Blizzard on the Mountain

Was out of bed a few minutes ahead of 530am. I slept great and felt adequately rested. Turned off the security system then slipped into my exercise shoes. Very curious about the weather, I poked my head out the back door to gauge the temperature. It was cold and felt below freezing.

Completed calisthenics, including sit-ups, windmills, and push-ups. Headed to the PC with coffee around 545am. According to Yahoo, it was 27 degrees. Supposed to reach the freezing mark sometime during the day. Checked MRM’s site next. Said they were blowing snow, but the webcam link wasn’t working. Played around online until 605am when I upped to make and deliver Mindy’s coffee. She asked if it was cold enough for snow. Yes.

Back downstairs I completed a thorough meditation and stretch. I could hear the recycling truck come by just before 630am. I dressed for a run a few minutes later. I had to make another trip upstairs to retrieve a pair of long johns. Hit the door at 640am. Ran the full 4.1 miles. Felt colder than 27 degrees, but little wonder given that it was in the 60’s for the prior two runs. I was excited that the cold weather was back. We planned a rare weeknight run to MRM later in the day.

Back from my run around 620am, I quickly leashed up the pug. Mindy briefly touched on her after school plans, which included a staff meeting but then hurrying home to get the kids and load the Pilot for MRM. She would then swing by my office to pick me up. I walked the pug. Mindy left for school before our return. I pulled our recycling bin up to the garage door before heading inside.

Breakfast was waiting in the microwave – fried eggs. Bella took care of adding eggs to Eiknarf’s bowl. Took my dear old time. It was after 745am before I headed to the shower. I faintly heard Bella calling for me as I was putting the finishing touches on my ready. I glanced at the cable box clock. Yikes! It was 809am. Said she was heading out. I hurried downstairs, leashed up the pug, and headed out to meet her at the bus stop. It was a cold wait. Chrissy & Makayla met us there.

Bus arrived on time, somewhere close to 815am. Let the pug walk/sniff out front for a few minutes before heading back inside. I finished packing my lunch then warmed the Accord. In so doing, I remembered how low I was on gas. The low fuel warning light was on, and had been since heading out for dinner last Friday evening. While the car warmed, I organized our skis for easy loading into the Pilot. I put my ski boots and ski pack in the Accord. Mindy would only need to pack my skis. Last second, I remembered to take my base layer. Can’t ski without that. Tossed it in the Accord, too.

Left the house at 835am. Stopped at Thornton’s for gas - $3.19 per gallon. Accord took 16.04 gallons. Marked the first time I averaged something less than 20 mpg – 19.9. Again, chalking up the drop to car warming. Arrived at the office near 855am.

Had a very busy morning. Still managed to visit the MRM website to check out their live webcams. They were finally working. And happily, looked like they had already made a bunch of new snow. More importantly, they were opened. Sometime near 11am, Mindy sent a text asking if skiing was still on. Yes it is!

Stayed busy working on both monthly reporting and reactive escalations for most of the day. A buddy stopped by to talk skiing a couple of times. I didn’t bother leaving for lunch but did take time to eat while working. I ate a lettuce, tomato, and carrot salad without any salad dressing. Healthier that way. Enjoyed some fresh fruit and cheese too.

Mindy called sometime after 4pm to let me know that she was on her way home. She planned to feed the kids then hurry and load the ski gear and then come by my office to pick me up. Said she’d call before leaving the house. 5pm arrived but I still hadn’t heard from Mindy. I decided to pack up and head out, thinking that I would fetch my base layer from the Accord and then change in the 1st floor men’s room.

Sometimes the best laid plans fail. I fetched my base layer then tried to head back inside the building. I hadn’t needed my security code in over a year since I don’t ever reenter after 5pm. I couldn’t recall my code so I couldn’t reenter the building. I suppose I could’ve waited by the door for a peer to exit, but instead I headed to the Accord, started it up, then jumped in the back seat to change out of my work attire and into my ski base layer. Mindy called just as I was starting to get changed.

Two things I forgot to bring: a pair of casual shoes (slip-on or tennis) and a ball cap. Neither were a show stopper. I chose not to call Mindy back and ask her to return home for them. I looked silly dressed in my base layer with dress shoes, but hey. The showed up near 520pm. I quickly tossed my boots and bag in the back then took over the driver’s position.

To hopefully avoid the rush hour Tuttle/I-270 interchange traffic, we took Hayden Run to Avery Rd t route 33W. Mindy had a lot of snacks packed. I enjoyed several little beef summer sausage links. Made decent time arriving at MRM at 605pm. From a few miles out, one could see an orange misty glow hanging over MRM. I guessed it do to the overwhelming snow making process. According to their website, they had all 133 snow guns going.

