Hi Skiers; here is our updated 2002-2003 schedule. Click here for 2003-2004!

There is still an El Nino forecast for this winter, so the snow should be abundant.  All our trips are open for signup except the Yellowstone trip which filled up at the planning meeting.  The Elk Meadows New Years trip should be even better this year because we did a lot of exploring last year.  The Yosemite trip needs your early signup (Nov 15) because of their harsh cancellation policy.  You can save $60 to $80 each by staying in tent cabins (propane heat!) at Curry Village.

Editor's note: changes from the printed newsletter are red and trip reports are green.

We need programs for our meetings!  If you have some slides of a good trip, know someone that does, or have seen a good instructional video, let me know.

Meetings: Second Thursday of the month: Nov 14, Dec 12, Jan 9, Feb 12, Mar 13, & Apr 10.  Clairemont Community Room.  Clairemont Town Square Shopping Center (north Clairemont)  Beginners are invited to come at 6 PM and learn about ski equipment and clothing. More experienced skiers can come to the food court by the theaters for dinner. Back in the Community Room at 7 PM we will go over out trips. At 7:30 PM, our programs feature high adventure and fine photography.  The Apr 10 meeting is a pot luck party and planning session for next season.

All season, WSI - "Where the Snow Is" - TRIPS. We go to the closest skiable snow. These trips are usually just for one day but occasionally we offer optional overnight stays. The leader usually knows if they have Saturday or Sunday free before we know what the snow conditions are. Transportation is usually by car. The only costs are car pool, ski rental, food or lodging. We will send out the trip description by email by Wednesday or Thursday.  Send your email address to Mike Fry: mnfry@cox.net or call 858-566-3851 after Wednesday if there is snow.

Nov 9-10 NORTH ALGODONES SAND DUNES WILDERNESS SKI & CAR CAMP
Mike Fry 858-566-3851 mnfry@cox.net
Yes, we actually ski on the sand!  The dunes are beautiful and skiing is much easier than walking on soft sand. I have 40 pairs of old skis and boots in every size.  No ski skills necessary. We will car camp near the dunes Saturday night. Dogs welcome.

Nov 14  Ski Section Meeting
Program: Ski Touring in Norway, Peter Kochevar.  See decscription above.

Nov 27-Dec 1 Thanksgiving in Mammoth
Barbara Domurad bdomurad@aol.com
Share the Thanksgiving holiday with new and old friends in Mammoth. The trip features homey condo accommodations, a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner and (with luck from the snow gods) great skiing. Transportation on your own, carpooling encouraged. Limited to 10 participants. Price $150 (4 nights lodging and two dinners). To register, please send your fees (payable to the Sierra Club) to Barbara Domurad at 10846 Parkdale Ave. San Diego, CA 92126.
The Mammoth trip was lots of fun... There were 17 of us in two condo's and 4 more staying nearby... Everyone was very pleased that we had found yet another fine place to ski. I have been skiing at Mammoth for about 30 years, and I find someplace new each time... The meal was wonderful. All you could hear was chewing and gasps of joy.
Read the full report...

Dec 12 Ski Section Meeting
See description above.

Dec 27, 2002 - Jan 1, 2003  NEW YEAR'S ELK MEADOWS CROSS-COUNTRY SKI BUS TRIP
Alice Fichandler (619)226-6083 aliceandorbill@aol.com
Come join us as we return to Elk Meadows for a 2nd year to enjoy some powder skiing in Southern Utah's majestic Tusher mountains.  Although this is primarily a downhill ski area, we found miles of beautiful terrain to explore in the backcountry which was suitable for all levels.  We will be staying in condominiums at the ski area, and meeting each morning to begin our daily ski adventure.  The condos are fully equipped, so that participants can cook rather than eat out each meal.  Our bus will be available, so that we can explore the surrounding areas as well.  We will be leaving at 3PM on Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, and staying en route in St. George, Utah before arriving at our final destination mid-day on Saturday.  This will afford people the opportunity of 3 1/2 days of skiing.  Our plan is to leave at approximately 9AM Jan. 1, 2003 for our return trip to San Diego.  Our estimated fees of $340 include lodging, transportation and instruction.  A non-refundable $35 deposit is required to hold your place.  To register, please send your fees (made out to the Sierra Club), and 3 SASE's to the coordinator: 4520 Greene St., San Diego, CA 92107. Beginners welcome.
This trip was originally scheduled to go to Elk Meadows, Utah. Several weeks before the trip, the ski resort reported that they didn't have enough snow or financing to open this season. We checked the long range forecasts, and California seemed to have much better conditions. My brother still had vacation rentals available, so we switched.
Read the full report...

Jan 9 Ski Section Meeting
Program: New England Inn-to-Inn skiing. Ellen Feeney and Barbara Domurad braved a frigid New England winter and too much snow to tour the charming Inns and countryside of Vermont. See above for directions.

