Saturday, March 10th, 48 SJSC skiers began their spring ski trip to Big Sky. At the curbside check-in, Rhonda, Fran, Shirley and Carl pulled up to the airport with a trailer hitched to an SUV to cart their luggage – they were ready for some serious traveling. 

Tony and Lisa M liked arriving at the airport so much, they did it twice.  Tony remembered his sandwiches for the flight, but forgot his boot bag, so back home to fetch the boots and then back to the airport again.  When they finally returned, Lisa had to discard $40 worth of make-up at security check in when she forgot to bring a quart size ziplock bag.  Pam and Jim C hit a snag when they had to return curbside to get boarding passes when they realized they never got them when they checked in.

Meanwhile, inside, the rest of the group started the party in the airport bar waiting for our 4 pm flight.  Bill R was still wondering what the post office did with his trip payment and Bob E was getting excited about his 5th trip to Big Sky.

We departed on time without a hitch, except that Gwen and Linda M called from Newark – the planned connection of their flight with ours was not to be – in the end they got a free shuttle ride from a sympathetic bus driver in Bozeman, and joined us only an hour later in Big Sky.  When we arrived in Bozeman we set a record time for receiving our luggage and loading it on the Karst shuttle bus. 

Within an hour we were in Big Sky, where Ed and Barb who flew independently on an earlier flight from Philly, and Lisa and Charlie, our token San Diego members were already fast asleep.  It was 10:45 pm.  (scroll to continue)

We had been told by the Huntley staff - under no circumstances should we carry our own bags to the room, something about a liability issue, so we politely obeyed, checked in and headed to the bar to await delivery of our luggage to our rooms.  Tony & Chris C got a room without the little mini-fridge, and ultimately it took half the week to finally get a refrigerator for their room – but what they lacked in speed, they made up for in size, delivering almost a full size model.  Linda H and Barb S were given keys to an occupied room – SURPRISE!

In Chet’s, Curly our “server” set a new slow service record, which was symptomatic of the service we could come to expect all week. Around 1:00 am we headed back to our rooms, and much to our surprise – no luggage. Apparently we arrived just prior to a shift change, and when the shift ended, so did all the luggage deliveries.

As we individually drifted to the front desk to see what was going on we were told we could get our own bags (which most of us did) or wait until they could get a guy to deliver them. The obedient people who waited received bags at 4:30 am when the bell staff entered their rooms like elves in the night.

Sunday morning we survived with one hour less sleep due to the switch to daylight savings time.  We started our skiing with warm-up runs before the mountain tour.  Bill M found out why they called it Stump Run, along with Jackie M and Jim O; some warm-up!  Our large group had to be divided for the tour, and we lost Vincent over the edge a few times.  While the skies threatened, it never did rain…or snow for that matter, all week.

At the evening wine and cheese, George G, who went by his new name “Rainman” for the remainder of the week, tried his hand at forecasting.  Despite his doom and gloom predictions, our Monday at Moonlight Basin was the best day ever. Rainman redeemed himself by running back up the hill from the shuttle stop to the Huntley to fetch our buses that brought us to the heaven know as Moonlight Basin.

Bright sun greeted us for first tracks (OK it was groomed ice, but no one else had been on it yet).  We tried to keep up with Spencer who lead us top to bottom non-stop, but along the way we lost Ruthann and Bill F and several others. The sun came out full force and in the afternoon it left us with softer snow which acted a lot like Velcro.  It certainly snagged Harry, leaving him with a shiner from a face plant.

The happy hour on the sunny patio at Madison was the cherry atop a great day.  Drinks flowed, sunglasses were donned and ribs, buffalo quesadillas and wings were devoured.  There were some late arrivals to the party - some people don’t know how to stop skiing when the lifts close and after trying to hike back in ski boots, they were rescued and delivered to the party on a snowmobile – sound familiar: Jackie, Ed, and Tony M?

Tuesday was more skiing on grooved ice, the trails getting more treacherous.  Bob B found out how challenging the Challenger Chair trails could be (as did Susan on Friday).  Good thing we had the Crazy Austrians to amuse us après ski.  Jackie and Lisa F were recruited as part of the act. George M was the Jagermeister good fairy at our group table, John P stunned the crowd on drums with “Wipeout”, he was awarded a stunning shower cap for his efforts which he proudly modeled for his next set.  Linda H got to birthday dance in shared pair of giant red bloomers and John M got to dance with his wife Jackie (both sitting and standing).

Wednesday started off damp for Steve and Diane C after a ceiling leak in their room.  Plaster fell from the ceiling from some event in the room above them, as Diane’s shoes filled with water.  They had a delay getting out on to the slopes as they had to pack and change to another room. 

It was another day of challenging conditions on the slopes as well – ICE.  Geoff noted the sign at the tram: “slide for life conditions exist”.  Since the ski patrol would not be able to execute any sled rescues off those trails due to conditions, the tram was only open to those who wanted to see the view and take pictures.  And what a view it was!  You could see clear to the Tetons almost 200 miles away!

Our only major injury was Barb T; the triple chair was renamed “bone crusher”.  We hope your finger/s heal quickly from the surgery. 

Some of us found lunch on the patio at Moonlight Lodge more enjoyable than skiing, including Joe I, Dave and Chris T-L, Earl and Donna and others.  That night, our group dinner at Bucks T-4 was also a big hit, but Bob B learned the hard way– don’t go to your room for your camera after the meister has already taken a head count for the bus.

Thursday brought more of the same for skiing.  Several took side trips to Bozeman on a day off to shop, including Lynn and Bob G, Fran and Rhonda, Carl and Shirley and Gwen and Eileen – ostrich boots – Nice!  Youngsil also found out she was the only outsider at the poker table – better luck next time. Charlie had a banner day fly fishing (no thanks to the concierge at the Huntley) but thanks to Brad the Bucks T-4 bartender and expert fly fishing guide. Bill Q stayed amused getting great photos off the tram – which was less work than the steep snowshoe expedition he took with George M. As the week was beating us up, Kim adjusted a few beat up bodies.

Friday we had a 15 Nastar contenders at Moonligh. Medal winners included jackie (gold) Geoff (silver) Lisa F(silver) and Pam (bronze). Bill and I opted to rent a car and take the 3 hour drive each way to the north entrance of Yellowstone with Chris and Dave along.  Only a small piece of the park was open, but we got to see buffalo clustered in the park maintenance staff’s housing development.

Saturday we were all up at “o’dark-thirty”, wearing our green, and finally on the bus to the airport headed home at 6 am.  The flight attendant decided Bill and I deserved a free drink on the plane for our festive leprechaun headgear – and she gave the guy next to a free drink for having to sit with us.  Despite the snow-snarled airport at home – all but 7 of us made it back reasonably unscathed, and the delayed 7 were rewarded for their troubles.  Spend your airline bucks in good health, Tony, Lisa M, Bob B, Bill and Ruthann F and George and Youngsil.

In all, the snow could have been better – but the people, and the good times we had, couldn’t have been any better!  You were great and it was a pleasure to lead this trip.  Hope to see you all on a future adventure – I’ll bring the clapper!