Texas Ski Council Winter Shootout

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



By Amy Kuharich


Due to COVID, this was different than any other ski trip.  Masks were required in the condo area as well as the ski lift lines. If you didn’t follow the protocol, you were called out over the megaphone for all to see.  The restaurants that were opened were at 50% capacity and many of the sight-seeing excursions, such as the magnificent train ride in Durango, were only available on the weekends and didn’t go the full route. 
That being said, we were able to see where Robert Redford and Paul Newman, as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, jumped off the majestic rocks (much bigger in the movie) into the water below in the movie, in addition to some hot springs and lots of mule deer.  Nearby downtown Durango has several impressive historic hotels such as the Strater and Palmer. There are lots of fun boutiques for those shoppers and a 15 mile riverwalk for those who just want to bask in beautiful scenery.  My recommendation is to visit the fascinating railroad museum which includes much more than railroad history.
The skiing offered something for everyone; from beginners to experts and was mostly packed groomed snow.  Although some fresh powder would have been nice, we were blessed with sunny weather the whole week.  All in all, we had a wonderful time and it was great being so close to the lifts and be able to go the condo for bathroom breaks and lunch.  Anne and I also took a snowmobile tour which was probably the highlight of our trip.  Anne did the driving while I managed to take some videos. We climbed up to 12,000 feet and saw some incredible views. 
It was wonderful being in the company of other humans since we have been hunkered down for a year.  We had wonderful conversations sipping wine with the fireplace crackling and had fun trading off making dinner, from spaghetti to tacos.  Our one big night out was to the Sow’s Ear restaurant, which came highly recommended by locals. Wonderful atmosphere and delicious food; the people who had elk said it was the best ever!
So, a different experience but happy we were all able to enjoy it and remain healthy.  Something I will never take for granted.