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.