Saturday, September 12, 2015

Memorable Ski Trips

    I have always loved snow skiing even before I tried it, I knew I would love it.  It's kind of hard to explain even though I had no idea how to ski and I lived in the Midwest, snow skiing was a sport that I was drawn to.

     My first trip was while I was in college, I signed up for a bus ski trip to Galena, IL.  I didn't know anyone on the bus but it didn't make any difference because skiing was all that was on my mind. Nothing spectacular happen on that trip other than validating that I found a sport that I loved.  It was freeing in a way to glide down the mountain taking any path you wanted relying only on your skills.

     After I graduated college I took off to spend some unknown time in Colorado to ski and job-hunt.  I stayed with a friend of a friend at some college sleeping on a dorm room floor, not fun, but the skiing was great and the college guys were welcoming.  After a couple of nights in the dorm I decided a cheap hotel room was better.  I stayed just a little over a week then drove back home listening to John Denver songs the whole way.

     Shortly after Mimi and I were married we took a winter ski trip to Keystone Colorado.  Mimi worked for Ralston Purina at the time and since they owned Keystone Ski Resort we got a great discount. We drove my Mercury Bobcat (a glorified Ford Pinto) out to Colorado, which was an interesting experience in itself.  The Bobcat was a hatchback but the cylinder that held the hatch up wa broken so I used a post hole digger handle to hold the hatch up. The thing is I forgot to tell the bellhop that unloaded the luggage that secret, so when he lifted the hatch to unload the luggage the hatch fell on his head, Opps!  When we checked in the guy at the counter told us the room we reserved was not available so they had to upgrade us, ok that's cool.  Well, to our surprise the upgrade room was a 2-bedroom loft; it was amazing.  How lucky are we?  We had a great time living the high life on that trip.

     A few years later I had a job interview in Denver so we decided to combine it with a ski trip.  We were skiing at A-Basin (Arapahoe) on our last day.  Skiing was my thing, Mimi didn't share the same enthusiasm, she went with me but she could have lived without it. The rule in skiing is when you get tired, quit for the day.  This being our last day we went for 1 last run, I was about 50 yards further down the slope than Mimi when I heard her yell.  Oh crap! I turned and saw her in a pile up on the mountain so I climbed back up the slope, which is not easy to do with skies on or off.  When I finally reached her she said she her skis got crossed dug in the snow and she did a forward flip.  Cool trick skiing, No not really.  Mimi said she heard a crack when she was falling and was afraid she broke something.  I stuck my skis in the snow and crossed them which is a sign for help and in a short time the ski patrol came along with a snowmobile.  They loaded her on the snowmobile and headed down to the First aid shack.  I followed her down feeling concerned about her injury but if I'm being truthful anxious that this would be the the last ski trip I would ever be on.  I arrived at the First aid shack and when I went I saw Mimi still nervous but feeling relieved. When I asked how she was she responded "I'm fine the crack I heard were my ski pants ripping as I sailed through the air."  She had no broken bones just a little embarrassed.  We left the next day for home but now we had a funny story to share with family and friends.

     On another trip to Colorado, we were with other family members and were skiing at A-Basin, which has runs above the tree line making for a beautiful view.  We had a fun day on the slopes and were going for one more run so I convinced a few people in our group to go to the very top for or last run of the day.  I think there were 5 of us that went to the top (Rose, Bud, Ann, Tom & me). When we got to the top it was windy with snow swirling all around. We gathered at the top of the run and immediately noticed we couldn't see anything; it was a white out.  Since this was my idea everyone was asking what do we do I said just point tour skies downhill and go slow until we get down to the tree line which would give us better visibility.  Everyone was nervous including me but what other choice was there.  Well, it all ended fine and it was an experience we could laugh about later.    

     My last ski story is about our ski trip to Lake Tahoe.  It's beautiful resort and mountain and we were lucky to go staying in a timeshare condo owned by Mimi & Ann's cousin Chris and her husband Scott from Florida.  Two funny stories about this trip one when we were in the car going to the condo, Tom was driving because Chris and Scott we not used to driving in snow whereas the rest of us were from Missouri so it was no big deal.  The truth is Chris and Scott were terrified about driving in the snow.  Maneuvering in the snow takes some experience but the Missourians were comfortable.  At one point Tom made a turn and the back wheels broke loose and skidded sideways a little.  Tom easily avoided a problem by turning into the skid and continued on.  Everyone from Missouri yelled "Weeee" but Chris and Scott gave a nervous laugh and said "What the hells wrong with you people".

     We always took the bus to the slopes at Lake Tahoe that way everyone had the option to return to the condo when they were tired.  On this day Mimi had already headed back when Ann, Chris and I decided we were ready to head back, leaving Tom and Scott there for a few more runs.  So the three os us got on the bus with a very personable and funny bus driver.  He entertained everyone on the ride back.  Incase you have never been skiing or walked in ski boots, it's not a easy or pretty sight especially when you tired from skiing all day.  We were sitting in the rear of the bus when we arrived at our condo.  Ann and Chris got off before me lugging their skis just I as I was.  I was struggling clomping down the aisle carrying my skis, trying not to skewer the other passengers with my poles or skis.  As I was climbing down the steps I must have looked like I just got off a horse because as I exited the bus the driver says "Take it easy there, Cowgirl".  The bus exploded with laughter as they drove off to the next condo.  I could see the people laughing in the window as they passed by.  The driver had a quick wit and we laughed about it as we walked to the condo.  Skiing trips were always fun times with funny people.




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