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Boyne Highlands, Michigan

Boyne 2009 – Reflections

Twenty-five from Kittyhawk Ski Club and 16 from Dayton Ski and Board Club headed for Boyne Highlands on January 9, 2009. Our intended 3:00 p.m. departure didn’t quite happen … it was slightly perturbed by two new guys to Kittyhawk know affectionately (now) as the two Jakes or individually as Jake (Jochem) and Jacob (Bosecker). They willingly served as waiters for the early part of the trip as penance for having been late. Pretty decent service as I recall.

Geoff Oliver brought his guitar which brought an incredible bunch of talent out of the woodwork … ahhh … make that the window molding. The beer and wine probably had something to do with the incredible quality of the singing and playing that went on. We had a hootenanny in the middle of the bus almost all the way there. Geoff was spelled on the guitar occasionally by Jacob and Dave Smith. We’ll have to record it the next time.

As always, there was the non-stop euchre game in the back of the bus ably overseen by Steve (Wolaver) and Steve (Haller) (their Honorablenessses).

Karen Clute was the first person to get around to meet and get to know everyone on the bus. I got to give her a prize … one of the tough jobs associated with being a trip leader.

The “Great Subway Sandwich” caper.

On the bus trip north Charlie Clark (note this is not the first time you will see this name) lost his lunch (clarification: he could not find his sandwich). He was very intense, very focused trying to locate the sandwich and, just as importantly, the skullduggerous perpetrator of the heinous act of absconding with his sandwich. His search interrupted the sing-along, and no one was above suspicion. (The ensuing commotion was apparent to the front of the bus and disconcerting to our driver.) Ultimately, the sandwich was found. There was absolutely no evidence of foul play … ahhh … other than, perhaps, Charlie’s situational awareness. (Charlie is in the running for epitomizing a trip leader’s worst nightmare.)

We got to Boyne Highland after 11:30 p.m. after being slowed by serious snowing in northern Ohio and southern Michigan. As nearly as I could tell everyone survived the bag drag after we arrived, although I did find Charlie Clark well after everyone else had apparently found their rooms leaning on his elbows on top of his pile of luggage with his cell phone in hand trying to get somebody to help him find his room. He apparently did find his room, but I know he didn’t find the slopes on Saturday until well after lunch.

The Boyne Highlands Lodge has made some nice upgrades to the rooms. Having robes for the hot tubs/pool was particularly nice.

No lift lines. Skiing at Highlands was outstanding (they do a great job of grooming) and the temperatures were very acceptable. Mostly close to being sunny; never heavily overcast. (We lucked out. The area was hit with really severely cold weather the day after we left.)  I don’t think anyone took advantage of the night skiing on Saturday. The hot tubs and pool were really appreciated, although the hot tub stuffing record was not broken. There were a few incidences of snow angel making.

The breakfast buffet was sumptuous and dinners truly gourmet.

16 folks bussed to Boyne Mountain on Sunday. A bit chilly when we got there, but the snow was great and all reported having a truly splendiferous time.   The only gefuffle with this venture was that the beer was solidly frozen in the bottom of the tub so we had to settle for wine on the trip back to the Highlands. We got back to the Highlands in time to get in a couple of runs before the lifts shut down.

The soiree Sunday night featured Geoff, Jacob, and Dave on guitar plus four tables of games and cards.

Wendy O’Toole was responsible for the first and only recorded KSC/DSBC “slope- kill” incident when she ran over a squirrel on Monday. If she didn’t actually hit the poor thing, it went into cardiac arrest following Wendy’s reaction. I don’t know if she field dressed it or not. Anybody got any good recipes for squirrel?

The two Jakes were very much taken with themselves for having tamed every single trail and trailette at Boyne Highlands … I have the trail map they were using with each trail scratched off … which I guess proves they did them all. This will go in the club’s archives. Maybe next year they will be able to get out of bed soon enough on Sunday to take on the trails of Boyne Mountain also. Jake took the only injury of the weekend … it seems a rail got the best of his lower right rib cage on Monday. Jacob had taken a video of the wreck/crash/incident – right up there with something form Funniest Home Videos, although it didn’t make me laugh. He was able to breath and smile about it on the trip back … deep breaths and laughing may take a few days. It is very possible Jake will have a weather prediction capability for a few years.  

The new folks to KSC and DBSC were supposed to be the servers of the champagne on the trip home, but only the two Jakes and Stu and Paula Anderson participated as new people. Neil Throckmorton got Andy Wilson to take over his role so he could play euchre (this was a technical foul), and I failed to enlist Hank Britain’s services. Next time, Hank and Neil. Not a bad box lunch for the trip home. It paired nicely with the champagne.

The potentially most serious incident of the trip occurred when Charlie Clark discovered on Tuesday night (after we were back) that he and Vickie had gotten home without their boot bags. Rick and Sandy Schwartz, upon realizing they didn’t like the boots, put out an email on Wednesday saying they had found the bags. Charlie and Vickie were ultimately and joyfully reunited with their boots (and dirty underwear). Rick and Sandy are under investigation for grand theft ski boots.

Awards Section

The band of brave (foolish? … dummer ‘en me?) souls who really made snow angels next to the pool: the two Jakes, Geoff Oliver, Steve Wolaver, Dave Smith, Janet Wentworth, and Jurée James. Jurée reports Geoff was wearing his swim suit … Geoff wasn’t sure.

Honorable mention: Bill (Shaff), Hank Brittain, and the Jakes (among a few others) skied 'The Slut'. She was cold and 'most difficult', but well groomed. Picture evidence will be posted at a later date.

Hew Wells
Trip Leader