Another Season Passes

And thus, another season passes. And honestly? I'm not sorry to see it go!

It was certainly my most busy winter yet. I enjoy the flurry of activity through the winter months, but working three jobs and only having one day (maybe) off a week is taxing after a time! All the same, I loved the addition of working for not one, but two mountains this year for ski patrol.

The difference in terrain between the two mountains was a blast to ski - especially on the days when I'd work day shift on one mountain and then zip over to the second for night shift. (I'm officially a pro at driving with my ski boots on!) Canaan's trails are certainly more "beginner-friendly": wide, sloping, always groomed. Timberline offers more advanced terrain: steeper, narrower, and more tree skiing. Each have their merits; I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to ski both so often.

While fortunately not as arctic cold as last winter, we also missed out on the amounts of snow we had the previous winter. This year, all of the snow seemed to fall in February - except for the rogue storm in November. From the very tail end of January through February, if we got precipitation, it was in the form of snow. I didn't see the ground for weeks and forgot what a dry, clear road was like! Driving on snow covered roads became second-hand.

All of the February snow and cold was GREAT for building an absolutely amazing base of snow,
however. I did more tree skiing this year than I've ever done as a result. Superb!

I also got out and about on my XC skis more this year than I have in a long while. I always wonder why I don't do it more, but when you consider my work schedule, it becomes quite obvious. All the same, I enjoyed the few times I was out on my "skinnies" this year. I especially enjoyed the ski hash I was fortunate to be invited to in February! Definitely a highlight of the winter.

Spring is doing its damndest to emerge now; I'm so very happy to see green shoots of grass emerging and to hear the birds and frogs singing again. Winter is full of skiing and fun, but it is not a very colorful season and is quiet in comparison to the other months when nature abounds. I'll miss skiing, but I'm looking forward to climbing and riding!

Winter Blog Hop

This winter has been a tough one for equestrians. We have seen torrential rains, deep mud, unending snow, bitter winds and record lows. Words like "The Pineapple Express", "The Siberian Express", "Polar Vortex" and "El Nino" have meant less riding time and more time staring out the window at the weather. This winter has left barns devastated by collapsing roofs, trucks stranded in hub deep mud and frostbitten fingers and toes. All of this has led to our first blog hop. Thee Ashke and Wait for the Jump have teamed up to ask:

1. What has been the worst (and/or best?) of this winter so far?
2. What is the worst storm/winter you've ever experienced? Did you dig your way out of your house through feet of snow after an epic blizzard? Did you survive a tornado? Have you lived through a hurricane? Tell us!
3. What is the best winter you've ever had? What made it so special?


Worst of this winter
The worst of the winter has been being completely plowed OUT of my home. When my 4WD 4Runner with exceptional ground clearance and kickass winter snow tires is unable to reach my home due to a wall of snow, you know it's bad. I was only unable to get home for 2 days, but it wasn't awesome.

The same weekend, I also was not particularly fond of having to be out working and functioning in -15°F temps that were really -55°F to -70°F with the windchill. My snot froze in. my. nose. I had SO many layers on and it simply wasn't enough when skiing down a slope and experiencing the wind in my face full force. Eegads.


Best of this winter
Definitely all of the skiing I've been able to do. I'm at nearly 30 days skied and still have a month plus left of skiing/working. Working two resorts this year has been fabulous. The dynamic of the people between both mountains has been so much fun. I really, truly have two families - my blood family and my patrol family. When you work with a group of people like these in this type of environment, you can't help but get close. It's so outstanding.

The man angel salute

Worst winter storm
Frankenstorm/Super Storm Sandy hands down has been one of the worst snow storms we've experienced. While the coast had wicked tropical storm/hurricane weather that sucked, we got over three feet of heavy wet snow. Main two-lane highways were closed for a week or more in places. We were lucky and only were without power for a few days (and had a fireplace and gas stove/oven), but many were without for longer.

Grocery stores knew they would lose their refrigerated goods due to loss of electric and did huge community feeds as a result. People came together and brought grills to the stores so they could cook the food and serve the town.

