As DOTs, these ladies assist Marsha Lutz, VP of Trips., and the TCs and ATCs with the 12 ski trips and two  nonski trips this season. Teamwork is a wonderful thing!

Winter Park now boasts that it has the highest, highspeed six-person chairlift in North America – 12,060 feet above sea level! The Panoramic Express celebrated its grand opening on December 15, 2007. The past four years have been filled with improvements including new chairlifts, restaurant renovations, a five-acre addition dedicated to beginners, three new terrain parks, and enhanced terrain including tree skiing and new trails. The Rail Yard, Winter Park’s premier and most advanced terrain park is recognized as one of the best in North America.

If you haven’t skied Winter Park in a while, come discover the new amenities! For those who have never visited, this is an area that will please both the beginner and advanced skier or rider. Winter Park has a renowned Ski and Ride School to accommodate all levels and ages.

We will stay at the Vintage Resort Hotel & Conference Center. The Vintage, a full service hotel, has been voted on as one of Conde Nast Travelers “Best 50 Ski Resort Hotels.” For entertainment, enjoy the Vintage game room, sauna, outdoor pool & hot tub. The Resort has an on-site ski shop, lockers, laundry facilities and a microbrewery! It is just 1/3 mile from the chair lifts of Winter Park. And a new open-air cabriolet is under construction for easy access from the Vintage parking lot to the Village.

As a TSC Trip, you will enjoy all the fun-filled plans of your Texas Ski Council. In addition, there is an exciting tobogganing and tubing hill within walking distance of The Village. Or enjoy a sleigh, snowcat, horseback, dogsled, snowmobile, cross-country or snowshoe tour of this historic area – a favorite ski destination since 1940. There are several luxurious full service spas available or try the 22 pools at the Hot Sulphur Spring Resort! What a great way to start the season - enjoying the fresh air of Colorado and the camaraderie of family and friends. And we are planning an optional Thanksgiving dinner too. Make plans to join us!

Tier #1: $TBD . 1 Bedroom Unit: Works for Family of 4 - 8 (pay 4 max). 2 room connecting suite with Bedroom with 2 Queen beds and adjoining room with 1 Queen Murphy bed, 1 double sofa bed, kitchenette (no conventional oven), 2 full baths, 2 TVs, fireplace, 825 sq. ft.

Tier #2. $TBD . 1 Bedroom Unit + Loft: 2 Couples or 1 couple & 2 singles or family. 2 Queen beds in separate bedroom. 1 Queen bed in loft. Kitchenette (no conventional oven), 2 full baths (downstairs), 2 TVs, fireplace, 825 sq. ft.

Here is an opportunity to make that ski or riding dream come true. You know that recurring dream you’ve had since you got hooked on the sport? The one that finds you at the top of the mountain surrounded by gorgeous terrain after a big snowfall. You standing there with nothing but deep powder between you and a sweet untracked run below. A couple of thousand feet of vertical in front of you with just the right gravity to keep a big smile permanently affixed on your face. Best of all there is nobody else there.

Well wake up because if you don’t move fast you will miss the opportunity to your ski dream come true. This adventure is scheduled for mid-winter and we will be flying on direct Continental flights from Houston to Salt Lake City and back.

Utah is blessed with awesome terrain and some of the best powder on earth. The Ogden Valley is a little known treasure of what Utah skiing is all about. We will be skiing at Powder Mountain and Snowbasin. Both resorts offer great terrain, a 400” annual snowfall, affordable lift prices and best of all no lift lines.

Powder Mountain Resort features three mountains covering 5500 acres of incredibly skiable terrain all located at a modest altitude. With this much space, you won't share any of the 113 runs with a crowd. There are two terrain parks and mountain activities include guided tours, snowcat and heli skiing.

Snowbasin's 2,959 vertical feet of ski trails, powder bowls and lush glades cover over 2,800 acres. The Superpipe and three terrain parks are perfect for winter sports enthusiasts of all levels. The tubing hill has six lanes, each with a different terrain type and steepness, for fans of snow-tubing of all abilities.

We’ll be staying seven nights at the Wolf Lodge Condos, located in the aptly named town off Eden. The property features a recreation center, indoor and outdoor year-round hot tubs and saunas. We will be staying in comfortable 2 bedroom 2 bath units. Travel time to the ski resorts is 10 to 20 minutes. Discount lift ticket packages will be available. To make sure you feel at home, the trip includes two condo après ski parties and a group dinner in the city of Ogden.

So come join us and make that dream come true.  AAAH OOOOOOH !!!

