It was snowing, hard!
Central New York was green, even at the local ski areas. Oh, they all had a trail or two covered in white, but it was hardly what we, living here, had come to expect at the end of the calendar year. The weather couldn’t make up its mind, and everyone suffered… winter sports enthusiast or not. Some did get a few runs in locally before it warmed up again, but to get some real skiing in, one had to travel.
Some members headed west to take advantage of good conditions, while a bunch of us made plans to spend the New Year’s holiday at the Onondaga Ski Club’s lodge in Lower Granville, VT. M&I drove up Friday the 29th wondering if conditions up there were that much better than the local scene. We even wondered if it was worth taking our skis. As a fall back, we took hiking gear. With the pavement passing beneath the wheels, we pressed on hoping for the best. Everywhere we looked, green and brown was all that was visible until we were on Route 67 heading straight into Ballston Spa. The road is arrow straight for quite a ways, and in the far distance was this cone of earth rising up from the surrounding landscape. I wasn’t sure just what its name was, but the top portion looked like it was white. Things were looking up.
We didn’t see another bit of white until we left Rutland on Route 4. Up past Pico we began to see little snow banks along side the road, evidence that snow had indeed been there. As we took the Route 100 cutoff, we saw snow still in the fields and woods. It wasn’t much, but it was white. It remained this way the remainder of the journey to the lodge, with little snow banks here and there. Just past the world famous Hancock Hotel, we topped the rise in the road at the big farm just as you enter Lower Granville. Being dark now, our eyes were temporarily blinded by an infusion of lights coming from a point very near our destination. Could it be… Yes, it was our next door neighbor and caretaker of the lodge, Dick Eaton’s annual Christmas light display. Each year it seems to get bigger. Palms trees and flamingo’s no less. Wow.
Mary Hamel and Pete Ceckowski were already at the lodge enjoying the ambiance. Soon Larry Howard and Kam Menin arrived. Then Kathy, Mallory, and Jeff Jacobs crossed the threshold. As finger food, drink and conversation flowed, Eileen Rose and John Piston pulled in. I was a bit under the weather, so took to bed early. I was later told that things continued quite late into the night.
It was early in the morning that I heard activity in the kitchen area, and assumed some were up ready to get on the road. I drifted off to sleep again enjoying the first morning in quite some time that I didn’t have to get up… oh, so pleasant. I awoke a bit later to a quiet lodge, and took a peek out the window. It was snowing, hard! We got up and went downstairs to learn some members had taken off to Killington and were obviously taking advantage of the good fortune. The rest of us were taking this day off, but decided to get on the road to somewhere. M&I went south, Kam and Larry went north as did Eileen and John. Mary got on the road too, but she wanted to do it walking. The now empty parking lot allowed Mr. Eaton to plow it clean of 5 – 6 inches of new snow.
As darkness fell, Peter returned from Killington, legs of rubber but with a big smile. He described how the ceiling of snow would be rising and falling while he made his turns. Dick Lewis strode through the door after driving up from Syracuse earlier, meeting Linda and Larry Knoble and the Jacobs family, skiing all day at Killington and then having dinner and all at the Wobbly Barn with them. Quite a feat for someone over 29 I’d say. His only complaint… drivers in SUV’s sliding all over the place between Rutland and Killington. The door opened soon after that, and Karen and Rich Quinn made their appearance after an uneventful trip from home. The others that had been out for the day started to return, and it was decided to have a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the next evening, New Year’s Eve. It was here we learned about Vodka-Rocket Fuel, and the great tastes of the MiddleAge Brewing Company’s fine selection of brews courtesy of Mr. Piston. Some of us took to bed soon after, but others stayed up to listen to Eileen and John play their dulcimers.
The last day of 2006 broke with clear skies, and a very comfortable temperature. It was a push, but most of us made it out of the lodge early so to be at Sugarbush North while the snow was fresh and the anticipated crowds light. The parking lot wasn’t too bad, so our plan was working. We were on the lift after a slight setback brought on by a questionable ski lock combination. Soon to the top where it was a bit windy, but sunny, sunny, sunny. It is so enjoyable to ski in bright sunlight… you can clearly see every bump and rut a split second before you hit them. That sure beats the ‘Braille method’ that so many of us are accustom too. The only downside might be that we tend to rip along a little faster than normal which can make for an interesting development or two. Mine was a small mogul that sent one ski to the right and the other to the left. Yes, once again I tried to fly, but couldn’t flap my arms fast enough. The classic ‘face plant’ with snow up the sleeves, down the collar, and in my helmet and goggles. No great damage… just a tweaked knee, sore shoulders, and once again the ribs. Yeah, but the sun was still shining. Catching up with everyone else later on, it seemed all were having a great day, and the anticipated crowds never really showed up. This was great as less than half the mountain was open. Members that cross-country even had a good day on the X/C trails locally.
