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Ski Bus Offers Students Weekend Options
by Matt Davis
Stephanie Hasty
Students taking needed break
About to jump on the lift
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On a brisk evening while riding up the ski lift at Wolf Laurel, you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding a snow filled valley. Mile-high Big Bald Mountain rises to the north, with the Appalachian Trail meandering across the top of its treeless landscape.
The snow may not resemble the fresh powder of Aspen, Colorado, but for $10, skiing at Wolf Laurel can be pretty good. Furthermore, Wolf Laurel is only fifteen minutes away from Mars Hill College.
When Mars Hill College's Outdoor Center leader, Grant Gosch, was looking for new ideas for students this winter, he realized that winter sports can be cheap, local, and readily available.
He spoke to Johnny Goen, Mars Hill alumnus and general manager of Wolf Laurel. If Goen could provide a discount, then Gosch would provide the bodies that Wolf Laurel needs to get the ski slope's name out to the public, especially to Mars Hill students.
Goen responded that he wanted students to come and use Wolf Laurel's facilities and then tell their families and friends. For Mars Hill students he would provide lift tickets for $10, plus $10 for equipment (for those who do not have their own), every Friday night until ski season is over. Goen also provided Gosch with lift tickets that he and students could sell to support the Outdoor Center.
"It gives students an opportunity to try something new and get to the slopes for free on a van," says Char' Lee Pickens, a Mars Hill freshman and avid skier.
Freshman Stephanie Hasty says, "this is a great way for students to get out and get some exercise for cheap on the weekends, instead of just sitting around in their dorms."
Goen said that he liked Gosch's idea because it would help the image of the resort. Wolf Laurel considers college students to be more mature than many others who come to ski. Goen feels that Mars Hill students will be more respectful of the facilities and the staff than some others have been in the past. This will help add to the "classy" feel that he is trying to create.
So far Gosch has been very pleased with the outcome of his idea for a Friday night ski bus, which gives a free ride to Wolf Laurel in a Mars Hill College van.
"It is cool trying something new like snowboarding, even though I was sore for a week," says freshman Travis Sullens about the ski bus. He thinks that activities like the ski bus will open students' eyes to the Outdoor Center. "This is something healthy to do on Friday nights that will get students involved in something fun."
Reader's Comment from:
Brandon Jeffs - Junior, 3/6/2005, 2:56:30 p.m.
The outdoor center is awesome. Grant has done such a great job making so many different opportunities available to the students. There has been a great deal of support and I am really glad that this program is in place. I love the outdoor center!
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