Schenectady Wintersports Club

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Family and Friends at the Clubhouse with Chef Earl – February 2025

Our third annual weekend at the SWC Clubhouse was as expected.  Great time with family and friends, skiing at Stowe, pub crawls, and fabulous Chef Earl meals.  

For me it started a little early.  Jon Skalwold and Terry Tamer came to the Clubhouse on Wednesday night.  The three of us skied Smuggs on Thursday – the first time I had been there in many years.  It was windy and the snow was flying from the ground and sky.  Fresh tracks every run, but the visibility was poor - putting additional stress on this old man’s legs.  On Friday, Jon and I went to Stowe – Moe joined us.   We skied over much of Mansfield including Lift Line – something I do not do often these days.  

Back at the Clubhouse, Earl was doing what he loves best – cooking.  He managed dinners on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  All were special in their individual way.  As I have said many times before, Earl’s cooking draws a crowd.  By Saturday night we had over 30 at the dinner table.

On Friday afternoon the youngsters started to arrive.  Most were family and longtime friends, but new friends melded right in.  Ultimately, we had 11 kids running around the Clubhouse playing games in the basement, celebrating a birthday, and just generally having fun. 

Saturday was the big ski day.  It started at Spruce peak for our group photo.  We split up to match skier ability with the appropriate trails. To my pleasant surprise the kids’ abilities were way above my expectations.   Alice and Annabelle skied Mainstreet on Big Spruce (their first Stowe black diamond). The kids regrouped on Mansfield and we skied through the Chapel Glades and many other trails across the mountain.  Maggie and Ryder continued late into the afternoon.  I started to wonder where they were when Maggie showed up at Spruce Camp after the lifts closed.  They had taken their last run on Lift Line into the Star Glades and ended on the Ice Water Falls at the bottom of Star.  Louise had said my expectation (at 79) to keep up with 15- and 18-year-olds is too high.   Well Maggie and Ryder proved that point!  Maggie still had the energy to join the ladies on their pub crawl.

I think we will do it again next year!

Walt Kangas 

"Schenectady Wintersports Club Inc." is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 2072, Wilton New York 12831