A little air conditioning of the mind with snow photos - September 2020 Volume 50 Number 5 50 Years Strong - Rock ...
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A little air conditioning of the mind with snow photos September 2020 Volume 50 Number 5 A PUBLICATION OF THE 50 Years Strong ROCK VALLEY SKI ASSOCIATION
Index President’s Message page 3
Trips page 4-10
Social page 11
Board Contact Info. page 12
Calendar page 13
Membership form page 13
Time flies! It is already time to get your
annual dues in for the club. See page 14
or go to skirockford.org for more details.
RVSA Shirts - Long sleeve or short, name your color $25
President’s Message Wow! September sort of snuck up on me, and I find the sun setting noticeably earlier each evening now. A month ago, we thought we would be promoting and selling spots on a trip to Alta, Utah, which was offered to us at a great price by a new (to our club) tour operator. Then he informed us that he had under-priced the hotel portion of the trip by $600 per person, and asked if we would be willing to try selling the trip for $600 more than we agreed. We declined, and have demanded that our deposit be refunded. In place of that trip, our intrepid Trip Director, Janet Buchanan, has come up with a trip to Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, with flights by Alaska Airlines, so that we can use the airline coupons we had remaining from our cancelled trip to Big White in March of this year. Alaska Airlines was only offering to honor its coupons until March 21, 2021, whereas Air Canada, the other carrier for the Big White trip, is allowing two years to redeem their vouchers, giving us the possibility of doing a Canadian trip next season and using those coupons once the borders reopen to US vacation travelers. We are working to get a firm proposal together for our traditional September Membership and Trip Kick-off Meeting on the second Tuesday in September, which we are planning to have at Thunder Bay Grill, Covid-19 restrictions still permitting. Is all this aggravation worth it? Absolutely! I bought my Arapahoe Basin lift tickets this week for my PMTS camp in the first week in December, and plan to get in as many quality turns in this winter as possible. I have never skied a volcano like Mt. Bachelor, which is the 6th largest ski resort in the USA (4323 acres of terrain with 3,365 feet of vertical) and consistently ranks amongst the best places in this country to ski. They have a new lift with 13 extra (blue) runs since RVSA traveled there 7 and a half years ago, so there is even more to like! We will do our best to coordinate some Midwest weekend trips as well, as long as we have enough people interested. It will take all of us to keep this club a going concern, whether as trip participants or at-home enthusiasts and helpers. Please join us for the 2020-2021 ski season, and don’t just flee or endure the winter — enjoy it!! Ron Foran
Trips
As I sit and ponder as to what to write about this month for the Lift Ticket, I am reminded
that summer is almost over. Where have the months gone? I took on the commitment of trip
planner at the beginning of a pandemic, and I sit on the steps of September still having our
trip(s) in limbo and balancing the unknown of how travel as we knew it will take place in
2021.
I’ve worked diligently for two seasons with different professional trip planners who have had
to deal with the negative impact which this pandemic has put on the travel industry. Each
state has its own plan and some are at different stages in reopening and implementing new
procedures for how to resume for tourist travelers. The travel industry has been hit hard!
Our trip to Alta unfortunately was misquoted and fell through. I had to start over!
In my frustration, I decided to take the post of trying to put it all together myself, to best get
facts directly from the resorts, hotels, and airlines. This being said, I am confident that the
proposed trip for February 2021 will be approved at the next board meeting and you will all
be pleased with the results of my planning skills. Well at least in the rate of the trip, since it
will save us all money not using a travel planner.
That being said, we will all need to be flexible and open minded about going into group travel
in 2021. There are no guarantees as to what the travel procedures will be like in February
2021. What is, or has been, can not be set in stone. That being said, grab your mask, pen &
check book, and attend the September meeting to hopefully reserve your spot on a great trip
out west.
Look forward to a Canadian trip in 2022.
As Mid-west resorts begin to take reservations, I’ll have prospective trips, until then my hands
are tied.
Your continued patience is appreciated,
Janet & Jeff
Mammoth (see the info on the following pages)
Mammoth Jack has reserved 5 – 2 person hotel rooms at the Mammoth Mountain Inn, 2
kings and 3 double queens.
Package costs about $ 2100
Chris & Jack and Lars and Ray have taken 1 King and 1 Double Queens room. We have
one single female needing a roommate.
There are 2 or 3 double queen rooms, 6 spots available.
Let Jack know of your interest SOON.