TC: George Lopez GTL_ASTI@yahoo.com

OPTIONS, OPTIONS ON THIS VALENTINE’S DAY TRIP! Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday flights. Room upgrade options, and activities, and more activities!

Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains,SkiBig3 (Lake Louise, Sunshine, and Norquay) promises memorable skiing and snowboarding amidst the world's most awesome scenery with interchangeable lift tickets. Additional ski options include the 1988 Olympic mountain, Nakisaka, and Canada’s top powder mountain, Kicking Horse. Uniquely, Lake Louise has  green, blue and black runs from every chair making it easy for beginners, intermediates, and experts to ski or ride together.

Come join us for wonderful pre-Spring skiing, leaving on Saturday morning and returning on Wednesday evening, via Continental Airlines. This will allow you to ski at least 3 days and possibly one-half day on Wednesday. These dates are  idski season, so we should have lots of snow. The bus will pick us up in Denver and we have requested a grocery stop before arriving at Breckenridge.

Breckenridge is a wonderful area to ski because of the number of ski areas, Peak 7 (Intermediate), Peak 8 (Intermediate/ More Difficult), Peak 9 (Beginner/Intermediate) and Peak 10 (Intermediate/More Difficult), so there is an area for everyone to enjoy. For NEVER EVER skiers, Breckenridge is the place to learn and have an enjoyable experience on the green runs of Peak 9.

We will be staying at the Park Place condos. They are located on the corner of Four O’Clock Street and Park Avenue. Easy access to the bus and also at the end of the day you can ski down the 4 o’clock run and cross the street to the condos. The condos are also very close to the new gondola that takes you to Peaks 7 and 8 and also within a block of the new Snowflake lift and within walking distance of the town and restaurants. Breckenridge has an easy access transit system, with the buses running frequently and until very late at night during ski season.

To make sure everyone has someone to ski with, each morning Starbucks coffee will be offered in my condo for anyone who wants to stop by to coordinate skiing for the day. We will have Aprés ski each day and a designated restaurant for lunch each day. So, you are never without a ski buddy.

Breckenridge is a beautiful old town with lots of shopping, dining and other activities for you to choose. There is  nowmobiling, dog sledding and cross country skiing to consider. We are planning an optional dinner one night. On the last night we will have a pot-luck dinner, where everyone brings what they have left over to one condo, and we conclude our trip with everyone telling their story of what a wonderful time they had.

Are you searching for that pot o’ gold? Find it when you celebrate St. Pattie’s Day with us at the Big Sky Mountain Resort. Not only will you find 3,812 acres of ski terrain on three separate mountains, you will have a blast on our St. Patties treasure hunt held in our true ski in, ski out home, the fabulous Huntley Lodge! Breakfast eaters will delight in the daily included fabulous, hot breakfast buffet including most any omelet made to order. The Huntley Lodge is a world class, full service hotel conveniently located in the heart of Big Sky’s Mountain Village. There is ski-in, ski-out access to the core base area from the Huntley. Among other amenities at the Huntley is a fantastic lounge to dance the night away. Unwind with our club after skiing in the Huntley’s Solace Spa.

Don’t worry about late season snow as Big Sky, Montana is one of America’s most northern ski resorts and receives 400 + inches of average snowfall a year. Big Sky boasts 14 chair lifts, a gondola and the Lone Peak Tram. Ride the Lone Peak Tram and ski the Liberty Bowl to the Mountain Mall, a six mile run. There is plenty of elbow room on the slopes at Big Sky; lift lines are virtually non-existent.

Snowboarders are also welcome at Big Sky. The Swiss-made Zaugg Monster Pipe Cutter allows Big Sky to fashion the only superpipe in the area. For those that are not up to that level there is the Pony Park or the Ambush Park. Both TSC parties, the Sunday evening Welcome Reception and the Final Awards Banquet and Dance, will be at our doorstep in the Huntley Conference Center. In addition to the excellent TSC après ski parties, support your club by entering the NASTAR races on Thursday.

For those looking for other winter activities, Big Skyoffers sleigh ride dinners, cross-country skiing and dog sledding to name a few. There will be an optional day of snowmobiling through the wildlife wonderland of Yellowstone Park.

Sign up for the Big Sky now! If you send a check in the mail to Cindy Moore, don’t forget to fill out the form in this newsletter and send it with your check! It is vital Cindy has your email and phone numbers for contact purposes!

PLEASE NOTE: As noted above, at the time of publication air has not been secured. We are working hard with the tour operator to get reasonable flights. The website will be updated as soon as the air is secured. Meanwhile, you can put a deposit down for either land or full package.

TC: Cindy Moore dance_c_ski@yahoo.com

ATC: Ann Rogers  rogersae@msn.com