My pal EmJay is always up for fun times in the woods. Pretty lucky to have her around, that is for sure. She is not a big skier, but here she is on a cold Friday afternoon (it was about 7 degrees with a stiff breeze) starting a ski in Peru at 4:15. We stuffed my car in a snowbank on the side of Concord Pond Road and skied Speckled Mountain Road in. It was perfect because we had received about 5-7 inches of perfect, light, dry, fluffy snow on top of what we got last (which was pretty wet). Someone had driven out on the road in a truck before the latest storm and laid down perfect tracks to ski in. I had two headlamps with me, so we did not need to worry about light. The sun is setting around 4:40 or so these days. It was clear and pristine and we thankfully did not see a soul.
EmJay offered, so we posed. I am usually the one behind the camera so it is nice to have someone else doing that job. Dixie loves the snow - she and I feel just the same about time on snow.
This is where we decided we should turn back for the car - she's got kids and I needed to head to Farmington. It was some sweet twilight.
As we turned around she exclaimed, "Who does this? You're the only person I know who does this." I told her yeah, I'd be doing this alone if you were not with me, so it is pretty sweet to have you along. And she muttered it a few more times, with this super-psyched tone - proud that she can now count herself among those people who "do this". I am so thankful she is.
On Saturday, Jim joined me for a two hour ski out in Temple. It was pretty sweet out there. I think he likes his Christmas present. I got him a sweet setup of skis and boots -- all back-country (not like out West back-country) metal edges, fish scales, back-country binding. I got them at the Bethel Ski Swap. He is making good use and actually enjoying them. I even saw his tracks leaving Grampa's - he had skied to the wood shop to work. Wahoo!
On tour!
Ripping it up in my tracks.
The longer we skied, the closer we got to the Mt. Blue State Park boundary and the more the sky cleared. It was beautiful out there.
On Sunday we met Al and Barry out on Route 234 - the road to North Anson and hit a sweet snowmobile trail. We had to be back for the big game so we only stayed out for about an hour and half, but it was fun (as always) to connect with those guys.
There's Al, blazing her own trail. It's funny. She was leading a bit because I was hanging back taking some photos and I would come up on tracks (knowing they were hers) that went way off piste - climbing up and then winding through the woods. I always followed them and Jimmy always stayed on the snowmobile trail like Barry. Cute. Al and I are pretty psyched that our husbands love each other so much and have so much in common. Pretty lucky.
Good times.
And now we wait for another little storm. I hope it is bigger than they are predicting. We are still plagued with this above normal warm weather, so this little storm will start as snow and then mix. Good for canceling school, not perfect for ripping it up in the woods. I have a LONG route planned for a ski with Dix tomorrow - if we do not have school. Here's hoping for that : )
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