Q's feet

I've ordered white lightning. As soon as it arrives, the soaks will begin. 

What do you think is up with the pockmarking? 

What else do you see? 

Tell me, tell me, tell me!

Right Front

Right Hind

Left Front

Left Hind

Face-lift

Well, if most of you read via Google Reader like I do except when you comment on a blog you may not notice otherwise, so HEY YOU, why don't you click and open my blog in its real window and admire the update to my header! Q wasn't featured before and Griffin has grown so much; it was time for a change.

I had yet another wonderful weekend of ski patrol. I got to ride a snowmobile (our resort doesn't have these, we transport patients in toboggans) and participate in a backcountry rescue off-mountain. It was an incredible experience and really makes me want to get into that kind of thing more. Additionally, Kenai got to ride the lift and gallivant with children on skis some more. We've got permission to ride the lift more often as long as he is on leash (duh, can't have him creating accidents I'd have to clean up [people falling and hurting themselves]). One of our senior patrol members wants me to start search and rescue training with Kenai this season, so we plan to delve into that, we'll see where it goes.

I'd elaborate a bit more, but this public blog isn't really the place for discussing the details of patrol, so you'll have to take my word for it that I had an awesome weekend, kept learning more, improved my tele skills, and enjoyed time with great friends.

More exciting post coming later this week (cross your fingers).

New Years celebrating

I rang in the New Year in style in smalltown skitown WV near our resort with a bunch of ski patrol friends. We hit up two different places and I reveled at the genuine people that live up there. I know several, but met a lot more. Its nice to have people truly care about how you’re doing, what you’re doing, and REMEMBER your name after a first meeting. So often anymore people just ask these questions and the information goes in one ear and out the other. It was really nice to interact with people who really cared and stayed present in the moment and conversation. I listened to a great band, danced, drank a little, and laughed and conversed a lot with great friends. Perfect way to ring in the New Year.

New Year’s morning started slow. While I wasn't drunk the night before and thus didn't have to fight a hangover, I still got way less sleep than I'd hoped and woke up freezing for some reason. I trudged grumpily along (though not so grumpily because, hey, who could possibly hate going to ski for the day?) for the first hour and a half or so. Then we made our first run and the comedy routine began.

Cruised down some closed runs to gain access to the now packed powder from two days before. We have to ski past snow guns and the snow had really built up in front of them. The shit is usually sticky so we really brace ourselves for it in a tele-stance or power snow plow or just sitting way back on our skis. Despite this working in days prior, Robb's attempt at his tele-stance did nothing. He was going at a really good clip and got stopped DEAD in his tracks, thrown forward in his bindings and face planted very soundly into the wet mush. I almost peed myself laughing.

At the lift at the bottom our group of three became four and Robb grabbed bamboo and a sign to carry up with us on the quad, but then decided he would ski around and ahead of the lift chair to retrieve a glove someone had dropped. So the three of us wait until he's picking it up, then skate in and sit on the chair leaving a seat for him. Well, from where he grabbed the glove he was a good 6-8 feet from where we sat on the chair as it came around. He turned and positioned waiting to have the chair hit and pick him up as we carried forward. His weight hitting the chair caused it to swing back then forward in an odd, forceful way which ended up ejecting me forward out of it (all our feet are still on the ground, this chair has a long runway to get up and off). So with a little yip I'm ejected out and onto the ground tangled in everyone's skis and board as I was in one of the middle seats. This causes Robb and the other skier to get ejected out and the boarder clings and stays on despite scraping his board over my body heaped on the ground. The lifties stopped the chair just after it passed over me. I sat up to see an absolute MESS of a heap of patrollers, skis, poles, bamboo, and signs. We all lost it laughing. It took a little doing to extract ourselves from the royal heap of equipment and bodies. 

