Self-inflicted Brutality

The kayaks lurk in the garage, well nigh forgotten. Snow covers the ground and small dogs. Rather than fighting the drifts and ice to launch a kayak, we embrace winter and head to higher ground to play in the snow, currently lying about 8 feet deep at the top of Schweitzer.

The snow conditions (unrelated to visibility) were quite good during Audrey and Dominique's visit. In fact, the seven inches of new light snow greeting us on December 26 made for a memorable day. On the 24th, we had four inches new of wind-driven powder - not bad, just not as special.

To date this season, I've had perhaps seven days downhill skiing. We have yet to venture into the backcountry - avalanche danger has been high and, until December 27, the in-area slopes uncrowded, conspiring to remove motivation for the outback. Another possibility, is skate skiing. So today I was out on the x-country trails trying that option. For the route I chose, there were three inches of new snow atop last night's grooming.

Recreational downhill skiing does not require a high level of fitness, once your technique is reasonably solid. In contrast, I find skate skiing quite strenuous, partly because my technique remains questionable and also because my fitness is below par. Even with those flaws remedied, it will still be more demanding than downhill. In any case, today's skate ski outing was brutal.

My skate ski route is mostly uphill on the way out and consequently much easier on the way back. Another way to capture the experience is to realize that I get hot, sweaty, and borderline exhausted on the way out and then come back rather wet and at much higher speed enhancing the windchill. My hope is that I will become more fit and improve my technique so that the way out becomes aerobic rather than anaerobic. Stay tuned over the next few months as this ancient geek struggles with his mortality.

Richard
2007.12.29

Sandpoint Reentry

The trip from Nanaimo to Sandpoint went smoothly with good roads all the way - a bit of a traffic jam near Everett being the only hitch. We caught the 5:15 AM ferry, entered the USA at the Pacific Highway crossing, and arrived in Sandpoint at 4:15 PM. The early start allowed us to drive during daylight hours, once the two hours on the ferry were done.

The kayaks were unloaded from the car top and stowed in the garage, probably until late April - ditto for the bikes. The house needs a bit of cleaning and the sidewalk some shoveling. After settling in slightly, we headed to Spokane for a visit. There I abandoned Eli for a few days and will pick her up maybe Thursday, but if the skiing gets really good, she may be stuck there until April..

The slopes at Schweitzer are recovering from the rain-triggered climax avalanches with the current series of storms. Yesterday's skiing was rather good with about 7 inches new and some of the advanced terrain starting to open e.g. Whiplash, Australia. I may go up again tomorrow; about a foot of new snow is forecast. Reality may temper that e.g. fewer inches, rain, etc. The 20 or so inches washed away by the rains has been restored, but not the 5 feet lost on some slopes via avalanche. At the moment it is 32 Fahrenheit in town and snowing, perhaps sincerely..

We expect company (Audrey and Dominique) by the weekend. They are hoping for some good skiing. We'll do our best.

Richard
2007.12.18

Exiting Nanaimo

We made no more kayak trips since our last report. The one feasible paddling day conflicted with the student art sale at Malaspina, where two of Eli's pieces sold, the "Pet Rooster" and "Odalisque 2". I've finished at the college with two days of giving exams, followed by evaluating the results. After dinner at Aladdin's with the 'gang' tonight, we must start packing for the trip to Sandpoint. On top of the fully loaded car will be two kayaks, while on the rear bike rack will be two bikes.

Monday looks like the best day to attempt Snoqualmie. Our plan is to catch the 5:15 AM ferry to Tsawwassen and then on to the border, where we have some business involving the export of the Subaru to Canada. If we finish at the border by 9 AM and Snoqualmie is bonny, we'll reach Spokane around 4 PM and Sandpoint by 6 PM - a longish day.

We had a good spell here in Nanaimo, but the transition to Sandpoint has us a bit frenzied because of the winter travelling.

Richard
2007.12.07

Snow Falling on Salt Water

It snowed yesterday afternoon and evening, a rarity at sea level here. The roads were nasty enough that our plan to meet friends for dinner at the Green Olive was abandoned. Instead, we trudged through the wind and falling snow to the Black Dog Cafe, the social and cultural hub of the Lantzville Metroplex. They were having (hopefully) a dinner concert featuring Celtic Chaos. The dinner guests and the band were undeterred by the weather and slowly drifted in. The 3 band members played these instruments:
* man #1 - accordion
* man #2 - flute (and penny whistle once)
* girl - cello (and banjo once)
A 4th band member (fiddle) watched from the crowd, nursing her broken wrist.

The accordion player complained about people who would come up at the end of the typical performance to share their favorite accordion jokes with him. Recently his hopes were raised in a similar post-concert encounter. The gentleman came up to him afterward with a penny whistle joke, which goes like this:
Gentleman: "What do you call a tepee-like configuration of penny whistles?"
Accordion player with hopes raised: "I don't know. What?"
Gentleman: "Kindling for an accordion fire."

After being fed and entertained, we walked home through the still active storm. On the way, we detoured to the end of Sebastion Road to witness the storm-driven waves crash on the rocks. It was quite dramatic - magical, but not inviting. We didn't scurry home to get the kayak.

In fact, kayaking is likely over for the season. We leave for North Idaho a week from tomorrow or soon thereafter, using the first opportunity to traverse Snoqualmie Pass without snow tires.

Richard
2007.12.02