Blackjack Ski Club

 I went Cross Country today.  One of the challenges of the start of the season is finding all your gear.  I found my three pin boots, which I have had for 25 years, my poles, but no skis.  Then I remembered that on my last day out in April I broke a binding and delivered my skis to the dump (I am not what you would call and avid cross country skier).

Rossland solution-today is Wednesday: thrift store open!  It took me about two minutes to find a pair of Kharu 220 cm skis complete with fish scales and three pin bindings.  No price on them; so I cautiously took them to the checkout where a lovely elderly lady very closely looked them over and then said "three bucks"!   No tax either.

It was nice to see quite a few skiers on the trails, but I can't say crowds were a problem.

In winter the snow is usually level with the deck on Gibbard's Cabin.

First 2013 Turns

 I had my first turns of the 2013 season today.  I am feeling great.  What an early start!

I drove up to Strawberry Pass, although I could have skied in Rossland-we had 35 cm in town.

I had to stay on the trails, when I ventured off trail my skis got tangled in sticks.  But on the trails I was touching nothing but snow.

 One odd thing about skiing in October is that the trees still have not lost all their foliage.

I had first tracks all the way, good snow.

 My ski touring partner Betsey.  For the most part she was super excited.  she was getting over it by the time I took this photo.

My first 4 turns of the season.  About a million more to come.