We laughed all the way to the top where a near repeat occurred. I hopped of right quick not wanting to deal with anything crazy again. The boarder did, too. I guess Robb with the boo didn't get off and the other skier had to shove him and then jump off, but mid jump the chair snagged his aid pack, effectively booting him forward and onto his face. I nearly peed myself.

We managed to get through the rest of the day without major incident. Skied a lot of packed powder that really turned into some heavy mashed potato nonsense that was really difficult to ski. My. Legs. Are. Beat. But I'm seriously loving it. I really forgot what it was like to get such a thorough workout and be THIS active all the time. Its absolutely thrilling and I really don't know WHAT I'm going to do when the snow is gone. I'm a little cracked out on all this exercise. I absolutely love it.

I’m looking forward to the season ahead. Here’s to hoping for more snow, lots of skiing, and fun times with awesome people!

Skijoring

NYE I gave a long-awaited riding lesson to a patrol friend. Catching the horses was a bit of an adventure as they were once again on the other side of the creek (though not in the high pasture fortunately). I ended up bridling Q and riding her bareback back across again. She was so behaved and responsive on the ride to the barn. We cantered the bulk of the way (I know, I know, bad horse practice to run to the barn…granted running AWAY from her friends was an impressive feat for Q!) and she stayed responsive to what I asked the whole time. Good pony!

My friend did fairly well and Q did exceptional with the lesson (he’d never ever ridden a horse prior to this). But after the lesson was when the real fun began …

I’ve wanted to teach my horses to pull a skier (or sledder) for awhile. Having a very talented skier at my disposal and a significant amount of snow on the ground made this the perfect opportunity to attempt this. I studied the photos Dom had of when she did this and put on Q’s breastplate and hooked up the lines to the rings on it that were at her shoulder. We putzed around the barnyard with the dead lines behind us to let her get used to them being there. Other than on turns where she’d see them out of the corner of her eye, she had zero issues beyond a few tense steps.

After Q was okay with this step, I had my friend walk behind holding the lines, slowly applying more and more pressure to them so that she was eventually the one motivating his forward steps. She had ZERO issues with this. She was calmer with this than the dead lines. For my little mare who will tuck tail and hunch up in a hopping fear away from random horses who come up behind her suddenly, I was beyond impressed that she was cool with this.

So then, we took the next big step, my friend put on his skis and we went for it.

We started at a walk. Q flicked an ear once or twice, but was otherwise unconcerned with the skier behind her. We picked up a trot. No issues. We cantered. No problem! Most excellent.

My friend figured out his balance with a horse pulling him while we all went through our gaits in the barn yard. Once we were comfortable we set loose on the dirt road that goes along the property.

We cantered the whole thing, and even galloped some of it. Q wasn’t bothered at all by a speeding skier behind her, and if anything was more focused and balanced than during any normal work (though really, I think she was just having a very good, focused day). My friend figured out his balance and was able to make some tele turns (he telemark skis) and everyone had a really awesome time. Despite the extended period of fast-paced workout, Q still didn’t work up a sweat, though she was right on the verge, I’m certain.  Still, a great and successful workout for her; she does so well with something to focus on. 

I love my diverse little pony.

WW: Too much fun (no such thing)

2012: A Year in Review

January:

Kenai tried his hand at being a ski patrol dog during my NSP candidate training and loved it. I spent every weekend training for NSP on the mountain and loved getting in all those ski days, even if the snow sucked. There were a few phenomenal days and I really loved my first season as I learned to telemark ski. I found some time to try my hand at chasing cows and had a blast! I accepted the change in my life as a good thing and then adopted some more change in the form of a new horse, Griffin!

February:

I had some difficulty coming up with a name for Griffin at first, but I eventually settled and posted a much-awaited (at the time) photo of him. He was so little! Mountain Khakis published their first catalog and I was the featured female ambassador. NSP training, despite difficulties, continued and I really began looking forward to its conclusion in March. I also found out that my summer plans to do a Leave No Trace Master Educator course with an emphasis on stock use in the backcountry would be happening!! I also finally got the edited video of me riding a horse I helped start the summer prior. Kenai had troubles with measuring, and I visited NYC for the first time for my birthday with my mom. I got to catch up with an incredible person while I was there, too. I learned to dance with a horse.

