#23: Kristina von Trapp Frame: A Life at the Iconic von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort

This week we are joined in the Octagon studio by Kristina von Trapp Frame. The von Trapp name is synonymous with Stowe and its outdoor culture. Kristina von Trapp Frame is carrying forward her family legacy that began when her grandparents settled in Stowe and built what would become one of the most iconic mountain lodges in the country.

From pioneering cross-country skiing in North America to expanding into mountain biking, beer brewing, and other unique mountain experiences, Kristina has helped shape the von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort into an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. You can find Kristina trail running, XC skiing, spending time with her family- and traveling the globe as an ambassador representing the von Trapp family.

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This episode of the Octagon is sponsored in part by archery close. Hey, this is Chris and Taste from Archery Clothes, your go-to boutique. For men's and women's fashion, we carry a curated selection of clothing, footwear, and gifts from unique and emerging brands. We're proud to sponsor the Octagon and even prouder to be local business owners here in Stowe. We love how the Octagon captures the history and characters of this incredible town. After coming off the slopes or the trails, stop by archery close. Located at 1650 Mountain Road in Stowe. Open seven days a week, or always open online@archeryclose.com. Welcome listeners to the Octagon Podcast, where we explore the stories, people in places that make Stowe, Vermont so legendary. I'm your host, Mike Carey, joined by my cohost, Ted Thorndike. We are excited to introduce our guest today. Christina Von Trapp Frame. The Von Trapp name is synonymous with Stowe and its outdoor culture. Christina is carrying forward her family legacy that began when her grandparents settled in Stowe and built what would become one of the most iconic mountain lodges in the country. From pioneering cross country skiing in North America, to expanding into mountain biking, beer brewing, and other unique mountain experiences, Christina has helped shape Trapp Family Lodge into an outdoor enthusiast paradise. You can find Christina trail running, cross country skiing, spending time with her family, and traveling the globe as an ambassador representing the Von Trapp family. Welcome, Christina! Wow. Thanks so much Mike. Also known as Trappy in the ski world. I just heard. Yes. those Australians don't like to have words that are long. It's just too difficult. So when I taught skiing in Australia, I said, my name is Christina. And they were Oh, that's really long. What's your last name? And I said, Von Trapp. And they're all right, Trappy it is. That's amazing. They have nicknames for everybody. do people call you that around Stowe? Some do. My close friends do, and I really like it, so feel free to call me Trappy. So let's start with your skiing. Cause that's a angle that I'm, new to, so tell us about your your downhill ski career. Yeah, let's see, it started in Stowe in first grade when we had the Friday afternoon program. Ted, you grew up here, so you know, These days, it's called the Friday, Activity Program, it was only downhill skiing when I was a kid. And so that's how I started downhill skiing, but I've been cross country skiing since I was two, two and a half, with my parents and my brother. and then it just evolved, who doesn't go to Hopefuls and Threes and Fours and I was Racing, I was extremely mediocre, but always loved it. Loved my coaches, loved the camaraderie around it. And then when I was at UVM, um, a friend, Susan Amidon from Stowe was Hey, do you want to teach at the mountain for fun? for a job? yeah, absolutely. Why not? So started teaching and this was great. My, supervisor had been my kindergarten teacher. Peter Rush was the ski school director, just great old iconic families. people in town. Gordon Dixon was teaching. And, it just fell into it and kept going. So graduated in December, just kept teaching skiing, then got offered a job. Teaching in the summertime in Australia. Southern Hemisphere, winter down there from June to September. I said, yeah, why not? And then, also worked on some cattle ranches when I was down in Australia. And then, came back from that in 96. From the three summers down there. Teaching in Stowe in the winters. and then moved to Aspen, Colorado, full time. For seven years. And I really chose Aspen specifically because it was a year round community. really excellent training in the ski school, amazing mountains. and, just fell in love. I just have an amazing group of friends there. So my first daughter was born out there. But every time I would travel places, I still would keep, My cross country skiing roots. I would always take two pairs of skis down to Australia and then a pair of cross country skis. And it was just in my time to unwind from everything and it was peaceful and quiet. and that led me to doing a big backcountry race in Aspen, called the Elk Mountain Traverse. That's from Crested Butte to Aspen. and that was really fun and I did it. I think in 02. And in those days, it was way back before the really high level, light Dynafit bindings and