A listing of past and future meetings

2007 annual meeting news

NASJA will have a new president, effective July 1.

Bob Cox of Torrance CA, who has served as meetings vice president for the past several years was elected president by the NASJA board of directors at the recent annual meeting in Crested Butte.

Bob, a seven time Harold Hirsch Award winner for column writing and newspaper feature writing, succeeds Phil Johnson who served as president the past three years.

Returning as vice president of communications is Dick Butler of Mechanicville, NY, a principal in the web site www.snowchronicles.info and frequent contributor to Snow East magazine.

Taking Bob's place as meetings vice president will be Mitch Kaplan of Fair Lawn, NJ, a former NASJA vice president for communications and three Harold Hirsch Award winner for column writing and internet writing.

Curtis Fong is stepping down after a two year term at awards vice president. That position will be taken over by long time NASJA member Dino Vournas  of Hayward, CA, a previous Hirsch Award winner for both photography, and newspaper writing.

Highlights of the annual meeting and pre- and post-trips

Paradise at Crested Butte, CO: March 28 - April 1

By Connie Lawn
DCSki Columnist

Crested Butte is famous for its extreme skiing championships, but this was late in a season with low snowfall, and much of the double black and some of the green trails were not at their best. Our favorite area was Paradise Bowl, which has spectacular views and trails of all ratings. Best trail down was Ruby Chief. We took one "black" with little trouble, but I preferred the fast, wide, and well groomed "blues."

We were lucky to be in Crested Butte in time for the tenth annual "Grand Traverse," a 40 mile backcountry race from Crested Butte to Aspen. The traverse involves crossing two mountain ranges with telemark skis, little headlamps, avalanche beacons, and trail mix. It started at midnight on March 30 with a torchlight escort, fireworks, and a blessing from the bishop of free heelers. The race is run at night because there is less avalanche danger. Unbelievably, some iron men and women were in Aspen in nine hours.

There is literally something for everyone at Crested Butte. As for our group of snowsports writers, the agenda was full and there were serious issues to discuss. The major one was the changing definition and nature of a journalist, especially in this time of internet sites which may have much more impact on skiers and boarders than do other media. So far, there has been no clear resolution to the issue. Many other organizations are grappling with the same topics of changing journalism.

There were few snowboarders in our group - this may be another sign the membership needs to solicit new and different types of members.

Between meetings, discussions, and reporting awards, there was a lot of time to ski and party in the beautiful Elevation Hotel and Spa. We had a disco party, where we dressed in crazy 70s-style costumes. After the final banquet, we had a chance to ride a bucking mechanical bull.

We also had endless, delicious, and generous buffets. One night, we visited some of the gourmet restaurants in Crested Butte. My favorite meal of all was breakfast in the Paradise warming house, after the most remarkable first tracks run we have ever taken. The snow was fresh, the sun shining, and it was nearly a shame to have to stop and eat. But, it was worth it.

Crested Butte is a fascinating mountain. The Mountain Resort was purchased over two years ago by Tim and Diane Mueller, and it is managed by their son Ethan. The family also owns Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont and Mt. Sunapee, in New Hampshire. They are spending over 200 million dollars to improve and revitalize the area. The Elevation Hotel, where we stayed, was sumptuous and modern. Like many of the grand hotels in the area, it is a few short steps to the mountain lifts.

I am impressed when an area has a good Adaptive Ski program. Crested Butte has a large one with a skilled staff. Some of the skiers came down the steep blacks on their sit-skis, and not all were tethered to instructors. Remarkable!

CB reflection: A perfect meal

Some opted to sleep in a bit and catch breakfast on their own. Others knew that any excuse to be on the mountain early was a good one.

And the rewards came for those who accepted Crested Butte invitation to "first tracks" and breakfast on Saturday morning at Paradise
Lodge. Since it had snowed only sporadically during NASJA visit, who knew that "first tracks" might actually mean something?

After riding "Red Lady Express," we turned down the run called "Ruby Chief," and found perhaps 6 inches of new snow for our pleasure. It was a short run to breakfast, but that boosted our spirits. These definitely were fresh tracks. Breakfast was ready on time, the speechifying was only a few moments in duration, and we were released to take advantage of the new snow when the bull wheel started turning. Many called it the "perfect breakfast." And there were a lot of tracks to be made as we headed to East River and other spots on the mountain.

Our visit to CB was pretty close to perfection in a lot of ways, but this morning meal on the mountain certainly proved to be special.

Bob Cox

Lodge at Mountaineer Square soon up-and-running 

Dr. Gretchen R. Besser

On March 31, wearing a pink hard hat, I visited the construction site of the signature Lodge at Mountaineer Square, together with a bunch of NASJA cohorts.  Although one model condo was open for viewing and men were laying carpet in the 5000-square-foot ballroom, the rest of the building–with a vaguely Victorian facade of timber, stone, and corrugated aluminum - consisted largely of lathing and exposed wires.  It was hard to believe that the building – begun 19 months before - would be finished by April 17 and all units ready for occupancy July 9.

The Plaza Level will have a coat check, lounge, board room and kitchen, with planters and a gigantic fire pit in the courtyard, where entertainment will take place in summer.  Camp 4 Coffee, an excellent local purveyor, will be leasing space, together with other vendors.  One floor below is the main entrance, with a massive porte-cochère and wood-paneled reception desk, close by the revamped shuttle bus station.  Beneath the horseshoe-shaped structure is a garage for 95 cars to match 95 housing units (including three for employee housing), only four of which remain unsold.

Units range in price and size from $360,000 for a studio to $1.9 million for three bedrooms.  The three-bedroom model we visited, 2100 square feet, complete with granite countertops and island, stainless steel appliances, master jacuzzi, gas fireplace, and warm-toned alderwood trim, has a price tag of $1.2 million and change.  All units are wholly owned–no fractional interests or time shares.  If you enter the rental pool, you receive 60% of the rental fee but will have to pay $7.50 a square foot to the HOA plus taxes that average $6000 per unit.  In deciding, remember that the whole building is wireless and that water comes from the East River, while sewage is treated at a nearby plant.

The top markets for Crested Butte are Dallas, Houston, and Denver, with California and New York/New Jersey close behind.   

For us it was a generation thing...

Jim Gregory, ESWA Executive Secretary

My wife Liz and I arrived in Crested Butte in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday, March 28th eagerly awaiting the arrival of my son David, his wife Renee and their son AJ - (age - 30 months) ... he is the youngest of our three grandsons. This was not the first time they had attended a NASJA Conference with us ... they were at Schweitzer in Idaho two years ago. AJ was only 9 months old at the time. What a pleasure it was for Liz and I to bond with them... as they live on the left coast and we live on right.

Our hosts out-did themselves in making us comfortable in a very nice three bedroom condo right next door to the main NASJA hotel. At first AJ seemed a little apprehensive of our presence, it had been five months since we last saw him ... but soon he warmed to us. He was an absolute pleasure to be around ... he is happy, good natured, always smiling child who can light up the room with his entrance.

Our days with them all passed entirely too quickly ... Liz and I did get to ski with David and Renee and spend some quality time with AJ. We hope to visit them all in California in the not too distant future. There is something to be said about experiencing winter with three generations of Gregory's ... and as Carla Marcus of Winter Kids says ... everyone should get off the couch and out of the house to experience winter for themselves ... it keeps us all young.

Pam Butler photo

And if you didn’t want to ski . . .

By Barry Jay Warsch

Amazing parties were arranged by the Mueller Family, April Prout, the Elevation Hotel and Crested Butte Mountain Resort.  
 
At Wednesday’s kick off Welcome Reception in the Lower Lobby, sponsored by Breckenridge Brewery and Colorado Beverage, everyone caught up with old acquaintances and made new contacts as the wine and beer flowed.      
 
Thursday night’s Dine Around took us to historic downtown Crested Butte.  In the apt words of a resident wit, Crested Butte is a “living hippie museum”.  “The town of Crested Butte has been incorporated for 127 years, and hippies have been here for at least a third of the town’s existence.”  
 
Whether you were chosen for The Slogar Bar & Restaurant’s family style chicken, or Donita’s Cantina’s low impact Mexican and margaritas, or any of the other sponsored choices, food was followed by frolic on Elk Avenue.  The late night contingent had a choice between the young dance crowd at Lobar or the live band at The Eldo.
 
Crested Butte party planner extraordinaire Stephanie Prater wanted Friday night’s Disco Dance to be “the highlight of the week.” It was.  
 
