Club St. Bernard

TSC Winter Shootout Trip!

Considered one of the World’s Best Ski Resorts, and Club St. Bernard’s #1 pick of the TSC trips offered for 2122…  fabulous terrain for skiers of all levels, and so much to enjoy about the Telluride area for non-skiers, as well!

This trip was a great success: we had 22 of 24 due to emergency cancellations. Icy conditions delayed our departure from SA by one day, so we got out one day late.

There was no new snow, but trails were great!

We enjoyed two “fine dining” evenings and a lively condo party with takeout pizza and homemade spaghetti sauce (thanks, Pam!). We were intertained with Joe’s now-famous snow-boarding poem, and Doc’s story song.

As Trip Leader, I took the opportunity to “roast” each skier… but I think everyone is still speaking to me!

Our club won 1st place in Division 2 races. Kip and I won individual medals and Mark and Sonny won NASTAR pins.

It was so refreshing to get back on the slopes again, as COViD issues seem to be behind us now! Looking forward to a great 2023 ski season!

John Bearor, Trip Leader

TSC Rep / Club St. Bernard Vice President

210-607-0986

[email protected]

Click here for the all-inclusive and fabulous Trip Tails to read all about the Park City Trip, straight from Lizzie, our Trip Leader! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dvt8UdsDNEFyP3ufuEh7BTAXZ6vPOAEQ/view?usp=sharing

If you’re interested in leading a trip to one of your favorite destinations, contact our Travel Director, Lizzie Fisher: [email protected] or 210-710-0258

This trip has been enjoyed by all who participated, so click on the about link about all the fun and comparison between pre-Covid and post-/covid Park City and Deer alley. Spoiler: Guess who won a Silver in the races!!! In the most “senior” division, yet again!!! Stay tuned for all the scoop! And be sure to look at the February issue of Pawprints for trip photos!

Trip description: Trip included 7 nights at Town Pointe Condos, 3 bedroom, 3 bath condos with private Hot Tub! Also air transportation, San Antonio to Salt Lake City, and ground transfers. This was a Texas Ski council trip, so the TSC Welcome Party and Farewell Dinner were part of the deal, as well as a club Pre-Trip Party and a a club Mid-Week on the Mountain Party!

This is an EPIC Pass resort, so contact www.winterskiandsport.com for a possible discount.

Texas Ski Council Winter Shootout

Trip Leaders: Anne Emshoff 210-846-3180 Amy Kuharich 210-373-1285

CHAMONIX-MONT BLANC

January 31 – February 8, 2020

How about a ski vacation in the land of Europe’s highest peak and the world’s first Winter Olympics? Chamonix, France, practically invented our favorite sport. This area is home to Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc. Today this fantastic area attracts skiers, hikers, tourists, and, need I say, shoppers, from all over the world. 

Chamonix is in the French Alps on the border with Italy and Switzerland. In fact, in addition to enjoying the four resorts right in Chamonix, you may find yourself skiing at nearby resorts in these other Alpine countries. This will be an international experience of a lifetime!

This area boasts everything from beginner to expert ski runs. Our hotel, located right in the heart of Chamonix within minutes of some of the world’s greatest terrain, boasts its own ski school, guides, and pro shop. The full price includes not only air, lodging, and great amenities, but, also breakfast and dinner in one of the hotel’s four restaurants.

So, you want more adventure? Consider dog sledding, fat tire bicycling, paragliding, Nordic skiing, paragliding, and more. So much awaits the adrenaline junkies amongst us.

How about culture? Many museums and art galleries await your curiosity. History buffs will enjoy touring old churches and homes. Our tour operator will be offering day trips to Annecy, France; Montreaux and Lake Geneva, Switzerland; and Aosta, Italy. You may arrange your own transportation – buses and trains abound! – around town and throughout the area.

Après ski is a way of life in winter in the Alps. Chamonix is well known as THE place to play after hours. Our hotel offers nightly shows, there’s a casino right in town, and the village’s discos and bars offer lively fun times each evening.