skis. So the fast racers skate skied it. And then if there was a steep uphill, they would just take off their skis and run. And I think it's, gosh, maybe 40 miles and 8, 000 vertical feet. And it starts at midnight in Crested Butte. And it ends by coming down Aspen Mountain. so I just love having an adventure and being out in the woods. And, I think that a lot of that came from my father who was his masters in forestry So besides being a von Trapp We grew up being out in the woods a lot. So when you were in Aspen were you teaching skiing the whole time they're all seven years Yep, I was teaching skiing and I lived there year round. So I was landscaping and riding horses and I met my husband when I was living out there, hiking the 14ers, it was amazing. It's just a beautiful spot. So when you were out there, in the back of your mind where you're always I want to come back to Stowe or, how did that come to be? Obviously you made your way back. I did. that's a really good question. my husband, Walter Frame and I built a house out there and it was always in the back of our minds okay, if we move back east, could we rent this house? What would that look like? So I think it always was in the back of my mind that we would come back here. And then when Stella was born, she was six months old when Walt got a job developing the downhill resort at Stowe Mountain when it was owned by AIG. this is an amazing place to raise a family. like you and Lisa came here, There's a lot of accountability, a lot of eyes on kids. Kids get to see other kids grandparents. And, so I felt really lucky to be able to come back. And when was that? fall of 03. Funny story. When I moved here 14 years ago, my daughter was playing soccer with Stella and we met first weekend. I lived here and we're chatting and I was telling you about how I had found these great trails for mountain biking at Traps and I said, I literally said, have you ever been there? And she goes, my name is actually Christina. Von Trapp, right? And there were a few times. I said, note to self, and that's because, I don't want to ever lead with, hi, I'm Christina von Trapp. I'm like, I'm Christina. It's already three syllables, and then you can remember it. Exactly. Trappy. Yep. that was very funny and you know that I'm out on those trails running and hiking and mountain biking because I see you out on the trails doing all the same things. I love how we all cross paths here, whether it's at a school sporting events or out on the trails. Yeah. Yeah. I'm always curious about the history, right? So your family or grandparents settled here. Why Stowe? Why did they choose Stowe? And how did they have the foresight to preserve all of the land, between traps and Adam's camp and all of that? I just think it's amazing that we have that, Yeah, first of all, Stowe is exceptional. it's a really special place. So let me back up a bit. my father, Johannes, is the youngest of the three children that Maria and the captain had after they got married. So you don't actually see my father in the movie. they came over in fall of 38 and my dad was born in January 39. So he just turned 86. Both my parents are really healthy and active. they were in Philadelphia for a little while and then they were still traveling and singing and they knew that they wanted to farm. They want to be able to grow their own food and take care of themselves. they had actually put a down payment on a property in Southern Vermont. but then they came up to Stowe. They stayed at the old Miguel's Stowe away. That's where they stayed when they came up in 42. And, then fell in love with it. And saw the hillside. it was a dairy farm owned by the Salvuses. And it was two working dairy farms, one where the hotel is right now. And then the other one is where our cafe house and barn is right now. So the barn by the cafe house, the upper is storage and the lower part is our laundry. and Vermont, because it reminded them of Austria, a lot of the greenery, the hills, we don't have the Alps, but we have the hills, the mountainsides, and also the people. The people in Vermont were really hardworking and connected to the land and that resonated with them. And and so all the land that's preserved, was that all part of this? so let's see, the first two farms together were 640 acres. And right now, we have this beautiful hillside, but it wasn't as glamorous back then when it was a dirt road. Going up from ten acres that was impassable sometimes. My dad remembers going down in a big vehicle to pick up guests to come back up to the hotel. Yeah, I'm sure. So we really started running the hotel as 1950. so from 1950 to 1968, my grandmother ran the hotel. And, and then my dad took over in 1968 after he had done his master's in forestry at Yale. And he just loved being out in the woods. Thought it was really special location and whenever a parcel of land came for sale. He would purchase it and land. I'm glad he did Yeah, aren't we all? Yeah, aren't we all and we all benefit from it, right? No, we're so lucky. So special place Land is always named after the person you bought it from not the current owner So some of our cross country ski trails are named after certain people the Paris Oh trails Slayton pastor cabin Slayton's are still around Luce Hill, the Luce's, so, 1, 500 acres is under conservation