By Steph
The winter vacation season officially begins on Saturday, and we are coming down to the wire on our orientation. The staff have learned the ropes, gotten to know each other, and the snow has finally decided to stick around for a while.
Orientation weeks are always a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation. Training each crew on their roles reminds us all of the immense details involved in our day to day operation. With so many return staff members, it has been a lighter orientation time. But many of them have switched roles and haven’t been here in winter, so it’s still a good learning curve.
In between the teaching and training, we have also managed to have a little fun. Last Friday the whole crew made their way into the nearby resort town of Steamboat Springs for a night of cosmic bowling. White lights, strobes, music, it was a lot of fun. Once again, Melissa showed us that she is a secretive hidden weapon as she produced the top score of the night. She may fly a little below the radar, but that girl can do anything! Nathan, an avid bowler, now has to sharpen his skills before their next standoff.
This week has been the week of “mocks”. Mock meals were on Tuesday, where the staff played guest and gave the kitchen and dining room crews a chance to run through a full day of guest meals. Yummy….. Then, yesterday, the guides got to flex their muscles and take their pretend guests out on horseback rides, skis and sleigh rides. At this point, we are all ready to settle in for our own winter vacation as it seems like fun!
The verdict? We’re ready. A few last preparations today and tomorrow and we’ll be waiting anxiously for the first group of guests to walk through the doors of the lodge.