Finally, in addition to the world’s best peaks and glaciers, Chamonix offers the world’s best shopping! The village is stocked with high end jewelry, clothing, and designer boutiques. And, for serious adventurers like us, we can shop to our heart’s content at some of the world’s greatest outdoor adventure stores. This is the place to find the best ski equipment and clothing.

After a week in the mountains, how about a week in the Mediterranean? Holidaze is offering a six day post-trip to Sicily. 

Contact me at [email protected] or 210-846-3180 to find out more about the Alpine adventure and Sicily post-trip. This truly was an adventure of a lifetime!

Mayflower Tours offered us a a lovely club trip!  Contact trip leaders Melissa Wight [email protected] or Anne Tarr [email protected] for information and a link to a webinar prepared for us.

Trip Leader, Linda McMillion, says:  Trip Tales will be coming soon, following this wonderful trip with great friends!  Please check back for all the de-tails!

Club St. Bernard did not go on TSC’s trip to Whitefish Montana in 2006. So, I went with another club, which shall be nameless.  Back then Whitefish Ski Resort was called Big Mountain Ski Resort…for obvious reasons.  It was a great place to ski and have fun.  In about 2008 CSB ran a “club trip” to Big Mountain.  It was still a great place.  I was back there for the third time in 2016 and it wasn’t the same great place.  In fact if you had been on those previous trips you might not have recognized it, because now it is “GOOD, GOLLY, GREAT, FANTASTIC”.  They have changed the name from Big Mountain to Whitefish Ski Resort even though they have developed even more skiable terrain.  There are 3000 acres of glades, bowls, steeps and wide groomed trails.  There are greens, blues, and blacks for everyone.  However, some would ask “But what if I wanted to do something besides just ski my brains out?”  Well, in addition to the TSC welcome party, pub crawl, and awards banquet, there are optional opportunities for snowmobiling, dog sledding, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing.  The Apgar Visitor Center at Glacier National Park is a 45 minute drive for educational presentations on the park and its wild life.

But maybe if you aren’t feeling “outdoorsy” and you think you’ll miss the high culture of San Antonio, we might luck out for high culture in the mountains.  The 2019 cultural calendar is not yet published, but in February 2018 the Whitefish Theater Company staged a play at the community theater.  Another weekend in February 2018, the Glacier Symphony Orchestra performed Schubert’s 9^th Symphony in Whitefish.   How’s that for a snowy little mountain town?  Of course real Texas music culture is available at several music venues around town, including our own hotel, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.  Did you know that there are three craft breweries and more than 13 places to eat in Whitefish, with  cuisines including sushi, burgers, bakery, and BBQ.  Fine dining is offered at The Grouse Mountain Lodge as well at our Lodge at Whitefish Lake. And several options in the Whitefish Mountain Ski Village and on the peak.  The Kandahar Café has nothing to do with that city in Afghanistan, but it is nationally recognized for its gourmet dining and wine experience.  How does après ski at the Hell Roaring Bar sound?

There is enough shopping in Whitefish to keep your credit card toasty warm.  Did you know that Montana is one of the few places on earth that produces natural sapphires?  You can get some in Whitefish.  Why travel to Myanmar or Sri Lanka?  And, yes, the freight train museum is still there.

Our club flew to Kalispell, MT on February 23, 2019 and returned on March 2, 2019.  We will stayed in the hotel at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake (lodgeatwhitefishlake.com).  It is on beautiful Whitefish Lake, with full amenities.  A free shuttle takes you on the short ride up to the mountain village or down to the great eating, drinking, and shopping.  Of course there will be special rates for TSC ski schoolers and lift tickets.  But wait there is more:  70 and over…SKIED FREE….zero, nada, zilch, zed.  So old timers (and we have a few) keep those knees in shape for a return adventure! 

