With Winter and the first flakes of snow just a few short months away, it's time to scrape the rust off those skis and pull those old dusty boots out of the closet because we're going to Winter Park!  This year's meeting will be held at our perennial favorite, the Woodspur Lodge. The Woodspur is a rustic mountain lodge with a relaxed atmosphere and a warm, congenial staff captained by the owners, Jimmy and Janine. There are two hot tubs, sauna, on premise lounge for Après Ski libations, pool room, and guest laundry. Meals are a casual affair (come in your sweats and slippers if you like!) served buffet style with all you can eat. Upon your return from skiing each day, you’ll enjoy freshly baked goodies in the Woodspur great room while you toast your feet by the fire, sip a cider or hot chocolate, and gaze out at breathtaking views of the Fraser Valley.  

Winter Park is an especially affordable place to bring the family. Your children will love the Woodspur and because we’ll be the only group there they’ll have free run (?) of the lodge with a watchful eye always on them. All rooms have private bath and rooms are available to accommodate 2, 4, or 6. New for 2007 is children 11 and under stay free when rooming with parents. To learn more about our “diamond in the rough” visit the lodge online at woodspurlodge.com.

As for skiing and snowboarding, Winter Park is nothing less than….uh…Colorado Extraordinary! Winter Park, Mary Jane, and Vasquez Ridge make up the expansive resort that boasts an average yearly snowfall of 367”. There’s lots of terrain for beginners and intermediates and some of the most challenging expert runs you’ll find anywhere. There’s bowl skiing, tree skiing and a special terrain park for all of you “shredders”. You’ll also find one of the West’s most highly revered ski schools for adults and children including a great “never-ever” program. Learn more about the mountain at and available activities at Winter Park Resort.

If you need a respite from skiing, there’s shopping in town, snowmobile tours to the top of the Continental Divide (What a view! Not to be missed!), snow tubing, cross country skiing www.devilsthumbranch.com, and even a museum or two if you’re interested in what life was like in the Fraser Valley over 100 years ago.

Getting Around: Fly into Denver Airport and catch Home James (Official Winter Park Shuttle) to take you directly to the front door of the lodge.  Home James' number is 800-359-7536. Call them for a reservation as soon as you have your arrival time as they book up fast. The Lodge has it's own shuttle to take you back and forth to the ski hill and Winter Park has an excellent FREE bus system that can take you anywhere you need to go. If you do opt for a rental car, we advise you get a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The route to Winter Park goes over the Continental Divide and in bad weather it can get pretty treacherous. 

So what are you waiting for? Peel off that bikini and get that sunburned "bum" to the gym to start working on those "quads"! For further information, contact Dr. Don Shields at  powderdon@aol.com.