Working all day, Stephanie doled out platform shoes, afro wigs and disco gear and transformed the Peaks Ballroom into Studio 54.  Aided by the contributions of sponsors Coors Light and Colorado Beverage, the NASJA crowd took to the dance floor.  Highlights included the stylings of California’s Risa Wyatt, and the Roth vs. Murray shirtless dance off (a classic battle between a fine aged wine and an impertinent nouveau).
 
At midnight, those still capable headed up to the Elevation Hotel’s Atmosphere Deck, for fireworks and to send off the 10th Annual Elk Mountains Grand Traverse back country ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen.  Not surprisingly, after a night of dress up and dancing, no NASJA members attempted to cover the  40 miles and 6000 feet of elevation.
 
April and Stephanie again worked their magic Saturday night.  Our awards banquet became the “Giddy Up” Roundup, a “cowboy formal” affair sponsored by Breckenridge Brewery and Colorado Beverage, featuring a lecture and slide show by Western State College historian Duane Vandenbusche, live country music, and a mechanical bull.  NASJA bull riders Greg Snow and Ron Thorley showed their stuff.  And, in a scrambling of the established universal order, journalists watched as the bull threw several P.R. people.  
 
I’ll leave it to someone else to fill you in on Crested Butte’s 121 trails, 2,775 foot vertical drop, daily groomed greens and blues and challenging blacks.  Most mornings, I slept in.

Breckenridge pre-trip

There are a lot of exciting things happening in Breckenridge, CO ... as the eight people attending their NASJA Pre -Trip learned. Our Host, Nicky De Ford, and her staff gave us all the details as we all were escorted around the mountains and town. Those attending - Mitch Kaplan, Eveyln Kanter, Carl and Ginny Weatherly, Peter Schroeder, Risa Weinreb Wyatt and my wife Liz and I, were treated to the best of Breckenridge. The skiing, food and
company was exquisite.

Our arrival at Denver on Sunday, March 25th went smoothly and we were whisked away by Colorado Mountain Express to our Breckenridge
destination, The Great Divide Lodge. After checking out the the town on an afternoon walk-about, we were all treated to dinner at The Cellar. One of Breck's newest eateries, where one orders wine by the "flight". I don't think anyone slept too well this evening ... altitude or maybe wine had something to do with that.

Monday, March 26th began with Hotel breakfast and scurrying off to demo skis from rentskis.com, thanks to Joan Christensen of JC Communications. We arrived and were quickly given our equipment which we had reserved in advance. After minor adjustments we met our ski guides, Jim Banks and Scott Provorse and headed to the top to experience Breckenridge's great terrain. The weather, guides, skiing and of course the food were magnificent. After skiing and relaxing we all went to dinner at The Breckenridge Brewery to experience Avalanche Ale and great pub food. Sleep came quickly that evening ...
early, I might add.

Tuesday, March 27th began as the previous day, except we picked up our skis at our hotel. We met our guides at the specified time and place and eagerly skied whatever we hadn't skied the day before. We all met for lunch and skied some more. Dinner was at another Breckenridge classic - a restaurant called "Relish", where the food and wine were ... do I have to say it ... wonderful. We all thanked our hosts and guides as this was our last evening as their guests. We were relaxed and content knowing that the aches and pains we had to sleep with that evening were for a very good reason.

Wednesday, March 28th, was departure day as we all headed for our NASJA Conference destination. Colorado Mountain Express transported our group, minus Carl and Ginny who had rented a car, to Crested Butte for four more days of white fluffy snow and more sunshine ... and of course great food. We traveled through majestic Colorado mountain scenery and arrived about 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon. Thanks again to Breckenridge and Nicky Deford and her staff, Joan Christensen, rentskis.com, Colorado Mountain Express, and to the great restaurants and people of Breckenridge, who always make
us feel like we are welcome.

Jim Gregory, ESWA Executive Secretary

Powderhorn pretrip: Skiing, sightseeing and wine tasting

Text and photos by Barry Jay Warsch

Colorado Ski Country USA and Powderhorn Resort took us off the beaten path for three days of spring skiing, national park sightseeing and wine tasting on Colorado’s West Slope.  
 
Our Sunday afternoon check in at the centrally located Hampton Inn on Grand Junction’s Main Street was followed by dinner hosted by the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau at The Winery Restaurant, featuring continental cuisine and assorted local wines.
 
