by Joann J. Ordille

On Dec. 5, three intrepid members opened the ski season at our lodge in Vermont.  Trip Captain Anne Dashevsky, Assistant Trip Captain Larry Goldberg, and Joann Ordille went to Stowe for Ski Club Appreciation Day.  Lift tickets were only $40 for great skiing with excellent coverage.  There were many comments like: "Wow, these conditions are much better than I expected!"

Saturday also was a free demo day for 4Frnt skis at Stowe.  Everyone demoed 4Frnt's handmade skis in the afternoon.  Anne said the 4Frnt Madonna All Mountain Skis were "better than the Rossi Bandits."  Larry, who tried some 4Frnt carvers, said he's staying with his Volkl's.

Apres ski, the group did some shopping in Stowe.  In her zeal for web articles, Joann attempted to photograph a display in a shop, and was promptly scolded.  The clerk did still agree, admidst complaints about cameras and cell phones, to sell some items to the criminal's friends. 

From left: Anne Dashevsky, Larry Goldberg, and Joann Ordille start the season skiing at Stowe. 

Photos from left: 4Frnt Skis are handmade in California. Larry Goldberg and Anne Dashevsky relax at the Alchemist after a full day of skiing. The Alchemist identifies another great feature of Vermont -- beer!

Next, the group stopped at the Alchemist Pub and Brewery in Waterbury. The pub is in a rennovation of Waterbury's orginal post office.  The food and prices there are both excellent, and everyone enjoyed their dinner.  Festivities continued around the fire back at the lodge.  The roaring fire was lit without mishap, so do not fear the new damper!

Photos from left: A roaring fire greets guests at the Short Hills Ski Club Lodge. The new damper works great; check out the correct position for starting a fire. The Rochester Cafe has great pancakes and free Internet, too.

Snow fell overnight, and the group decided to do some work on the lodge and then return home early.  This was more of a reflection of muscles new to the season, than of conditions at the slopes. After delicious pancakes with plenty of maple syrup at the Rochester Cafe, which also provides free Internet service, the group trekked across the Brandon Gap through an accumulating snowfall.  They searhced in vain for the ellusive moose that Larry had seen here in the daytime during last January's family weekend.

Over the gap, the rest of the trip was sunny and uneventful, filled with good stories and plans for the ski season.  If you missed the Stowe Ski Club Appreciation Day, check out their invitation on the web for two more events on Jan. 12-14, and Mar. 18-22.  Note that discounts on multi-day lift tickets are also available, and for fans of Stowe the Stowe Points Card is of interest.

Thanks to Joann Ordille for the photos for this article.