Camera Do's and Don'ts

A couple days ago I took Tucker on a hike into the Wildlife Refuge.  A snow squall blew through and I shot some images attempting to capture the falling snow with a backdrop of trees.  This turned out much more difficult than I imagined.  Too slow a shutter speed and the snow appeared as streaks.  Too fast and the snow looked like popcorn hanging in the air.  I'm not real happy with the result, but here's my best attempt.

As we neared the end of our walk I came across a small stream.  Hanging above the stream were a set of waterbells.  Frozen water drops which form on sticks and twigs hanging just above a stream.  The lighting was poor and to get a decent angle I needed to lie on the bank and position my camera close to stream level.  Turns out too close.  I dipped it in the stream.  The following images were taken just before the dip.

I immediately shutdown the camera.  Removed the batteries and memory card.  As soon as I got home I placed it in a warm dry location overnight.  The next day I placed it into a plastic container along with some rice to help draw out the moisture and waited another couple days.  So far as I can tell it seems to have survived without damage.

Parenting

"What's my child doing in the beginner's area!"  This was asked by the mom of the little girl I was instructing on how to ski.  "She's better than that!  She should be up on the mountain skiing more difficult trails!"  Hannah was a delightful 11-year old, and yes, she was easily capable of skiing more difficult trails.  However the other kids assigned to my lesson, Alex and Seamus, were not ready to go beyond the beginner area...at least not yet.  I was playing the hand I was dealt the best way I knew how.  I needed to try and get the boys' skill level up before taking them up on the mountain.

I've been lucky so far this year.  This was my first (probably won't be my last) upset parent.  I've seen other instructors have to deal with this sort of situation.  More often than not it is a mom who voices displeasure, however there have been a few dads and even the occasional grandparent.  In each case it has been associated with not pushing their kid more.  Sad.

I probably challenge the kids I teach more than most of the instructors, but I do so only after I've won their trust and have a good grasp of their ability.  Push a kid too far and they'll withdraw and shutdown on you.  Loose their trust and you might as well give up.  Hannah was doing just fine in the beginner area working on her turns while I was trying to get Alex to simply make one.  The only one upset was her mom, so I shrugged it off and focused on who was really important...the kids.

Before lunchtime we were up on the mountain skiing.  Admittedly we were only skiing the easiest slopes, but all of them were gaining confidence and showing progress.  After lunch we tried a more difficult trail.  As expected Alex struggled, but by now Seamus was helping him and both boys were intent on not being shown up by Hannah.  More importantly, I had their trust.  Hannah was making some very nice smooth parallel turns.  She was relaxed and enjoying herself.

At the end of the day Hannah's dad came to pick her up.  There was no sign of mom.  Her dad asked a few questions about why she was placed in with a group that was below her ability.  The ski school director explained that he felt it was the best option available.  He could have placed her in with a more advanced group but was concerned she would have ended up in the back and probably not received as much attention.  Her dad seemed unconvinced.

I watched Hannah while all this was being discussed and she seemed nonplused.  Obviously she's heard it all before.  She seemed to shrug it off.  I listened as she walked out of the room with her dad and heard her ask, "Can we go take a run?  I want to show you what I learned." 

Go show 'em all Hannah.

 

A Week Away

This past week I forayed into, as my wife calls it, the "Real World".  At the request of a client I traveled to Houston, Texas, to do a bit of consulting.  It was  good trip (flights were on time, client was easy to work with, and work was interesting) but I have to admit, the "Real World" is becoming a strange place.

I've become accustomed to waking up in the morning, stepping outside, and not seeing a soul.  I'm used to checking on the direction of the wind, sensing if it is going to be a dry or perhaps wet (or snowy) day, and watching the valley floor below slowly brighten.

Peering out my hotel window I could see all the way across the parking lot below to the next hotel.  Stepping outside I watched more people whiz by in their cars in a minute than I'll see go by my house in Canaan in a year.

Yeah, the Real World is fine place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there...at least not right now.

The Last Day of Winter (at least for awhile)

With a thaw forecasted to occur over the next few weeks I attenuated my day on the mountain and spent a little time with my camera wandering around the woods near our home.  All of these images were taken within sight of our house.

The woods were intensely silent.  As I tromped through the knee-deep snow it crept down into my boots and stuck to my pant legs stiffening and freezing them.  I was reminded of my childhood in Vermont where I would spend hours outside playing with my dog.  Returning inside I clawed clumps of snow out of the cuffs of my pants and watched them melt on the basement floor.  If the weather forecast is true the snow outside will soon be melting as well and its magical transformation on our landscape will begin to fade.