easement up on the hillside, but we do have access for recreation on it. Amazing foresight. So, as the lodge developed over time, at what point did they say, hey, we want to do, cross country skiing, I know Trapp Family Lodge was a pioneer in that, so how did that all develop? the cross country skiing came about because of my dad's college roommate from Dartmouth, Richard Fuglesang. And when he came to visit my dad and saw all the logging roads, he said, oh, this is perfect for cross country skiing. And my dad said, what's that? So he said, okay, we gotta sort this out. Richard was living in Oslo, Norway, and they put an ad in the Norway newspaper saying ski instructor wanted to go to America. And they got 300 applicants. So my dad flew over to interview some people, and I think the third person was this man, Per Surley. And so he came over, and my dad's goal was to make skiing fun. At that point, if you thought of cross country skiing, you thought of racers that collapse. at the finish line with frozen snot. not a family experience. No, not something you're really keen to do. Yeah. And so Per just made it fun. he would sit around at the bar with people at night and he would play games during the day and limbo and slalom around ski poles down the hill. and he came back, I think for three or four years, and he came back for a 50th anniversary a few years ago, which was really special. Yeah. He said he wakes up every morning and looks at the webcam. Amazing. Yeah. I do the same thing. So what year was that? 68, 69. Okay. Yep. Very cool. What were the first, trails the sugar road You're spot on. Sugar road. And literally the first grooming was. Maybe you going out first thing in the morning setting tracks. Yeah, that's what the first grooming was. Yeah, and my grandmother Maria cross country skied too. Oh Yeah, so then the next one we have to talk about I think is the cabin because everyone loves the cabin I went to the cabin today for soup good for you. That's where I go for my lunch break from work. Yep. Do you see Phil up there? I saw Phil up there. Yep. I had chicken wild rice today. Yes. how did the cabin come to be? and I want to hear some stories of you maybe when you were younger hanging out in the cabin in your more partying days. or maybe a few nights ago. It took me a couple of days to recover from that. Oh, the cabin, isn't that a special place? So it's Slayton Pasture Cabin after the Slaytons. That's who bought the land from up there. I want to say it was built in 1976 and that's what this is what in Europe everywhere, you go hiking and all of a sudden you'll come across somebody's house or a hut that they just bring you in for food and drink and, it's so nice to have a destination when you're cross country skiing, because you're not getting a rest by sitting down on the chairlifts. So it's always great to have a destination. So when my brother and I were kids, we would spend the night with the cabin keepers. my parents would just let us go. in high school, I would work. Weekends up there. if it was really busy, I'd be the second person helping out. So I would ski up in the morning, work all day, ski down. it's just always been a part of my life. I brought high school friends there. My bridesmaids, we hiked there before my wedding. still go there with friends. it's a really special place, isn't it? It is. One of the most special places in Stowe, I think. Yeah. It is. It's like going back in time. Every time I just get up there and I feel like I just forget about The real world and any stresses there's something very peaceful about it You know, I totally agree with you Ted. I think somewhere I can't remember maybe one of one of these brilliant podcasts I listened to once and it said that land can have charisma. And I really feel that our land, and maybe the way that my dad has developed it, which is incredible, but that there's just this peacefulness and presentness and centeredness that you just, you're very present, And so that's why, I love being on our property and on of our trails and I love it when other people come and share it all too. So it's a really special spot. I was up there yesterday afternoon. After work, just doing a quick. classical to get ready for the Derby Meister. Practicing for next year? Mike claims he beat me in the classical. I'll have to go back and check the time. Oh, game on, but, we were talking briefly at the start. could you share any stories on any, famous skiers or guests? I know, Jan Reynolds was one of our guests and he talked about Ned Gillette, just didn't know if there were any, Olympians passing through celebrities over the years running Crap Family Lodge. Yeah, as you can probably imagine we keep things on the down low. Yeah, but there is a great story when James Taylor came and would stay with us for a little bit and one time he was in the outdoor hot tub that we have And somebody turned to him and said has anyone ever told you you look like James Taylor Yeah, but people come and once you put skis on, or put running shoes on, or get on a bike, you're all the same. you're out there enjoying it. It's, you're all the same. So let's talk about the Lodge a little bit. I'm always curious, what percent of people coming to the Lodge are Sound of Music enthusiasts? And what percent come for all the other activities and