March:

NSP training continued and I completed! Huzzah! I filmed a training session with Griffin and Kenai got to play with a starling after. We bid adieu to one of the greatest horses I've had the pleasure to know due to a freak accident. Kenai turned two! Griffin got his first trim, and I posted photos of his improvement. And the biggest thing of this month, I went to MONTANA! We squeezed in a car. We skied. And we frolicked. And we visited Yellowstone and saw WOLVES! 19 wolves from three different packs. Marked that one off my 30 before 30, big time.

April:

I spammed you with more photos from MONTANA. And I shared a video of us skiing western powder (squee!). And then spammed you with videos of the horses. And Griffin started tagging along on trail rides. I took a moment to reflect on how incredibly awesome life is. Griffin discovered his inner idiot. I updated on my year of yoga (which failed miserably due to a shoulder injury) and gave yummy recipe ideas. Somehow I had a ton of time to read books. We went to the Equine Affaire, too. Oh and of course, there were a lot of Griffin updates!

May:

I focused on the fact that I needed to be more present in my every day life instead of always looking toward the future. I scored a sweet deal on some minimalist shoes for running in a hope to start running more (which never happened because my ankles are whiny little bitches). I spent a fun week of adventuring and training with Griffin. I had a really big weekend of photography for prom, an engagement shoot, and finally went climbing. This Wordless Wednesday post got a heck'ova'lotta hits for some reason. I had another memorable weekend watching my good friend Chris graduate from college, taking photos for two of my best friends for their engagement, and ground driving Griffin. I went to a clinic/trail ride weekend in the southern part of the state with friends and met Q; I then proceeded to ask advice on her and ended up buying her. I think its safe to say she was a pretty good decision!

June:

I threw myself into life with two horses full-force. I found out that Q hates bears, but really doesn't mind ground poles, and she really has a knack for jumping! I got to fulfill a mini-dream of mine and play with Freisians for a day (and many after, actually). I finally left for 2½ weeks in the Great Smoky Nat'l Park where I learned to pack horses and practice Leave No Trace concepts.

July:

I re-hashed my pack experience gone wrong in three different parts (part I, part II, part III); it is the longest story I've told on my blog to-date, and was really hard for me to tell at the time. I went on a crazy-fast 20-mile training ride with a local endurance rider on two of her horses. And jumped back in action with my own horses, while finally pondering some of Griffin's potential TWH background. I continued to spend a lot of time with my horses, photographed one of my best friend's wedding, celebrated Griffin's birthday, and had an absolute blast fulfilling a childhood dream of riding my own horse in a parade!

August:

With August came the start of the coveted 30-mile ride. I had some pre-race anxiety, but Q exceeded all my expectations for this ride and did AMAZINGLY. I was (and still am) so happy with her performance. To get my mind of horse things I went and saw Mumford and Sons the weekend following the race (THEY ARE SO AWESOME LIVE!!). I shared a huge post of new experiences with my horses and then went to fulfill yet another horse-related childhood dream (wow, I really fulfilled a lot of these this year) and rode at Spruce Knob.

September:

I took some time this month to summarize the progress that both Q and Griffin had made during our time together. Q got a mystery ailment (which is still a mystery, though I lean toward a friction/heat cause) and I freaked out a bit and ended up not doing any more training or races this year because of it. I made the decision to really devote myself to getting into a better fitness routine for the upcoming ski season/life. I also dabbled with both horses lunging in a quasi-liberty exercise and decided it was something I would work on more this winter after I established both horses on the ground a little more. I embraced my favorite WV season (autumn) with several pursuits outdoors; this state is absolutely magical in the fall.

