For them and the members of the other half-dozen ski clubs in the Washington area, the camaraderie of heading off with a group for a day or weekend on the slopes can't be beat. Snow Searcher Marcia Shepherd, of Upper Marlboro, Md., says joining a ski club gives her a sense of connection, even at the top of a towering slope. Going with a large group . . . Club members tie yellow strips of nylon to their poles so they can make out familiar faces beneath the layers of clothing and goggles. The Snow Searchers, composed chiefly of employees of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory on Overlook Avenue SW, plans several trips each season.
Membership is open to all.
The group has 160 members. It is a tightly knit bunch. A Snow Searchers couple got married on a trip to Aspen, Colo., three years ago while group members toasted them on their matrimonial journey. Some jaunts, such as recent treks to Italy, France and Austria, involve a good deal of travel. Beginners on this trip enjoy free lifts, rentals and lessons, courtesy of Snow Searchers.