Ski Master Ski School I started to put together ski trips after ski school was over for the season in an effort to inspire my staff of instructors to ski other areas and get “really excited” about skiing, ergo, they will become more inspired and effective ski instructors. We went en masse to Sun Valley, Park City and Jackson Hole. Immediately, many students in the school got wind of our plans and wanted to join. Hooray, we had a viable project! We had so much fun and expanded our horizons.

The next year I was invited as the President of the Northwest Division of the Professional Ski Instructors of America to be part of a group that represented our Division of the National Organization at a Ski Instructors Exchange with Austria. At that time 65% of Austria’s gross national product was tourism. They had recently come off of hosting the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. They had devised this “Exchange” to promote skiing in Austria. It fell on very fertile ground! Besides having the privilege of being hosted in grand fashion to get acquainted with Austria and its wonderful people and its great variety of ski areas, it made me feel like I would be comfortable escorting a group to this friendly country and their fabulous skiing possibilities. I was able to make contacts with their travel bureau called the “Tirolerlandesreiseburo”. (If they could live with that name and be a success, they must be competent – and they were.)

Thus, our first ”Ski Masters European Ski Trip” evolved. “Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread”. 108 people signed up for our first adventure! Our destination was St. Anton, Austria where we transferred our group in three buses and accommodated them in three hotels. Our second week was in Innsbruck, Austria where we took over an entire hotel, The Rotor Adler. It was like a European fraternity house! What memories we have of those two weeks! More to come.

Lenore Lyle, Owner and Director Emeritus of Ski Masters Ski School, Inc and Ski Masters Europe Trips

Ski Masters European Ski Magic

2008-02-12T07:36:00.000-08:00

For nearly three decades the Lyle family has been leading groups of hardy skiers on European ski trips. The popularity of the trips is legend. Guests often sign up over a year in advance; often before the destination is even announced. When the trip begins they endure a nine hour flight in seats designed for children, long bus rides and languages and currencies they don’t understand for the privilege of skiing in a foreign country.

Why on earth would they do that? If they just wanted a foreign country Canada is just two hours away. Why would they send in checks to go on a tour to an unknown destination 14 months before the trip even begins? Why would they go at all? After all, there are plenty of wonderful ski areas in the USA that are easier to get to, have better snow and grooming and where they speak English.

This site has been created to answer that question. Ron, Lenore and Claudeen Lyle have created a travel experience that defies description. The trip is more than skiing. It’s about people, places, relationships, food, cultures, history and, oh yes, skiing. It’s about friends and fun.

This site is for those who have been on the trips in the past and those that might want to go in the future. We will explore the history of the trips; the why did Lyles do it in the first place. We will hear tales from those that have gone before. The veteran travelers will laugh and smile when they conjure up their memories of the trip. This is their site.

Have you been on the trip? Do you have a story to tell? Send it in and we will share it. Just e-mail your recollections to Steve Dennis at rosemont.partners@comcast.net and he will post them to the site. Then come back often and read the tales. They will likely trigger another memory for you and you will write again.

Read, enjoy and “think snow.”