October:

Q and I did our second parade; the weather wasn't as great, but she did phenomenally again! A friend came and photographed Q and I jumping; our form is really improving. I spent a lot of time on the rail trail goofing around riding with cyclists instead of other horses. Q continued to amaze me during our last trail ride of the season.

November:

Frankenstorm (Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy) trashed my trails as over 3 feet of snow was dumped at the higher elevations. At this writing they are still clearing trees from roadways. I don't know if any of my summer trails will be the same for awhile. The horses weren't hurt, only a little sore. The weekend after the storm I put away studying to explore the woods with the ladies on horseback. Q and I had a blast. I worked on trailer loading with the horses some, and then goofed off with Freisian horses more. And then I went to Cape May with my bff Mandy and we caught some raptors and I met Dom IRL! Griffin's really gotten big and solid as of this month, and Q exceeded any expectation I had for her in our third parade of the year - a night parade.

December:

I reviewed 23 things I've learned in my 23 year of life. Spent a rainy Sunday training Griffin; put in my first ride on him. I spent an unnaturally warm December day climbing (finally). I took some time to recollect resolutions and goals I had for the year and make some new ones for the upcoming year, and I finally updated everyone on fitness and what I'd learned from my readings.

Man, 2012 was a busy year full of fun adventures, welcoming horses into my life, and developing myself as a person. Here's to a new year, new adventures, building upon foundations I've laid, and making 2013 the best year yet.

Learned it all in Kindergarten

Today is a flashback. The next few wordy posts may be flashback articles I wrote for courses in college. I love reading back on my papers from my interesting introspective honors courses. I'm impressed with my insight then and how much I am the person now that I so wanted to be then. Progress is an absolutely amazing and wonderful thing, but it is also difficult as it usually takes lots of dedication, persistence, and diligence. 

Today's flashback is from my senior year of HS. I graduated Salutatorian of my class and had to give a speech, this is what I wrote:

Before I begin my speech I ask the graduating class to hold the hand of the person next to them, if you are at the end of a row reach back and hold the hand of the person behind you.  Create a big circle in a sense, you did it in kindergarten to stick together, let’s do it one more time.

                Its funny how out of the many lessons we have learned in the past thirteen years of school it is the simplest of life’s lessons introduced in kindergarten that are the ones that will stick with us for the rest of life. They will find ways to apply to everything we do.  In Robert Fulghum’s book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten he states:  "All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten.”  His words enable us to understand how strange it is that the simplest things are the most important.

                Playing fair.  We all remember the golden rule.  Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.  It was hard to learn the golden rule in kindergarten.  I had a little brother who had already helped me to learn it but walking into a room with 21 people I had never met before meant learning the golden rule to its fullest.  Sharing crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, and books with that many people was harder than I’d imagined!  Be fair to others, they’ll be fair to you in return.  Sharing my scissors with DW when we happened to be at the same table meant that he would share them with me later on; a valuable lesson, a valuable friend.  Being fair now is the same as it was in kindergarten and it still helps one to gain priceless friendships. 

                Put things back where you found them.  Not putting the teacher’s pencil back in kindergarten had a minor negative result, but as we grew older and misplaced more important things, perhaps the car keys?  We learned after being late to school or missing an important meeting or sports practice that we should pay much more attention to things no matter how small they seem to be.  Details are important.  In foreign policy and government putting things back where they were found is important as well.  Just imagine what the world could be like if governments put things back where they found them and cleaned up their own mess!

                Saying sorry.  Remember getting in a small fight with a friend in kindergarten and then the teacher would force you to say sorry to one another?  I do.  HB and I met when one of us wouldn’t properly share the school supplies at our table.  After a little dispute Mrs. A came over and made us apologize to one another.  It seemed so hard then, but I can’t remember how many friendships I probably saved by simply saying sorry when I made a mistake.  Sorry is the simplest of words and can make such a big difference in so many circumstances.  Two little words, “I’m sorry”, can calm anger, mend broken pride, and strengthen relationships.  Don’t be afraid to say sorry.