The snow was so heavy that plows couldn't push it. We had to use heavy equipment. Up in Canaan Valley, folks were having to ski in - ski out of their houses just to go anywhere. The resorts ended up using the snow cats (large machines that are used to groom the ski slopes and move snow about) to help plow out key services and help to get power restored to the valley. I knew people who were without power (IN WINTER) for over a month.

In Elkins, we fared better than most. My mom and I had to hand shovel that heavy wet snow off our entire driveway though due to the plows being unable (transmissions were dying in the vehicles of those who tried). Shoveling a 500+ foot driveway by hand when the snow is that plentiful and that heavy was an incredible workout. Mom and I managed though. Super thankful we were fit and able enough to conquer such a feat - we'd have been stuck home for days otherwise!

A tree collapsing (center frame) due to the weight of the snow

Best winter 
All the winters since I have been on ski patrol have been amazing. I really cannot pick one. In my mind they all blur together in a flurry of incredible memories of amazing moments with outstanding people. The skiing I've accomplished since joining patrol has been unlike anything I ever imagined I'd do. I learn more all the time.

While patrol is sometimes hard work, it is so rewarding. The friendships and relationships I have as a result of it are some of the richest I've had in my life.

The experiences I've had with patrol and the people I've come to know as a second family through it have made winter a far more bearable season than it once was. Seasonal depression issues I'd be dealing with from a result of the weather are no longer a problem for me. When you've got a winter sport and a seasonal job that depends upon harsh weather, you become more eager for it to occur. And when it does occur, it isn't so hard to deal with because you're able to get out and enjoy it. Winter means a huge continual release of good endorphins for me. I build fitness more than I tend to at any other time of year, too.

Sun, Snow, and Skiing

We got snow. And then some more. And then some more. And even more is expected. It's bottomless. It's awesome. And despite below zero temps and windchills, the skiing is the best it has been all year. I've been front country, side country, and back country, alpine and nordic, heavy and light gear over the last few days. My front yard currently has a 3½ foot drift in it that promises to reach 4 feet if things continue!

My Thursday and Friday went just about exactly as I'd described them in my last post. Saturday night it hammered down the snow in a wicked way starting about 4p. It put down 6" in 3 hours time, the winds whipped, and chaos reigned. I was pretty happy to not have to drive 35 miles over five mountains to get back home! Temperatures plummeted to well below zero, the "real feel" dropping below -40°F due to wicked winds. Yet despite it all, the sun was shining Sunday.

So, because I'm crazy - a fact that shouldn't be lost on long-time readers - I skied in the bitter cold. Front country and side country at one of the mountains I work at for a few hours, and then we spurred off through the woods into some backcountry.

It. Was. Fabulous. I finally got to ski Bald Knob as I've wanted to do for years - so totally worth it. But what was better? Bombing down through some backcountry with my downhill gear on trails 5' to 25' in width - the widest of which didn't occur until the very end and only for a couple hundred yards. Zipping through the woods, dropping knees and flying past surprised nordic skiers on light gear was stellar!

At the bottom, a perma-grin adorned my face. The ski didn't cease at the bottom of just any hill, oh no. It ceased at Whitegrass - a nordic ski phenomena of the east. Through the doors of the barn-esque building, you'll find not only a rental and gear shop, but some of the greatest food around. And beer. I indulged on some good brews and food before scoring a quasi-hitchhiked ride back to my car with one of the owner's sons. What. A. Day.

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And for inquiring minds, the horses are well; they're happily enjoying their time off during this arctic front of chaos. My time is so focused toward skiing, but it is okay - working the horses in such bitter cold isn't ideal. I am so very hesitant to provide an opportunity for them to get over-worked and sweaty right now due to the extreme winds and temperatures. It was -40°F and below the other night with the winds; whiteout blizzard conditions. Despite being inside the barn, those temps are nothing to bat an eye at! I will ride when I can, but the season dictates skiing right now, so I'm gonna get it while it's good!

Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Hither, thither, far and yonder. Life has been an utter whirlwind this past week.

I've slept in my own bed once in this time, the rest has been spent elsewhere between Canaan Valley and Shepherdstown for my multitude of jobs and trainings for said jobs. I've experienced a wide spectrum of emotion as a result of so much activity, but ultimately, my morale is high and my smile is wide.