are oblivious to Sound of Music? Believe it or not, there are people out there that have not seen The Sound of Music, and that come to our hotel not realizing it's family owned and operated. But, on that note, the majority do come for The Sound of Music. there actually was just a really good Boston Globe article that came out, and, the gentleman, Christopher Mother, stayed with us for three days, and he did His informal poll, and he said it was like 98 percent of the people came for the Sound of Music. Wow, still. Yep. And so because of that, we did just do a little refresh on our hotel property name. So instead of Trapp Family Lodge, we found that everybody calls it the Von Trapp Family Lodge because that's what makes sense to them. So we're listening to our guests and we're calling it Von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort. And we felt that we needed to add the resort because it's become so much more than just a lodge, a hotel. there's, year round recreation, brewery and beer hall, agricultural component, forestry component. so it gives people a better sense because some people will come and say, Oh my gosh, I didn't know, but there was so much other things to do here with the maple sugar tour or hike to the chapel or go meet the cows. we scheduled to go to Burlington all day today. but we don't want to go. I leave. And then, you can go out in the trails or you can just sit and read a book in front of the fire, in one of the living rooms too. Yeah. Or go grab a beer. Or go grab a beer. Or play disc golf while you're grabbing a beer. That's right. Disc golf. Yeah. And some tennis. You play some tennis of course. And pickleball. Pickle balls Coming town. Okay. Yep. All right. Yeah. So on the beer note, Von Trapp Brewing has, really grown and, gotten some good press and, How did this decision come to, start creating lagers, obviously IPAs, heady topper, that's That was all the rage. All the rage. How did that vision come to be? my dad had noticed for years that people in Austria, where the lager beers are very popular, that people have a beer at lunch. And don't have to go take a nap after. a few things fell into place. Our hotel went onto town water, and so the spring water that comes from up behind our hillside, up behind the hotel, was piped into the, brewery. So all of the spring water was now available for brewing the beer. And the mineral components of our spring water, are extremely well suited to lager beers. Yeah. it was always been my dad's dream to do a brewery, right? doesn't that fall in line with recreation, timeshare, hotel, brewery? very Austrian. And, and now our beer hall restaurant also is great. Lots of taxidermy in there from my dad's hunting, but wonderful food. And our brewery actually won a big award last year. for best brewery from the range of 15, 000 barrels to 100, 000 barrels. We were the best brewery in that range. And our Helles won a big award as well. And our Dunkel beer did last year. So yeah, really top of the line equipment and really great team. Yeah, no, it was very much against the trend. I remember when you came out with your beer and was all loggers and pilsners and I was all into IPAs and I was oh, wow, that's unusual, right? those heady toppers are great, but more than one and you're whoa, exactly catches up with you. I do love that about Austria. When you go to Austria. And you want a beer, you just say beer. Yeah. There's no choice. There's no menu. Small or large. Large. That's exactly it. I think it's a lager or a pilsner. Yeah. It's just beer. That's so funny. It just came back from Austria and that was, I would say, I want a lager beer and they're small or large. Yeah. That's the only choice. That's so funny. in Vermont, it's a hundred beers on the menu and you're daunted by the whole thing. This episode is sponsored by Edelweiss Mountain Deli located on the mountain Road. I know for me it is the perfect stopping point after day on the hill to grab my favorite Waitsfield sandwich and a cup of coffee, and for me grabbing my favorite Sweet Sensation bar. Whether you're looking for fresh Vermont pastries, farm to table prepared meals or local Vermont products to add your barbecue, make sure Edelweiss Mountain Deli is your next stop. also my other favorite thing that I see up there are the cows, How did the Scottish Highland cows come to be on property? so again, my dad was really smart about how we manage the property. So the cows serve dual purpose. They rotate graze in the spring, summer, and fall. So they keep our fields open as fields. Because if we didn't graze the fields, we would have to mow them. Otherwise they would grow up into a forest right away. And also, they serve as beef. And in our hotel and beer hall. of course, it's called the Johannesburger. It's all good. Grass fed beef. they're with us, for probably three years. And then, they get harvested just in Northern Vermont, a couple hours away. And then they come back into our freezer. So really low footprint. Yep, and and yes, they are such wonderful cows to look at. Beautiful. Alan Ouellette takes a lot of great photos of them, too. An iconic. Yeah. Iconic vision. I know, I tell you, people come to our place and they're Oh, we want to see Yvonne Trapp, but we want to see the cows. We want to see Yvonne Trapp, but we want to see