The Over 50 Rule

I love to ski moguls.  I can't ski them like I could when I was 18, but I can still manage a decent showing on occasion.  With more than 40 days of skiing under my belt for this season - and what a season it has been - my form in a mogul field is better than it has been in years.  Actually, decades.  That is until yesterday.

After a day of teaching I headed up on the mountain for a few mogul runs before heading home.  One of the better mogul slopes runs under the chair lift.  I was having a good run - until my binding released.  As I pressed in on the backside of a large mogul the rear binding on my left ski pre-released sending me head first down the trail.  I took the full force of the fall on my right shoulder.  

Getting to my feet I knew I was hurt, but I snapped on my ski and managed to complete the run.  Reaching the bottom I changed - limped to the car - and came home to apply a liberal amount of ice (both to my shoulder and to a glass containing gin).  I skipped skiing today.  My shoulder still hurts, but I'm confident it's nothing too serious.  I may take tomorrow off as well.  But what about the Over 50 Rule?

Ski binding manufacturers provide specific guidelines to technicians for setting release tension.  Binding tension is set as a function of the skier's weight, boot size, skiing ability, and AGE.  The guideline reads, "If the person is over 50 reduce the tension to the next lowest setting."  Damn!  I'm convinced this is why my binding pre-released.  The rule was probably written by some corporate liability lawyer.  I cranked up the tension.  

Advil, gin, and ice.  It does a body good.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

"Would you be interested in a winter camping trip?"   I received this request in a Dec. 16th email from my friend Charlie.  The proposal was for 3 nights of camping over President's Day weekend.  As the time for this trip neared I began to think better of spending 3 days (and nights) in the dead of winter camping; especially given we have 3 feet of snow on the ground.  With a little encouragement the trip was reduced to 2 nights.  We were already on Plan B and the trip hadn't even started.

Another friend, Hunter, joined the escapade.  With packs loaded the 3 of us, plus my trusty sidekick Tucker, departed at noon on Saturday.  Charlie, ever the experimentalist, decided on cross-country skis rather than snowshoes and to pull his gear in a sled rather than lug a pack.  Good idea.  Bad execution.  The sled broke down within a half mile.  A trail repair was effected, only to have it breakdown again after another half mile.  After 2 and 1/2 hours we were only one and a half miles in towards our intended destination of about four miles away.  Time for Plan C.  With daylight soon to fade we located a source

 of water and camped where we were.

First order of business was to set up a tarp for the common area which would be used for cooking.  Done. Then a fire pit was dug in the snow and a fire started.  Done.  Next more pits were dug and tents erected.  Done.  As the last vestiges of daylight faded and it began to snow we cooked our dinner of reconstituted freeze-dried meals and grilled steaks.  As evening fully descended and faced with a long cold night ahead Charlie confessed, "This just isn't as much fun as it used to be."  Charlie wasn't feeling well.  Even with a change into dry warm clothes he could not get himself warm.  Time for Plan D.  Charlie, Tucker, and I hiked back out in the dark leaving Hunter on his own.

Rather than face a midnight return hike on my own I bedded down at home and headed back with the first light (and a thermos of coffee) to join Hunter.  Hunter and I did an extended day hike.  Charlie rejoined us in the early afternoon and we moved on to Plan E.  Pack up and leave. 

Summary of Trip:

-  Distance traveled:  3 miles round trip with gear.  10 miles total.

-  Number of tents transported: 2

-  Number of tents used: 1

-  Number of sleeping bags transported: 3

-  Number of sleeping bags used: 1

-  Number of stoves transported: 2

-  Number of stoves used: 1

-  Number of meals transported:  18

-  Number of meals consumed:  6

-  Weight of gear transported:  Approx. 180 pounds

-  Amount of gear actually used:  Approx.  60 pounds

The good news.  We actually had a great time and I managed to snag a couple nice shots.

My Valentine

She's my compass.

My companion.

My partner.

My life.

It never ceases to amaze me when I asked her to marry me over 35 years ago she said, "Yes."  Whether it was poor judgement on her part or my unyielding charm (yeah, I know...but it's my blog) I remain eternally grateful.

To many (most?) our residence on the side of a mountain, currently buried in snow, removed from many common conveniences might seem strange.  Perhaps it is.  But I can't imagine a better existence.

I certainly can't imagine being here without her.

Thanks Deb, for everything.

A Winter to Remember

We received about 24 inches of very dense snow last weekend.  Not wet snow.  Dense fine grainy snow.  This was followed by one bright and sunny day and then...more snow.  Another 8 inches of soft powder last night and a bit more on the way tonight.

Skiing has been outrageously good.  Except for my childhood memories in Vermont, I can't recall a better winter for snow.

Before heading out to ski today I walked the road in front of our house and shot a few quick images.  Tucker seems to have a knack at dominating the scene.  He climbs the snowbanks and surveys his snowy kingdom.

 

A 'Most Difficult' Day

This past weekend was a busy one at the ski area due to a number of counties in neighboring Virginia being on a 4-day school holiday.  I had a collection of kids to teach each day.  Friday was the most challenging with 2 boys and 3 girls; 4 of them having never been on skis before.  Today was the other end of the spectrum.  Two girls, Allison and Leila.  

Alli and Leila were in my group with other kids on Saturday and Sunday, but today it was just the two of them and we were able to ski just about anywhere.  This is a picture taken just before they went down their first Black Diamond run...ever.  I wish I had a picture of Alli's face when we eased over the edge on the steepest part of the trail.  Her jaw literally dropped.  "That's steep!" she said.

"Yes it is," I said, "but not if you go across the trail instead of straight down.  Follow me."  That's all it took.  The two of them stayed in my tracks all the way to the bottom without so much as one slipped ski edge.  Here they are finishing the run down the blue section of the trail.

Alli and Leila

At the end of the day Leila's mom asked me, "Is this all you do?  Teach skiing?"  I explained that was about it these days.  "Retired," I explained.  "Nice," she replied.   I gave them a copy of the video.  Collected my tip (two hugs - one each from Alli and Leila), and went home to watch the sun set below the ridge.  Another 'Most Difficult' day complete.