I’ll bet there weren’t 30 cars in the parking lot, and that included employees. We picked a front row spot between the gift shop and ticket window. Neither of the kids seemed pumped about their first MRM skiing of the year. Our prior two visits were both without kids. Bella was tired, and slept for most of the drive up. They’ve gotten to where they can pretty much ready themselves, but it’s always a bit more difficult doing so from the car as opposed to a condo or hotel room. Took about 10 minutes for everyone to gear up. Felt much colder than I imagined. Last check the Pilot read 24 degrees.

Soon our way up Four Star. Not many skiers/boarders on the hill or lift. Remembering thinking how odd it felt to be at MRM on a work night. Snow coverage appeared decent, though perhaps a bit uneven, looking down from above. Largely untracked, too. Opted to ski my Volkl AC30s for the first time since buying my Mantra’s last January. Was quite sure what to expect.

Hit it! Opted to air towards caution first run in unchartered snow. Still, can’t believe how nimble the AC30s felt. Able to carve with incredible ease. In fact, so much so that it almost brought me to laughter. Wow! Second run even a bit faster. This time I purposefully lived almost exclusively on the edges. Another extra fun ride, and definitely the right ski for the snow type. The AC30s are 7cms shorter than my Mantra’s, more rigid, and much narrower under foot. What’s funny, I didn’t notice such a huge disparity going the other direction. I’m really glad that the two pair of skis I own provide such a differing ride. Of course the Mantra’s will be going to Utah!

The rollers are in place now too, which wasn’t the case our previous two visits. We skied them a few times. Incidentally, those are the same rollers that ate my lunch two years ago the Saturday before our Oregon trip. I ski them more carefully these days. 

All totaled, we did about 8 runs before deciding to take a brief break in the lodge. By then we were all coated in icy manmade snow from the snow guns as well as cold. Our butts were cold/damp too from riding up the lift on icy/snowy seats. And despite having a cooler and bag full of snacks in the Pilot, we went through the cafeteria where I got chili and Mindy got chicken noodle soup. Bella opted for a cheese burger while Jacob surprisingly only wanted chocolate milk.

Just a few tables being used in the bar, and most likely ski club chaperones. Jacob noticed that his lift ticket was missing as we finished our break. Mindy suggested he not worry about it unless asked by the lift operator. I was a little irritated that he put it on so carelessly in the first place. But that wasn’t all, he was rambling on about not wanting to board anymore. “Too stiff and cold”. I told him he could stay in the lodge. After all, I didn’t really want a sour puss with us on the hill. Apparently he had a change of heart and joined us for round two.

He was careful about being in the middle on the lift ride up. But on the 2nd run, the lift operator asked to see his lift ticket. He played it off like he didn’t know. The operator was kind and asked if Mindy would show him his membership card. She did. He was very gracious and offered to walk Jacob over to the office to get a new lift ticket while the rest of us skied on. We each rode up the lift separately.

By the time we skied another run, Jacob was waiting at the bottom with a new lift ticket. Apparently the lady in the office gave him the 3rd degree and even threatened to toss him out if it happened again. Not sure why she was so animated and seemingly rude, after all, it was a somewhat innocent oversight. Still, I didn’t like Jacob’s tone mocking the woman on our ride up the lift. I only chimed in that he needs to respect all adults, regardless of their personality.

I kept my eyes peeled for his original ticket thinking it had to be somewhere in the new manmade snow. Sure enough, after another run or two, I found it at the top of Four Star. I picked it up and showed Mindy. On closer inspection, I could see why it came off the wire wicket. He didn’t press it firmly together anywhere but the outer edges. Not sure what was suddenly up with Mindy, but seemingly out of nowhere she started giving me an earful about Jacob, almost as if I were a child and actually listening. Having no desire to be lectured, I simply tuned and skied off.

We skied the next few runs hard and fast. And the run just west of Four Star that typically becomes their race trail was largely untouched. I skied it two or three times. As with all the runs, even Mary Ann’s backside, there were a few unexpected bumps, holes, and soft spots to contend with. But still a lot of fun.
We skied until about 845pm, and by the time were removing our gear in the Pilot, it was 9pm.

Got to my office to pick-up the Accord around 950pm. I quickly started the Accord and headed for home. Mindy followed just behind. Arrived home around 10pm. Mindy had already communicated the orders even before I transferred cars. Asked the kids to help carry everything in. While she and kids carried our boots, bags and jackets to basement, I stowed out skis upright to support the melt off. Had our gear stowed, was in my PJs, and had Tuesday’s coffee prepped by 1015pm. The kids and Mindy headed for bed immediately after getting out of their base layers. Not me, I opted to unwind slowly with my book and a glass of ice water. Heavenly! I read about 5 pages before dosing off from the family room reading chair. I woke around 11pm and headed for bed.