Paying - or Skiing - it Forward

I was up and out of bed near 7am. I felt like a champ thanks to almost 9 hours of sleep and not a drop of alcohol the night before. I made coffee then played around online for a while before delivering Mindy’s coffee and heading out for a run. It was cloudy and 30 degrees when I headed out the door. The forecast called for mostly sunny. Not sure what was up with the clouds. More importantly, though, there wasn’t any rain in the forecast or on the radar. I badly wanted to go skiing.

I finished my 3 mile run before 9am. At the time, the plan was to get Ashley back home before skiing, but once she was up, she was very eager to go with us. Mindy and I chatted about it, and I checked the MRM site to verify the cost. Yikes! $70 for a two hour lesson, equipment rental and all-day lift ticket. However, as a member, I could purchase a book of 5 for $150. That sounded like a much better idea, especially since I’ve all but promised to take the boys once this winter too. We checked with Ashley to make sure that she didn’t have a problem with Olivia going. She was happy we offered. Said Olivia’s been chomping at the bit to go with us anyway. It was settled, then. Mindy rounded up Bella’s retired gear, most of it too small but still in great shape (ski pants, jacket, mittens, gator, goggles and helmet). She was all set. We opted not to pack snacks since more often than not they go uneaten. Instead, the kids always brow beat Mindy & I for cafeteria money. We did, however, pack drinks, but more so for the road to and fro.

And we talked briefly about stopping at First Watch on the way, but I made an omelet with left over Andouille sausage instead. Made fried potatoes using leftover baked potatoes too. It was delicious. We agreed to stop for donuts at Tim Horton's on the drive up. That made all three kids super happy. It was 1140am before we pulled out the drive. Always takes a lot longer than one realizes to get everyone ready. But no worries.

Mindy dropped Bella, Olivia and I at Tim Horton’s while she and Jacob filled the Pilot across the street at Thornton’s. We bought a dozen donuts and ten Timbits. Next stop, MRM! Arrived around 1230pm. Mindy sent a text to Bob, who said on Saturday that he thought he’d be heading up. Said he wasn’t too far behind us. Cubra’s were already there, but minus Tina and Trevor who stayed home to attend a football banquet.

We hoped and expected the crowd to by much dialed down from that of last Saturday, though they did have a big air contest going on that was originally slated for Saturday but moved due to poor weather. Still, the lot was only about half way full. Olivia was very excited once she saw the hill and snow. And she had us all in stitches when she asked if we could ride the 'big swings'. :) While Mindy, Jacob, Bella geared up, I took Olivia up to get her going. We had to wait in line in the main ticket office where I ran into Bob Cubra signing up Cameron for the big air competition, which was free but required a signed medical waiver.

Saw Mindy and the kids walk by while we were still in line. Cumbersome, but worth it. Bought the 5 pack. Headed over to rentals to outfit Olivia in boots and skis. Bella came along. She was huge help to Olivia. I very much appreciate her generous spirit. By the time it was all said and done, it was 115pm, or 15 minutes before her 2-hour lesson was slated to begin. Mindy and the kids took Olivia to the bunny hill and conveyor while I went back to the Pilot to get into my own gear. I met them right outside the Adventure Park lesson building. Had to wave them over to get Olivia started. As always, the MRM staff was very nice and helpful. Asked that we be back to get Olivia at 330pm. She was stoked, so full of personality.

We headed over to Four Star where I still needed to get my lift ticket. Soon we were on our way up the lift. By then it was sunny and the temperature around 36 degrees. The snow was what’s commonly referred to as corn snow – loose granular, and a lot of it. Perfect! I’d waiting for a ski day like this. And a perfect day to work out the Mantra’s. Collectively, our first run down, though 2nd for Mindy and the kids. They got in a run before coming over to meet Olivia and I at the lesson/rental building.

Loved the thick corn snow. At the bottom, I spotted Bob walking with his skis to the lift. Just arrived. At the same time I turned looking up hill only to see Mindy fallen about halfway up. MY heart sunk, as the conditions reminded me much of those in Oregon at Meadows when she tore her MCL, though the snow that day was much thicker and deeper. I was pleased to see her get up and getting her skis back on. But once she got back to the lift line I could see that she had a bloody nose and scraped face. It didn’t look bad but she couldn’t see herself and insisted on going to first aid. I went with her and so did Bella. Bob headed up the lift.