Contact me at [email protected]

This land and sea venture for St. Bernard began with everyone arranging their own air so they could arrive early and spend some time in Vancouver, Canada.  Our ship, the Star Princess, left Vancouver on Saturday, September 9 at 4:30 p.m. and the view from the ship was breathtaking.  The Canadian coastline is so beautiful.

That afternoon and evening we spent finding our way around the ship.  The first full day at sea was rough with large waves and high winds.  There were times when we left our cabin that we walked from side to side as if we had been spending our day at the bar.

On the second day we docked in Ketchikan Alaska.  In spite of light rain, we made our way to the tourist attractions and shops. Joanna and her friend Dee, from Utah, took the “Duck Tour” of Ketchikan.  This is a yellow vehicle that travels on the road or in the water!

The third day was spent in Juneau, capitol of Alaska.  You can only access Juneau is by boat or plane.  It sits at the edge of a mountain range with steep streets and beautiful scenery. The shopping was great and Betty Ann found two beautiful rings. Joanna, Dee, Stephanie and Adrianne went on a whale-watching trip and visited the impressive Mendenhall Glacier. 

Our fourth day in Skagway was a hit for all.  Great shopping and exceptional excursions took us in several directions.  Stephanie and Adrienne took a train trip to the Yukon in Canada and ended their day at the wonderful Jewell Gardens Restaurant in Skagway.  Joanna and Dee Dee went to a show titled the “Days of 1898” and really enjoyed it, then did some shopping.  My sister, Donna, and I took separate excursions that day.  She went on a hiking and rafting trip that ended in an unexpected way.  They were climbing a mountain on the hike and her walking stick slipped causing her to fall forward on a sharp rock.  This called for a trip to the clinic in Skagway and five stitches on her right index finger.  It has healed nicely since then, but her finger had to remain in a splint for two weeks.  

Kip, Betty Ann and I took a trip to the Jewel Gardens and Glass Blowing Center in Skagway.  It was extremely interesting and we learned a lot about the history of Skagway and the technique for blowing glass.  Our guide was well versed on the plants in the garden and the demonstration by the glass blowing staff was very impressive.

The fifth and sixth day were spent in scenic cruising on Glacier Bay and College Fjord.  On the morning of the seventh day we woke up in Wittier, Alaska and boarded the train for Denali National Park at 7:30 a.m.  The Alaskan Railroad has one track running from Wittier to Denali so the trip took eight hours.  The rail car was very nice with upstairs seating that offered a wonderful view of all the Alaska sights.  There was a bar in each car and a dining room on the lower lever.  When the Conductor visited our car, he explained that we were averaging 38 miles per hour and since it was the last week for tourists, most of the trains were headed for Wittier or Anchorage.  In any event, we pulled over on a side track frequently, but got a GOOD look at the Alaska scenery.

The next two days were spent at the Denali Wilderness Lodge and the Mt. McKinley Wilderness Lodge.  Donna and Joanna took a nature walk while we were in Denali and the rest of the group acted like tourists.  The food in their restaurants was outstanding and the St. Bernard group ate like champions: (knowing we would pay when we got home).  Adrianne had the best recovery plan—she leaves for Croatia three weeks after our trip and will be doing a lot of hiking while she is there.

The next leg of our journey took us to Anchorage where we stayed in the Captain Hook Hotel which was exceptional.  When Kip got his luggage that had been sent ahead of us when we arrived in Alaska, he discovered that his largest bag had suffered a very difficult trip.  Three of the wheels were missing and it was totaled.  I learned he was reimbursed for the damage after he arrived home. 

We continued to see the sights and shop until day ten of our trip.  We had to check out of the hotel by noon and four of us had a flight at 11:55 p.m. that evening.  But we were resourceful and found interesting ventures in the city.  We took a trolley ride all over Anchorage that was very interesting and then went to the Federal Building and watched movies about Alaska.  Most of us knew little about the earthquake that hit Alaska in 1964.  (I was in college and an airhead).  The earthquake was a 9.3 on the Rector Scale and the worst one to every occur in the US.

This trip was really wonderful and all of our group enjoyed it a great deal!