Alpine Valley Ski Trip
By Barb Knick
There is a lot to be said about skiing during the week. Less traffic driving there, no lines for lift tickets, no fighting for lockers or room to change into your gear, no lift lines, no food lines, plenty of room in the cafeteria and bar, but one of the best parts of a one day trip is that since your group is probably the only ones there, it's easy to ski together and stay together.
For those that are beginners, you have lots of slope space to practice on and for the more experienced skier you have lots of empty slope to fly down.
We had all of this at Alpine Valley on an overcast Tuesday in February. A small, but fun, group of us headed up with a bit of apprehension as to what the conditions would be like considering the lack of snow the morning we left. None of the group had been to this place ever and we were not sure just what to expect. Once there, we felt reassured that there was snow on the slopes still and although there was only one lift open on time, it was at least a lift that went to the top of the "Hill".
I say "Hill" because to some of us that had just come back from Switzerland, even "Hill" was an over statement. Luckily there was enough of a mix of experienced and beginners that although it was not quite the challenge some of us had seen "across the big pond", it was a good place for us to help out the less experienced without the hassle of a crowded resort.
Although some beginners may have been better off with a less experienced skier; point in case, Bill VaHary teaching Sarah Glenwright. It wasn't until later in the morning that we questioned Bill as to when he was going to teach Sarah how to do more than his "point and shoot" method! Sarah seemed to be a fast learner though and was doing just great.
Ron Troyer managed to get a lot of us on video tape. Not sure I want to see myself, but I did make sure he let me get himself on tape. If you have never seen Ron ski before, let's just say that his hat with the horns on it is quite appropriate for him considering his form is close to that of a charging bull coming down the hill!
We ended our day just in time that since two school buses were pulling in just as we had decided to hit the road. Good that we left when we did considering the weather that we ran in to. I thank everyone for having confidence enough in me to be doing the driving. Never heard one word from any of the men in the van. Now I am not sure if that was because they trusted me or they were scared out of their minds and just keeping their mouths shut, but either way, I think everyone was glad they were not the ones driving.
A quick stop in DeKalb for a rest and dinner and we were back on the road and home by 9:00. Although it was not a "perfect" day of skiing, as they say "A bad day on the slopes is better than a good day at work" so I think it is safe to say we all had a good time and look forward to next years "One Day Trips".