                Flush.  Well there’s a pretty self-explanatory term.  Flush.  If you don’t, its gonna look yucky and smell yucky.  Eww.  But I’ve learned in the past eighteen years that there is more to flush than just a toilet.  Emotions need flushed out on occasion.  Worries need to be flushed especially.  Don’t let the little things get you down; don’t sweat the small stuff!  Sweating the small, petty issues will only lead to more stress on top of all the pressures you may already be dealing with.

                Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.  More or less, DON’T WORK YOURSELF TO DEATH!  I know we certainly didn’t work ourselves to death in kindergarten!  We’d do a little bit of work and then immediately do something fun as a sort of reward.  Learn some letters, color a picture; read a book, go outside to recess.  Find time in life to enjoy the little things.  Go on a walk, play a game, roll down a grassy hill, visit an old friend, anything!  Have a little bit of fun every now and then, its good for you.

                Take a nap every afternoon.  In kindergarten I can remember rushing to the steps where the napping mats were kept and then rushing to find a place to be beside CH.  We would then lie down and “nap” when in truth we were whispering about some sort of kindergarten nonsense.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could curl up with our favorite blanket every afternoon for an hour like in kindergarten?  Unfortunately growing up includes many more responsibilities that lead to a busier and more hectic schedule.  But seriously, get some rest when you need it; research has proven that it’s good for you!  All-nighters with friends can be fun but you aren’t the Energizer Bunny, you can’t keep going and going and going and going...as much as you may think you can.

                When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.  I can remember holding the hands of my classmates as we walked to the playground when the weather was kind enough to allow us.  We held hands to stick together alongside the road and to make it easier for Mrs. Arbogast to make certain no one wandered away.  We’re all big enough to let go and cross the street on our own now, but we still need to keep alert for obstacles at all times.  Whether it’s someone out to get you or a greater power altogether.  Stick with people you trust.  They’ll watch your back and you can watch theirs.  There is nothing more wonderful than a close friend. 

                Be aware of wonder.  Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.  We all sank our roots here in Elkins.  They grew and lengthened as they were nurtured by our teachers and other mentors until our plant grew up out of the ground and unfolded its leaves and a beautifully unique flower.  That flower is the person we have become.  Now our flowers are about to spread pollen to many different places in many different ways.

                And finally, remember those Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.  Robert Fulghum has reminded us to remember the simple lessons of kindergarten as we continue through life.  So, keep an open mind as you continue.  Be open and willing to try new things – no matter how strange or scary they may seem.  You never know where they may take you.  Life is a great big adventure waiting to be had.  Have it.

Let the Madness Begin!

Y'all like pictures right? Because I predict a lot of picture posts in my future. My down-time is about to be seriously reduced into nothingness.

Beginning tomorrow the madness begins. The resort opens and I will be working 62 hours up there within a weeks time. Oh, did I mention this is in addition to my job-job that is full time? Total paid hours worked between two jobs from 12/29 - 1/6 will be 89.  

89 hours.

On the mountain Sat, Sun, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun. In the office on all the in between days. Yay for holidays and every other Friday off.

I will have some KILLER AWESOME legs by the end of this. And probably a sizable dose of ibuprofen in my system for a day or two. Crash course to awesome telemark skiing here I come. Last year's goal was getting comfy on my tele legs, this year's goal is getting solid and throwing down. (By the way, for those non-ski readers, telemark skiing is when your heel is free and you can bend your knee. This is different from Apline skiing where your heel is locked in. Wikipedia here.) The only downside to ski season is that any tall riding boot will cease to fit due to my calf muscles getting jacked. Ah well, I'll sacrifice.

Substitute my blue jacket with a red/black one with white crosses and you'll find me on the mountain!

Anyone want to come ski?