Mammoth Jack
Wonderhinds@aol.com
815-601-3157
CHICAGO WEEK 2021
F E B RU A R Y 2 7 - M AR C H 6
M A M M O TH M O U N T A IN , C A
https://www.mammothmountain.com/mountain/trail-map
Situated about 330 miles from San Francisco and 310 miles from LA, Mammoth Mountain Ski
Resort boasts the highest summit elevation in the state of California at 11,053 ft. It also
averages an impressive 400 inches of annual snowfall for one of the longest ski seasons in the
state that can sometimes last well into the summer as late as July and August, weather
permitting. Located in the southwest corner of the volcanic Long Valley Caldera on the eastern
edge of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Mammoth Mountain lives up to its name by
offering more than 3,500 skiable acres and a 3,100 ft. vertical drop.
Free public transportation connects the mountain’s three base lodges, as well as social hubs at
The Village and Old Mammoth Road. Each base lodge is home to ticketing, rentals, ski school,
day care, retail shops and restaurants.
MOUNTAIN FACTS
Top Elevation: 11,053 ft
Base Elevation: 7,953 ft at Eagle
Lodge
Vertical Drop: 3,100 ft
SKI AREA
Length of Season: November–May
Skiable Acreage: 3,500
Number of Trails: 151
25% beginner
40% intermediate
35% advanced
Number of Lifts: 28
3 gondolas, 2 platter lifts
23 chairs (2 high seed 6-packs, 9 high speed quads, 1 quad, 6 triple, 4 double)
Longest Run: 3 miles (Road Runner) Terrain Parks: 8
Terrain: 25% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 20% Advanced, 15% Expert
Average Annual Snowfall: 400” Snowmaking: 477 acres covering 46 trails, (33%)
Join us for a great week of skiing, fun, and making new friends!
CMSC Chicago Week 2021
February 27 - March 6
Package Description
Payments & Cancellation Policy
▪ Seven nights lodging at one of two properties.
▪ Round trip airfare (from Chicago)
▪ Round trip bus
▪ 5-day lift ticket
▪ Welcome reception
▪ Mountain Tour
▪ Mountain lunch
▪ Race
▪ Pub Crawl
▪ Two (2) Après ski parties
▪ Dinner Banquet with music and dancing
▪ CMSC event credential
Available Options:
✓ Travel Insurance
✓ 6th Day Lift Ticket
$1965 -$2136 Adult
(depending on lodging)
subtract $85 for Senior lift
NOTE: We hope to allow all clubs their first choice in lodging; if it is not possible to do so, priority will
be given to those clubs that deposited on space in May of 2019, in the order of deposited sign-up.
Mammoth Lodging
Chicago Week 2021
Juniper Springs is the area’s premier ski-in ski-
out all condominium hotel acts like a gateway
to Mammoth’s world-famous ski terrain. The
lodge is quietly removed from town by just one
traffic light and not too far from dining and
nightlife. The lodge is designed as an impressive
mountain lodge with comprehensive hospitality
services focused on your comfort. Some
amenities include a personal driver, bell service,
concierge, 24 hour a day staff and
housekeeping. Juniper Springs is located right
next to the Eagle lodge where guest will find
chairlifts, ski school, rental shops and of course
hot chocolate.
https://www.juniperspringsmammoth.com/
Mammoth Mountain Inn enjoys a premier location
walking distance to the base of the Panorama Gondola,
Broadway Express, Thunder Bound Express, and the
Discovery Express lift all located in the Main Lodge area.
Not only do you have great ski access, but the onsite
amenities to match. Guests enjoy a heated outdoor pool,
an outdoor hot tub, multiple indoor hot tubs, fitness room,
business center, game room, multiple onsite restaurants
and the Dry Creek Bar and sundeck. Make Mammoth
Mountain Inn the next choice for your family or group ski
vacation package.
https://www.themammothmountaininn.com/
Chicago Week 2021: Feb 27 - Mar 6
Mammoth, CA
Chicago Week’s 40th Anniversary!
Tentative Itinerary
Saturday, February 27, 2021 - Arrival
6:00pm-10:00pm: Informal Meet N' Greet (on your own)
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Day: 8:30am-4:00pm: Skiing/Riding all day
10:30am & 1:30pm: Mountain Tours
Evening: 7:30pm-9:30pm: Welcome Reception - TBA
(info, misc. sign-ups, appetizers, drinks)
Monday, March 1, 2021
Day: 8:30am-4:00pm: Skiing/Riding all day
10:00am-11:30am: NASTAR Race
11:30am-1:00pm: On Mountain Picnic Lunch at TBA
12:00pm-2:00pm: Club Photos
Evening: 7:30pm-10:30pm: Pub Crawl (watch for more details)
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Day: 8:30am-4:00pm: Skiing/Riding all day
4:00pm-6:00pm: Après Ski (appetizers/drinks) at TBA
Evening: Open - available for club dinners or events
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Day: Skiing/Riding all day! OR optional day off from skiing,
maybe ski at June Mtn?
