You know, there are several bona fide ski clubs around America. The Yellowstone Club, and Holimont up in Western New York are among them. All of them have a feel about them. People coming together to do the things they like in a new season. The fireplaces are crackling, the buzz in the lodge is in high gear, and people all have smiles on their faces anticipating what hopes to be a wonderful ski season. The interesting thing is that vibe is also right here in Western Pa at a wonderful place called Laurel Mountain.
Now Laurel is on state property and there is little development nearby which adds to the ambiance of the place. Managed by Vail, Laurel is special to a lot of people because of the laid- back atmosphere and of course, the legendary Wildcat Slope- the steepest in Pennsylvania. It will give you a workout and prepare you for your season in record time. But the really nice thing about Laurel is the people.
Opening weekend was upon us this past weekend and it was so great to be back at Laurel and see all the folks that make that place so special. It is truly a club atmosphere and everyone was so excited to be back in the lodge, greeting each other over a coffee and catching up on the summer and what is happening for Christmas. Sure, I like to go up and lap Wildcat until my legs fall off. But really, I truly enjoy sitting in the lodge and talking to the folks that I have not seen in 8 months. We all are anxious to boot up and head out especially when we got a bonus early start.
Kudos go to Gary Wiltrout and his team of snowmakers. We all were thrilled when we heard that the trails and upper and lower Wildcat were open. Especially when fickle weather patterns ruined a lot of early season snow. But through the hard work of Gary’s team, we skied on perfect man -made snow with no ice, soft conditions and groomed to perfection. We all remarked that mid- season should be this good. But Gary and his team do a spectacular job, and we are all grateful. All the employees who welcome you back are so kind. Paula scanning your passes, Bill in the lodge, welcoming us all back, it sure feels like a club to me.
I had the opportunity to ski a few runs with Brett Cook, the affable GM for Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain and Hidden Valley. He told us a lot about what is new and going on for all three areas and he was especially complimentary of the atmosphere and feel of Laurel. He gets it, and supports all the happenings at Laurel. I complimented him on his diligence to get the area open with the shot of cold weather. The team jumped at the chance to make snow and make it happen for all of us.
People ask me all the time – “what’s the deal with Laurel?” ” Why do you like it so much.” The big part of it is always the people and the other part is the scenic beauty of the Laurel Highlands which I like to enjoy all year round. I ride my mountain bike up there a lot in the summer and that feel of the place even extends into the off ski season.
When my day ends, I drive down to the Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown, grab a piece of homemade pizza and a drink and head home via RT 381 through Rector to Donegal. The drive through the horse farms with the ridges in view is always enjoyable to me before I slog back home on the turnpike, But as I listen to my music, I have great scenes in my head about the great day I had at Laurel Mountain. I think about the wonderful conversations I had with all the folks. Well………….it is a club of sorts, and I am a grateful and happy member of that club for sure. Ski Laurel if you can this winter and you will see what I am talking about. In some ways, it is like skiing back in time. The way skiing is in New England at the smaller resorts that have avoided that big time corporate feeling. Vail manages Laurel, but the employees and the people there make it feel anything but corporate. Thanks for reading and think snow.
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Thought I would add just another little post this week to celebrate the season. This is our Christmas Tree. The ornaments are from the Danbury Mint in Philadelphia and also Lennox China. My folks collected them over the years and always bought two- one for me and one for my sister Molly. Their radiance with the Christmas lights is always spectacular and I always relish putting up the tree every year with these wonderful ornaments shining brightly. But there is a lot more to putting up the tree and placing the ornaments.
Erecting the tree and bringing out the Danbury Mint and Lennox ornaments take me back in time to Christmas long ago. My mother loved Christmas – to the point where people referred to her as ” Christmas Carol.” She always made a point to make Christmas special for Molly and me and to her friends and relatives. My parent’s Christmas Eve party was an anticipated joyful time for all of us. My dad and Molly and I were always on the dock to help out with whatever needed to be done. But, my mother was the coordinator and her decorations, her food, her atmosphere with music in the house was welcoming to many who needed a lift at the holidays.
