The 2023 SRSFL three-day cross-country ski event will be held in Truckee, CA Saturday, March 4, 2023–Monday March 6, 2023. This year all of our application forms are online forms! There is nothing to download. Simply go to our Skier, Guide or Volunteer Webpages on this website, read the information on the page, click on application link, read the application carefully, fill it in fully, answering all questions and click on “Submit.”
Sharon Guiding Mike Bitner
Sharon Fong, a long time accomplished guide for Sierra Regional Ski for Light, suffered a tragic accident and passed away in the early afternoon on Friday 10/7/2022, a week before her 65th birthday. She was a registered organ donor and was able to save the lives of two other people with her passing. She was an amazing partner, mother, grandmother and ski guide. We will miss her tremendously. Throughout her life she was an accomplished athlete, world traveler, and avid outdoor enthusiast. She loved playing with her grandkids, running with her dogs, backpacking, skiing and guiding for Ski for Light. Sharon’s passing will be a huge loss for Ski for Light and an almost unbearable one for her family.
I write this with sadness and thanks for all she contributed to our organization!
If you send me remembrances of Sharon from her Ski for Light, I will add them to this post.
Here is Sharlene Wills:
I was sitting at a table, one day, during an SRSFL event, when a voice
said, cheerfully, “Hi Sharlene, this is Sharon Fong. Do you remember
me?” Of course I remembered her and was absolutely thrilled to find
out that she was a guide for SRSFL. Sharon had guided me in running
races before (I believe one of them was the Tahoe Marathon) and she
had also trained with me, as well. Even though she was much faster
than I, she graciously slowed her running pace to match mine. And
then, most exciting of all, she guided me at an SRSFL event, and, for
only the second time in all my years at this winter fun-filled
weekend, I skied (more or less) down to the Euer Valley and we spent
the whole day there! Sharon was a wonderful person — gracious, kind
and giving, and I know we who had the pleasure of knowing her, even a
little bit, are going to miss her! My deepest sympathy to her family.
The hiking weekend was tremendously successful — from lovely trails, to delicious food, but most of all to wonderful camaraderie and the building of friendships! After coming back from a 2 year Covid induced halt of all activities it was great to be together in the mountains again!
The ” Monte Rowell Memorial Hiking Weekend” will be held in Truckee, CA Saturday, June 11 through Monday, June 13, 2022. It will be held in Truckee with lodging available at the Truckee Best Western. For the VIP Hiker application and information go to the VIP Hiker page. A Hiker Guide Application is posted on the Guide Page
Last night our Ski for Light Board made a difficult decision and cancelled our Tom Gorin Memorial 3 Day Event scheduled for February 26th thru 28th. The Sierra Sun article, linked below, from Friday, February 26th was certainly a factor in deciding to cancel. Nevada County is currently experiencing an unprecedented covid surge that has not yet peaked. We are saddened, but have high hopes for our 3 Day Event to happen next winter! Hopefully covid will no longer be an issue next year. Keep checking this website, as their is also the possibility we may be able to have a summer hiking event!
Monte died peacefully this morning at 1:35 am, at the wonderful age of 95. or, as Betsy said to me, he kayaked off to Heaven. Monte was one of the four cornerstones of SRSFL, contributing so much more to its growth than most of us could possibly know. Whatever
Betsy and SRSFL needed, he was there — driving, guiding, taking pictures, serving as Board treasurer, proofreading, being Betsy’s sounding board, making coffee for all the overnight folks who came up on the train for SRSFL events and so much more. Though quiet and unassuming, he was quite the power-house behind the scene, and had a way of saying what needed to be said at just the right moment.
There will be more details about a celebration or memorial at a later
date. For the moment, we send love and condolences to Betsy, who
cared so lovingly for him these last years. And we thank you, Monte, for all the hugs and memories, for leaving your corner of the world better than you found it, for all you did
for SRSFL, and for a life well-lived. Rest in Peace, dear Monte!
Thank you Vickie for this beautiful tribute!
You may leave your tributes to Monte in the comments below. If comments are hacked I may have to turn them off.
Last night our board made the difficult decision to cancel our January 22nd Day Trip. With the current rise in covid cases we feel it would be irresponsible to hold the event on the 22nd. We are still hoping to hold our Tom Gorin Memorial 3 Day event on February 26th to 28th. If you are planning to ski or guide, and haven’t turned in your application yet, please do so now. A final decision on the 3 Day Event will be made on January 31st and will be dependent on covid numbers turning around. Watch this website for updates!
Think snow!! Our 2022 30th Anniversary Tom Gorin Memorial Three Day Event will be held on February 26-28, 2022 at Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center, 15275 Alder Creek Road, Truckee, CA 96161. Thanks to generous donations in Tom’s memory we are able to offer greatly subsidized rates for the event. See skier and guide pages for more information and applications.
Sierra Regional Ski for Light is overwhelmingly thankful for the more than generous donation from the Sacramento Turn Verein Actives and for their past support over several years!
Recently Tom lost his fight with cancer and left us way to soon! He was a great guide and board member at Sierra Regional Ski for Light. Over the past few years he put in countless hours arranging for our dinners during our Three Day Events. He was always willing to guide anyone I would ask him to. He was warm, positive and funny. Ski for Light will not be the same without him!
If you wish to donate to us in Tom’s memory send your donations to:
SRSFL
c/o Jean Snuggs
609 42nd Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
Six year old Berkeley masters skiing.