Jan 12 Telemark
Instruction and video-taping at a local resort, car pool, $45, Alvin Walter, 858-586-1982 <awalter@pacbell.net>

Jan 18 Leader Training
Snow safety, how to lead ski trips, and how to teach skiing. Mike Fry, 858-566-3851 <mnfry@cox.net>

Jan 19 Ski Lessons for Beginners
$15 plus car pool and ski rental, Craig Denson, 858-270-3828. <cdenson@cts.com>

Jan 19 Cross-Country Racing
Class includes video-taping, Alvin Walter,858-586-1982 <awalter@pacbell.net>

Jan 24-26 SMS (Angeles Chapter) Navigation Practice and Free-Heel Downhill Clinic
Sat backcountry tour with Nav. Training, Sun develop and improve your skills on free-heel equipment. Clinics appropriate for all levels of skiers taught by professionals at a local area . Stay two nights at Keller Hut, with lift ticket and all day clinics on Sun. High quality rentals available at $12. Sat. Dinner. Reserve early. Send a check for $95 and 2 sase to Res: Keith Martin,  310-316-7617 <kwmartin@gte.net>

Feb 13 Ski Section Meeting
Cancelled.

Feb 13-17  20TH ANNUAL YOSEMITE SKI BUS TRIP!
Afra Roet: please email <skisection@cox.net> or call 619-296-3459.  Join us for our best ski trip: 3 nights at Yosemite Lodge, daily shuttles to the ski area, daily beginner and intermediate instruction, ski trips organized by our highly experienced staff, downhill and x-country ski rentals available, snow shoeing, hiking, lounging and dining in the incomparable Ahwahnee Hotel. You don't even have to ski to have fun! Cost: $425 (two/room), $345 (three/room), $330 (four/room). Two beds per room. Wanna go cheap? Share a heated tent cabin in Curry Village. ($345 double, $285 triple, $270 quad) All prices are per person (based on 2002 rates), including transportation, lodging and instruction. Meals are not included. Reserve a space by mailing your $25 nonrefundable deposit (made out to Sierra Club) and two SASEs prior to Nov 15 to: Ski Section, 3146 Garrison St, San Diego, CA, 92106.  This is a Chapter Fundraiser.  On Nov. 15, we will cancel unbooked rooms.  After then, check to see if we still have space.
Forty-three of us left San Diego in intermittent rain; our bus was following the storm north. Traffic was heavy at times, but Scotty (our faithful bus driver) got us through.
Read the full report...

Feb 22-Mar 2  YELLOWSTONE IN WINTER
Jackie Gray, 858-270-3828, <jackpots@cts.com>
9-day trip to Yellowstone with lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful.  The trip is full.  If you would like to be put on a waiting list, send a $400 check to Jackie Gray, 4259 Feather Ave, San Diego, CA 92117.  The check will not be cashed unless there is an opening and you still decide to go.  Total cost for airfare, ground and snow transportation and lodging is about $1400.00.

Feb 22-23  SMS (Angeles Chapter) Local Tour and Free-Heel Downhill Practice
Saturday intro ski mountaineering tour in mountains near Keller Hut. Check out your gear and enjoy some turns. Metal-edged skis and climbing skins required. Call leader in the prior week for location and time. Option to stay two nights at Keller Hut, with lift ticket and all day clinics on Sunday. High quality rentals available at $22. Saturday dinner. Reserve early. Send a check for $95 and 2 SASE to leader: Keith Martin 310-316-7617 kwmartin@gte.net. Keith sent out this notice the first week of February.

Mar 13 Ski Section Meeting
See description above.

Mar 21-24, Rock Creek Lodge
Fine snowed-in lodge at 9500' in the Sierra Nevada. Wonderful touring into Little Lakes Valley, which is surrounded by 13,000' peaks. Excellent meals and rustic cabins for $220 (food and lodging). Send your $25 deposit to 1785 Torrance St, San Diego, CA, 92103. Coordinator: Fred Gabbard, 619-297-6471, FredGabbard@hotmail.com.

Mar 28-30 Wilderness Basics Course (WBC) Snowcamp
Take the course starting Jan 21, Tues nights for 11 weeks.  $95 for the course, about $100 more for the bus trip to Mammoth, gym, and breakfast.  858-272-9229 www.wildernessbasics.com

Apr 10 Ski Section Meeting
Pot luck party and planning session for next season.  Clairemont Community Room, 6:30 PM.

Apr12-16  Evolution Basin Ski Tour
Jim Crouch, 619-223-9084 jim@saraitlim.com
Ski into Evolution Basin and snow camp.  Ski Mt. Goddard and slopes nearby.  Intermediate or better skiers with mountaineering experience.  Group size limited to six.  Trip may be adjusted for trailhead snow access and modification due to weather.

April 25-28  Clair Tappaan Lodge
Coordinator needed, about $350 (airfare, shuttle, lodging, meals). CTL is home base for Sierra Club Skiers.  Located in the North Lake Tahoe area by Donner Pass, CTL is surrounded by downhill and cross-country resorts, back country huts, and wilderness areas.  Its quiet charm is best savored after Easter.