Skiing On My Mind

What is it about the first snow of the season that gets me so pumped up. It is such a big day. It officially means that Winter is knocking. It is like the first significant milestone of the season.
For many years I made it tradition to always put my ski rack back on at the first site of snow (even if it was September). The old Mercury Topaz always did look a lot better with a ski rack on her.  :)

I have a truck now, so I didn’t have to put the ski rack on today after I saw the first snow of the season.  I was on the annual fall foliage mountain bike ride up to the top of Killington with a good crew of friends and acquaintances. We knew it was going to be questionable weather, but frankly did not expect snow. This crew of riders was also a bunch of skiers, so even though our extremities may have been numb, it was hard not to crack a smile and a little shout as the first white stuff of the season came down.

Time to put the ice scraper back in the car, pre-cut your kindling, and book your trip to Utah, because it’s gonna be a BIG Winter!!!

I am always fascinated by what people do in order to ski. Unfortunately this great sport seems to only be affordable if you immerse yourself in it. I mean, how can anyone afford a $70-80 day lift ticket, which doesn’t even include the $100′s spent on equipment.
So what is there to do? I guess the answer is: You must immerse yourself in IT. IT, meaning skiing, the culture, and the lifestyle.
This can be a big commitment. In my case it started by sleeping in a small dorm room with 3 other dudes, and driving a shuttle van. This happened to be 1 of the best ski season’s of my life, and just the beginning of what I hope to be a life of immersion.
Everyone’s case is different, but it will generally be a pretty big commitment, and always be well worth it.  Especially when you are the first one down Eagle’s Nest on a chest deep day, “immersed” in powder.  Happy ski bumming!