Taos, New Mexico

I have been wanting to visit Taos for quite some time to mountain bike, hike, and well just enjoy being in the mountains again. After watching the Winter Olympics and missing another New England winter, my husband suggested driving up to Taos to ski. So we did and had an amazing time. I learned to ski in New England so I'm used to ice, slush, and freezing temperatures. Upon arriving at the Taos Ski Valley, my husband warned me that skiing in western conditions was dreamlike. No ice, nice temps, and powder, sweet powder. My ski experiences were transformed in the first few seconds of skiing. The elevation was higher. The snow was like sugar. The trails were longer and less crowded. And the views were spectacular!

Stay tuned for more posts about Taos in the next couple of days - the food, the people, and art - there's so much to share.

PHOTO FROM MOUNTAIN MIST PHOTOGRAPHY, P.O. Box 745, Red River, NM 87558, 575.754.6635, iamlabman@yahoo.com

Nutcase

I first discovered Nutcase up in Maine when I was shopping for a helmet for skiing. I just now discovered that they make really cool bicycle/street helmets and have an unbelievable selection of designs. It looks like all helmets are $50. My favorite is the Watermelon and also the Bike + Walk because every day is Love Your Brain Day!

Brrrrr. It's cold!!

The sun is shining but after walking the dog this morning, Seth and I agreed that it's too chilly to ride. Instead, we decided that one of us (Seth) would make a quick "drive" to the farmers market (bunch of carrots and buffalo) while the other (me) prepared veggies for a delicious stew. I perfectly admit that I'm a fair weather rider. I would have considered a day like today the perfect day to ride when I lived in Boston. Austin has really spoiled me especially when we have temps in the 70s in January! I almost forgot it was winter. Nothing like a biting cold wind to remind you! Well, I better get used to the cold again because Seth and I heading to Taos, NM for a few days in February to ski. Any recommendations for trails?

Should ski resorts limit the number of skiers?

Yes. In my humble opinion, ski resorts should consider safety and the overall enjoyment of visitors thus limiting the number of skiers to the number of open trails and when conditions warrant doing so. For example, this past Monday, I went with family to Waterville Valley in New Hampshire to enjoy a full day of skiing. We knew that trail conditions would not be optimum because the temps had warmed to the 60s the day before. Also, the New England region didn't get any snow for the last 3-4 days. But we were optimistic that the resort would groom the trails, make snow and limit the number of skiers on the trails. When we arrived at 8am, the resort posted the trail conditions as "Packed Powder, Loose Granular". We decided to make a go of it. On our first run, we noticed right away that the trail conditions were not what we consider packed powder nor loose granular. Instead, there were bare patches and continuous patches of ice. On that run, there were very few skiers so we were able to navigate the trail easily despite the conditions. Our second run down the same trail was a wholly different experience. The trail quickly became treacherous because of the overwhelming number of skiers and riders. Most of whom were discourteous. Not good when trail conditions are poor.

I'm what most would consider an intermediate skier. I didn't grow up on the slopes. In fact, I didn't even start skiing until a couple of years ago when Seth coaxed me into a lesson. Now I'm hooked. I love being out there - and I'm willing to ski in all conditions - even single digit temps. Usually it takes a couple of runs to get me warmed up and confident in my form. But, on this day, such confidence and form would allude me due to the sheer number of people. If I turned to the right, someone would be right there so I quickly had to correct myself so that we didn't collide. Notice it was I, the one with the right of way, who corrected versus the guy who kept on moving without slowing down, turning, or even apologizing. Then again, given the number of people I'm not even sure if the people who almost hit me had any choice. Even though it was a wide trail, there was nowhere else to go. Everyone in our group nearly got hit or almost hit someone else several times. Seth, a native New Englander, remarked that in all his 22 years of skiing in New England, that he had never seen that many skiers on one trail in such conditions and that the resort was selling more tickets than they should.

On our third run, we ventured on to a different lift that would take us higher into the mountains and hopefully away from everyone else. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea at the same time. As we entered the more difficult and narrower trails, we noticed right away that the trail conditions were even worse. There were large patches of ice followed by large patches of new snow. There wasn't as many people as the lower trails but still more than there should be considering the conditions. Somehow we made our way down without a collision. Others weren't so lucky. We saw ski patrol carrying someone who had gotten hit by another skier. That third run was the last straw for us. We had had enough. We decided to turn in our tickets for a refund due to the conditions. We weren't the only ones. As we left the resort, we noticed that they were still continuing to sell tickets and advertise that the trails were packed powder, loose granular. We couldn't believe it.

