[at-l] My black and blue weekend...

[pmags@yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

Being from New England, you would think it should be a
red, white and blue weekend for me. However, since I
do not follow football and it was my first time
telemark skiing, it was more akin to a black and blue
weekend for me. 

First, did the capture the flag event Friday evening.
A word of advice, running around at 9000 feet, in two
feet of snow, while wearing Sorrel's, can be a bit
tiring.  While running with one of the four flags, I
had a zen moment with a tree. (Meaning I crashed into
it). My ribs seem to have a lovely, light shade of
black and blue, with a tint of yellow.  But it was
fun, in a wandering around the dark, ducking into tree
cover, post-holing in snow, kind of way.

After getting home at 12:30 AM Saturday (and noticing
the scrapes and cuts on my knees from wandering into a
low lying fence that know one knew about until I did
it), went telemark skiing Saturday morning.  

Telemark skiing has a free heel and has skis wide
enough to go into deep powder. With the use of skins,
can go up hill. The boot is locked into the binding
via three pins, hence the nickname for Telemarkers
-Pinheads. Telemark skiing allows the backcountry to
be really explored on skis, and you can do alpine
skiing as well. Very versatile. 

Went to a local ski area to practice the basics. Since
I have limited cross-country experience, and no alpine
experience, my attempts at learning to ski were rather
comical. The first two hours can be summed up as this:
go up the lift, fall of the lift, get up, try to snow
plow, get up, repeat.  However, after two hours, I was
able to make successive runs without falling. Even did
some telemark turning (which reminded me of
genuflecting, after nine years of Catholic school, the
kneeling to do a telemark turn seemed natural. :D)

Best part of the day was when I learned to ski enough
to do the side trails that connect the main lifts.
More of a backcountry experience.  The day was
beautiful, the scenery was nice, but I was ready for a
backcountry experience.

Yesterday, did the backcountry thing.  Hike up to the
top of Niwot bowl. The hike up took about 3 hrs.
Finally, we made it to the top. Attempted to ski down.
The icy, bumpy, snow was a bit different from a
groomed ski trail in a lift area to say the least. To
make a long story short, ended up going straight down
rather than turning how I intended. Did a somersault,
scared my friends, and convinced everyone that
somewhere in my ancestry is silly putty due to the way
I spring back from every fall.  The rest of the day
was not quite as 'exciting' due to less of a steep
drop.  Did not do too badly, and was able to admire
the crisp snow, the gorgeous mountains and enjoy the
fact that we saw NO other people the whole time. It
was an isolated area and I am guessing more people
stayed inside due to football. 

 I am a bit stiff in my arms and quads (and my
ribs..ouch!). Haven't felt this sore from a
backcountry experience in a loooong time, but the
whole weekend was worth it. Winter does not mean
ceasing of activities, means a whole new set of great
things to do! 

(And, of course, head the requsite beer and a burger
at the end of Sunday at a bar and grill right next to
he backcountry ski area.. mmmmmmmm..)


Black and Blue Mags...



 

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The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau

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