Monday morning, Sarah Allen, sales and marketing administrator, ferried us 35 miles and 4,000 feet higher to Powderhorn Resort’s quaint base area of lodges, shops, condominiums and inn.  Located on the edge of the Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mountain in the world, Powderhorn features groomed trails and tree and glade skiing on 600 acres.  Powderhorn’s vertical drop of 1650 feet from its 9850 foot summit provides awesome views of western Colorado stretching to the horizon.  With spring temperatures rising, and the bears waking (one mama and her cub were spotted on the rocks beneath the area’s West End lift), we arrived in time for Powderhorn’s last day of the season.
 
The evening was spent exploring downtown Grand Junction’s restaurants, galleries and boutiques, all within an east walk of our hotel.  We sampled local favorites Pablo’s Pizza (artisan pizza and calzone) and Rockslide Brewery (pub fare and home brews).
 

Tuesday morning took us to the edge of town, where we traveled the 23 mile Rim Rick Drive, gateway to The Colorado National Monument.  Gradually rising 2000 feet above the valley, the drive transects one of the great landscapes of the American West, 32 square miles of bold, big and brilliantly colored plateaus, canyons and sandstone rock formations.
 
The Grand Valley is Colorado’s premiere wine growing region, and Tuesday afternoon was spent touring several local wineries.  Grand Valley wines are award winners in international, national and regional competitions, and a pleasant afternoon was spent savoring complimentary tastings at Grande River Vineyards, Plum Creek Winery, and the Colorado Wine Room.
 
NASJA’s gratitude is owed to Powderhorn’s Sarah Allen for her introduction to this “Colorado Gem”.

Post trip: Steamboat / "Ballooning eclipse"

Text and photos by Dick Butler

Our pilot, Ian [a Brit with a strong accent], owner of Wild West Balloon Adventures, had quite a wit about him. He joked, told stories and inquired about our business as ski journalists. But his business, was serious, and at the same time exciting, as he held our safety and entertainment in his hands and heart as we rose two-thousand feet above Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley. It was immediate and obvious to all six passengers that Ian knew exactly what he was doing.

Luck was with us on this early morning, as the sky was clear, with just a bit of a chill. I have been a passenger in a hot air balloon a couple of times. I learned you are totally at the mercy of the weather. One trip took five appointments before actually leaving the ground, but this day we rose quietly above the valley floor in a sturdy wicker basket without delay.

Holding tight to the rope grips provided, we observed all the venues that Steamboat has to offer. The mountain glowed white against the bare ground of the surrounding hills and developments, horses grazed in a fenced-in yard, a man-made water ski pond grabbed my attention, and luxury sub-divisions stood out with their many faceted roof shapes and gigantic floor plans. Cars streamed by on the highway below. A stream meandered placidly through town, and the sounds of a small city bounced skyward to entertain us all. Ian demonstrated how he could make the balloon spin by pulling on tethers. He pulsed the propane-fired heaters to make us rise as needed.

Our flight of 45 minutes seemed like 10, when Ian let the air temperature drop within the bright red, yellow, and blue behemoth breathing with the occasional burst of the propane flame above our warm heads. We slowly started our descent. There was frequent conversation with the ground crew. We watched as the ground crew chased us in the pick-up van as the shadow of our craft danced over the landscape. Ian mentioned that had we been an observer on the ground within the ship’s shadow, we would have experienced a “ballooning eclipse”.

Below us were pastures, a swamp, fences, and a high-speed highway. Ian’s experience allowed him to gently set the wicker basket down on the narrow highway median, between a fence and the road. Marvelous!

We were ushered back to home base where the traditional champagne toast and flight certificates were waiting. This was just the start of a triple-header day. Now off for a few mountain runs, then horseback riding.

Did I mention we are a very lucky bunch?

Check out www.wildwestballooning.com (Formerly Pegasus Balloon Tours)

Post trip: Steamboat and Strawberry Park

Text and photos by Dick Butler 

It was a crisp clear late March day that added to our enjoyment of an afternoon soak in the hot spring pools of Strawberry Park.

After a strenuous day of skiing, our NASJA group of five joined dozens of other participants at this popular outdoor facility, part health spa, part local swimming hole, and part natural wonder, just a twenty-minute drive over a bumpy muddy road from the Steamboat Grand Hotel.  The setting reminded me of a place left over from the sixties, with its rustic lean-tos and open air shelters of heavy timber, wood shakes and native stone, complete with several small pools, foot bridges, small waterfalls, and stone surfaced terraces.  I wondered if it was owned, developed and operated by a hippie architect, whose dream business model had come true.

