Bruised but not beaten.....

It should not be compared to "riding a bike".  You know that saying, "it's like riding a bike.  After a few minutes all your skill comes back to you."

Getting ready to go!

Terry and I went skiing this past weekend.  We were bit by the skiing bug after Madison went on a ski trip sponsored by her school.  We reminisced over the beautiful pictures she shared and decided we did miss this snow - if it was productive.  For Iowa, Missouri and Kansas fans - we don't really see a point to your snow, but in Colorado there is a life that revolves around it.

So, it was decided.  Skiing, dog sledding and snow mobiles were on the agenda.  Plus a sleigh ride up to Beano's cabin - a very exclusive mountaintop restaurant with five course meals.  WOW!  

Now, I did do some preparation in anticipation of the reunion with skiing.  Have y'all ever heard for YouTube??  What a plethora of instructive videos that had for me.  And since I have been skiing before (albeit 37 years ago -to Terry's 40) and I had taken lessons all three (3) times I had been skiing, I was fairly certain that the videos would serve as a useful reminder of what to do.  Mainly - how to stop!

Dog sledding Monday

So off we go.  We arrived Saturday and it was gorgeous weather.  We became familiar with the area, bought our lift tickets for the next day (how do you spell highway robbery) and were fitted for all the ski paraphernalia.  We also enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by Terry's sister Kathy at her home in Eagle.  Very nice.  (I tried not to think of it as our last supper).

Sunday dawned clear, bright and cold but we were ready.  After donning all the winter garb (which almost took as long as the first ski run) we made our way to the  multiple choices of ski lifts and gondolas.  I was anxiously looking for the "bunny hill" as the other ski resorts I had been to in the past all had them handy in the lower areas.  After consulting with one of the workers, he enlightened us to the fact that all the green (beginner) slopes at Beaver Creek were located at the TOP of the mountain with their own set of ski lifts higher up.  O.M.G.

Did I mention it was a very big mountain?  So after stalling for a few minutes longer, Mr. French asked if I was ready to get on the lift.  Sure.

Once at the top (and we did have to transfer from one ski lift to another) I became reacquainted with skiing.  My Norwegian roots were bursting with pride.  I almost immediately face planted about half way down what looked like Pikes Peak to me.  No worries, all good.   I was back up in (practically) no time and decided on a new tactic.  Instead of looking all the way down (VERY OVERWHELMING) I decided to narrow the scope as I made my way down.  VICTORY.  We made it to the second ski lift we rode up and I did not fall again.  Let's do it again!!  Up we went and down we came.  This time when I fell, the impact was more focused on my right side (think knee and abdomen).  Practically the same place (possible someone should look into safety issues here).  But again, I was up and on my way.



This time (after no additional falls) we decided to continuing skiing down to the next level.  I was really getting the hang of it and was almost to the lodge (1/3 down the mountain) when my poles got caught under a ski and derailed me.  Well.....it took so long for me to get my skis back on (try doing that quickly when you are on a down hill slope) that I finally scooted to the bottom of small dip I was on and then got the #$**@ skis reattached.  The lodge was in sight.  So was Terry, who apparently had been waiting for quite some time (had taken off skis, put them back on and was making his way back to find me).  My keeper.

After a much needed break, the option was to continue down the mountain or to feign a broken bone so the medical team would put me in a basket and take me down.  After much consideration, I decided I CAN DO THIS!!!!

It was a slow go and involved one more major delay when I knocked a ski off, but I was doing okay.  The most unnerving part for me now was that I had to make sharp turns to the right to stay on the beginners trail.  It seemed like a very narrow path (perception could be off) to turn on to or end up falling down a ravine or accidentally getting on a much more skilled trail.

Snowmobile French couple in the middle

One hour and 30 minutes later I reached the bottom.  Towards the end, I was faced with a choice of continuing on Cinch (our trail name and what I hoped it would be) or going taking the remainder of a blue trail.  At this point, I just wanted to wrap things up and get in the tub for a hot soak.  Yes, I took the blue trail and in record time (so much faster going straight down versus all around) I made it with NO FALLS OR SKI LOSS!!!   WHOOHOOO

What a day!  Now as far as Mr. French goes - it was like a bicycle to him.  He was whooshing around like an Olympic hopeful.  And that's okay.

As far as dog-sledding and snow-mobile tours - non events compared to skiing.

Sign me - #backinthegame!!!!

Until next time,
#ski'supasyouexitthelift



your bruised in all areas pal,
Kari