Ok well in the
interest of playing catchup I wanted to write about our first family ski trip.
COVID has the whole world feeling cooped up, and especially me as someone who
gets antsy staying in one place too long. With that I decided you were all old
enough to try hitting the slopes. I was looking at Telluride but their
restrictions were a bit harsh, so we decided on Purgatory ski resort- just
north of Durango CO. The weeks prior we spent getting together gear, and adult
sized helmets for your heads- Deacon and Quinn!, we rented a little condo which
was perfect for our family.
Ok so here’s the
deal- day one, and especially hours 1-3 were rough, kind of hellish really.
Your mother and I were basically porters for all the heavy gear, and it took
some adjusting to get you all dressed and walking in ski boots. Also the ski
boots I last used 9 years ago had degraded to the point where the inside cushioning
was like glue- which meant by the time I got them on I was burning up under all
my layers, and from all my cursing. Ski
school wasn’t open on our first day- so we headed to the bunny slope with some
instructions from your dear old dad. Quinn you were in moms care, and Cora and
Deacon you were with me.
The bunny hill
tapered quickly to a narrow tunnel under a bridge- very poor design, and after
had a bit of an abrupt point where you had to go left or right- as going
straight would lead over a very sharp and rocky drop off. Deacon and Quinn, I
had gotten ski harnesses that went around your chests and over your shoulders
with leashes so we could control your speed going down the mountain- or such
was the intent. Well off we went. Cora you quickly found your comfort level in
a style that involved leaning back until your bottom was resting on the back of
your skis, and then dragging your hands to slow down. Deacon the leashes mostly
just knocked you down, your skis came off, and due to the snow on your bindings
were not going on easily. Quinn I lost you and mom behind us as you were making
almost no progress.
Deacon and Cora,
we stopped on the far side of the bridge to gather ourselves emotionally and
prepare for the final downhill. I decided to quickly ski down, take the lift
back up, and get mom and Quinn who were still out of sight while you two stayed
and rested. The plan worked, I found mom struggling on the hill and helped
bring Quinn down, then I came back and helped you down Deacon, Cora- you deployed
your butt slide technique until we reached the bottom. Thus our first, and
worst, run was behind us. After our very fun experience we resorted to walking
a small way up hill and letting you two get the feel for coming down, working
on your wedge and getting a feel for being on skis. I did some runs on my own
up the mountain and later we got your courage up to do the bunny hill a few
more times.
Day two was
markedly better, classes in the morning helped, as well as the opening of
another lift with a much better beginner hill. Deacon and Cora you both were
gaining confidence and doing well getting to the bottom of the hill by
yourself- with just a few falls each time. Quinn, while the older two were in
lessons Mom and I took you up the main lift and did a nice long run with you. I
actually found it best to keep you between my skis and occasionally lift you up
as we went down the slopes. It was pretty tiring, but we had a lot of fun and
the scenery was beautiful. You had told us you didn’t want to go on the big
lift, but as usual you courage was up to the task.
That night we
took you into Durango and rode the “Polar Express” it was a real steam train
and you all got a kick out of it, Deacon and Quinn you were fairly convinced we
were actually going to Santas workshop. We found a restraint to eat at- which
we could not do inside- but could in their tent along with other diners- which
made about as much sense as most of the other Covid restrictions did…. In any
case as we drove back up the hill the snow had started to fall, I spend the
last 6 miles of the drive happily behind a snow plow- as it was pitch dark and
I hate driving on snow.
Day three was
perfect. Lessons again in the morning so Cora you really got to work on your
speed control and turns, Deacon you continued to gain confidence and started
getting some small turns down as well. The good news was with that we all went
up the big hill together! Deacon I kept you on the leashes, but you did most of
the work and really did well on your turns. Cora you were on your own and
didn’t fall at all on the way down. You were turning really well, controlling
your speed- and even one time a slightly out of control snow boarder was behind
you and put his hand on you, he fell but you didn’t. Quinn you and mom just
glided down the hill, you with a big smile on your face and your long hair
streaming behind you.
The mountains
were so beautiful, and watching you all grow and conquer something new was
beautiful as well. I loved seeing how your confidence grew with each day, how
the accomplishment emboldened you to try even harder, and push yourself to take
on more. You all fought some like usual, but you were also there for each other
when needed, to carry some burden or offer encouragement and care after the
falls. The last time I had been skiing was with mom in Telluride, Cora you were
just a 1 year old so we left you with Mimi and Papa. Its strange how time can
go by so quickly, that for 9 years we had not been on the mountain together,
but it didn’t feel like we had been absent that long at all. I hope these trips
can become an annual tradition, and that someday Mom and I can help watch your
kids when you go to hit the slopes with your families.
Deacon, You have
a naturally sweet soul that shows up in so much of what you do. I have to be
gentle with you, while still pushing you to grow and sometimes that is a
challenge- like on day 1 of skiing. However, once your confidence grows you
love the feeling of accomplishment, always coming to tell me what you have done,
how you have succeeded. I love encouraging you and affirming your work. You
were still young enough on this trip to have a sense of wonder of the Christmas
train ride, and I really loved that. Your imagination lets you play with Quinn
and delight her with your attention, you are a great big brother to her. You
tried Ju-Jitsu this past month, and we will be enrolling you in some classes,
you seem to really like the wrestling and being tough part- so it will be fun
to see how that develops. I am very proud of the man you are becoming.
