SNOWMASS, CO
December 10-17, 2006

Old and new members, skiers, snowboarders, and non-skiers (25 of us total) descended upon Snowmass for the first trip of the season.  We flew directly into Aspen, and were at our hotel shortly after landing.  We stayed at Snowmass Mountain Chalet, a true ski in – ski out chalet just steps from the Snowmass Village.  The location and their hospitality could not have been better!  We could easily walk to the Village for shopping, dining, and the shuttles and even a novice could ski to the lift after a day or two of lessons.  The Chalet hosted a wonderful welcome party for our group and we had representatives from the area on hand to answer questions and familiarize us with the resort. The Chalet also serves a full breakfast and a hot soup lunch daily, which is included in the room price.  Many of us caught up at the end of the day in the heated pool and spa which are located slopeside.

Luckily, some earlier snow storms left us with a decent base of snow for our mid-December trip.  Everyone was able to find terrain to ski or board, either at Snowmass or one of the other three mountains included with the lift ticket.  Snowmass and Buttermilk (home to the Winter X Games) have slopes for almost all levels, from “never-evers” to experts.  Aspen and Aspen Highlands are more suited for the intermediate to expert skier.  All mountains are just minutes away via the free skier shuttle.  Several of our travelers took lessons and raved about the quality of the instruction.  The Elk Camp side of Snowmass was opened a day prior to its official opening for a private tour by the Jacksonville Ski Club members.

Snowmass offers dining options ranging from Mexican, Italian, American, and continental cuisine, in addition to some shopping.  Aspen is just a short shuttle ride away and offers world-class dining and (window) shopping.  Several in the group went to The Crystal Palace in Aspen for their famed dinner show.

A sizable snowstorm on the day of departure delayed us a bit.  Unfortunately, we have no control over Mother Nature, but everyone arrived home safely and the Jacksonville Ski Club hosted another memorable trip to Snowmass, one of our favorite destinations.

Jacksonville Ski Club
P.O. Box 551352 Jacksonville, Florida 32255-1352
email JaxSkiClub