First Snowshoe Post Surgery!

I was released from my back surgery restrictions on Wednesday.  Thursday Mike and I headed to Mt. Spokane to snowshoe.  I can't ski yet but snowshoeing is just fine.  I was just thrilled to move and get active.  Let's get going!!!

Happy, happy!

Mike hiked and I lugged my snowshoes on my feet. He is handsome.

Such a beautiful day!  I love the snow especially when I can play in it!

There is a nice little creek that runs through the mountain.

Oh, maybe we will see some sun!  Mike and I would just stop now and then and thank God for the beauty around us in the mountains. 

We really wanted to get to the cabin but I was getting tired (out of shape) and Mike had some pain in his leg.  We just kept slowly creeping up, up, up.  It is a gradual uphill climb for 1.5 miles. 

Thankfully, we didn't quit and we made it to the cabin. A one room cabin with a wood stove to keep warm. Mike and I celebrated for making it to the cabin.

Oh, Mike is in his element.  No fire in the wood stove and Mike got to work. He made some kindling and got busy. 

The view from inside the cabin. 

And here he goes!

I was hoping that Mike didn't catch himself on fire blowing on it.  No water, we would have to use snow to put that out. 

He didn't burn his hand or set himself on fire.  We had a nice fire to warm ourselves.  We had some snacks and then headed back down the mountain.  

And look!  We saw some sun!!!!  What a great adventure!  I was so thankful to get out and move and be active.  I am looking forward to getting out in God's creation again!  

The Cross Country Ski Adventure

Visions of sugar plums danced in my head.  I strapped on my skis thinking I got this.  It's been 20ish years since I had been on cross country skis but it's like riding a bike, right?  You just get back on the skis and it would be just like years ago.  Boy, was I wrong.  Both Mariane and I had been on cross country skis in the past and both of us forgot everything.  Well, not everything!  I knew you could use the groom tracks, you had to go forward, and it was different than downhill skiing.  The most critical thing we both forgot was how to stop. That's really important.  The snow plow technique didn't seem to work the same as downhill skiing.  Some nice people saw our struggles and helped us with our crashes and gave us some tips.  They spent a good amount of time with us trying to get us up on our skis and doing that moving forward thing.  After they left the struggle was still real.  The conditions were icy. That complicated everything. Not a good day to start!  We took our skis off and started back down the trail.  Were we done?  NO WAY.

We were still in fantasy land here!

This was my crash on the first trail.  I am not kidding, the camera somehow took a picture without me.  It was around my neck and I felt it bounce around. When I looked at the pictures later I couldn't believe it.  Well, now my crash has been documented whether I wanted it to be or not.

We found a trail that wasn't as icy.  With some back and forth practice the skills started coming back.  The snow plow does work when you want to stop.  My skis don't have metal edges so you really have to move your knees in and get the edges of the skis up on the snow.  I got it.

We continued to venture farther down the trail and then come back.  The slightest downhill was an issue at first.  We mastered the stop and got those slight downhills conquered.  Next step will be a real hill.

 I love snow! I love snow!!!

 Winter is my favorite!!

 A nice little Christmas tree standing out from the crowd.

 The Selkirk lodge.

When we got our map at the beginning of the day the nice man said there were no really challenging trails on this hill.  Well, that is a matter of opinion! We ended this adventure with smiles on our faces and ready to go again.  It feels good when you master or should I say begin to master something that was difficult.  Now I have another way to play in the snow!!!   We are both excited to go again.  

First Snow of Fall

Its back.  The white fluffy stuff that dresses up the scenery.  This is my favorite time of the year.  Not just because of skiing although that is a huge part of it but because it is so beautiful.  It is peaceful to me.  

 When this steep hill is green Mike gets to mow it.  It is hard and I appreciate that he does it.

 I went to the store and on the way home I stopped in front of our house to take first snow pictures.  One thing I love about the snow is the family time we spend together with the grandkids at 49 Degrees North.  It is so cool to watch Kristin and Justin work with them on the hill.  They are good skiers already!

 Snow tires will be put on this Friday.  I usually beat the snow tire rush but didn't this year.  I will be fine.  I am especially looking forward to ski season this year.  I think I appreciate everything in life much more after coming so close to not living.  Ski season will be a celebration this year.  I might not be able to ski a whole day but that is AOK.  I just love being up there in God's creation!