A full service health spa it is not.  But for close contact with nature, this 40 acre wooded and hilly site sensitively improved by man, was much more than I expected.  It was a striking relaxed contrast to the built-up, commercialized core of what now has become Steamboat Springs. 

Two enclosed pools with hand-crafted stone walls set the warmest water [104 degrees] aside from the much much cooler Hot Springs Creek. The much cooler “creek pool”, provided a cold contrast for those most daring.  A brief 30 seconds in the Creek and I was numb all over.

Massages, aromatherapy, and other therapeutic approaches are offered at the Park, along with overnight stays at tent sites and unique rustic cabins.

Check it out at www.strawberryhotsprings.com 

Monarch Mountain - Who knew?

Text and photos by Mitch Kaplan

Sometimes snow conditions will make you a hero. Sometimes they issue a challenge.

Challenging describes the breakable crust that greeted we six who dared to snowcat ski during the Monarch Mountain on the NASJA-Crested Butte post trip.

But, nearly to a man/woman, we answered the challenge-fighting down steep runs in ornery, radically changeable snow while gasping for breath as the oxygen-free, high-Colorado air whipped itself into sometimes furious ridge-top winds of 50 m.p.h.

Fun? Well, maybe. A rewarding sense of accomplishment? You betcha.

Fortunately, on Day Two, the sun softened the snow enough for us to experience Monarch's surprising in-bounds aspects: truly steep pitches, fun bump runs and generous groomed cruisers. We could even duck into some of the remarkable tree skiing.

Monarch surprises that way. Isolated on NFS land at base elevation 10,790 feet in Monarch Pass, where commercial encroachment is impossible, and outfitted with languorous, leg-resting lifts, the place is about pure skiing/riding. Fully 31% of the 800 skiable acres are rated expert.

Who knew?

And who knew that downtown Salida held a truly gourmet restaurant (Laughing Ladies Café) and a remarkably epicurean pizza joint (Amica's Pizza & Microbrew)?

The Monarch marketing crew - Greg Ralph and Eric Ramsey - did. And for that, we thank them.

Million dollar snowcat ride  (Crested Butte)

Greg Bibilis

When I signed on for the “Snowcat Tour” I had visions of being whisked away to some secret stash of untracked powder high up on the Butte. But as the cliché goes, “things aren’t always what they seem”. Phil Johnson and I met our guide in front of the Elevation Hotel and together we rode the Red Lady Express to the Painter Boy Lift. After a minute or two wait our lustrous ride approached us from the ridge of Gunsight Pass. As soon as it came to a grinding halt a few yards away from the Camp-Four Coffee Hut I suddenly had a vision of Warren Miller asking me to be in his next movie – not! 

As we prepared to board, a smartly dressed young lady flung open the back door of the snowcat and invited us in. I glanced at Phil wondering aloud how she could possibly be leading us down double black diamonds dressed like that. As I stepped up into the magnificently appointed snowcat complete with leather chairs, and a sunroof I noticed it was filled with people wearing sneakers and much to my dismay no one had their skis.  

Our guide was actually a real-estate broker and we were about to tour the Gunsight Crossing home sites in the Prospect neighborhood in Mt. Crested Butte. These building lots according to Dawn Baker were first released in 2001 and have been selling in the price range in excesses of $1,000,000 (I guess if you have to ask the price you probably can’t afford it anyways). Surprising 85% of the purchasers pay cash and on top of that they still have to ante-up to have their house built. Believe it or not several of the homes are second or even third homes and many are occupied for only a week or two each year. 

It was unanimous; we would all love to purchase a lot as an investment seeing that prices keep increasing but even if we could afford it there is still a $35,000 a year tax bill that we would have to account for.

Scenes from the 2007 Crested Butte annual meeting Craig Murray, Dick Butler’s guest, hucks a cliff at Crested Butte. Scott Staples photo Martin Griff and wife Jill ham it up at Disco Night. Pam Butler photo Ginny and Karl Weatherly. Ginny Weatherly saddles up during the post trip to Steamboat Springs. Richard Butler photo Mike Roth shows his disco prowess. Martin Griff photo Bob Cox and Jim Gregory race. Martin Griff photo Crested Butte host April Prout. Martin Griff photo John Naye and Curtis Fong. Martin Griff photo Richard Butler in the trees at Steamboat. Karl Weatherly photo For more annual meeting photographs see the Crested Butte website at: http://www.skicb.com/press.html