In conditions like I've outlined in this post, Waterville, like other area ski resorts (Sunapee, SugarBush) should reasonably restrict the number of skiers to the number of open trails especially when conditions are poor. This will ensure that everyone has a somewhat enjoyable, safe experience and that skiers will return to that resort in the future. Yes, it may mean a loss of short term sales but the resort will lose sales anyway from those skiers who had a terrible experience. Our group will most likely never return to that particular resort. True, I live in Austin so it's not much of a loss for them but there were also people who lived in the area or within driving distance who demanded a refund. I also think they should not have taught lessons on a day like that. If I had my first lesson in such poor conditions with people bombing down the green trails (where the beginners go), I never would have attempted skiing again.

i heart skiing

For many of those who know me, you know that I hate the cold and I hate not being in control. Bikes have brakes. Skis don't. So upon moving here to New England, Seth has been trying like crazy to get me to learn how to ski. I resisted. I refused. You know all those bad comedies where the hero always ends up in traction because he decided to go skiing? In my mind, I was the star of that bad comedy and I didn't want to be hobbling around Boston on a broken leg carrying a bunch of law books. No way, no how. I have tried cross country skiing and I really enjoyed it so when Seth's parents invited us up to New Hampshire for some cross country skiing and tubing on Spring Break last year I was thrilled. Well, we went tubing the first day and had a blast. The second day, Seth's mom announces that she wants to take a downhill ski lesson and asked me and her husband, Seth's dad, if we wanted to. I was like... uh huh! as was Seth's Dad, he had just recovered from a back injury. But, she talked us into it because Seth's Dad took her skiing many many years ago and she had a really horrible experience and now she wanted to try it again. Inspired by her courage and resolve, we both decided to give it a go as well.

So off we go to our lesson in the middle of a blizzard at Bretton Woods. And by blizzard, I mean it was snowing so hard that you couldn't see how far down the slope you had to go. I didn't really learn anything in the lesson other than it was kind of fun. We were on a baby slope so I couldn't really go that fast and I somehow managed to figure it out. The following day, we got one on one lessons and upgraded to a beginner green trail and I got a little better. I could stop... eventually.....but couldn't really do the turns. I enjoyed it and SEth's dad was in love again. He used to ski a long time ago so he was relearning - however, he was doing much better on the turns than I.

Our second trip to the slopes happened a couple of weeks later to a slope in Vermont. It was the end of the season, the weather was warmer and the slopes were slushy. I didn't do so good, I didn't like the slush and I didn't like the mountain. It was a really crappy way to end the season.

Our third trip to the slopes was to Sunday River, ME this past December. The mountain was amazing - the views unbelievable. Seth's dad and I took the Perfect Turn clinic while Seth bombed down the double diamond trails. We learned so much and I finally started turning albeit it was the snowplow. But still I was turning!! And I was learning the parallel style. So we hit the green trails and had an absolute blast. It was scary in some parts because I wasn't comfortable going fast and then we happened on a narrow trail where ppl were bombing down past me. There were moguls too! I slid down all those and by the end of the day, I was completely wiped. So much so, that when I went to change into my clothes, I accidentally went into the men's bathroom not realizing it until after I changed into my clothes. Thank goodness I was in a stall!!

Now the reason for the I heart skiing post, our fourth trip. On Monday, the three of us (me, Seth and Dad) went up to Sunapee for a day trip. I mastered the turns parallel style!! And we were skiing BLUE TRAILS. That's intermediate for all you non-skiers! Me!! On my fourth ski trip ever. of course, I had a few hiccups on the really steep sections but still it was so much fun. Now I know why ppl enjoy it so much. Unfortunately it was bone-chilling cold and I couldn't feel my feet or hands much of the time. Single digits and a wind chill factor of burrrr!! There were times when the wind was so strong that I came to a perfect standstill. I'm not kidding! We braved it out and went into the lodge periodically to thaw out. I can't wait to go again!

