2017 – Steamboat Springs

The HFSC returned to Steamboat Springs on February 23-25, 2017 for the 39^th Anniversary trip.

Participants: Chris Reid, Gerry Sullivan, Richard Corles, Jeff Mikos, Bill Williams, Lee Williams, Jon Rottier, Frank Rottier, Ed Szkaradnik, Mark Hammer, Rob Crain, Peter Smith, Rob Adams, Kevin Bogle, and Don Bogle

Accommodations: Mark Hammer made excellent condo reservations for the group at The Torian Plum…maybe the best ever. We had ski in-ski out, ski lockers near the condo back door, multiple large hot tubs within 20 yards of the condo back door, and large 3BR condos with excellent cooking and eating spaces. The ski rental shop was about 100 yards away. All in all, this was a terrific location.

Trip Notes: Prior to the trip, Mark alerted the group to an unbelievable deal on lift tickets…basically three days for the price of one. We were then able to snag the deal with advance, online orders.

Among our fifteen participants were two first timers: Jeff Mikos and Gerry Sullivan. There were three members returning after missing one or more previous trips: Richard Corles, Rob Crain, and Ed Szkaradnik.

Arrival day: Everyone but Chris arrived without delays. Chris had a minor delay in Toronto, but still arrived in time for Rob Adams’s excellent Shrimp and Scallops Curry dinner. After dinner, Kevin premiered the 2016 Jackson Hole ski video he produced. Kevin’s new Go Pro helmet camera provided excellent video quality and interesting video angles for group skiing. Jon Rottier brought guitars and other musical equipment for the Half Fast All Star Band. There was a snow forecast for 2 to 12 inches of snow overnight. No new snow had fallen at Steamboat in the last 10 days, so new snow was needed.

Day One: It was snowing when we awoke, but there was only a small accumulation at the base. By mid-day, there were 2 to 3 inches of new snow on the upper mountain. It was cloudy most of the day, and heavier snow started falling in the afternoon.

Vertical for the day was a modest 22,000 feet. Gerry had a face plant on a solo run back to the condo, but recovered quickly. Don was “that guy” who turned into Rob Crain’s skis and took a nasty hit on the head and back. Fortunately, Rob was able to keep skiing on down the run without having to stop. Kevin and Mark shot video of the group skiing.

After skiing, Ed Szkaradnik was re-initiated by rolling in the snow…..well sort of. He rolled in a chaise lounge that had a trace of snow. His re-initiation will hence forth be known as the Laz-y Boy re-initiation. Rob Crain deferred his re-initiation until Day Two.

Frank Rottier prepared his famous chicken dinner for the group. After dinner, Gerry was introduced to Liars Dice in a practice round. Gerry immediately applied game theory to his playing strategy but his algorithms had to be adjusted due to the excessive BS factor demonstrated around the table. Later, the Half Fast All Star Band provided music for another mountain jam. The band members are: Jon Rottier, Kevin Bogle, Peter Smith and Rob Adams. Joining Chris Reid on lead vocals was Frank Rottier.

Day Two: We awoke to cloudy skies and falling snow, with reported accumulation of 10 to 12 inches on the upper mountain. The group was at the gondola 30 minutes before the start time. The snow was incredible at the top, and we were able to ski untracked powder for most of the morning. By early afternoon, there was still plenty of powder on the backside of the mountain and along the edges of the runs. Kevin and Mark videoed the group skiing the outstanding powder conditions.

Vertical for the day was 18,000 feet….low on quantity but high on quality!

Gerry completed his snow roll initiation after skiing. Later, Rob Crain completed his re-initiation snow roll in a manner that will go down in the Half Fast Snow Rolling Hall of Fame. Rob climbed out of the hot tub, walked to a nearby snow bank wedged between a tree and a bar and grill located outside our hot tub fence, and then climbed to the roof of the bar. Making his way across the roof in 2 feet of snow, wearing only his swim suit, Rob fell back in the snow and made a perfect snow angel. Rob was more than ready to get back in the hot tub after his return trip.

Jeff and Richard deferred their initiation and re-initiation snow rolls until another trip. Both members were advised by the Council of the Old Dogs that their deferrals will result in compounding penalties and interest until their obligations are met.

It was a rare show of sympathy by the Old Dogs to acknowledge the snow rolling deferrals by Jeff and Richard. Jeff was coming off a bad cold so he didn’t want to risk picking up a hot tub bug. It is a good thing he was not at the Elk County Inn hot tub! Richard’s deferral had several components of consideration….#1, he did not bring a swim suit—no consideration was given for this oversight; #2,Richard brought a case of very good Cabernet—consideration was given but minimized when the Old Dogs learned that Richard had given Mark an invoice for the wine; #3, Richard came up with the biggest BS story of all time about not wanting to transmit mange from himself to others in the hot tub—Richard got a deferral based on creative story telling.

Chris prepared his famous ribs dinner and gets extra credit and thanks for having to cook the ribs outside, standing in the cold. After dinner, the All Star Band led a sing along, minus one member. Kevin decided to go watch Leftover Salmon perform at the outdoor Bluegrass Festival being held near Ski Time Square.

Day Three: Conditions were cloudy with no new snow. The temperature was about 9 degrees F as we headed up, but the cold was not much of a factor later in the morning. We had good skiing on groomed trails as well as some powder along the edges and in the trees on the backside of the mountain. I didn’t get a vertical reading for the day, but we had a good day of skiing. Kevin continued to video the skiing with his Go Pro.

After a short hot tub soak, the group headed to the E3 Steak House for the end of trip celebration dinner. Mark made an excellent choice for the dinner location. Ed was at the top of his game, ordering good wine. Lee announced a list of trip awards, the most notable being the designation of Jon, Bill, and Kevin as Big Dogs. Even Peter seemed to agree with Big Dog status being given to these three members of the HFSC Next Generation.

After dinner, discussion was opened to decide the location for the 40^th Anniversary Trip.  Peter was creative in nominating New Zealand as a 2018 summer add on trip. The majority of the group expressed interest in going to New Zealand. The 40^th trip finalists were: Telluride, Vail, and Revelstoke, BC. Revelstoke was the runaway winner. Chris and Gerry agreed to be the trip leaders for Revelstoke.

After returning to the condo, a lightning round of Liars Dice was played. Gerry demonstrated game theory mastery by winning half the game pot. Now we have another accomplished liar in the group!

Departure Day: On departure day, we awoke to a bluebird day with about 6 inches of fresh powder. Gerry had planned ahead. He signed up for First Tracks and skiing one half day before departing. The rest of us had to leave as planned, wishing we could ski one more day of perfect conditions.

On to Revelstoke in 2018….Correction: On to Vail in 2018

This year’s Half Fasters:

• Chris Reid
• Gerry Sullivan
• Richard Corles
• Jeff Mikos
• Bill Williams
• Lee Williams
• Jon Rottier
• Frank Rottier
• Ed Szkaradnik
• Mark Hammer
• Rob Crain
• Peter Smith
• Rob Adams
• Kevin Bogle
• Don Bogle