by Stephen Templeton | Mar 4, 2025 | Trip Report
By Luther Zhao
A Weekend Ski Adventure with Miramar at Sugarbush and Mad River Glen
This weekend, Miramar Ski Club embarked on an exciting trip to Sugarbush
Resort and Mad River Glen, bringing together a guest-heavy crew eager to
hit the slopes. While the trip had all the usual elements of a great ski
weekend—there was an unexpected twist: a visit from VP JD Vance at
Sugarbush. Secret service and a planned protest added some extra traffic
around the town. A small group of 13 early risers left before the jitney
bus by taking the valley floor shuttle to beat the traffic. For the most
part, the protests were calm, with demonstrators simply holding signs on
the sides of the road. Most skiers never spotted Vance, though guest Bevin
briefly saw him passing by the base lodge around lunchtime.
Saturday brought warm temperatures followed by a windy blizzard, making for
soft and bumpy conditions. The varied terrain kept things interesting, with
some sections feeling more like spring skiing. That evening, the club kept
the energy high with a Mardi Gras-themed celebration, beads and all. Though
the dance floor was sparsely populated, Nathan led the charge, keeping the
spirits high and lively. By Sunday, the temperature had dropped to a frigid
0°F, leaving the slopes firm but gloriously uncrowded. As the day
progressed, a slight warm-up combined with wind-blown powder created some
fantastic skiing in the glades. Those who braved the cold were rewarded
with some of the best runs of the trip. From political disruptions to
dynamic ski conditions and festive après-ski moments, this Miramar weekend
had it all. Here’s to another memorable trip in the books—see you on the
next one!
by Stephen Templeton | Mar 1, 2025 | Trip Report
By Phil Caracci
I’ve been a part of Miramar since 1997. Still the anticipation of the trip ahead gripped me as I met the group on West 23rd Street in NYC. I looked around – there were MANY new faces. I learned this trip included 17 first time guests… G1’s as we call them. That’s a lot!
Saturday followed the traditional schedule… breakfast, skiing at Sugarbush, happy hour, dinner, dancing and chats by the fireplace. As I type this sentence it sounds outstanding without hearing any details. But the details make it even better!
We have a new chef who recently celebrated his one year anniversary with the club. Chef Mathew is amazing, turning out French Toast, eggs, bacon along with yogurt, muffins, fresh fruit and so much more. When you hear that breakfast is included, you don’t necessarily expect this!
Now let’s talk about skiing. Vermont is experiencing one of it’s best winters in a very long time. No giant blizzards but instead frequent snowfalls and more importantly no thaws. Freeze/thaw is what produces ice and I think it’s been below freezing for 6 consecutive weeks. However, Saturday was also a day of total sunshine and no wind from start to end! And if you stuck to the singles line, no waits for the lifts either. If you didn’t enjoy a day like this you are probably in the wrong sport.
When I’m on a trip I always offer what is often called the “Uncle Phil Tour”. After skiing I take first time guests to Bridge Street to see the shops and I tell a few stories along the way. About a dozen trippers signed up for the 20-minute walk with me through the historic covered bridge with some returning with purchases from the Artisan Gallery or the beer cave (awesome craft beer selection in the gas station!)
At 6PM we kicked off the evening’s activities with the Happy Hour featuring some more of the chef’s creations and open bar. It’s a LOUD room! More than 40 people riding a high from our sunny day on the slopes and meeting people for the first time. As an old-timer in the club, I often go to one corner of the room and just soak in the scene and it warms my heart to see the interaction. It’s a warm welcoming community. Nobody is staring at a cell phone!
I doubt I’ve ever ordered cauliflower soup before but I wasn’t surprised at how good it was. Everything that comes out of our commercial kitchen has been top notch. The Salmon Florentine was killer!!!
The Miramar lodge setup is really ideal. Nobody is going out into the cold night. No driving anywhere. After dinner you join the party downstairs by the fire or on the dance floor until fatigue tells you it’s time to get some sleep because tomorrow is another day of skiing or riding.
On Day 2 at Killington, I decided to ski with two G1’s which eventually expanded to a group of 6. I enjoy taking photos on the slopes and I found a group on the same wavelength. One benefit of group trips is that you can probably find a compatible partner regardless of how you choose to attack the mountain; fast, slow, steep, mellow, breaks, no-breaks, bumps, trees, etc….
