Albany students, leaders participate in ski trip

A lack of any measurable snow in Albany didn’t prevent two dozen local youth group members and leaders from enjoying winter sports over the Christmas break. 

Seven inches of new snow fell on top of a three-foot deep base at Crested Butte Mountain in Colorado last week, and 21 local high school and junior high students spent the first week in January snow skiing during the day and learning more about God through special programs and small group Bible studies in the evenings.  

Leaders for the winter break trip included Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church youth minister Spencer Newsom, First Baptist Church youth minister Campbell Terry, and 2018 AHS graduate Chloe Fields. 

“We loaded up in vans in Albany on Dec. 31 and drove to Amarillo, where we spent the night in a church youth house,” said Newsom. “Early the next morning we joined two other church groups and loaded up in a bus for the drive to Crested Butte.”

MMPC pastor Anthony Ceder and his son Graham arrived at the lodge early to make sure that everything was set up and that the youth group’s reservations were in order. 

Justin and Tamara Trail and Chris and Lindsey Edgar were also at the ski resort with their children. 

The typical daily schedule included an optional morning devotional, breakfast, and then skiing from 9:00 a.m. until the slopes closed at 4:00 p.m.

“A night time program, including a talk, took place after the meal, then they divided out into small group studies,” Newsom said.

The travelers got back to Albany about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday.