MLK Day Ski

Since yesterday, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. The sun, which has been staying up longer each day since winter solstice, seemed weaker today, barely penetrating the blowing snow in the atmosphere. It was a different kind of ski today. No throngs of skiers--just me and the wind.

The wind had scoured the trail, filling in the depressions where we skied yesterday and leaving bits of sticks and grass exposed. In addition to the filled-in tracks and debris, the snow was much colder today (air temperature was ten below), so the skis were not gliding like they did yesterday. Consequently, I got a very good workout, despite not moving very quickly. I also made sure to have a neck gaiter on, which I pulled up over my nose when the wind was coming at me head on, to prevent getting my nose frostbitten. I kept my head down and forged ahead.

This gave me some time to think about Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Junior and the history of slavery in our country. He was so dedicated to serving humanity, and when I visited the Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta for the first time last year, I was struck by how many people he has inspired and the larger human rights movement he was a part of. It's humbling to think about his greatness on a day when I feel very small (and cold).

While it still felt good to get some fresh air, it also felt good to get back inside and have a cup of hot tea when I was done skiing. 

Throng of Thirty Out Skiing Today!

Woke up to cloudy skies and steadily falling snow. Once again, the snow was falling straight down, not being blown around--a special sight in North Dakota, which tends to be windy in winter. I decided to go out late morning while the snow was still coming down because I heard it was going to be windy later in the afternoon.

I hadn't been skiing for a few days, so I felt kind of stiff at first, but something soon cheered me up--I passed a couple of skiers with smiles on their faces, then a group of four people and a dog, then another couple, and a dad with a very little son on the side of the trail, who pointed me out to his dad as I skied by, "Look at that!" It was just so heartwarming to see so many people out enjoying skiing. By the end of my hour and ten minutes skiing, I counted 30 people out on the trails today.

Near the end of my ski, I just stopped here and listened to the sound of the snow falling on these dried grasses. It was a beautiful sound--even a gray day has its delights. 

Waking to tears; skiing in memoriam

I woke up yesterday morning with tears on my pillow. I had been dreaming that I was back in Buck and Judy Wilson's house on Musk Ox Trail, but Buck had passed away. I was mourning his loss.

When I woke up, I remembered that I had, indeed, received an email from Judy yesterday, telling me that Buck had died at the end of October. That makes three of my role models from that neighborhood who have died this fall. When I read the email, I was in the middle of one of those long workdays in which I was just trying to keep my head above water, and I simply did not allow myself to process the news in the email message. Instead, I did that in my dreams, crying then.

Buck was a special person to me. I believe I have written about how my dad died of cancer when he was only 42 (I was 19). Well, Buck was a kind of father figure to me. Like my dad, he was someone who liked to cross-country ski and hike, and I have good memories of doing those things together. We went on mountain biking trips to Denali Park and Wrangell St Elias Park with our friend Jose. We hiked around his cabin at Michael Creek. Buck was also into the arts and yoga, and his enthusiasm for life and community and family was just wonderful. Buck was a physicist who specialized in studying the waves made by the aurora borealis in the upper atmosphere. He worked at the University of Alaska geophysical institute on the west ridge of campus, conveniently located next to the cross-country ski trails, and I saw him out on those trails many times when he was taking a break from work. After he retired, he had more time for skiing and maintaining the cabins he had built and traveling, but he was soon drawn back into work as listening stations were set up around the globe to capture the waves in the atmosphere. The signature of the waves for nuclear tests was similar to that of the aurora, so Buck's skills were needed as a consultant on this project. Buck was always curious about the world and active in enjoying it.

When Enrico and I returned to Alaska after getting married, we lived in Buck and Judy's cabin. It was a great community to be a part of. Our son, Alessandro, was conceived and born while we lived on Musk Ox Trail. We then moved into our own home out in Goldstream Valley, but we missed our wonderful neighbors from Musk Ox Trail. Now we live even further away.

This morning's ski was in their honor. I thought over my dream and my memories while gliding over the snow and looking at the beautiful colors in the sky. Life is beautiful and too short. 

