A new season---the same reason

It's time to think about the upcoming ski season. In spite of the warm fall, with the exception of the October snowstorm, the trees tell me winter is coming. So does my inbox which fills daily with updates and news from all my favorite mountain resorts. The news is exciting and I eagerly read about new lifts, more snowmaking, new staff and programs. Yes, that is all good and it keeps the ski industry alive and moving forward. I feel ready for a good snowfall but mostly, I feel ready for that first run of the season. The inaugural run that ignites MY ski season. Skiing can be very social and also very private...my thoughts as I navigate my way over the snow are like a close friend and I need some time with that friend. I'm ready for the cold air in my face and the flow of my skis over the changing landscape of the hill. Another ski season with the same reason...this sport is like an old friend and we have more memories to craft. Think snow and colder weather so I can see you on the slopes.  Vicki

How do you get up the mountain?

One of my special treats at Waterville Valley is to go up to High Country for some spectacular runs.  High Country is serviced by a diesel double chairlift and yes, it is slow but the views supreme. The race teams train up there and some random people, like myself, like to ski up there. It is quiet, cold and the snow sets up a little better. The freshies and the groomed last a little longer. Don't tell anyone how sweet it is up there. So today I was sitting on that ole chairlift with my bud, Larry. We're enjoying the ride and resting the tired legs a bit. Off to our left, we see a guy walking up the hill opposite our chair. We wave and he waves back. He's walking at a good pace in snowshoes with a snowboard on his back. His rhythmic pace seems to be in tune with our chair but we realize we will reach the summit before him...but not by much. Larry and I were intrigued watching him. He kept such a steady cadence while he climbed.He blended into the scenery seamlessly.  Both of us wanted to meet him and we decided to wait until he arrived. It wasn't long before he joined us and a few others at the top of Mount Tecumseh at 4,000 plus feet. The climber went about the business of taking off his snowshoes and repacking his gear for the descent while we exchanged introductions. "We kind of felt like slugs riding the chair and watching you climb up. Way to reduce your carbon footprint," I said. He smiled and tolerated my inquisition with a friendly demeanor. We learned that "Joe", who lives in the Valley with his wife and two kids hikes up from the base to the summit every weekend--it only takes an hour and a half and then he snowboards down. " I switched to snowboarding about five years ago because skiing was bothering my knees," he shared.  A few people stop by to greet him and he tells me that they, too, hike up and ski down. Who knew? We skied off together and he said he was going to have some lunch and then snowboard in the afternoon. Joe said he stays "skiers right" while climbing meaning as skiers face downhill, he is well off to their right along the side of the trail. Because Waterville Valley is situated in the White Mountain National Forest, this is an acceptable practice although he does have a "lift ticket" attached to his jacket. Joe is what I call a mountain man. He takes extreme pleasure from the alpine environment and comes alive with activity like hiking up a four thousand foot mountain with a snowboard strapped to his back...and he is 48 years young ( I had to ask). I told him I couldn't do it and he said I could. A vote of confidence from a total stranger. Next time you sit on the chairlift, consider the other ways you might get up the hill.

A lesson learned from a snow day.

I woke up to an anticipated snow day...again. Third snow day in two weeks which is awesome now but will be miserable in June when I am at work making up said snow days. We knew it was coming. A true snow lover can smell the snow about 12 hours out. There is a sweetness in the air and a halo around the moon. After my early morning wake up to verify the day of freedom, I fell back to sleep which is very rare for me. Usually it is "eyes open, feet on the floor" for me. Not my choice, just the way I am. The added rest would certainly be beneficial. I"ve been in a little funk--don't like my hair, job is stressing me out, can't get the house picked up or the junk mail recycled---ugh---not enough energy or hours in the day. So along comes a day off...a bonus day. Oh I could go through all that mail and bag some clothes for the rummage sale. Did I mention the Christmas decorations are still in disarray in the cellar? Yeah, I could do all that...or I can play in the snow. Like a kid from the 60s playing in the snow with the smell of wet wool and cheeks so rosy they look sunburned. And I chose to play. I chose to have a day of freedom from being an adult with all the responsibilities and jobs. I chose to go back to being a kid in the snow on a snow day from school. I rolled in the snow, threw it at my dog, screamed as I rode a plastic sled down the hill and I felt happy. I took my snow day and I lived it to the fullest. Ah, a lesson learned. We need to take time to be a kid...to frolic, to laugh, to let it all go. It felt right and I will remember to do it again...whether on a snow day or not. Won't you join me?

