The Winter Wonder Games:
A Frosted Festival for Misfits

With Legendary Outdoor Guide Will Soter

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Come and join in on a most excellent winter fest, led by our friend the magical Will Soter, who knows the Catskills with a rich and delightful intimacy. We’ll compete with fire and fire water, play in the snow, explore Spillian’s forests, feast on a dinner worthy of the forest king, and wind up the evening with bonfires and s’mores in Spillian’s meadow.

Space is limited, so make your reservations early!

The Winter Wonder Games

1 to 4 PM: Savor the delights of frost and fire (and a little mostly-friendly competition) on Spillian’s mountain for the afternoon. 

• Will’s Winter Fire Challenge: A relay race to build the best fire and make hot chocolate over open flame in our Meadow.  Winners can spike yours! 
• A Foraging Wander: Explore the trails with Will, seeking signs of winter activities and foraging for pine for simple syrup (more on that later). Depending on snow cover, we’ll either hike in boots or snow shoes.
• Slip Sliding Away: If the snow gods bless us well, sled Spillian’s As You Wish hill and avoid the pond for special points!
• Snow Sweets: Make your own maple syrup candies in the ice, featuring the famous flavored maple syrups from our friends at Tree Juice.
• Ice Bowling in the Bocce Court: This promises to be an olympic-worthy event.

The bonfire will be blazing and we’ll have hot drinks (straight and laced) available at the Bar Pavilion in the Meadow to keep blood in your toes.

The Spillian Permission Slip
We only have two basic rules at Spillian: 1) there is no inherent dignity and 2) there are no calories. As such, you’re invited  to unfold as far into a snow day as you like, whatever that means to you. Feel like hanging by the inside fire, sipping Spillian’s new herbal Cat’s Love Tea or nursing a whiskey? Or hiding under the covers in your room and reading the book you’ve been yearning to get to? We’ll give you your very own permission slip so you can formally grant yourself the freedom to do exactly what you’d like for the afternoon.

5 – 7 PM: The Winter Cocktail Contest
Learn to make pine simple syrup from the pine foraged this afternoon, and channel your inner mixologist at the winter cocktail contest. We’ll have an array of ingredients awaiting you, from local spirits to mixers and garnishes and a smoker. Here’s your chance to mix the next great Spillian cocktail, with naming rights!

7 PM: A Forest Feast from Chef Christian Van Etten

Salad
Whole slice sage-thyme roasted roasted butternut squash with burrata and vegan gluten free romesco, accompanied by a lightly tossed lemon  pepper vinaigrette arugula salad
tossed with balsamic glazed pine nuts (VG no burrata)

Vegivore (VG)
vegan sausage with a sun dried tomato, cherry pepper, rehydrated cherry and slow roasted garlic puree, served with lemon pepper broccolini, and  a brown rice and quinoa, and roasted sweet potato pilaf 

Carnivore
pan-seared duck breast, red currant thyme and brandy sauce,  glazed parsnips, rutabaga  and a creamy marscapone polenta

9 PM: Meadow Bonfire and S’Mores
Discover a Midwinter Night’s Dream in Spillian’s Meadow, all lit up with lights against the pines and snow, a boisterous bonfire, and s’mores. Because they’re necessary.

Pricing

The Cocktail Contest, Dinner & Bonfire: $95 per person
Join us for the cocktail contest, supper, and night bonfire. Cocktails and contest begin at 5 PM, dinner at 7 PM. Price includes dinner, cocktail contest makings and the bonfire. Additional cash bar, tax, and gratuities not included.

The Winter Wonder Games, Cocktail Contest, Dinner & Bonfire: $125 per person
Join us for the Winter Wonder Games, cocktail contest, supper, and evening bonfire. Games begin at 1 PM. Price includes all activities and supplies for the games, dinner, cocktail contest makings and the bonfire.Cash bar, tax, and gratuities not included.

The Full Winter Wonder Games: All of the Offerings Plus an Overnight Stay: $395 per couple
Make it a getaway! The Full Winter Wonder Games includes Price includes all activities and supplies for the games, dinner, cocktail contest makings for a drink and the bonfire. plus an overnight stay for two with a light breakfast featuring our house-made bagels and turnovers on Sunday morning.  Cash bar, tax, and gratuities not included. Click here to learn more about our splendid guest rooms! Check in at Noon on Saturday, check out at 11 AM on Sunday.

About Will Soter

Will Soter is a NYSDEC Licensed Guide; he started his professional guiding caterer in 2011 when he cofounded Upstate Adventure Guides, a Catskills based adventure company. Recently Will has start a concierge adventure travel company offering custom tailored adventures. Will calls upon his knowledge and connections in the industry to provide a wide array of options that span North America and Europe. Will enjoys sharing his love, and knowledge of the outdoors. He holds certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Responder.  He is also trained as Leave No Trace Master Educator, and a Water Safety Instructor. 

Will is currently involved in several industry organizations working on efforts such as NYSOGA’s effort to update the current Guide licensing requirements and  licensing exam. He is also participating in a collaborative effort to evaluate the viability of trail expansions, and the possible construction of new trails in New York. 

Will previously worked as the Director of the Catskill Conservation Corps, leading crews that built lean-tos, and trail structures.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the Catskill Mountain Club, and served as President of the New York Outdoor Guide Association (NYSOGA). He was employed by the NY/NJ Trail Conference, managing Catskill Trail Maintainers, and the Catskill Conservation Corp, which provided recruitment, and training services for various volunteer stewardship organizations in the Catskill region. 

Through all of his work, Will strives to help others find a deep, and meaningful connection to the world outdoors and works to open opportunities for others to learn the skills to enjoy safe and memorable adventures in the outdoors.

(And he is a complete delight!)