I was sipping cocktails on the bus ride home, enjoying a tasty meal from Panera Bread and chatting with all my new friends and feeling so happy. It was an amazing weekend. This is why the Miramar Ski Club has been part of my adult life for this long and hopefully for many more years to come.
If you have never been on a Miramar trip, what are you waiting for???
by Stephen Templeton | Feb 8, 2025 | Trip Report
By Kirsty Jardine
Breaking New Ground: A Weekend of Firsts at Miramar Ski Club
When the mercury plunged to a bone-chilling -5°F in Vermont last weekend, you might think we’d hunker down by the fire. Instead, Miramar Ski Club members and an unprecedented wave of 21 guests (including 16 first-timers!) bundled up for an adventure that would prove unforgettable.
Our weekend kicked off with what’s becoming our signature style – rolling up to Sugarbush on the Hampton Jitney, already a highlight for our newcomers who quickly learned why this hassle-free transport is legendary among Miramartians. As one first-time guest put it, the level of organization and seamless execution of the weekend exceeded all expectations.
Saturday morning saw our group split between Mount Ellen and Lincoln Peak, with five intrepid Miramartian women joining Sugarbush’s coveted Women’s Series. What followed was pure Vermont skiing gold – one lucky participant even scored an impromptu private lesson when she found herself the sole survivor of her group! The other cluster dove deep into mastering Vermont’s notorious “natural ice skating rinks,” perfecting their turns under the guidance of an instructor who had a delightful revelation: “Wait, Miramar are the ones who come on the Hampton Jitney? I’ve always wanted to know who that was!”
Despite the arctic blast (a balmy high of 9°F), spirits remained unshakeable. Even a rebellious ski binding that decided to call it quits early in the morning couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm, thanks to the swift intervention of Dr. Alpine Options with an emergency replacement.
The evening brought its own magic. Between birthday celebrations and swapping tales of the day’s adventures, our creative trip leader introduced us to “Waitsfield Wally” – our very own staff member David, transformed into a prognosticating groundhog. In a moment that will live in club lore, Wally/David surveyed the lodge dining room and, finding no shadow, gave the green light for Sunday’s venture to Pico Mountain.
And what a venture it was! Breaking a 30-year hiatus, our return to Pico Mountain proved to be the weekend’s crown jewel. While we may never reach consensus on whether it’s “pike-o” or “peek-o” (the debate rages on), everyone agreed this was a hidden gem. To quote our trip leader “think Mad River Glen meets Mount Ellen with the best attributes of each”. Wide cruisers for the speed demons, narrow winding bump runs for the thrill-seekers, all centered around a single, charming base area. Best of all? Not a lift line in sight.
The cherry on top? One of our first-time guests dominated the Saturday night Left, Right, Center game, proving that beginner’s luck is alive and well at Miramar!
As we packed up on Sunday, the sentiment was unanimous – whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Miramartian, there’s simply no club like ours. Pico welcomed us with open arms, and we might just have found our new favorite mountain. Though we still can’t agree on how to pronounce it, we can all agree on one thing: this weekend reminded us why we brave the cold, chase the snow, and keep coming back for more.
See you on the slopes!
by Stephen Templeton | Feb 8, 2025 | Trip Report
By Maureen Cavanaugh
Race Weekend Recap: A Huge Success!
From January 24th-26th, we had an incredible Race Weekend filled with competition, camaraderie, and fantastic skiing conditions. A huge thank you to our leader, Amy Smitherman, for keeping everything on track, and to Kirsty Jardine, Staff for her dedication behind the scenes. Matt Gogoj took on double duty as Staff-In-Training and Race Coordinator, ensuring a seamless event. Shoutout to Al, our trusted Hampton Jitney bus driver, and our dynamic kitchen duo, Matt and Maddie, who served up delicious meals to keep us fueled for the weekend.
Race Day Highlights
The race took place on Racer’s Edge at 10:00 AM on Saturday. Each racer had two runs, with their best time recorded for medals. The energy was high, and the competition was fierce!
