I had an awesome weekend in Wisconsin. It was a little too humid for my liking, but it was very fun nonetheless. While I was gone I spent a lot of time with my family, even visiting a few aunts and uncles and cousins. We talked a lot about skiing (obviously), so my mom finally decided she wanted to learn how. She hates the cold, so we'll see if she actually gets out and tries it this winter. I know she has the athletic ability to, she's an awesome water skier! My grandparents came over for an early thanksgiving dinner. I also loved seeing my dogs, Dillon and Dan.
On the plane ride there I was reading the November issue of Skiing Magazine and thought a few of the articles were blog worthy. The first I'm going to share with you is about a local skier Rainer Hertrich. It was ironic to see this article, since I had just seen Rainer in the local newspaper.
"By August 31, 2009, Copper Mountain snowcat driver Rainer Hertrich, 47, had skied 2,134 consecutive days. That's every day since November 1, 2003- since the Marlins won the Series, and through bouts of the flu, a separated shoulder, and four rib injuries. And he's still going. he works six months a year at Copper and shoulder-season days at Loveland and Arapahoe Basin. He grooms Mt.Hood by summer and finishes the year in South America. He's amassed more than 70 million vertical feet and a Guinnesss record, all on telemark gear."
- Eugene Buchanan
Here's the article in the Newspaper:
The next piece of an article I want to mention was tips and tricks for a more enjoyable season. A few of my friends have one horrible problem off the mountain:
SMELLY BOOTS! Since I know everyone can't afford boot driers, the magazine gave an awesome tip. After your long day on the hill, put a
dryer sheet in each boot. The wicking action helps dry them faster, and the scent keeps them smelling spring fresh!
And another tip that I'm sharing from personal experience; If you suffer from
cold hands, and can't seem to find gloves that work, I have a solution.
Wear latex gloves underneath your regular gloves. You know, the ones doctors and dentists wear! I know this sounds silly, but the latex will keep your sweat in, which will keep your gloves dry. I also think the latex helps keep the warmth against my hands better.
The last article I want to share is probably one of the coolest skiing stories I've ever read. Again, this article was taken from the November issue of Skiing Magazine.
I LOST A RESCUE TOBOGGAN LOADED WITH A PATIENT.
" In the winter of 67'-68', I was 19 and recruited for the [redacted] ski patrol. Young and very sure of myself, I had the attitude that I could ski anywhere and could handle a toboggan.
One day I was called to an accient in an advanced area. I was paired with "Dave," an avalanche-science guru who was also one of the strongest skeirs on patrol, and we took a two-man toboggan rig to the scene. We arerived to find a patiend with a dislocated hip, screaming in pain. Dave was a paramedic, meaning he was allowed to carry intravenous drugs. He took a needle from his pack and gave the shot to the patient. Thrity seconds later, our patient wetn from screaming to smiling.
We packaged him into the sled and discussed the safest way down. I told Dave I'd skied this area a lot and I knew a chute through the cliffs. I told him to pick up his end of the toboggan and follow me.
Dave had never skied this terrain before. The line was too steep for Dave's veteran edges, especially now that he was holding a loaded toboggan while dropping off the end of the world. We began skiing, me leading and Daven in the back. Suddently, we began to spin. Dave passed me- still holding on to the handles. Then the sled and I flew past Dave, who popped out of his skis and began selfarresting. I hung on for dear life, thinking we could recover and make it. But the sled broke my rip. I came ot a sop and watched the sled, still right-way-up, sailing down the ru. I started to ski fast, in hot pursuit.
At first I though the whole rig might shoot down into the rocky amphitheater below. Instead, it beered into a few small threes, The sled bent the trunks in half but the trees halted its progress. I arrived about a minute after it stopped. I hurried to uncover the patient from the layers of tarp and blanket and feared the worst. When I got through, the guy looked up at m. With the same druggy smile he asked, "Are we at the bottom yet?"
From that day forward, patrollers mandated the lowering of toboggans in this area with a rope.
Twenty years later I was no longer a patroller but skiing in the same area with a friend, who broke his ankle. When patrol arrived, they bundled my friend in a toboggan and radioed th plan to HQ. "We're headed down Donny's Chute into the amphitheater with the patient and his friend. What's your name, sir?"
Not knowing until that moment that the incident had gone down in local history, I answered him: "I'm Donny."
As told by Jeff Burke.
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