Testimonials

Gee, 
I enjoyed the weekend very much, and look forward to next year. You out did yourself this year and I hope you will continue to do this event. I'm seriously considering N Y E, but that depends on a few things. Once again a HUGE THANK YOU!!!! Bears on the Mountain was an excellent weekend. I attend these events for 2 reasons; (1) my husband really likes bears and (2) I am on a journey to accept all body types & dwell more on the individual personality. Bears tend to have no attitude & most are very caring and accepting men so I really appreciated the atmosphere of this group. I always meet some very genuine men & with each weekend ,I get to know the regular attendees better, which is very good. Specifically regarding the Bears on the Mountain event, I thought the staff was amazing---very helpful & totally and genuinely accepting of our group. As far as food goes, I eat for sustenance & nutrition so it didn't bother me that the food wasn't hot or particularly tasty. I know it can be difficult to present 25 or so hot meals all at once. The Golden Eagle Resort had a great pool & hot tub and a large gathering place. The private pool party was a great idea. If larger signs had been posted on entry doors, it would have been more obvious to non-event people that the pool was not available to them. Maybe the word "CLOSED" in big red letters followed by "private party" and then the hours would have worked better. The organized group activities and the free time were all appreciated. I would like to continue to attend these events because I really like the companionship of all the men. Big thanks to all who made it possible, especially to Gee !!

Hi Gee, I'm fighting back tears right now!!! If you had not reached out to me I would have never been able to be there. It's almost overwhelming how much I realized that I didn't have any place to feel I belonged and no other gay men to talk and relate to. I can't put into words how deeply this whole weekend and your coaxing me to come along means to me. I have never been treated with such love and acceptance anywhere in my life but know how grateful I am to have been included. I never saw so many welcoming new friends anywhere in my life. I really want to open the new year with you guys. I am happy that there is a plan to see ya'll again in the near future!!!! Yours, (Marvins buddy), James

The weekend was the most amazing time  I've had in a long time. The Concert, Music Companionship and being with friends were all so moving. The venue was TOP NOTCH. The staff went above and beyond to make it the best time ever for all of us.  I enjoyed this event so much. Hoping next year is as AMAZING and more people join us.

To my surprise the event was an eye opener; not what I had expected.  On a whole, the group was easy to get along with; cultural differences and age was never an issue.  Met some wonderful new friends, I hope to meet on my next visit.  Gordon Michaels was the perfect host, engaging with everyone insuring that no one was felt left out. I would encourage anyone thinking about joining this group in the near future you will not be disappointed. Your new member

I have been attending Gee's events for many years and always look forward to them. This year was a really special weekend in Stowe, VT.  I hung out with old friends and made new friends.  Gee always makes sure that everyone is having a good time. It was especially a good time because we were really lucky to stay at a lodge that had a super attentive staff to accommodate all of our needs. Not only were all the bears like family but the lodge staff felt like family too.  It's a no pressure weekend and I have made lifelong friends through these weekend events. Favorite parts of the weekend are laughing and joking with the guys, doing things together such as sitting by the fire outside, swimming in an indoor pool and laughing with the guys in the hot tub.   A biggest part of the weekend is dinner and a show put together by Gee and some of his very talented friends who have the most incredible singing voices.   It is such a treat for me…….I look forward to next year's bears event.

Hello Gee, First of all thank you so much for all the effort you put into making this weekend possible, I want you to know that I just loved the show, such talent and so professional, it has been awhile since I have seen live theater/music and did not realize how much I had missed it. Gee as you know this was my first time attending your event in the 12 years you have had it, yes I came with friends and was feeling comfortable, but I was blown away by the way the attendees were all so very friendly and welcoming.  I had such a great relaxing weekend where I could just be myself around like men.  I did not try to hold in my belly once all weekend, very freeing,  The private pool party was also very freeing for me, I was not shy about taking off my shirt.  The show was so professional and fun, music I knew!  Thanks for taking the time in making these weekend possible. Big Bear Hugs;

Once again, another great Bears4music weekend. This time in Stowe Vermont. Great location, great group of guys, great food and great entertainment. Who could ask for more? Gordon goes all out to plan every detail flawlessly. From the great mix of fun guys hand-picked to attend, to the amazing talented musicians who gave us their best in a really nice resort with great food and an amazing staff who bent over backwards to make our stay memorable. A shout out to the Golden Eagle Resort for such an amazing stay. The guest rooms were clean and the beds comfortable. The Conference center and spa provided the perfect venue for the meet-n-greet, the pool party and the onesie movie and pizza party. So many great memories of this weekend will be shared by all who attended. Everyone was made to feel welcome. Gordon has cultivated a loyal following of attendees who know how to make newcomers feel welcome. And the always successful mandatory game session at the meet-n-greet breaks the ice in a unique and fun way.  By the end of the weekend, I may not have met or spoke to everyone but every time I go, I do get to know more new friends. And the food!   Wow.  The Golden Eagle descended on the meet-n-greet with a appetizer spread fit for a room full of hungry bears. The breakfasts were amazing.  Those blueberry pancakes with lemon curd was out of this world. The crab cake benedict was a crowd favorite and did not disappoint me either. And I have very high standards for crab cake benedicts.  Lol. And a great shout out to Shawn for keeping us all well hydrated all weekend.  It was so nice to have a professional bartender and it can’t be easy to keep a roomful of bears with drinks in their paws.

Hey Gee, I think the venue this year was great.  It was definitely helpful to have the Golden Eagle Resort staff to help cater to us.  Things in walking distance made it a lot easier as well.  It was great to see old friends and make new ones.  We would definitely do it again next year. Some things to consider for next year: I feel like a longer massage would be better. Game night was tough for us because it was definitely hard to hear when giving clues for celebrity taboo. I’d either not seat people so close to each other or leverage additional rooms. Like Jenna could be in the game room and the blocks could be set up on the pool table.  Also we could get more games like “heads up”, or something which may be a little easier for people like me who’s not a walking IMDB and as old as others. Movie night was fun and I think the PJs was relaxing.  I would suggest maybe throwing out ideas for movies and have a majority vote on what to see.  Other than that, everything else was amazing.  Thanks again for putting the time and effort into organizing this.  Without this gathering, I wouldn’t have met a great group of guys. Looking forward to next year as well.

Gee, I enjoyed the week end very much, and look forward to next year. You out did yourself this year and I hope you will continue to do this event. I'm seriously considering N Y E, but that depends on a few things. Once again a HUGE THANK YOU!!!!

Hi Gee, I had a great weekend!  Thank you for running it.  It's been a busy year for me, so to be able to get away and just unwind with other men was what I needed.  And I am already looking forward to next year.  This is the third weekend event I've been to of yours, and it seems to get easier to meeting new faces that join or whom I haven't met yet.  I guess my only critique of it all was that I found my meal Saturday night to be a bit on the bland side.  The performances were great!  Please send my thanks to everyone involved, as well as Shawn and Scott for their involvement too.