the cows. Maybe you need to be riding the cow. New marketing material. Yeah, a little twofer. But but these cows grow extra hair in the winter like horses do so they don't need a barn. And when you don't have a barn then you have less to clean and less chance for disease. So I do remember another funny story. I was driving your daughter Stella home from cross country practice one day and we're driving down to your house and I'm driving and all of a sudden there's a stampede on the road of all the cows had gotten loose from their fenced in area and I'm driving and the cows are Five feet away from the car, stampeding down the road. And I'm terrified. Stella's Oh no, it's fine. They do this all the time. You're fine. Then you see Jed Reynolds chasing after trying to call them. Yeah. Calling him back. I know she was so funny. Yeah. Our, our staff are pretty comfortable with the animals and our front desk. We'll get some calls saying, Oh, there's a cow out. And they're yep. That happens. And it's usually a yearling, it's yep, those little buggers, they're just going to go through the electric fence, but they'll go back in when they're hungry or thirsty. So this might be a broad question, but I'd have to imagine running an operation like Fawn Trap, Family Lodge and Resort, there's got to be a lot of moving parts, what has that experience been like for you, what are maybe some challenges and joys that you find in that work? Diversity. There's gotta be a lot of that. yep, it is. And I love that. I grew up traveling, working, landscaping, riding horses, moving cattle, driving tractors, baling hay. Not necessarily inside all the time, so I am more than happy zipping from place to place. Teaching skiing, and through teaching skiing, I came across so many different people. that have their own stories. So I actually really like connecting with our staff and being okay, who are you? What do you have to offer? What location is best for you in our business? Because we have so many different job opportunities. So if one job doesn't work out for somebody, no problem. We've got something else for you. That's great. And, and the same thing with our guests that come. Our guests come for many different reasons also. But, but they, and they like seeing our same staff year after year too, which is neat. Yeah. When you were growing up as a kid and working a lot, did you think someday you'd be involved in the Lodge? Or were you get me out of here. I don't want to be part of this. Good question. and I forgot. I also worked in the gardens when I was a kid. Oh my gosh. I remember giving my first autograph. I was working at the Austrian tea room. Remember the old Austrian team? We're a cafe houses now. And I was probably in a dirndl or something. And we had paper placemats that were maps of the property. And somebody came over and said, I heard you're Christina von Trapp. And I said, yeah, did you need me to clear your plate or something? I was bussing tables. And, they're like, Oh, can I get your autograph? And I said, yeah, but why? I didn't do anything. no, but your family is famous. I was okay. It was really funny. growing up, I just always knew it was going to be there. But I never thought I would come back and really run it. And, on that note also, I came back in 2003, but didn't really join the business much until, really actively until probably 10 years ago. My brother Sam came back in 2008 and started joining the business right away. His kids right now are seven and nine, so while he's built up the mountain biking, the hiking, the brewery, and the tours, so he's taking some time off right now to be with his kids, because they're so cute, but they've got a lot going on, the soccer, the, reading in school, the school music event to go to, you remember all those? Oh yeah. So yeah. So Sam's taking some time off right now, and so my husband, Walter Frame, and I are there. but no, I felt like I had freedom to go do a lot of different things. and I'm really happy that I'm back, and we have an amazing group of staff, and we have also a really loyal group of guests that come. So it's always interesting. Yeah. Do you have any funny stories about working there as a kid? Were you just doing whatever? Dad told you to do or you're going to be busing tables or whatever needs to be done. All hands on deck. yeah, whatever needs to be done. So that meant that when Sam and I were six and eight years old, we were picking up trash. And we were psyched because we were making money. Yeah. We were getting 25 cents an hour. And after the first day we got a hundred percent raise. And and then we really started working at the cross country ski center. So that's why I've known Jan and Ned Gillette all my life. so the cross country ski center was where we passed out skis, boots, and poles. And then I also worked upstairs in retail with a cash register. And the ski instructors were always just so much fun. Ned would bring in his climbing buddies from Yosemite. the ski school parties were crazy. I remember my brother and I. We're on the backs of my dad and then Gillette who were on their hands and knees and Sam and I were having chicken fights and then they and then the ski instructors were diving off the porch into the deep snow and everybody's skiing every day just really healthy fun Working hard playing hard