Cornell alum helps students deal with a snowy setback

January 29, 2024

When a group of Cornellians found themselves in a tough spot, they learned all about the power of the Cornell community.

“Without the connection and support from our fellow Rams, our situation definitely would’ve been a lot different and more stressful,” said Cornell junior and Vice President of the Ski and Snowboarding Club Julia Walker. 

Pictured left to right: Cornell Campus Safety Site Supervisor Jeff Welch, Jody Stewart, Rainey Brown, and Retired Cornell Campus Safety Director Mark Winder.
Pictured left to right: Cornell Campus Safety Site Supervisor Jeff Welch, Jody Stewart, Rainey Brown ’90, and Retired Cornell Campus Safety Director Mark Winder.

It all started when the Cornell Ski and Snowboard Club arrived in Winter Park, Colorado. At the end of a long train ride on Jan. 9, they were ready to relax and hit the slopes. The group of 19 students and two chaperones (retired Cornell Campus Safety Director Mark Winder and Cornell Campus Safety Site Supervisor Jeff Welch) had three great days of skiing, but when it was time to get back on the train to head back to Iowa on Jan. 12–everything came to a stop.

“It was the perfect winter storm,” Winder said. “There was an avalanche and a train derailment that prevented the train from running and getting us back to Iowa.”

They were stuck with no plans for where to stay or how to get back to Iowa.

Photo shows several students bundled up and shoveling several inches of snow.
Students helped shovel the driveways of the homes where they were staying while the winter storm rolled through.

Luckily, they already knew a Cornellian in the area. Rainey Brown ’90 and long-time Mount Vernon resident Jody Stewart moved to Winter Park a couple of years ago. They had already helped the team get their gear from the train to their cabin when they first arrived and said, “If you need anything else, let us know.”

So the group knew exactly who to call when they were stuck. Rainey and Jody opened their home to the students and found two neighbors who were willing to do the same. 

“Rainey, Jody, and their neighbors cooked us food, allowed us to wash our clothing, and just gave us a sense of security in our time of confusion and slight chaos,” Walker said. “They even gave everyone a small allowance ($30 each) to use on the train ride home since food on the train is expensive and we were going to spend at least 16 hours on it. And, they provided a space for us to bond in a relaxing environment.” 

Students and a chaperone play a game at a table.
The club enjoyed playing games and getting to know one another as they waited for word they could travel back to Iowa.

The club ended up missing the first three days of spring semester on campus. Once the trains started running again, they re-booked their tickets and arrived on campus on Jan. 17, the evening of the third day of the block.

Welch says the students worked together so they could attend classes on shared laptops and helped each other with homework. 

“I would hear them say, ‘What class do you have?’ ‘I have stats.’ ‘I took that last year and I can help you,’” Welch said. “They leaned into one another and knew if they just said something that someone would help them.”

When they did finally get back to campus, they felt the truth behind the saying, “There’s no place like home.”

“The Cornell community here on campus and in Colorado was there for us,” Winder said. “Despite the tough situation–the Ramily came together. It’s a trip we’ll never forget–that’s for sure!”

The Cornell Skiing and Snowboarding Club members pose for a photo in Mount Pleasant, Iowa as they depart for Colorado.
The Cornell Skiing and Snowboarding Club in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, as they depart for Colorado.

All photos courtesy of Mark Winder.