There were funny times as my dad’s eggnog loosened up some folks. For instance- my mom’s cousin loved the nog but when he went to the driveway and inserted his car keys into his side car window- I knew it was time to take him home. People joyously singing carols around the piano as I played and after hours of this, I was relegated to the kitchen to wash the dishes with my sister and Sally Rose. Lots of work that Christmas party, but with people in and out of the house all day, it was always a wonderful event. The tree in my parents living room looked just like the one that Janet and I erect each year. Perhaps that is why I like the annual rite of erecting and decorating the tree. I am brought back in time. I can somehow see my dad, smiling with his Christmas pants and tie, offering the guests some of his lethal nog. I can see my mom singing behind me at the piano. My mom had perfect pitch and her singing was always appreciated by the crowd. I can just see her around the tree admiring the ornaments and being satisfied with her statement to me that” happiness is like a perfume that you can’t sprinkle on others without getting a little on yourself.” She and my dad were so generous ,and their example has carried on with me years later.
So, as I peer a little more closely into the tree, and see the ornaments depicting the manger scene, I think about the real meaning of Christmas. I think about the amazing announcement by the angel Gabriel, and the birth of Christ into our fallen world. I think how he singlehandedly saved all of us. All we need to do is believe. Christmas is so special and commercialism, deadlines, and other distractions, do not deter me from enjoying the true meaning of Christmas and enjoying our Christmas tree. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and remember to take the time to really enjoy and celebrate with your friends and families. My folks will be watching you with joy from above. Thanks for reading.
” And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” -Luke- 2: 12-13.
My friends Melissa and Jaime Thompson always have a festive way to describe the start of a new ski season. They say it is “popping the cork” versus my “breaking the seal”. I like theirs better because it really captures the festive start when you see all your pals, on the slopes again, for another season in the snow. Last Friday was festive indeed when Brett Cook, the GM of Seven Springs, addressed the crowd assembled at the Polar Bear six pack. He welcomed everyone, they had a banner break which ushered in the new season and the chair lift cranked up for the first time this year. Vail did a good job with preparing things for us and even though there was limited terrain. No one really cared because what was open was primo machine- made and natural snow. It was surely nice to be making turns again after 8 long months of waiting. You see- when you are a skier, it doesn’t really matter how much is open at the beginning of the season as long as you can make a few runs. You see all your pals with whom you have skied for years. Remember the saying, you don’t quit skiing because you get old, you get old because you quit skiing.
The interesting thing about Seven Springs is that most of us have skied there since we were kids and many of us now are celebrating,40 50, 60 years together on the slopes. Steve Gurtner made a poignant remark when he said, ” we are lucky to have Seven Springs.” We would not all be skiers if it were not for Seven Springs.” How true Steve, and another reminder that even though we all open up the season with laps of Wagner Bowl and some trails, it is all good. The camaraderie that we all share at the beginning of the season and the knowledge that more winter is coming. More slopes and trails open, more trips to the west and beyond for many of us, and hopefully a long nice ski season.
If you are not a skier, you might not appreciate the enthusiasm for skiing in Western Pa. Or if you are only a ski trip person who scoffs at skiing locally, you might not realize that you are only skiing a week or two for the whole winter. You could be making turns locally on some pretty fine snow made by Vail at three local areas. And also- don’t think that just because it is raining, or lousy weather, or no snow on the ground locally in the city, that there is no snow in the Laurels at the ski resorts. Have faith. Oftentimes there is good skiing and people in the city and suburbs don’t even realize it.
Hey- most of us take our trips out west during the season or to New England, but we make use of the local slopes and areas and truly enjoy the winter. Skiing is not only the exhilaration of sliding down a snow covered slope, but it is also fun discussions on the chairlifts. “How was your summer?”, “what’s new with the family”, and other topics of conversation. You spend most of your time riding these things anyhow to get to the top. Skiing is social, with apres’ skiing being a great part of the day with a beverage or two. The discussion is the start of another season and what we all have to look forward to in the months ahead.
Steve said it right. We all would not be skiers if it were not for Seven Springs. We currently have a great opportunity right here in our own Laurel Highlands. Why not take advantage of it? I can tell you laps on Wildcat at Laurel Mountain will get you ready for any ski trip you plan, and it is great fun on a weekday or weekend morning when it is perfectly groomed.
So………..”popping the cork” last Friday meant a lot to me for many reasons. I came away glad that I made the effort and can’t wait to get out there this week as well. My 63rd season. Think snow and welcome to the season skiers!!!! Thanks for reading.
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“I lift up my eyes to the mountains………..” Psalm 121
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