Evening: Open - available for club dinners or events
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Day: 8:30am-4:00pm: Skiing/Riding all day
Evening: 6:00pm-11:00pm: Banquet, Music, & Dancing
TBA
Friday, March 5, 2021
Day: 8:30am-4:00pm: Skiing/Riding all day
4:00pm-6:00pm: Après Ski (appetizers/drinks) TBA
Evening: Open - available for club dinners or events
Saturday, March 6, 2021 Travel Day
If 2021 Becomes The Year Of Travel, This Is What Will Happen Christopher Elliot, Forbes Magazine, Aug. 2020 (link on following page) If 2020 is the lost year for travel, will 2021 be the year of recovery? And if it is, what does that mean for you? "I want to travel as much as I can," says Gregg Jaden, a photographer based in Manhattan Beach, Calif. "I will be spending more time in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand to make up for lost time." Travel agents see the same level of enthusiasm. "We see a full recovery in the first quarter of 2021," says James Ferrara, president of InteleTravel, a travel agency. "We measure actual future bookings, which have been very strong." Note: This is the second of a two-part series on travel's lost year and what it means. Here's part one. Many signs point to a quick rebound for travel in 2021. That's because people will be making up for missed travel in 2020 and trying to use their travel vouchers, which expire soon. Travelers will have to time their trips carefully. There will almost certainly be a travel recovery early next year, according to most surveys. Americans plan to travel more. U.S. travelers plan to take more leisure trips in 2021 than they did in 2019 or 2020, according to a survey by GetYourGuide, a booking platform. That comes to an average of 3.58 trips in 2021 compared to 3.24 in 2019 and 2.46 this year. They feel more confident about travel in 2021. A new survey by AirportParkingReservations.com finds that 39% of travelers feel "very confident" about travel next year. A plurality (44%) say they're "somewhat" confident about traveling. Only 3% are not confident about travel. They're aiming for early 2021. At least that's the conclusion of the latest Travel Advisors COVID-19 Sentiment Barometer. It found strong interest in domestic destinations, with 42% of inquiries received being U.S. destinations, compared to only about 16% of all inquiries before COVID. There's a lot of evidence of travel intent. Over the last four weeks, Skyscanner.com has seen a 368% jump in searches for international destinations for travel in January. Its data suggests this growing consumer confidence continues, with searches for travel in July, rising by 94%. "2021 is definitely shaping up to be a year for make-up vacations," says Aanchal Gandhi, Ovation Travel Group's vice president for West Coast leisure and independent advisors. "Our clients are already planning extensive bucket list trips." No one knows the future, of course. But plenty of signs are pointing to a bounce-back, which could make 2021 the year of travel. Dan Richards, the CEO of Global Rescue, said a recent membership survey showed a strong interest in travel next year. But it depends on how soon a vaccine becomes available and how quickly the number of COVID cases declines. “As soon as people believe it is safe to travel again, we’re going to see a very steep recovery," he says. But when does that happen? Will the lost year extend into the first half of 2021 — or later? Or could travelers start making plans as early as this fall? Timing is everything. Especially now. Here's the dilemma: Book a vacation too soon, and you could get stuck in the predicted second wave of the pandemic (unless this summer was the second wave). You might lose your job and then lose your vacation, thanks to a heartless but totally understandable refund policy. Wait too long, and you could pay more — maybe much more — for your vacation and get stuck in a crowd. In 2021, you're likely to meet two types of travelers. One is on a replacement vacation. That's Mark Miller, who rebooked his vacation to Yellowstone National Park for next summer. He was supposed to take his eight-year-old grandson to the park this June but had to cancel when pandemic cases started to surge.
