These days may or may not have been THE best ski days of the season. But they were MY best ski days of the season. These are the days that filled me with the most emotional connection. The powder surely wasn’t the deepest of the season on any of these days, but the smiles were the biggest. Rereading the reports and viewing the pictures gives me goosebumps and vivid remembrances. These days meant something special — each was far more important than just another powder day.
In date order:
A Jay Day: Good, Better, Best — November 7, 2012
In the midst of massive upheaval and chaos at work, I took a week long stay-cation. Not because I wanted to. But rather because I had to — for my own mental and physical health. The week began with earning turns at Mansfield on Sunday followed by Killington’s opening day on Monday. But by Wednesday, not even early season skiing could snap me out of my funk and ennui. Life had grabbed my center and pulled downward, hard. I tossed the skis into the car and headed to Jay; because what else was I going to do during a self imposed exile from work?
This day defined my entire season, and the last year of my life for that matter. I put my head down and kept on keeping on — that through action and perseverance I might come to resolution. In this case, I was rewarded for my persistence as every run was better than the last. I gained perspective but it was fleeting. But if only for a moment, my life was better and richer for my efforts. And I was temporarily elevated above everything that was dragging me down.
Jay: When 12″ Feels like 21″ — January 5, 2013
Unforecasted freak powder, between holidays periods, and wind holds: all the makings of a great powder day at Jay. But best of all, I got to share it with an old Jay ski buddy. We skied untracked powder right through our last run. It made me miss having a home mountain where I could ski with a friend every powder day. Skiing with a partner is a lot of fun, but especially when you both know the mountain and you both know where to go. When you know where each other wants to go without saying it but you still say it any ways. Maybe I’ll find someone to share Smuggs with next season. Because I sure miss the camaraderie of sharing a great powder day with a great guy.
Whaleback is AWESOME!! — March 9, 2013
Whaleback was the last New England ski area on The List. And I picked a great mountain at which to wrap up the New England part of The List. I wish it had been one of the first so that I could have enjoyed the mountain more. Whaleback’s owners announced that the area would close yet again just a few days after this awesome day.
I started the day at Suicide Six, an area that was a one-and-done to cross off the list. I called it a resort amenity. I packed it up after a few runs and drove to Whaleback. Another area that I assumed would be a one-and-done to cross off the list. But I had one of my best days of the year exploring Whaleback and discovering all that it had to offer. I timed my visit right as the mountain finally had enough to snow to put almost everything into play.
Despite the excellent snow year for southern New Hampshire, the Upper Valley struggled with a terrible snow year for local areas Whaleback and Dartmouth. Too far north to get the big SoNH snows and too far south to capitalize on the not so plentiful White Mountain storms, both mountains floundered this year with low base depths and a lack of natural snow trails open throughout most of the year.
I hit Whaleback just right at its peak base depth before the snow started to melt. I skied many awesome and funky old school trails. Whaleback was mostly ungroomed natural snow featuring nice steeps and bumps along with some of the best tree skiing south of Cannon. I charged hard until the closing bell and had some damn tired legs by the end of the day. What a great discovery, if only just a little too late.
The Highway to the Highway — April 28, 2013
Hillman’s used to have my number for some strange reason. While it is the least steep gully in Tuckerman Ravine, it is also the longest climb. I made a few attempts at Hillman’s when I first started skiing the Ravine but managed to bonk on four different occasions before topping out. The last time I skied Hillman’s was 2006 and since then I’ve climbed many a gully and have learned to slow down, take a rest step, and enjoy the climb. Looking back, it is hard to fathom what my problem was all those years ago. But that isn’t at all what made this day special.
Continuing the seasonal trend from Jay in November, today was all about putting my head down and pushing through the mess that my life had become. My fitness level had plummeted to a lifetime worst. My stress level at work was through the roof. Everyday seemed like a grind with no sunrise on the horizon. I believed this day was going to cause me a lot of pain due to my lack of fitness and I was ready to take it in an attempt to take something back.
But I thrived against my perceived adversity and had one of my best days of the season. Sherbie was soon to bow out but it was still skiing two thirds of the way. This was the last day before the hike out would become excessive. Again, I went in search of perspective and found it, however fleeting it might have been. I need to get up there more often.
Tuckerman Ravine: Because I Love It — June 15, 2013
I aspire to be a so called die hard but I continually fail miserably. I am lucky to get 40 ski days in per year, little more than when I lived in Massachusetts, prior to moving within minutes of the mountains. I continually let work get in the way rather than rearranging my life to maximize on hill time. I became a powder princess, I stay home on hard pack days when natural snow is scant. I continually fall short of maximizing my earned turn potential.
But come late June and sometimes early July, I actualize my aspiration. I am one of the limited few that keeps at it until the snow is completely gone. Some years I don’t know why I do it. Other years I know with all my heart. But I keep doing it regardless, and I’ll keep doing it as long as I can. Thus, I will continue to transform aspiration into affirmation. Both on skis and off.