Last Thursday was a flurry of controlled chaos at my office. A meeting and some critical upcoming deadlines had me scrambling all day. I departed at 2p for Kenai's vet appointment which turned into two hours of tumultuous emotions, x-rays telling of an injury my vet has never seen in her many years, and three prescription drugs. Kenai is okay, though he'll be living in the slow lane for a time. 

From the vet I wound my way through town to the barn to meet my new lesson student and several generations of her family for her second lesson. The joy and excitement in her eyes and evident in her smile began to turn my crazy day right around. The raw emotion of a child is such a contagious thing!

I whisked out of town after my lesson, heading to the Valley for a long-awaited concert. I stopped briefly by a friend's house to drop Kenai off before we headed to meet another friend for dinner prior to the sold out show. Good conversation, great company, and some utterly outstanding music (not absent of a few yummy beers) turned my day around for good. Dancing, laughing, and whirling with wonderful people is the best kind of medicine. 

Friday was a day of ski patrol between two mountains; day shift on one, a short 5 minute drive with my ski boots on, then night shift at the other. I'd plans for a lazy morning followed by grand adventure the next day, but was shanghai'd in the parking lot upon my departure from the second mountain and talked into skiing for a few hours the following morning. It seemed that word of my negative experience with a ski clinic weeks prior had gotten around to some key ears who wanted to do right by me. I don't know what I've done to earn the friendships and respect from others on our patrol, but wow. Just wow. These folks continue to be some of my most favorite. I'm fortunate to have such role models to mentor me in my quest to be a better human.

And so I rolled out of bed a bit grumbly the next morning and hopped on my skis for a few hours with this new instructor. Jay was a breath of fresh air for me compared to my prior experience. He put my mental game back where it needed to be, introduced me to some new tools, and helped push me forward in the direction I needed to go with my skiing. How outstanding. I was so very happy I'd sacrificed my morning to make time for this experience. 

After two hours of mental reset and work on my ski skills, I shook Jay's hand and genuinely thanked him, a big smile on my face before I whisked away to a second grand adventure. You see, the sun was high, the skies were blue, and the temperatures were warmer than they had been in many weeks. Seneca Rocks was begging to be climbed, and fortunately for me, I'd found a climbing partner eager for the same adventure.

Dave and I quickly amassed climbing and ski gear into his Subaru and made the short commute from the Valley to Seneca. We were on rock by noon, at the summit by 3p, and back at the car and on our way to night shift for ski patrol by 3:45p. We were both more energized than we'd been in days, maybe weeks from the time spent climbing. Something about sandstone and sun is good for the body. The phrase most commonly uttered from us throughout our three pitches to the summit was, "I fucking love this shit," as giant perma-grins adorned our faces. 

We booted up quickly for night shift once at the resort, and even made last day-chair on the lift. I ate dinner once at the top, snagged a cat nap, and then set about for some outstanding night skiing on unlighted trails. My senses protested the darkness and lack of sight, but with time I adjusted; my senses adapted to the darkness.

Post-work, beers were enjoyed, the hot tub was utilized, and sleep was oh-so-sweet. Two mountains skied, three pitches climbed, three summits had been obtained in a round-about way. How fortunate I am to live in such an area where all can be accomplished in one day!

Sunday morning was long and lazy, the perfect compliment to the previous day's activities. By evening, I was making the three-hour trek east for two days of training for my biologist job. 

Hither, thither, far and yonder. It's been a wild whirlwind, but it's really made me think and reflect on somethings...

Doing is living. Risk is necessary for success.  Doing and risking open up so many opportunities. You must try and give and then give a little bit more in order to get what you want. It is both exhausting and totally fulfilling to live life this way. It is completely worth it in the end, however. I've got stories from experiences many would kill to have. I'm stressed at times, but the cost is far outweighed by benefit; I gain more and more opportunities and more and more open doors. I sacrifice a little, give a little, and gain so much.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. I challenge you to push away from your comfort zone and see what you can accomplish; I'd love to hear your stories.