To Be and Not Ski? That is The Question.
Julie Kennedy
The dilemma: stay in for a rest day or go play.
It doesn’t get much better than starting another Valhalla Mountain Touring ski day with Louie’s hazelnut pancakes, pepper bacon and just the right amount of chai tea.
Day two snow report: eight new inches of dry light Canadian powder erased our tracks, dense spruce trees are covered in snow — a magical winter wonderland just begging to be explored.
As the energy builds for yet another dreamy day skiing cold smoke, I feel angst and struggle with the need to take a rest day. After three days of perfect turns in endless powder, my legs and new knees beg me for a day of stretching, relaxing by the fire, and a hot sauna to top off another beautiful day.
Taking care of the bods that are going to take care of us tomorrow when we assault the pow with our weapons of shred.
So hard to recognize self, ignore peer pressure, and slow the mind down enough to listen to what’s going on inside. But when we take that moment, step back and listen to what our hearts tell us, letting go usually works best.
There is always tomorrow!
(Guest blogger, Julie Kennedy, former owner of Climbing Magazine, founder of the 5Point Film Festival and terrific skier — WildSnow Über Girl!)
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8 Responses to “To Be and Not Ski? That is The Question.”
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Looks great up there Julie! Snowing hard back in Carbondale too, hope your skis are skiing fast.
Julie-this really hit home for me. Thank You! It’s snowing hard in Colorado and I’m so anxious to get out and tour. But several things are keeping me grounded: two dogs, new job, repairing broken relationship, trying to repair broken gear, fill the avy pack cylinder, etc; lack of touring partners (everyone I know left town). But Saturday is coming and then I can tour for 10 days straight, go to a hut trip early January and ski the lights out….I just could not imagine a life without skiing.
This couldn’t ring more true for me today.
6 am wake up, two arduous hours of driving on snow-packed, icy, wind blown roads to ski the foot of fresh at Wolf Creek (not to mention the 50″ that fell during the previous week). Never mind the sore legs from lapping powder turns three out the last four days and definitely don’t worry about the lack of sleep from a rattly old wood burning fireplace. Today is a day my mind tells me that there’ll be plenty more of these days to come. Reaching into the back of the Subaru to adjust a quiver of skis, my back slips out of place, leaving me unable to stand up-right, let alone strap skis to my feet and slide joyfully down the mountain.
Today is a day of rest. Stretching, reading and enjoying the warmth of a rattly old fireplace.
@luke
Perfect!
Even though I love spending time with Julie, it was torture to pass on skiing for the day. BUT, Julie and I ripped today — great to feel re-charged after a day of stretching and rest.
Julie, add some ice into the equations a swell and tomorrow will be better.
Also Luke and others, my chiropractor told me one of the worst things you can do is twist around to lift something from the back seat of the car. He said he sees more people for that simple little exercise than any other. Good to know.
Hope your back recovers sufficiently. Remember RICE
Happy trails!!
Skiing at Valhalla is amazing!!!! Great thoughts Julie!!!
Way to keep it real. Its all about the journey and one of the best parts is rest. We are blessed to have it!