just you know, having a lot of fun good times you mentioned the first time you got an autograph, what was it like growing up as a Von Trapp? Did you think, oh wow, people think, celebrity? When did it hit you that, wow, I'm part of this amazing legacy? And what was that like? Oh, it still is hitting me. It's amazing. but growing up, we were very, I don't want to, I don't know if sheltered is the right word from it, but, we didn't know. My brother and I didn't know. We grew up without a TV. So we didn't see the sound of music at Christmastime every year like the rest of the world did. And we worked in this town like everyone works. And when we were growing up, all the hotels were family owned and operated. So our job was not unusual by any means. And my grandmother lived in the hotel, which didn't even occur to me that was unusual either because other, like the Rigby's lived at the Hobnob, everybody lived where they worked. you think of anybody that you went to elementary school or high school with, or, it's just, you were, I was just one of those kids sitting next to you in class. yeah. and it really wasn't until maybe I went away, even to college probably, when, oh, because growing up, my name was Maria Christina Von Trapp. And so, on the official, So, any kind of official, paperwork, you have to write your first name and your middle initial. at UVM, my freshman seminar class of, 300 people, they get to the bottom of the alphabet and they'd be Oh, Maria von Trapp. And I was Oh, call me Christina. And then I very quickly learned to, in that first heading of official paperwork to write M Christina. But, No, I'm just like anybody else, we all just work And go to school and go skiing. but it is amazing. the people that come to our property to do history tours or to learn more about it. The Sound of Music story resonates with so many people. And it has helped so many people through difficult decisions in their lives, we've learned. And so many people have wonderful memories and traditions around watching it. I feel really lucky to be a part of something that brings people hope and joy these days because the world is pretty heavy. And this uplifts people's spirits and, brings them hope. Especially when you just walk around the lodge or the property, people singing in the hills, right? it's pretty amazing. Yeah. is the, is sound of music and your name popular in Austria or do Austrian not know this because this is so funny. Yeah. Austria and Germany. They do not know the Sound of Music nearly as well as the rest of the world. And that's just a given. In Salzburg, it is more so understood now, but there are two German films that came out, but the Sound of Music per se with Julie Andrews was not very popular. but there are sound of music tours in Austin, Salzburg now, and they are working on a museum that will open in summer of 2026. And this year is the 60th anniversary of the sound of music movie. It actually came out on March 2nd in New York City, and it's our 75th anniversary of our hotel being family owned and operated. So we're doing some collaboration with Salzburg tourism. and also when the sound of music. Tour leaders from Salzburg are traveling in the States. We always invite them to come and stay with us And they're so thankful to learn the other side of the story also, so it's fun for them So I've been to Salzburg to the top of the hill the castle. Yeah, the Marionette Museum Yeah, I don't have you been to this. Yeah, and there's the von Trapp Marionette exhibit in this museum. I just happened to stumble on it. Wow. Yeah, the marionette theater is amazing in Salzburg. It's incredible. It's mesmerizing. It's magical. Yeah, I was there with friends because we were in Oktoberfest three years ago and my one friend Had been there and was obsessed with us going to the marionette museum, which I was why am I going to this? And then when I saw that, I was like, Oh my God, that's amazing. Yeah. They're all hand carved. Yeah. Beautiful. Amazing. Yeah. That's cool. So, when you were living in Aspen and in Australia, were people still making references out there, giving shout outs as far as the Vontrap? that's a good question. so when I was in Aspen, I was fully trappy. nobody called me Christina. Yeah. and it just, everybody just knew who I was. it wasn't a big deal. Yeah. No, but I, and I think, you said it when you were growing up, you were picking up trash around the lodge at six that, that you were never given a message, Hey, you're special or anything like that. And I think that just speaks to, just raising kids the right way. And if you don't have that mindset that you're any different than anybody else, you're just working at the lodge and going to school and just enjoying your life. and, But it's not what people expect. Yeah, exactly. And that's what's so funny. So I do, I must admit, I do shocking people a little bit when I'm still picking up trash in the driveway or in the parking lot. And then people are Oh, there's always work to be done, isn't there? And I'm yep, especially when you're the owner. And they're wait, you're the owner? That's good. So what are your go to activities these days? I know you're a trail runner, big time trail runner. I know you have horses, equestrian. What are some of your main activities? Yeah, Mike, I've morphed a little bit