Now that the snowy season is in full swing, discussion about AHS’s annual Ski Bus is necessary, as the program begins Saturday the 9th, through the Mount Baker Winter Ride Program.

The Ski Bus travels up to Mount Baker each Saturday, meeting in the Stanwood High School parking lot and will run anywhere from 6-8 weeks, officially ending March 27th.  All abilities and ages ranging from 6th grade to 12th grade are welcomed.  In using the Winter Ride Program, participants can save up to $40 off regular season pass pricing.

Ms. Chappel, teacher here at AHS and leader of the Arlington division of the Winter Ride Program, enthusiastically described, “It’s really fun to be up in the mountains.  Baker is so cool for us, and they have a ton of snow right now.”  She continued to explain, “If you have never skied or snowboarded before, it’s great to get introduced with cheap lessons through the program.  By the end of the 8 weeks, you can go anywhere you want.”  Chappel is calling for more participants, especially girls, as the male attendance has frequently been higher in the past.

Junior Wren Pullig, a participant of the Ski Bus in the past, recommends the program to winter outdoorsmen of any skill level, even though he will not be partaking in the Winter Ride Program this year.  In participating, he stated, “The best things about the Ski Bus are getting to go up more times, and the program saves you money.”  He added that he has had some great experiences with the program and the mountain.

With the amount of snow the mountains have received already this year, the outlook of this year’s Ski Bus experience seems to look good.  Whether you are a curious newbie or an avid veteran, the Ski Bus is a welcoming option.  If you are interested find Ms. Chappel during school or you can visit the program website, winterride.mtbaker.us, for details on prices, policies, lesson information, and other important items.