I was right. There was no snow around here yesterday. Apparently Cookeville and other areas east of Nashville got most of the limited amount of snow. I have to wonder about those school kids in Fentress and Pickett Counties in northeastern Middle Tennessee. Anytime there is an inch of snow, their schools get closed for an entire week…sometimes longer. After a few good snows, the entire county shuts down. I’d imagine these kids don’t get out of school until mid July usually.
We had out meeting about the ski trip last night after church. Basically what could have been said in 2 minutes took 20 minutes to go over and over. It included what to wear, how much money to take, where we’d be staying….etc. We had about half a dozen first time skiers, but the majority of these people have been before. Some decided to go, even though they are not skiing. I’m of the opinion that any teenager who decides not to go skiing, yet just wants to go in order to “hang out” at the lodge, should not be allowed to go. They will just be taking up space and we’ll have to have extra cars to drive up just so we can haul them around. Pay attention: THIS IS A SKI TRIP. If you are not skiing, then you should stay home. Apparently they have some extra money laying around….$50 to just drive up to middle of Nowheresville, Indiana, and sit around a ski lodge all day.
While on the ski trip this weekend, I’m going to earnestly make my pitch for a different location next season. Paoli is definitely getting old and useless. Here are the arguments in regards to staying with Paoli:
- Paoli is small enough to keep up with skiers.
- Paoli is easier for first time skiers.
- Less driving time to Paoli
- With North Carolina you have to pay a non-refundable hotel fee.
I’d like to counter these arguments in regards to going to North Carolina:
- There are smaller ski resorts in North Carolina….such as Appalachian Ski Mountain which are comparable to Paoli. Let the first time skiers go there, while the experts go to Ski Sugar or Ski Beech. Or go to a big resort and tell the first timers to stay in one area.
- Again let the first time skiers go to a smaller resort. However if skiers cannot learn to read signs that say “This lift goes to a black diamond” then they probably should not be skiing in the first place….or operating heavy machinery.
- Driving time to Paoli vs. North Carolina is irrelevant. It is just 94 minutes longer to Boone, NC, verse Paoli. Boone is just 1 hour 4 minutes longer than French Lick, IN, which is where we stay usually.
- Apparently our organizers got burned by one particular hotel in North Carolina last time we went and don’t want to go back. Keep in mind this is JUST ONE HOTEL. There are plenty of places to choose from in NC.
Ok I will get off of my soapbox about why Paoli is just inadequate for skiing. I guess what bugs me the most is that the planners of the ski trip are just unwilling to even consider another destination. We’ll see how things go after I make my pitch…..