Packing up your posse for skiing
“How do you do it?” friends ask me. “How do you pack up the family and head to the slopes every weekend? It seems like such a huge hassle.”
As a skier, I don’t think of staying home as an option on winter weekends. The ski season is short enough here in
can relate to the mountainous task of packing everyone’s gear every time and the fear of forgetting someone’s goggles.
In a word, it’s all about having systems.
Every skier in the family should have their own ski bag. In this boot bag are all that person’s ski essentials: ski boots, long undies, ski pants and jacket, hat or helmet, mittens, socks, neck warmer, etc. A quick check before and after each ski trip should assure that everyone’s inner and outerwear is clean, dry, and ready to go for the next adventure. Then all you have to pack is your après ski clothes, pjs, and a swimsuit for pool or hot tub hopping.
Before your first ski trip of the year have a full dress rehearsal. Everyone tries on their gear to assure gear fits and is functional. It’s a drag arriving at the resort Saturday morning to find Joey’s boots are two sizes too small since last season.
Similarly, keep all your hardware: skis, boards, poles, in one place – so you can grab
everyone’s gear on Friday without tearing apart the entire garage. We have a hanging wooden dowel ski rack that works perfectly.
If you need gear, call ahead for rental shop’s hours and ideally pick up your equipment the night before your ski day. This streamlines your ski morning so you are on first chair instead of waiting in a long rental line while the first tracks are being enjoyed by others.
Similarly, if you are taking your kids to ski camp or ski lessons, research in advance drop-off times, and necessary forms. Many resorts now allow you to register online or print out paperwork. Call the resort ski school to reserve a spot, and ask any questions you have about where to go, when, and what to bring. This will make your ski morning much smoother and more predictable for you and your little powder puff or mogul munchkin.
While you are online, visit the ski area’s website and check on lift hours, parking, ticketing, and special events you should be aware of. This saves considerable time at check in, and assures that you aren’t shut out of any activities going on during your stay. You might also tap into deals that weren’t otherwise promoted.
Scope out your lodging amenities before you go. Whether you have a full kitchen, access to a swimming pool (I was kidding about the poaching), is valuable information when packing. You can bring a few meals from home, DVDs for the kids, if your unit is so equipped (or save hauling them if not). Don’t be caught saying, “I wish I had known,” when a quick call can clarify your slopeside (or not) lodging amenities.
Once you are at your destination, be sure to pick up the local paper.
Hopefully a few of these travel tips will help you get to the slopes more easily, and wishful thinking – more often. In a perfect world, we’d live slopeside and ski our kids to a little red schoolhouse just before lift opening. Until that fantasy becomes a reality, have your stuff organized and ready to go at the first sign of snow.
Heather Burke is our family Ski Guru. Photos by Greg Burke. For more of Heather’s family ski tips and stories, go to http://familyskitrips.com/.
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