A Day of "Rest"

Apparently my feet can handle 5 days in a row in my ski boots.  Yesterday was day 6.  As I limped my way towards the bathroom this morning I decided against a day 7.  The lack of any fresh powder and the 5 degree temperature outside helped secure my decision.  Glancing outside I noticed the western ridge of the valley starting to take on a faint glow.  Grabbing my camera and accompanied by my trusty companion, Tucker, I stumbled outside just in time to fire off a few exposures.  I find the one above particularly appealing.

Later in the day I dug out my snowshoes and Tucker and I headed down to Sand Run Lake for a little trek along its shore.  Here are a few images.

Video Post - Alyson Skiing

Here's a video of Alyson skiing down White Lightning.

Meet Alyson

Alyson is the 7-year old daughter of the director of the kid's ski program at Timberline.  She was my skiing companion for today.

Alyson likes to go fast.  Very fast.  No trail is beyond her ability.  Our second run of the day was down Off The Wall (a double black).  She fell a couple of times, but shrugged the falls off and kept going.

Her favorite trail is White Lightning.  I shot a video of her ripping down the trail which I will attempt to post.  Here's a still shot lifted from the video (note the snow flying up off her skis from behind).

Near in the end of the day shadows had crept across the trail hiding the bumps along the edge of the trail.  As she sped across the trail she strayed into the bumps and shot into the air.  Landing on the second bump both skis came off.  She came to rest on the third or forth bump.  When I caught up to her she smiled up at me and said, "How high did I go!:"

Snow and More Snow

Today was the first day in well over a week I could see across the valley or the top of the mountain.  It has been snowing almost continuously for over 6 days.  Wednesday of this past week was the best powder day I can remember at Timberline.  Knee-deep western-quality powder covered all the trails.  Out-of-bounds tree skiing was particularly spectacular.  Each subsequent morning we were met with fresh powder and the opportunity to cut first tracks.

Today the sun came out.  Still cold.  But beautiful.  Here's a shot from the top of the mountain looking back towards our home.  Our house is in the clearing just above the frost line (kind of explains why we call our house Frostline, no?)

The next few days look to be a slight warming trend (we might actually get above freezing), then a return to colder temps and (hopefully) more snow.

Those People

Canaan Valley is a recreation destination, as such people come here on vacation.  There is something about being on vacation that causes us to act differently.  We all do it.  When we're on vacation we tend to check-out a bit mentally.  Some of us become less aware.  Distracted.

This past holiday season was our first where we were residents and experienced the effects of the grand influx of vacationers; or one friend refers to them, "Those People."   

Those People don't know how to drive in snow.  Those People don't know how to control their dogs.  Those People don't seem to know where they are going.

As I reminded my friend, it is because of Those People we enjoy living here.  Those People make the ski areas and local state parks possible.  Those People cause the restaurants and quaint small shops to exist.  Those People even make it possible for us to live in the residential area we enjoy because so many of them own vacation homes.

I met one of Those People on the day after New Years at a local gas station.  I pulled in behind them while they were pumping their gas.  After the pump clicked off one of the passengers hopped out to return the nozzle and put on the gas cap.  A couple minutes later the driver climbed out and wandered into the store returning a good 5 minutes later.  By now there were 3 cars behind me, all waiting.  Half-way back to his car the driver spun around and went back to the store returning in another 5 minutes with a cup of coffee.  Now there were a half-dozen cars waiting.  Reaching his car he placed the coffee cup on the roof and then proceeded to retie his boots before getting into his car and eventually driving off.

Ah, Those People make it so nice to live here.  Especially when they leave.

A Walk in the Winter Woods

I expect the title of this posting is likely to be repeated in the future.  You can expect to see titles such as "Another Walk in the Winter Woods,"  "More Winter Woods Walks,"  Etc.  Sorry.  It's winter and I live in the woods.  Today's challenge is to determine if these shots are in color or B&W.

Meet Milly

This past week I have been blessed with the opportunity to spend time with another woman; and my wife has been fully supportive.  Meet Milly.  Milly (real name Amelia) is a 5 year old spitfire that I have been granted responsibility to teach how to ski.  

Day One was a group lesson with several other children; Milly quickly stood out as the most eager to learn (but not necessarily the most able to listen).  Day Two consisted of a smaller group (all girls) - again Miss Milly demanded (and received) the most attention.  Days Three and Four were private lessons, just Milly and me (no more competing for attention, but still demanding).  Within these four days Milly progressed from the practice area to the Bunny Hill to skiing the easiest trail down from the top to being able to follow me down a double black (most difficult) trail.

I wish I could share the video I shot of her skiing with you, but the video posting feature on this blog is not working for me - so for now you'll have to settle for a snapshot.