“It was very disappointing to all of us to not be able to go this year," says Miller, a retired logistics manager who lives in White Bear Township, Minn. Indeed, many travelers ended up with vouchers after they canceled. Those often expire within a year, so there's likely to be a rush to redeem them. The second type of traveler is the one taking a replacement vacation. Stuck indoors for the better part of 2020, these travelers will want to do more and will be willing to spend more, according to experts. Larry Gammel, a retired business analyst, had visions of extensive travel. For this year, he had Greece, Turkey and California on his itinerary. Then COVID struck. "Now I need to double down on travel," he told me. He's planning to make up for being stuck in Des Plaines, Ill., for most of the year by planning ambitious trips to Portugal, Ireland, and maybe Scotland, followed by New Zealand and Australia. I'm one of the replacement travelers. The COVID outbreak interrupted an adventure in Europe with my kids. Ironically, we evacuated back to the States, where the number of coronavirus cases was about to explode. Had we remained in Europe, we'd have been safer, although our visas would have run out. We're thinking of a "redo" in early 2021 to make up for the whole COVID unpleasantness. Maybe a month in Portugal and then back to France and Italy. After that, who knows? Jaden, the photographer, seems to understand how I feel about traveling in 2021. "Other than losing some sense of freedom that I usually have embarking on many trips throughout the year, I also lost a year's worth of time that was scheduled to be a productive year," he says. "Before the restrictions, I had started to secure support and funding from some of my sponsors and major brands that were onboard. I was going to film a documentary about almost extinct animals and the impact humans have had on their environment. I'll be trying to jump-start this project once the restrictions lift." Same here. Travel isn't optional. I view it as an essential part of my kids' education, and as a travel writer, it's my livelihood. I must get back out there. Chances are, you're sitting on at least one airline voucher that expires next year or in 2022. And you're wondering what you should do. Risk a trip now or wait until the vaccine? Book now and save money — or book later and overspend on your hotel or cruise? At a time like this, the advice of a travel professional can help. A competent travel counselor can help you navigate the ins and outs of post-COVID travel. That is, if you can find one. The American Society of Travel Advisors predicts 71% of travel advisors will be out of business in six months or less. Not only can they help, but they could use your business. The takeaway? Don't wait too long to make your travel plans for the year of travel in 2021 — or even this year. "People want to travel, and there will be a pent-up demand when restrictions are lifted," warns Stephen McGillivray, chief marketing officer of Travel Leaders Group. There will be deals, but by the beginning of next year, there could also be crowds. And higher prices. It'll be like the pandemic never happened. Well, almost. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/ 2020/08/29/if-2021-becomes-the-year-of-travel-this-is-what-will-happen/amp/
Memories - Powderhorn 2000
The RVSA Executive Board
President: Ron Foran 815-962-9924
Chairman: Ray Baker 815-823-3660
Trips Director: Janet Buchanan 815-484-3208
jemb4@icloud.com
Asst. Trips Director: Jeff Buchanan 815-979-7017
buchni@gmail.com
Treasurer: Dennis Schneider 815-978-3039
Recording Secretary: Lars Freeman 815-282-6219
LFREEM@ATT.com
Membership: Chris Wonderlick: 815-601-3156
Ways & Means: Dan McIlvanie 815-449-2045
Publicity: Doug Pampe 815-874-8937
Ski Master: Ed Reyes 815-742-8303
edracer@ymail.com
Social: Steve Strombeck 815-260-4094
stephen.strombeck@gmail.com
Lift Ticket Editor: Emily Gayle 815-979-5668
gayles61107@yahoo.comMark your Calendars...
Tuesday, September 8, 7:30PM (2nd Tues. of every month) – Club meeting
at thunder Bay Grille postponed until further notice. Look for a Zoom
invitation.
September Birthdays
Pattie McKnight 1 Stacey Lee 9
Betty McBride 2 John Ulferts 15
Russ Davis 4 Chris Albrecht 19
Lars Freeman 7 Sue Lacerra 25
RVSA MEMBERSHIP FORM – Please Print
Please keep your payments and updates coming in! Renewals for Individuals are
$20 and couples are $35. If you have had a lapse in membership, your dues would
be $25 for an individual and $45 for a couple.
NAME: 1 ___________________________ Birthdate: Month ______ Day ______
NAME: 2 ___________________________ Birthdate: Month ______ Day ______
Address __________________________________________________________
Street City, State Zip
CELL #1 (_______) __________________ CELL #2 (_______) _______________
EMAIL #1 _________________________ EMAIL #2 _______________________
MEMBERSHIP: (please select one) RENEWAL: Individual - $20 Couple - $35
NEW / DELINQUENT MEMBER: Individual – $25 Couple - $45
Please mail my receipte to me: YES / NO
Make checks payable to RVSA Payment is accepted at monthly meetings or mail
to: Chris Wonderlick, 1605 South Shore Dr. Delavan, WI 53115
RECEIPT# __________________ CASH / CHECK # _________________You can also read
