Bobo:

Thanks for a well-written reminder of the Vail Experience.  I intentionally excluded "lacrosse" before "experience"  because, as others have said before, lacrosse is the reason we go the first time, but the people are the reasons we return.

My family had the ultimate experience in Vail this year.  I was expecting it to be good, but not to match the high from the first year (1999) we went to Vail.  In fact, it was better.  We came 4 days early and made it a 10 day vacation including summitting a 12,100 foot peak near the Vail Pass, scaling a 100-foot rock face at Camp Hale (training ground of the 10th Mountain Division from WWII fame), and downhill mountain biking on the Vail slopes.  My 5, 9 and 11 year old boys participated in all of these activities, as did my wife, Susan.  On our way back from the hike to Hanging Lake (one of the prettiest spots in the US) with 29 Middlebury laxers, she turned to me and said, "This is the best vacation we have ever had."  And we have had some good ones. 

For any of you players who need to convince wives that the Vail Experience is not a "men acting as boys" event, please ask them to call my wife, Susan (203-221-1485).  We were both the ultimate skeptics 4 years ago, but that sure has changed.  I told Carolyn Wheeler (Greg's wife) that I will do this until I am 50, or longer, notwithstanding slower reflexes and leg speed.  The boys had a blast, too.  They met or reacquainted themselves with new friends and had great times playing games with the other kids of all ages (and genders).  If you will be 33-years old by the end of '01, then you should make plans for Vail 2001.

Hope to see you there.

Schife

1980