It twas a good year

As 2007 comes to a close, I can't help but reflect on how quickly the years are flying. In my 20s, I couldn't fill up my time. Maybe because I didn't require as much sleep and had more hours in the day. Now it seems I can never have enough time to do anything and this is after scheduling, prioritizing, and managing. I also like to think about time in snapshots - who I was and what my dreams were at 20, 25, 30, and now 35. I am constantly amazed by how far off the track I have traveled. Literally. And I thank God every day for it. The best rewards come when I really push myself and boy have I pushed myself in the last 5 years. 2007 was a really good year. I learned how to ski and fell in love with New England in the winter. I've also gained more and more confidence in my decision to become an attorney and am really excited at the prospect of working for myself. I've also realized how homesick I am to be closer to my family. It's been 13 years since I've lived in Texas. While living in Nashville, I didn't really notice it because I could always find a reasonable flight or jump in the car and make the 9 hour drive. I can't do that here. I am really, really far from home. Maybe it's because I'm getting older. I don't know. But I do know that my heart just aches to be with my mom, my brothers and yes, even my dad.

Winter Break yields subzero temps and fun-filled days of skiing

This past weekend, S and I ventured up to Conway, New Hampshire with his parents for a little winter adventure in subzero temps. We ambitiously planned to cross-country ski, snowshoe and downhill skiing. I have never skiied downhill and was a little apprehensive. In my mind's eye, I could see myself tumbling end over end, hitting a tree and coming down the mountain in a stretcher. So when S's parents suggested that we take a group lesson, I was not really excited about it but decided that I would be a good sport and at least try it for a bit. S, an expert skier, headed off to ski the afternoon away while we took our lesson. We suited up in our gear and met our instructor who was as old as the hills but is quite graceful. After going through the standard instructions on stopping, turning, getting up when you've fallen and clipping in and out of the skis, we hopped on the chair lift and headed to the learning trails. I was quite terrified as was S's mom but I managed to survive my way down the trail without falling down or over. I had a lot of difficulty turning and stopping but luckily I wasn't going very fast. I went down a few more trails and we called it a day. S's Dad did great and his mom did pretty well considering that she was terrified. We made plans to come back the next day and try it again. Unfortunately the weather didn't want to cooperate. THe winds were gusty and severe and the temp didn't get above 3degrees. So we made it a lazy day and decided to go the next day. We woke up to temp of -14 degrees. Eck! However, the forecast said that there would be little wind and a high in the teens so we decided to go again and wear essentially everything that we owned! We got to the slopes mid-day and signed up for yet another lesson. Because it was such a cold day, not many hopeful skiers turned out and there were more instructors than students so everyone got their own instructor. It was awesome. I started out once again on the learning trails and my instructor helped me refine my form and especially my "turns". After an hour, we took the BIG chair lift up the mountain to the novice trails. I was very nervous but also excited. As we made our way down the mountain, I experienced some difficulty stopping so my instructor worked with me until I got it down before we proceeded further down the steeper sections. Finally we made it to the steep section and I followed him for a while zig-zagging my way down. It was so much fun. I then went up the mountain again a couple of times practicing my skills. By the end of the day, I was flying down the trail and zig-zagging perfectly and able to stop on a dime. I am now officially addicted to skiing. Hopefully we can go again this weekend. ;-)

Back in school

My lil bro left on Saturday after staying with us for a week. It was really fun having him here although the weather was cold. He was coming from an 80 degree heat wave in Dallas. But it snowed and he got to experience urban life in Beantown.

On Sunday, BF and I went XC skiing on Sunday with his parents and some friends. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see us doing that as much as possible. It's neat because everyone can pretty much ski together and chat.

Monday was the first day back in class and the everyone's mood could best be described as somber. Everyone had way too much fun over break and the thought of a full semester of what we had just experienced in the fall was less than desirable. And we're all anxiously awaiting our grades. Last night, our Torts grade was posted and I was pleasantly surprised to see that my final grade was a B+ - my girlfriends also did well and were in the B range which is so awesome. Bs are not what most of us coveted in undergrad but in law school, they're rare and As are like precious diamonds in the ruff. The majority of students fall in the C range so yes, we are very happy girls. I got my CivPro midterm back and was disappointed. It was the one exam where I felt like I choked on the essay but did really well on the MC. The opposite happened. I bombed the MC and did well on the essay. *&@! Don't worry, I passed (just didn't get a B). The mid-term is only worth 30% of our final grade so I still have chance to bring it up on the final. No pressure! And I have B/B+ in LRW. So far so good! Still waiting for Property and Contracts. Keep your fingers crossed for me!