now that my girls are away in college. I actually sold my last horse last July, so which allows me to travel a lot more. I tell you, it was hard to find somebody to come to my house to take care of horses, chickens, dogs, cats. horses have to be harder than dogs. Little bit. A little more dangerous. You can't just have someone take your horse. Hey, can you take my horse for two weeks? It depends on the dog. but you know what, it really, it's almost pretty much anything outside. Yep. I just love being outside, whether it's on our trails or down in Cottonbrook. it's just amazing. And just listening to the birds, I actually have never run with any music ever. I just want to be outside, hear the birds, hear the wind and the trees. Yep. I'm the same way. Same for me too. Yeah. Oh, cool. There's just something that's just, rejuvenates me, makes me really present again and grounded. So yeah, pretty much anything outside. I still teach downhill skiing very part time. Yeah. And, I'm so lucky where I am at my house. Oh, I'm living on the same site where I grew up, same barn, same chicken coop, same ponds. I can access our trails right away. I don't even have to get in my vehicle. I can just go onto our cross country ski trails or hiking or running, trail running. and then I, our community of friends around here are incredible. So sometimes I want to be by myself and sometimes I want to lean on somebody else. So there's always somebody that's available. Nice. Yeah. All right, Christina. We have some rapid fire questions. Oh, geez. Okay. Rapid fire. All right. You are in the hot seat now. Oh, boy. This will be fun. Okay. I better sit up a little straighter here. Okay. All right. Cross country ski or trail run, if you had to pick. Oh, come on, they're different seasons. These are rapid fire questions. okay, trail run. Ah, that's what I thought. I thought you'd say trail run. Cross country ski down Perrizo in four inches of powder, or alpine ski down the Bruce Trail in a foot of powder? Oh, gotta go Bruce with a foot of powder. Oh my gosh. Like I can already feel my feet, how good it would feel. Yeah. Yeah. I had one of those runs down Skytop this winter. Oh, wonderful. Oh, I want to go out there with you. I haven't been out there in years. Yeah. Yeah. My dad has a cool sign up there. Oh, I'd love to see that. I actually took down and rehabbed it and did some wood burning and put it back up. So we'll do it. Kiss the sky. Kiss the sky, embrace the earth. Okay, cabin for soup or a hellis beer and warm pretzel at the beer hall? With beer cheese. Yeah, you have to have the beer cheese dip. I gotta go cabin for soup. Okay. Favorite cross country trail at Trapp Family Lodge. I gotta go Slay Road. It's nobody really knows it as much because it's on the other side of the road, but Slay Road, winter or summer, it's amazing. I love it. I would pick Hairline. Ooh, that's a good one too. Okay Mike, what's yours? Skaters waltz, Oslo. All right. I love that zone. Yup. We just named six trails. I know. So much for the rapid fire. Okay. favorite trail at the mountain, Stone Mountain Resort. Chin Clip. Hands down. Mike was up there today. Love Chin Clip. And especially in the spring. Oh, it's so good. All right. Best apres ski drink, beer, glue wine, or schnapps? Oh, okay. Apres ski is beer. I do a little shot of schnapps before I do night skis. Okay. I think I've, I think I've shared some schnapps with you and Lisa. Yeah. Yeah. favorite trail run. Ooh. before the hillside slid down in Cottonbrook, there used to be a 10 mile, 12 mile loop. Anything, how about this, anything with a loop. I loved that because it was a loop. Favorite season at the lodge? Early summer. June when the tulips are up, it's not too crowded yet, not too busy, days are long, birds are out. Favorite ski mountain outside Stowe anywhere in the world? Oh, anywhere in the world. Jeez, you guys. Okay, I need to admit, I have not skied much in Austria. I'm gonna go with Aspen Highlands. Okay. Amazing mountain and last question favorite sound of music song if you have to pick one The Lonely Goatherd lovely yodeling and my dad yodels. Thanks for doing that So we're just gonna pivot a little bit and talk more about Stowe outside of the lodge How would you say you've seen Stowe change since your childhood? there's no mechanical bolt to Rusty Nail anymore. Oh, there was one of the days. But Bobby Roberts is still around. Yeah, legend that he is. Bobby K. Bobby. and Rusty, sorry, I'm just thinking about other people and Stowe. Rusty DeWeese was my bus driver when I was in elementary school. Oh, wow. Yep. I think it's definitely more, I don't want to say elitist now. Stowe is. it just, all the people that worked here lived here. And I think that's changed. People have to live maybe an hour away and that's hard. That's hard. Vale Resorts owning Stowe Mountain Resort now has a different vibe. We still have our cross country center. I'm trying to think. Oh, the ice rink. That's changed. Jackson Ice Arena was the freaking coldest place ever. Yep. Played a lot of hockey there. Played a lot of hockey there. I was full out of Montreal once and I had to get my passport checked and the guy's Stowe, Vermont. Coldest ice rink I ever spent time in. So we were known for it. But we also have a lot more mountain biking. that's a much. more to