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Chicago Week 2011

In Telluride

Long Live Butch

and Sundance….

We Most Definitely

Continued the History

By Sue Finis, Trip Leader

T
Telluride was in for quite a shock when 250+ of us
(13 ski clubs represented) invaded the town and
Mountain Village to kick off Chicago Week 2011
from Feb 26-March 6. We had over 150 people
staying at the Mountain Village and the rest
staying in lodges and inns in the town itself. We
couldn’t have asked for better weather or hospitality.
The sun was out most of the time, the temperatures Photo by Rick Drew
were in the 30s, the skiing was fantastic, and the A Western ambience flavors Telluride, one of Colorado’s top ski resorts.
socializing was in full force.
Fitting right in with our Chicago Week 2011 theme of
We were bumped at the last minute from our informal “Long Live Butch and Sundance…Let’s Continue the
“Meet and Greet” venue on Saturday evening. That, History,” everyone received a piece of “loot” at the first
however, didn’t stop everyone from meeting and greeting three social events of the week. As the story goes, Butch
on their own. Many of the group headed down the street and Sundance left some of their “loot” in Telluride. Most
to Smugglers for cocktails and a bit to eat. It was like was worthless fools gold, but it was the unknown number
old home week that night, greeting and toasting to an of valuable pieces of “loot” that had people excited. Was
upcoming week of skiing and fun. theirs a winner or not? A total of 140 said “You’ve Struck
Gold” and were exchanged for prizes, rang-
ing from gift certificates from Telluride mer-
chants to ski accessories from Viking Ski
Shop in Chicago.

Our welcome reception on Sunday evening
had us all on “sugar highs” with a beautiful
dessert and candy buffet. Many of the group
dressed up with cowboy hats, cowboy boots,
bandanas, holsters, etc. We even had a few
stick horses in the mix. The best dressed
and most spirited couple was Evelyn Vanek
and John Hawkinson from Nomads.

We had a beautiful sunny day for our moun-
tain lunch at Gorrono Ranch on Monday.
Our barbecue lunch was served from a large
snow and ice table made by Telluride Ski
Resort. Food was aplenty and so were smiles
The Nomads sported their Western duds at the welcome reception. as Rick Drew, our volunteer photographer,

6 ❖ MIDWEST SKIER SPRING 2011 ❖ www.skicmsc.com