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Greetings HISC Members,
This is an early SnoSheet but wanted to get some info out before going on leave Saturday. Waiting until after MLK weekend to disseminate the info affords you no reaction time prior to the 20 January Social.
Speaking of the Social…it’s a big deal for wine lovers and owners of Hawaiian apparel. Jonathan Chiri, a French chef and wine expert from Domaine & Traditions, will return. He will offer a selection of fine French wines for sampling and, of course, buying. The wine prices will be similar in price range as during his last visit. As I recall, prices ranged between 6 ish euro to 30 ish euro. He’ll sell by the bottle or case. This Social will be a delight for the wine connoisseurs among you. Needless to say, we received favorable feedback as a result of the previous visit. There is no obligation to buy. So come to the Social prepared to enjoy wine tasting and wear your Hawaiian best, it’s luau night.
The following individuals can retrieve trip payment refunds/reimbursements at the social by seeing Doug Sims, Treasurer:
- Hintertux: Amy Gould.
- Obergurgl: Rebecca Boucher.
- Stuben: Linnea Norby and Danny Brannon.
- St. Veit: Tiernan Dolan, Mike Kubala, Jim Wilson.
- Evaldo: Kurt Miller and Andrew Burton.
- Malita: Fred Schultz (including Joe Brown) and Lynn Anderson.
Refunds will be paid by way of a check unless advance coordination is made with Doug to receive a voucher in lieu of a check. The voucher can be immediately rolled over into another trip where as a check must first be cashed. Doug can be contacted at douglas.sims@eur.army.mil.
NOTE: Some of you may have already picked-up your refunds. Doug and I didn’t get a chance to match notes before I released this SnoSheet. To the best of my knowledge, all requested refunds through the Christmas trips have been addressed with the exception of one which is still being worked.
I appreciate the positive response to my call for Ski Safari and Zell am See subscribership (President’s 3-Day Weekend). I do apologize for any inconvenience to or disappointment by those seeking a space on the Zell trip that found they are now on a wait list. I was unaware of the number of people that contacted Val directly between Socials to sign-up. Understandably, their names did not appear on the trips account ledger so I did not have an accurate picture of trip sign-up status. I encourage those on the Zell stand-by list and others to favorably consider Ski Safari.
Ski Safari now has 23 participants. We’ll accept some financial risk; I’ve committed to keeping the trip a “go”; you don’t need to be concerned about getting the rug pulled out from under you and being left empty handed with nothing to do on a three day weekend…so sign up. The trip can accept as many as 40 participants. I can't emphasize enough that Serfaus, Ischgl, and St. Anton are all fabulous ski areas with plenty of runs with varying degrees of difficulty. Lift systems are large and efficient. Each location offers more terrain than can be skied in a day so you certainly won't be bored. You'll be able to enjoy après ski Saturday evening for a while at Ischgl...a great party town. Several on the trip are familiar with the areas so can easily point you in the direction that might most interest you or they may serve as your tour guide. The bus trip between the hotel and the resorts is pretty short - 25-35 minutes. Your bus drive home Monday is far shorter than for those going to Zell...you'll get a longer ski day and still probably beat the Zell folks home. Snow reports for all three Ski Safari locations are very positive.
Space is still available on the Andermatt trip (29-31 Jan, TC: Mark Sarabia). Andermatt is exceptionally well known for the quality of its off-piste ski opportunities. Currently, Andermatt has 195 cm of snow on the upper slopes and 80 cm on the lower slopes. Sounds pretty inviting. As a repeat for those of us that experience the CRS disease (Can’t Remember Stuff or words to that effect)…
The hotel is about equal distance between the two lifts that run out of town to two different mountains and it is a short walk to the town center which is said to be very picturesque. The travel distance from Heidelberg is a little shorter than most of our trips this season. The destination offers the following items of interest:
Skier – A good mix of slopes for a variety of ski abilities. The adventuresome can enjoy good steeps and great off-piste skiing.
Cross-Country Skier – This is probably the best X-country destination we will offer this year. Enjoy at least 20 km of trails principally along the valley floor.
Non-Skiing Winter Sports Enthusiast – Ice skating and a 7 km rodelbahn (sled) course can be enjoyed.
Non-Skier – An architecturally attractive town, good window shopping, an attractive town church, and an interesting regional museum.
Something for everyone.
Space is available on the Engelberg trip (26-28 Feb, TC: Mark Sarabia). This trip has the shortest commute and the second lowest cost of the year. We will stay a short 20 minute HISC bus commute from the slopes. Engelberg offers nice beginner and intermediate skiing and enjoyable off-piste opportunities. Additionally, this is the second best cross-country skiing destination of the year. Last year this turned out to be a particularly good family outing given its short travel distance, early Sunday return, and low cost.
Two trips open during the 20 January Social. They are: Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Murren, Switzerland and Val Thorens, Three Valleys, France.
Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Murren (12-14 Mar, TC: Mag McGinley) – We switched the location of this trip from Wengen (335€) to Lauterbrunnen (295€) due to member complaints about the high Wengen cost. Further, Lauterbrunnen better enables trip participants to ski both sides of the valley – Kleine Scheidegg and Schilthorn - double the fun. We have not offered this ease of access in a number of years. The hotel is walking distance to both cog trains that transport you to ski heaven. Now you can easily ski both the oldest and longest ski course on the World Cup circuit, the Lauberhorn, and the 12 km, 2000 meter descent Inferno run in one weekend. Additionally, you can enjoy lunch at the Piz Gloria, the rotating restaurant at Schilthorn that is well-know to James Bond fans. The high ski area elevation guarantees favorable ski conditions this time of year…should be snow sure long sunny days.
Val Thorens (3-10 or 10-17 April) – This week long vacation is a shared event with multiple U.S. ski clubs in Germany. Scherer Tours is our gracious host. Participants are picked-up at the Commissary Gate Park and Ride. Price varies based on the accommodation one chooses. This is a great outing to team up with other singles, couples or families to find the most cost efficient billeting arrangement. Val Thorens is the highest purpose built ski village in France’s Three Valley’s – the largest ski area in the world. Many of you may question the quality of skiing in mid-April. If my memory serves me correctly, other than glacier locations, Val Thorens is the last ski resort in Europe to close each year. People have returned from the trip and raved about the ski conditions. I’ve seen photos and video clips from trip participants attesting to the snow quality. This will be a great spring break outing.
I look forward to seeing PDS participants at Champery next Friday night upon your arrival.
I hope the club is meeting your expectation.
See you on the high ground.
Think Snow.
Regards,
Al Rasper
HISC President