do, right? Yeah, absolutely. And to your point, we used to only sell winter ski passes. And then all of a sudden people were coming and wanting to hike on our trails in the summer. And we're what are you doing here in the summer? you don't have a summer pass. And they're can we get one? And yeah, so all the summer recreation, has gotten a lot larger. And, we're hosting a balloon festival this year. Oh, I just saw that. yes. That used to be at Stowflake. It used to be at Stowflake. Yeah, you've got plenty of good space up there. yep. I just hope they get good lift. We also have a lot of wind. But, but to bring back the old balloon festival. Which way will they head? Will they head? I don't know. Yeah, because I used to go from Snowflake and they'd go right over my house. They would come right over my yard, right? They landed in my yard once. usually west. I know. which will mean over here somewhere. Yeah. Over here. Alright, get ready for your bottle of champagne. But, yeah. I'd say summer recreation has gotten so much larger. Yeah. And we still, we have great restaurants still, which are great, which are wonderful, art galleries. there's a lot to do. what's the vibe from the guests? Do they think it's this amazing place? And how has that changed? They do. our guest house owners, some of them have been coming for, Oh, I just met a couple yesterday who bought in 1981. And so our guest house owners have been coming year after year. So it's a struggle for us to balance keeping what people love and still being relevant and current. So we've, updated our outdoor hot tub, our outdoor pool, putting in pickleball courts, trying to keep things, new, a little something new every year so that it's not okay, the same old. Yeah. but some people like that too. Change is hard sometimes. Yeah. But, but when you do it in the right way, tastefully and on brand, then it's Oh, that was a no brainer. Of course you did that. I think you've done a great job. Unbelievable job. Oh, thanks you guys. I would appreciate that. I think the mountain biking was a really big step for the resort. I'm more of a gravel biker myself, but I have definitely mountain biked out there and I feel like that was a that was a great step. My brother Sam did a lot with that. It was great. And then, and Hardy, Avery, it was, there's, those guys did a great job. Yeah. They did it right. what's your hope for Stowe in the next five to 10 years? the hot topics now are education funding, housing. I just, what I really hope because when I was in Aspen, there was a mayor and I was we need a mayor. We need somebody to set the vision. I wish we had a big. goal and then we could work towards it and take off, take little parts at a time. so I really hope that there's a goal to help the employee housing and just affordable housing and building units, like all of, where Rimrocks is and the bagel, that's all one level. that could be two levels. You could do so much. yeah. Fill in. Infill. you could do so much housing up there. Sorry, now I'm getting on my soapbox. You could do so much housing there and you wouldn't even notice the difference. Yeah, we had Kim Brown on. Oh. And he was mentioning the density piece. Yeah. you can still keep those open spaces. if there is a little more leniency on the density. Yep. And do it on the mountain road where the shuttle is. Yep. Don't do it out in the middle of nowhere where people need cars. and I do, I, okay, my big wish would be to have a bus lane up to the mountain, which probably won't happen. But in Aspen, there's such a bonus when you ride the bus because there's a specific bus lane. Yeah. So the bus just flies right by everybody else and it's always on time. Huh. Yeah, so that's just brilliant out there. Yeah, I know it seems like Colorado has much better bus Transit I was Crested Butte the bus every five minutes. Yeah, there's a bus so you feel like Park City Yeah, Breckenridge, yeah, but they don't have any Parking at the mountain either. Yeah. a little bit different. Yeah. It's a different layout. you don't want to wait and it winds up the road. It's, yeah. We don't have as much space. yeah. A little different. Oh, you guys didn't ask me trail running in Vermont or trail running in Colorado. Oh, okay. Let's hear it. And I say that because people say to me Oh, which state do you like better? And I say, you, you can't compare them. Colorado is grand and immense and, majestic. But here it's more intimate and there's a different view around every corner. they're both great. Just in different times of your life, different things fit you better. and it's green here. That's the other big difference. It is great. Yes. We have water. It is really nice not to be on the verge of dehydration all day. All right. Christina, we wrap up every episode with this question. If Stowe did not exist, where would you live? Oh boy, you guys, probably Austria, Salzburg. Yep. Yep. I love Salzburg is the right size or right outside of Salzburg. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Good choice. Awesome. Thank you so much. Thanks, Christina. That was fun. Yeah, you're welcome. Thanks so much. Thank you. Have a good one. You too. Hope you enjoyed that episode of the Octagon Podcast. Remember to like us on Instagram and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. See you next time.