Garnet Hill Lodge Cross-Country Ski Weekend, February 6-9, 2004

Yes, this trip was everything we had hoped. We had a resort with wide, groomed trails for all levels of skiing ability, good weather and nice accommodations.

We left the freezing rain in Rochester to find mild temperatures in the mountains. Friday night we enjoyed a home cooked meal and the ambiance of the "great room" in the Big Shanty Lodge filled with 24 Huggers plus four more in a separate cabin. The room has a large moose head overhanging a dark gray garnet-studded fireplace, heavy wood antique furniture, library/sitting area, kitchen and ping pong table.

Saturday morning, heading out to breakfast, we found the moose with lingerie and unmentionables hanging from his antlers, proving someone had a really good time Friday night! (We later learned it was Mary E's girlfriend and witch.) We filled up at the lodge's hot/cold breakfast buffet. The weather was mild and the snow was easy, so most of us skied a good portion of the day. An igloo on the edge of the lake proved to be a popular photo-op location as people crawled inside and poked their heads up the hole in the top. The resort offers shuttle van service pickup by reservation if you want to ski to the furthest points and avoid the long uphill return to the lodge. Favorite downhill runs include Duffner's and Joe & Pete's. No, Rob D. was not caught skiing the hairpin turns on Duffner's Run. Thanks to Steve R. who helped Mike and Sue when their skis needed a quick wax on the trail.

Saturday night was a hearty buffet dinner at the restaurant followed by the culmination of the weekend's ping pong championship run by our event hostess, Joyce H. As the championship heated up, Joyce transformed from ping pong enthusiast to a Bobby Knight or "Ping Pong Nazi". Joyce made sure everyone kept the ball bouncing all weekend. Barb R. won in the lightweight division (prize was a "Cooking in the Nude" cookbook), and Dan K. won in the pro division (a bottle of wine). Joyce didn't win, but she impressed everyone with her professional serves. At one point during the playoffs the women were seen huddling together oogling Jon's "rigid equipment" ... a new fangled fanny pack/water bottle holder. Saturday night a front blew in, so Sunday we had sunny, yet much colder weather and another day of great skiing. We envied those who chose to stay through Monday. What a great place!
- Gail U.