Turned out being just a tiny scrape inside one of her nostrils. Apparently scraping her face against the icy corn snow left her face feeling worse than it actually was. They gave her a couple antiseptic wipes and that’s about it. A few minutes later we were back at it. Reminded Mindy to ski a bit more deliberately in such conditions. Said she took her eye off her path to help or lookout for a little girl when she fell. We skied for the next couple hours before taking a break and going after Olivia. The snow was slow but nevertheless fun. I was digging it.

Met Olivia at the Adventure Park building. Her instructor shared just how good she did. Said she needed to work on looking ahead rather than at her skis. Otherwise, he said, she did just fine. Olivia asking immediately if we could go do the big hill. No. Let's go grab some lunch and get warm. She was in favor or that, too, especially after we promised to make good on the big hill thing after. :)

In the cafeteria we got the kids food and drink. Mindy & I shared a bowl of their yummy chicken and dumplings, which hands down are the best I've had anywhere. Think tasty giant dough balls filled with chunks of chicken. We got along table easily. Not too big a crowd at all. I went after a pitcher of beer. No more Accumulation, so I went with Elevator Three Frogs IPA. Not bad. Supposed to be getting Deschutes in soon.

Hooked up with work peep Chris and his girlfriend, Tammy. Bob Imber soon joined us too. Shared my pitcher with all of them. I certainly couldn't drink it all. Because Chris and I talk skiing all the time at work, he was aware of my pursuit of the V-Werks Katana's. Hadn't shared that story with anyone other than he and Mindy, but went on to explain that I had a change of heart. As much as I love them, they're probably not the best ski for me. Told him my decision to go with the Sick Day 110. Chris is a bit of a snow ski guru. Knowing me and my style he shared that my choice was a wise one. Said he didn't want to burst my bubble relative to those bad ass Katana's. Explained that I would likely head to ASBCO on Monday to make my purchase in hopes of having them ready for the slopes by the following weekend.

Olivia was eager to get out and give the big mountain a try. Truthfully, I was a little reluctant given what we went through some five years ago with Jacob & Bella. Both wanted the same only to stop and cry once at the top. Olivia, however, was perhaps a bit more gun-ho. Why not? We headed up Four Star. They slowed the chair a little for her first ride up. And having done this a time or two, we were more prepared for the ride up, the dismount, and then our strategy.

No problems - on and off the lift without any trouble. And then, after reconvening for a photo op at the ski slope sign, we headed down Mary Ann's backside. Our plan was to spread out across the trail every 20 yards or so in a zig-zag pattern and then have Olivia ski to each of us. It took a while and for the most part, she kept her wits about her the entire time. And once at the bottom, she insisted on heading up again, which is far better than our two did their first runs down. In each case, Jacob & Bella both cried and wanted to go home.:) So up the Four Star we went again. Bob was such a big help and very good with Olivia. We went down the same trail and this time Olivia exhibited control by employing the pizza technique to control her speed. Still didn't have the turning thing down by any stretch, but this was her very first time.

Bella was a huge help too. Thanks Bella. However, it was her idea to bail out to the main hill. Still not sure why I thought that OK. Bottom line, I had to ski down that with Olivia between my legs. That about killed my legs for some reason. The back of my left knee was aching again like it was in HV. Think I hyper extended a muscle back there or something. At the bottom, Olivia insisted we go up again, but this time we put the kabooshes on it, and instead called it a day. Very cute! Olivia and I headed to the rental return and grabbed her street boots.

We met the others at the Pilot, stopping to say goodbye to Bob I., who was parked just a few spots over from us. Olivia thought he was my brother. Again, too cute!

It was fast drive home. Bella wanted to order pizza for dinner, but that didn't sound good to Mindy and I. We were both tired, and I still needed to run Olivia home, too. The plan was to head straight home, unload the Pilot, then take Livy home. That all went smooth. I think it was near 8pm when I finally dropped Livy at her place.

Back at home by 820pm, I relaxed with some ice water. Had a snack or two too. We headed to bed fairly early - certainly before 10pm.