Dear Troop 111 Scouts/Adults:
This message is for experienced, reasonably advanced skiers and snowboarders, both Scouts and adults, who might be interested in taking a New England Winter Ski Trip to Killington, Vermont!!!
Today we are pleased to announce an exciting new high adventure possibility that has become available to the Troop. Due to repeated requests by experienced Scout skiers and snowboarders over the past 3 years, the Troop has investigated the possibility of running a high adventure winter ski trip to New England this year. This trip is not currently on our Troop calendar because it has evolved very recently. In order to determine whether it is feasible because there is enough Troop interest, we need a response from qualified, interested Scouts and adults by September 10 (sooner if possible). Please read the following information and let us know if you want to participate. If enough serious interest exists, we would need a firm (financial) commitment by September 16 (Monday night Troop meeting). This means that although you would not need to pay for the entire trip in September, the Troop would have to commit to a minimum group size, in which you would be included. Therefore, if you withdraw later, you would still be responsible for the cost of your share of the trip.
Dates: Friday-Tuesday, December 27-31 (5 days, 4 nights--3 FULL DAYS OF SKIING/SNOWBOARDING!!!)
Itinerary: The Troop would depart early on December 27, taking both Troop vans and at least 2 other personal vehicles, with a minimum of 2 adult drivers for each. We would arrive at Killington that evening and spend 4 nights there. Return would be on December 31, leaving early that morning and arriving back in Arlington in the evening.
Skiing: 3 full days of skiing or snowboarding at the best site on the East Coast!!! Killington offers an astounding array of slopes of all difficulty levels, including some extremely difficult double blacks for our truly advanced adult skiers. Many blue and single black diamond slopes abound, and there are also a substantial number of green and blue trails. However, no beginners would be able to participate in this trip; it would be for qualified intermediate/advanced skiers only, based on Dr. Bob's and "Danger" Rick W's assessment of Scouts' ski/snowboard skills. Dr. Bob's famous ski lessons will not be offered on this trip, so only Scouts who are already qualified to spend entire days (with buddy) on the slopes should plan (and will be permitted) to go. To give you some idea of how big Killington is, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to ski all the slopes in 3 days even if one were qualified to do so.
Lodging/Food/Amenities: The Troop would stay at a lodge located about 5 minutes from the slopes. It has bunkbed accommodations with a maximum of 6-7 per room, along with a heated (outdoor) pool and hot tub. There is also a movie offered each night. A full hot breakfast and family-style full dinner are provided each day.
Trip Cost: Unfortunately, such an exciting adventure doesn't come cheap! We estimate TOTAL TRIP COST of $475-525 (depending on age) without ski/board rental and $500-550 with rental. Once we know numbers, we can firm this up prior to the financial commitment date. Most of this money would be collected as the Troop trip fee, but a portion (about $70) would need to be taken in cash by each participant, to cover trip meals en route and lunches at the ski resort each day. Therefore, the Troop would collect about $425-450 up front, and you would provide the additional $70 each to your family member(s) at the time of departure. Although this is not cheap, it certainly compares favorably with other weekend ski trips the Troop has offered and will continue to offer, especially considering the quality of the skiing available at Killington.
Adult Participation: As always, Troop trips are highly dependent on adult participation/supervision. For this trip the transportation arrangements require that we have at least 2 adult drivers for each vehicle, meaning that we need at least 8 adults on this trip. This is a wonderful opportunity to get in some great skiing yourself, particularly because this trip would be offered to qualified, experienced Scouts only who do not require hands-on instruction on the ski slopes.
Eligibility: Scouts/adults eligible must be qualified intermediate/advanced skiers/boarders who do not need direct adult supervision on the ski slopes. All Scouts will be required to "buddy up" as usual for safety. Although we have not set a minimum age requirement because ski/boarding proficiency is more important, Scouts must be mature enough to enjoy this physically exhausting but truly exhilarating 5-day trip away from home. We anticipate that some of the female Venture group would be eligible and welcome to participate, provided the group has adequate female adult supervision and can meet any other Venture requirements necessary. Adult emeritus Scouts would also be welcome, since we have many fine skiers/boarders among our college and post-college Troop family.
Other Notes: For those of you who are thinking ahead, running this trip would alter the date of the Beginner Ski Trip, now scheduled for December 27 to Whitetail Ski Resort. If the Troop goes to Killington, we will offer the Beginner Ski Trip on Saturday, December 21, weather permitting. If there is not enough snow/cold weather by December 21 at Whitetail, we will try again on Saturday, January 11. This would still enable beginners to work with Dr. Bob and perhaps participate in a later ski trip with the Troop. Regardless of whether or not the Troop goes to Killington, we will still offer the Martin Luther King weekend ski trip to Snowshoe, WV.
If you are seriously interested in participating in a winter adventure to Killington, please rsvp by email by September 10 to Ann and Ted G. Please include name, age, ski/board level for all interested parties.