Olympic moments; they’re timeless. So today, while you’re enjoying the games from Sochi, Russia let us journey back exactly 20 years ago, to February 18, 1994 and the Lillehammer, Norway games—inspiration for a women’s cross-country ski trip to Stowe, Vermont.
Weary after the 10 hour drive from Pennsylvania, our adventurous group arrives at Ten Acres Lodge ready to lounge by the television and watch the XVII Winter Olympic games.
American speed skater Bonnie Blair races across the ice as if jet-propelled. Should we rent skates and give it a try? Nah, we tried that last winter and our ankles held up for only a couple loops around the pond. Cross-country skiing is what we came for, and watching the performance of Italian skier Manuela Di Centa— who medaled in all five nordic events—motivates the seven of us to tackle the ski trails at Trapp Family Lodge.
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| Posing in front of Ten Acres Lodge, a classic Vermont country inn. |
American speed skater Bonnie Blair races across the ice as if jet-propelled. Should we rent skates and give it a try? Nah, we tried that last winter and our ankles held up for only a couple loops around the pond. Cross-country skiing is what we came for, and watching the performance of Italian skier Manuela Di Centa— who medaled in all five nordic events—motivates the seven of us to tackle the ski trails at Trapp Family Lodge.
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| Skiing part of the 100 kilometer trail network at The Trapp Family Lodge. |
The following morning we’re ready for the 2.8 mile trail to “The Cabin” at an elevation of 2100 feet. It’s a long climb to the top, but when you arrive at The Cabin you’re rewarded with a crackling fire, homemade soup and hot chocolate—a most welcome place to take a break.
Seasoned mountaineers are often quoted as saying that getting up the mountain is the easy part, the hard part is getting down. Keeping that aphorism in mind we leave The Cabin to face a series of steep and winding hills. It’s a thrilling ride down the mountain, maybe too thrilling as evidenced by my one, spectacular, cartwheeling fall. I’m still in one piece though, and ready for another evening of relaxation in our rental cottage.
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| The Cabin is a popular place to chill during a day of strenuous skiing. |
For dinner we feast on homemade lasagna, then it’s time to start a blazing fire and tune in to the Olympics once again. As we watch the skiers kick-gliding across the snow and racing effortlessly down the hills, we realize our performances today were poor imitations of these highly trained athletes. But we’re happy with our efforts. After all, every aspiring Olympian knows the effort is its own reward. We turn in with dreams of, if not Olympic glory, then another memorable day on the ski trails tomorrow.
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This weekend, after having watched the XXII Winter Olympics, dust off those skis, sharpen those blades, get out there and play on the snow and the ice. The Winter Olympics: what better opportunity to rekindle an old passion—or to ignite a new one—for winter sports?
I’m happy to report that both the Ten Acres Lodge and the Trapp Family Lodge are still providing vacationers with unforgettable winter experiences. Visit their websites for more information: http://www.tenacreslodge.com
http://www.trappfamily.com
Readers, do you have any Olympic moments—winter or summer—which inspired you to try a new sport?
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| Sometimes it's nice to not have to traverse the snow under your own power. We're enjoying a horse-powered afternoon of fun during a sleigh ride at The Trapp Family Lodge. |
Readers, do you have any Olympic moments—winter or summer—which inspired you to try a new sport?