Sunrise Skate Ski: 8 on the 8th.

The warm, windless weather continued today, so I watched carefully for the first sign of sunrise. When I saw the underbellies of the clouds starting to turn pink, I hurried out the door with my skate skis to catch the sunrise. It was about 7:45, so I had plenty of time to watch the pre-sunrise show along the Red River corridor, with its dark outlines of its stately trees providing a contrast to the delicate and changing light in the sky.

Okay, that was terribly out of focus, but I love the way the clouds look in this picture. Here is one that shows the trees better:

I had stopped at this point to take a photo of the sunrise reflected in the church windows because the reflection looked so beautiful from the ski trail--sunrise on my left, reflection on my right. My photo doesn't do it justice. 

I was enjoying the beautiful light so much that I skied up and down the skate trail twice this morning, getting in a good hour, plus of skiing. Although my hips and lats were a bit sore from my first skate ski yesterday, I felt pretty good! 

I saw a couple of people out walking, probably making good on their New Year's resolutions, as they walked at a good clip with a purposeful carriage. 

I heard a bird singing to the sunrise--two notes, first high, then low. I wish I knew my bird calls better. 

Here is the last photo I took as the sky changed from pink to orange. See the bird's nest in the tree?

Alessandro went out for a sunset skate ski. He, too, enjoyed the fast conditions. He saw 8 deer by the beaver lodge.

Second Skate Ski of Season Satisfies

I poked my head out this morning and saw a clear sky, which usually means cold, but the air felt warm. Then, I noticed something by its absence--the wind was not blowing! It looked like a great day to try skate skiing again after my disappointing first attempt. I had some yogurt and granola for breakfast, drank a cup of coffee, read a bit of the Sunday New York Times while breakfast settled, then I got into my light tights, thin long underwear top, and zipped up a fleece jacket. After our cold weather, this get-up felt almost like beach gear--and I didn't even feel the least bit cold when I went outside.

As soon as I got on the trail, I discovered that conditions were fast. Usually I struggle with skate skiing for the first several times, as I get into shape, but I felt terrific! Having a couple of days off due to volunteering for my son's swim meet probably helped too.

It was really a blast today--no one was out skiing, so I had the trail to myself. I took time to slow down when I saw twigs on the trail, to pick them up and toss them into the woods, so I didn't trip on them when I was tired. I hope other skate skiers appreciate my trail cleaning too.

I worked up a good sweat and got that great endorphin high from getting my heart rate up near its maximum--my good mood stayed around the rest of the day.

NDSU starts up again tomorrow, but I am glad to have had this very satisfying skate ski before getting back to the full-time grind. 

Skiing with Noko

Yesterday, Noko and I went for a ski after we got some new snow. I noticed that Fargo Parks had rolled the trail for skate skiing, though we didn't go on it, of course. I thought about going out for a night ski after it set up, but I was too sleepy. In the morning, I saw that we got more snow! And fat flakes continued to fall throughout the morning!

But alas, I was too busy with work, parenting, and other things to get out an enjoy it. Maybe I can get up early tomorrow and steal out for a ski...

Skiing when the temperature goes up 30 degrees and I go down at 45 degrees

Enrico and were back at work today, but we saw the temperature going up, up, up, so we left early to take our canine child for a skijor before dark. In my rush to change and get out the door, I slipped while coming down the wooden stairs in my wool socks, and had a spectacular crash through the child safety gate at the bottom of the stairs. Wood went flying everywhere! Max and Enrico came rushing over. I seemed fine, and we went directly out to ski.

Unfortunately, warmer temperatures also brought wind, so it felt pretty cold still, but the snow was faster to ski on with the warmer temperatures. I went out first, with Noko (harnessed to Enrico) chasing me. We had a good ski--about 40 minutes or so, then came back to shower before heading off to West Fargo to watch Max's swim meet.

By the end of the meet, my body was beginning to feel sore in a few places from my pre-ski toboggan run down the stairs.