Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Tasty treats
entice skiers

Gourmet Ski Tour shines
under brilliant hint of spring

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The 12th Annual Gourmet Ski Tour enjoyed the first full day of pure spring temperatures and clear skies in many years. For organizer Jenny Busdon this was clearly an answer to her prayers. "It was a great year. When I started this I was 12 years younger," she laughed. "I had a lot more energy."

Christina Cook, left, serves up her delectable vittles at the appetizer stop along the trail. Express photo by Willy Cook

Not that anyone notices the difference or believes her when she says such things. As usual Busdon was here, there and everywhere Saturday, putting up encouraging signs along the 13 kilometer trail, selling tickets to hopeful skiers at the last moment, ushering over 180 people onto buses, and even drawing names for prizes.

The annual fund-raiser benefits the North Valley Trails and Galena Lodge.

An Al Roker Productions film crew focuses on the behind the scenes action at Evergreen’s food tent for a future broadcast of "Roker on the Road" on the Food Network. Express photo by Willy Cook

The trail was broken up by gourmet food stations, from Baker Creek to the Sawtooth National Recreation headquarters, north of Ketchum. The appetizer stop featured delicacies provided by Cristina’s restaurant and Evergreen Bistro.

At the soup stop, Bubba Street from Galena Lodge served up two choices and Perry’s vegetarian chili was available, too.

Mike Diem of East Avenue offered a Hunter Stew at the final stop on the trail, where Tapestry Wine also had an al fresco wine bar that proved highly popular.

A production team hired by Al Roker Productions filmed the event for "Roker on the Road" to be aired on the Food Network. Costumes that lent a festive and colorful air to the event caught the camera crew’s attention.

One of the costume winners at the Gourmet Ski Tour is Peggy Goldwyn. "The hat is from Russia and the coat is from Armani," she said. Express photo by Willy Cook

Winners of the costume contest were six-year Gourmet tour veteran Peggy Goldwyn, from Beverly Hills, in a fur hat and long, sequined coat, Jane Toohey in a nude suit, the martini lady Karen John in a bright green turban and martini glasses attached to her coat sleeves, and Randy Hess as a freewheeling skate skiing hobo.

Lindsey Ferrari from Salt Lake City won the drawing for a Patagonia jacket. She was one of 10 folks from Salt Lake who made the journey up for the tour.

All the money raised from the event goes to help support the North Valley Trails and Galena Lodge.

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