M&I had enough skiing for the day, so headed up to the market in Irasville. Once again I went shopping a bit hungry. Oh well, it was New Year’s Eve, and I was sure to have help. With an open bag of chips between us, M&I drove back to the lodge to begin preparations for the last meal of the year. As we did our thing, people started returning. Food prep was underway for the seven PM dinner bell. One thing new this year was a chocolate fountain. Yes, you’ve all seen them advertised on the tube, but we had our own right there. With four pounds of dark chocolate running through it, it’s quite a sight. We tried pretty much everything with it, and yes, everything was tasty. Maybe it’s true that chocolate will taste good with anything. There is one caveat with it though… when it’s turned on, it has to stay on until it’s time for cleaning. ‘course that’s not really a problem… just keep dunking.
Before dinner, Larry Knoble made his famous tortilla soup which was more than a hit. Being the gentleman I am, I volunteered to finish off the pan. Soon the dinner bell rang, and our plates were filled with baked zita, baked beans, a lentil/onion combo, spaghetti w/sausage, ham, cheese potatoes, a greenbean casserole, more fruit (w/chocolate), and topped off with some lemon and/or chocolate cake… of course covered with dark chocolate. While we could still move, we did a cleanup, and then settled into the living room to conserve strength for the dash to midnight. While recoop’ing, two members of the Short Hills Ski walked over and invited us down to party with them. Too good to pass up, we made ready to mosey on over with party hats on our heads, drinks in hand, and of course our famous ‘Shot Ski’. You remember our ‘Shot Ski’ from last year, don’t you? Well, we wanted to make sure it worked OK, so we did some tryouts in our lodge. After ensuring it was going to work, we walked down the middle of Route 100 as there wasn’t a vehicle to be seen anywhere.
Ah, the Short Hill’s New Year’s bash is a good party. A bonfire out back, music on the dance floor, an offering of Long Trail beer from the keg, good/funny conversations, noise makers, and falling balloons at “3-2-1-Hooray”. 2007 arrived on time, and we were offered champagne to top it off. We were having such a good time, I decided our club should do something for these wonderful New Jersey skiers. I called everyone together, and made a presentation of our ‘Shot Ski’ to the members of Short Hills. Graciously accepted, it was again put to ‘work’ providing libations to those who desired a shot of this or that. After everyone got in their ‘shots’, we thanked Short Hills and made our way back to our lodge just as it started to rain. Within a half hour, there was slick ice covering vehicles, snow, roadway, everything. I think everyone pushed the though’s of skiing on January 1st, 2007 out of mind. Not feeling sleepy, most stayed up and listened to Eileen and John once again entertain us with their instruments. It was during this time that I took it upon myself to shut off the chocolate fountain and clean it out. The instructions say you can do it in the dishwasher with ease. Well, I rolled up my sleeves and put my two “dishwashers” to work and proceeded to get wet cleaning all the nooks and cranny’s by hand. Oh, for a brush, even a toothbrush. It was here that someone coined the term “Fountain of Horror”. Cleaned up, I put it back in the box until next time… at the lodge only. It does make a good party toy, but only when there’s lots of people, and with lots of treats to be coated. It requires a lot of chocolate (came w/four pounds, we used about half), so if you wish to use it, be prepared. It’s in a box on the shelves in the back room. They recommend their own chocolate of course. It’s a Sephra model CF18L-SST. To order chocolate; www.homechocolatefountain.com . Dark, milk, or white.
Eileen and John were still playing as M&I crashed. It felt very good to lie down, and sleep was instantaneous for me.
The quiet of the 1st morning was overwhelming. Slowly people started to show up in the kitchen. Lots of coffee got things rolling, and soon we all were talking about the great time we had. Sweets were brought out and consumed along with more coffee. Then it was pack-it-up, clean-it-up, and move-it-out time for those heading on into the New Year on dry roads. The temperature had risen enough to make driving OK. Most of us were out the door by one PM leaving just a few to enjoy the balance of New Year’s at the Lodge, 2007.
Now there was more that took place up in Vermont, but you all know that “What happens at the Lodge stays at the Lodge”. Sorry, but you had to be there.
Marilyn & Michael McCabe