OK, so I have not been an avid skier since my 20's, but hey, it's like walking, or riding a bike and once you've got the hang of it, no problem...right???
We arrived at Hunt Hollow and there was a lovely lodge at the base of what looked like a huge mountain, ready to topple over on the tiny structure. The loud speaker was pumping out some oldies, we arrived to hear Cream....allowing us to feel right at home but this was a clever diversion. The slope still loomed ominously. I busied myself with hugs, hellos, ticket purchase and ski rental. I went up to find everyone had already gone up for their first run, except one friend and she was ready too. I quickly bundled up and out we went in search of the Bunny Slope.
Well, not a rope tow or ski school in sight. "I'll go up as long as there are Easy slopes down" I said pleadingly. My friend assured me all was well. I went up on the lift, not a problem, got off without falling and then I saw the drop offs to heavily wooded forests and fear set in. My legs were quivering but I relied on snow plow and stem christies traversing my way down, slowly. Mary was already paralleling and she too claimed to not have skied for 18 years...Well, I think she must have practiced for the last 3 weeks, with lessons included.
To make a long story short, we had a BALL! A lesson was thrown in for Mary and I (mostly me). We fully exhausted ourselves with seven runs up and down to the summit, challenging ourselves at every turn. It was exhilarating, to say the least. So good to step out of the box and challenge my mental and physical limits. We were treated to a beautiful lunch in which all of us sat around a big table and rehydrated and ate, laughing about some of the spills we had.
When Mary and I had finished with our lesson, placed our skis in a rack and were nearly at the lodge, we turned to each other and fell into a huge BEAR HUG...that about says it all!
n.
