The Stowe ski area and the Mountaineer Inn beckon for a "whale" of a time (this past year many had fun skiing the snowmaking mounds or "whales" on some of the slopes). Stowe has two main peaks (Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak) with a wide variety of terrain for all levels of skiers (the intermediate cruising trails of the Mt. Mansfield Gondola and the runs at Spruce Peak are especial favorites).
The Stowe Mountaineer Inn is located on the Mountain Road about 1.5 miles from the ski area (5-10 minutes by free town shuttle that runs every 20 minutes in peak times to the area and the village and stops right in front of the Inn). Each double occupancy room has two double or queen beds, private bath, cable TV, Wi-Fi, telephone, and private deck or balcony overlooking the West Branch River or the mountains. The Inn has an indoor swimming pool, 20-person hot tub, sauna, fireplace lounge and bar, full dining room, and a cozy main floor living room where we gather for our BYOB Happy Hours and then conversation and games after dinner.
The hotel package price is $315 per person double occupancy and $530 per person single occupancy and includes 5 nights lodging, 5 full hot breakfasts, 2 dinners, Sunday night Welcome Party food, all meal and room taxes and gratuities. After we reach the 20-person minimum, the complimentary package accorded to the trip leader can be used for additional food for the Welcome Party.
This year there is a BONUS PRICE DROP for the multi-day ski tickets: Senior tickets (Ages 65+) are: 3 of 4-day $147 ($49/day); 4 of 5-day $180 ($45/day). Adult tickets (Ages 13-64) are: 3 of 4-day $180; 4 of 5-day $222. All tickets include 1 flex day. This trip is also open to cross-country skiers. There are 5 local cross-country systems: Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe Recreation Path (which is right next to the Inn a short walk away), the Trapp Family Lodge network of trails, the Catamount Trail system on Edson Hill Road which is just across from the Inn, and an additional option of the Smuggler's Notch Gap Road just past the ski area which is closed to vehicles in the winter.
Please register for the trip online. Payments may now be made by credit card and the full payment for the double or single hotel package and the ski ticket choice will be charged at the time of online registration. If you wish to pay by check, your full payment for the hotel package and ski tickets is due by October 1, 2018. Please send your check made out to TOHG to Nancy Ballantyne, 77 Evans St., Watertown, MA 02472. Questions? E-mail nblightenup@hotmail.com or call 617-923-7035. Trip Leader: Nancy Ballantyne Assistant Leader: Rachel Asher
