A Grand Weekend: self-challenge and exercise component (100 things, #44)

[labelleizzy]

Drove "up to the snow" (which is what we call it around here where the flat sea level plains get snow so rarely that it makes the news when we do) to meet my husband Jeff this weekend. Wow.

Squaw Valley is really a beautiful part of the world. And the Resort at Squaw Creek is well-architected for visual interest, buildings and grounds alike. Really nice. Really REALLY nice. (Enjoy poking around the website and checking out all the pretty slideshows.)
Also a really high altitude (~7000'?), which means that breathing can be surprisingly difficult at times, for those of us raised at sea level, and physical exertion is... exertion!

So of course I decided to try cross country skiing. =)
My second time trying cross country, though. The first time was in the middle of the 1980's somewhere. Um.

and it was effortful!
(my triceps are very sore from where I kept catching myself from falling by gripping hard and spiking the poles into the snow. VERY sore.)
Need to work on core strength some more, leg and calf and ankle strength, and then I REALLY want to go up and do that AGAIN before the snow season ends. Because it was the GOOD kind of challenge: enough new kinds of movement, new fun environment, an INCREDIBLY supportive partner (who helped me get up from the snow both times I fell, and cheered me on to try a little bit more each time), and lots of happy memories buttressing this new attempt. I love the snow. We used to go once or twice a year when I was a kid, my great-aunt Ethel had a place in Tahoe (she was a former mayor of Lake Tahoe, and so was her husband Don) and their back picture window had a view up-slope of one of the Heavenly Valley ski-slopes. While we did a lot of sledding and stomping and breaking off icicles and snowball fights, I never got to ski till I went on a trip in ... high school? with my scout troop? I think.

Skiing is fun, and now that I've successfully braved this new skill once, and my knee didn't even complain, I'm willing to go back and work on it some more. And next time I will probably even try going to ski DOWNHILL. Though I admit to a slight frisson of fear around the idea, the excitement of learning how to make me go fast(ish) down a snowy hill, is even greater.

Thanks again to cortneyofeden for the loan of ski-gear. The pants, jacket, and silk thermals were a HUGE contribution to my comfort and decreased my apprehension about my ability to cope with the elements. =D

I get by, with a little help, from my friends.

Comments

[friggasmuse.livejournal.com]

It made me really uncomfortable to hear that they haven't changed their name at this point.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

who haven't changed their name?

[serendipity17.livejournal.com]

"Squaw Valley" (Placer County) is officially "Olympic Valley." Yes, it's an Algonquin word that is being misused. There is Squaw Peak nearby, and also Granite Chief. Squaw Peak in Arizona was renamed in 2003, and there is an ongoing movement in this country to rename plants, animals, and places with "squaw" in their nomenclature.

Friggasmuse: Write a letter to your congressional representatives if it bothers you; grassroots movements are awesome.

[friggasmuse.livejournal.com]

Squaw is a very offensive, derogatory slur and should not be used. It was initially used as a way to oppress aboriginal people. It refers to female genitalia.

[brynhilda.livejournal.com]

Aaaw, I always wanted to try cross country skiing. I went alpine skiing once. It was ok, but I think I'd prefer cross country.

[inflectionpoint.livejournal.com]

Nifty!

I would try cross country some time. I don't do downhill - far too much risk of head injuries. No downhill and no motorcycles. Risk of head injuries is my Big Limiting Factor.

[angelkatharine.livejournal.com]

Padded ski pants are important :). Downhill skiing is one of my very favorite athletic endevours, but I suspect you should ask your knee-doc before trying it--at the very least you may need a brace.

[girlpurple.livejournal.com]

Hooray for snow time! Glad to hear you had fun, and yeah, that's a pretty resort/area.
I was bummed to be getting sick on Friday = not able to play another day.

I'm a big fan of throwing myself down mountains at high speed (on an Alpine carving snowboard, not skis).
It's one of the few ways I can get my brain to focus tightly and be fully engaged / present / in my body. Also? ZOOM!