Men’s A Race
1st Place – Michal Szymanski
2nd Place – Paul Banks
3rd Place – Ethan Strell
Womens A Race
1st Place – Ciara Nestor
2nd Place – Linnea Spampinato
3rd Place – Shari Michels
Women’s Invitational Race
1st Place – Lauren Franck
2nd Place – Jodi Garner
3rd Place – Kirsty Jardine
Super Invitational
1st Place – Azra Krek
2nd Place – Blythe Austen
3rd Place – Karen McFarlane
All Miramar contestants had a fantastic race, with some proudly wearing their racing bibs all day at Sugarbush to represent Miramar!
Beyond the Race: A Weekend of Adventure
Most of the group skied at Sugarbush on Saturday and at Mt. Ellen on Sunday, enjoying firm, hardpack conditions with great snow in the upper mountain . East Coast skiing at its best!
Meanwhile, Rob Coppersmith explored the trails as our cross-country skier, and Carola Massimino embraced the snow as our snowshoer. Both ventured to Ole’s Cross Country Ski Center for a scenic winter adventure.
Standout Moment of the Weekend
Every great ski weekend comes with a few inevitable mishaps, and this time, we had three. Linnea Spampinato went above and beyond in a true act of selfless sacrifice, crashing into a tree just to ensure we hit our quota. Thank you, Linnea, for taking one for the team. We salute your dedication!
Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make this weekend such a success. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
by Stephen Templeton | Jan 19, 2025 | Trip Report
By Karen McFarlane
On the bright, cold early evening of January 10, 2025, 24 hearty souls boarded the Miramar luxury limousine (aka bus) for a wonderful trip up to the lodge. 6 equally hearty souls were already ensconced in the lodge. At the helm was our driver, Mike, filling in for Al, who had the nerve to be spending the weekend working in sunny, warm Florida, instead of freezing his patooties off with the rest of us. Our trip leader was Blythe, ably assisted by Kaz as staff and SIT’s Laura and Alan – on his first trip as an official member!!.
We woke up Saturday morning to a balmy temperature of 15 degrees, plus the sight of beautiful snow, drifting down upon the trees, meadows and mountains. We all had a lovely day of packed powder skiing, followed by a fabulous happy hour, during which Bill Bernsten stopped in directly from his world tour to say hello. As usual, our chef, Matt, prepared a spectacular dinner of vegetable soup, salad and rolls freshly warm out of the oven, followed by giant sized slabs of delicious chicken parmesan, creamy pasta, succulent squash (I’m guessing a lot of butter and garlic,,,???!!!) and chocolate pudding cake for dessert. The evening’s entertainment was a rousing game of left, right, center with 14 participants and a lot of spectators. Ethan Strell emerged as the victor, coming home with $39, which he generously decided to donate to… oh well, maybe I got that wrong…!!!
As is lately sometimes the case, Miramar apparently did not shtup the Killington overlords enough, so we were not granted a parking pass for our bus for Sunday. Instead, after another 4 star breakfast by Matt, we had dropoffs/pickups at both Sugarbush and Mount Ellen. Everyone had a great time in the frosty 18 degree weather, which included gale force winds at Mt. Ellen (note to self: next time, check the weather conditions before saying, “oh, it doesn’t seem windy, so I won’t wear my facemask…!!!”). With everyone safely packed up on the bus, we proceeded home. At our happy hour, we had a Miramar innovation (so hard to come by sometimes…): Janice decided to eschew making the usual bottle of screwdrivers and, instead, surprised us all with Tequila Sunrise, which went down very handily and was much appreciated by all!! This was followed by our delicious dinner, carefully curated by chef Daniel Boulud at the gourmet kitchens of Panera.
A lovely time was had by all and it was discovered by some (and secretly known by others) that when the bus parks on 24th. St. to avoid the cops, we can actually enter through the 24th. St. door to get to our locker. Thanks again to Blythe and her crew for a great weekend!!
Two-Day Bus Trip to Vermont - Mar 14 to 16, 2025
Miramar Happy Hour - March 19
Two-Day Bus Trip to Vermont - Mar 21 to 23, 2025
Two-Day Bus Trip to Vermont - Mar 28 to 30, 2025
Two-Day Bus Trip to Vermont - Apr 04 to 06, 2025
Two-Day Bus Trip to Vermont - Apr 11 to 13, 2025
Miramar Happy Hour - April 15