Sharing the slopes with your kids

Through no special magic, both my children were born in October which meant they would be put on skis the first winter following their first birthday. Now really, I'll be honest, it was more about getting them used to the snow and cold and not really about making turns, yet. It has given us all great pride to be able to claim their early introduction to skiing at the age of sixteen months. Now I have two grown children who love the alpine environment like I do...one is a snowboarder and the other a skier/snowboarder. It totally doesn't matter. I feel one of my greatest accomplishments of adulthood has been to pass my love of skiing onto my kids. It certainly wasn't easy or cheap but was worth every minute of dragging kids into ski school (can I just skip today and ski with you?) and packing up all the necessary gear (yes, it is true, I forgot my daughter's parka once and arrived at Ragged Mt in need of an immediate purchase). Now I ski with my kids as friends...for a little bit because they soon leave me in their snow dust. My daughter says I am "slow and steady and winning the race...meaning still skiing while many of my age-mates have stopped. My son, the eternal ski coach, continues to encourage me to ski like I'm on the World Cup tour. I am just content to ski. It's great when we ride the lift together and chat. It's also great when we have those side by side turns and then, they're off at a speed that matches their skill. As I watch them take off ahead of me, I smile, knowing I've done my job. I slice through my series of crafted turns, humming to myself and I see them waiting a few hundred feet ahead. I push harder to reach them and I am greeted "Good job, Mom, let's go..." and it's off again. Yes, I know I have done my job.

On the Eve of Christmas Eve

Truth be told, I am a Christmas and winter fanatic. I have my own theories about this. Being born in Dixon, Illinois on Christmas Eve in 1951 guaranteed that I would love Christmas. In spite of what people think, a birthday near Christmas is wonderful...especially Christmas Eve. I have never gone to school or worked on my birthday and so far, I am always with my kids on my birthday.  The world is decorated and people are gathering with friends and family. Wow, what a deal. Yes, I have received the occasional "dual Christmas - Birthday present" and it is tough to get birthday cards when everyone is sending Christmas cards, but these are minor. I love my birthday and tomorrow is a big one...my last year in the 50s. Fine with me. I totally don't define myself by the number assigned to my " trips around the sun." Instead, I focus on what I have done, and received and experienced and am still longing to do. That is living and it is what I am doing, with gratitude for my health. And this brings me to winter. I love the cold air and the smell of winter. Anyone who knows me knows I am a true beach bum but give me a snowy winter day and I feel energized. Luckily, I was introduced to skiing at about age 12. My introduction to skiing came via my brother who got hooked on skiing through a church ski trip. Our parents were not skiers so we didn't grow up on skis like my kids did. But I liked it enough to go any chance I had, whether it was a day trip or a school trip. I took any opportunity to go skiing and even took it as a physical education class in college. Now, in my late 50s, I am proud to say I continue to love skiing. I'm no hot rod, I like a nicely carved turn I can enjoy rather than speed through. I enjoy the ride and as my daughter says, I'm slow but steady winning the race...the race being just to keep skiing. Next year, for my BIG 60 and that will be a biggie, I'll be skiing in Switzerland in Engleberg where I skied in 2002. I set this goal about five years ago and next year at this time, I'll be packing for that trip. My friends and family are all invited to join the fun. We'll get a good group rate and it is the perfect spot for a European ski trip. So, stay healthy and happy and enjoy the life that comes your way. It's just another trip around the sun and everyone should enjoy their ride. Peace to all and Merry Christmas.

Here's to a magical ski season.

It is somewhat a religious experience to take your first and last run of the season alone reflecting on your inner thoughts and private feelings. Yesterday I found myself at the top of Mount Tecumseh, aka Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, about to push off for my first run of the 2010-11 ski season. Not having met up with my friends, I would just take a run alone and find them later. That's when it occurred to me that a solo run would be the best start to my season. And so with a few thoughts in my brain and thanksgiving in my heart, I thought about two skiers whose time on the hill was cut too short...my brother who took me skiing when I was a teenager and basically set me on the course of lifelong skiing and Mitch Kaplan, a fellow ski writer and gracious intellect who was the best writer I ever knew personally. Dedicating this first run to them, I pushed off into perfectly whipped snow with no one before me, only the winter landscape. As I turned hard to the left and dipped down onto the flat of Oblivion, my eyes caught two perfect prisms of light overhead side by side. Not rainbows but two parallel matching lines of perfect color spectrum just above in the blue sky where a few white clouds danced. Ahh, of course, I thought, they knew and I knew. Here's to them, here's to me and here's to my ski season that is ahead. To quote Tiny Tim, "God Bless us everyone."  Here's to the magic in your life too wherever you find it.