Feature Articles
AAA President's Message
Colorado Calendar
AAA Commentary
AAA Mini Tour
Feedback
FYI
Auto Talk
My Colorado
Approved Auto Repair
Offices to Serve You
Travel Specials
Office Events
Join AAA
Feedback
Tiny Bubbles...It was fitting that your Steamboat Springs Mini Tour [February] began in Kremmling, as Kremmling-not Steamboat Springs-was the home of rancher Joe (not Jack) McElroy, who coined "champagne powder." Joe operated a rope-tow hill on Baker Mountain near Muddy Pass during the 1950s. As the hill only operated on weekends, the tow and access road would sometimes be buried by heavy snows on weekdays. The hill earned the distinction of being the only one forced to close due to too much snow. Joe died in February 1991. "Champagne Powder" is copyrighted by the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp.
Bill Fetcher, Historian, Tread of Pioneers Museum, Steamboat Springs
Cruising Pros and Cons
In the "You'll Never Get Me on a Cruise Ship" article [February], it was mentioned that a valid complaint is, "You never really get to see the places you're visiting." But the article didn't mention the flip side: You can see a lot of very interesting things over the course of a week or two-and in great comfort. Take a European vacation for example. You can take a land tour that involves riding a bus from city to city and unpacking and packing at every hotel-or you can go by cruise ship and unpack once for the entire cruise.
...A lot of people like me work, and we simply don't have the time or money to go off to the Mediterranean for four to six weeks to do it "right." And it would take years to go to each country if we went to only one country every year. ...
Cruising isn't for everyone or for every itinerary ... but cruises do offer you the opportunity to comfortably see and do a lot of things.
Robert and Mary Ann Foreman, Lakewood
Regarding "You'll Never Get Me on a Cruise Ship" [February 2001]: My wife and I have not participated in the cruising mania for reasons other than the six you listed. First, the ever-expanding capacity of cruise ships is approaching obscene. Not only are many cruise ships "floating hotels," they are metropolitan areas of the waves. (It is significant that the cover of this issue of The Motorist features a small ship, not the 2,500-passenger variety.) Second, like so much in our TV-anesthetized society, cruise ship "activities" are mass-produced for the mass market. The experience is all reduced to the lowest common denominator. Third, the multitude of deck and stateroom categories (12 to 15 or more) promotes class distinction along with associated pretentiousness and social posturing. ... Give me a European motorcoach tour or river cruise any time!
Roger P. Hansen, Pagosa Springs
Editor's note: The ship on our February cover was Princess Cruise's Pacific Princess, which has a passenger capacity of 640-not exactly a small ship, but yes, smaller than many of the new vessels being built today.
Corrections
The Senior Skiers article in our March issue stated that 19 Colorado ski resorts offer free skiing to those over age 70. In fact, only a few ski areas now offer this deal. For the most current information on ski specials, call to the resort you are planning to visit.
In our March 2001 issue, the Fort Collins AAA office address and phone number were listed incorrectly. The correct address is 1514 Harmony Rd., Ft. Collins. The correct number is 970-223-1111.
We regret any inconvenience these errors may have caused.
We want to hear from you!
Reader comments and questions are welcome in The Motorist magazine. A reply or comment may be printed with your letter. Letters under 200 words are considered first and are printed most readily.
Send letters to the Editor, The Motorist, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222. Fax to: 303-758-8515. E-mail: keastlund@colorado.aaa.com. Letters become property of The Motorist and are not returned.
Return To Top
© Rocky Mountain Motorists, Inc.