Tag: ski

winter… POWDER…feet hurt…SKIING

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Skiing, SpudskisLeave a comment

backcountry ski

Winter is officially here. THANK YOU! I was going crazy from the lack of snow. I couldn’t trail run, too much mud/snow but not enough snow to ski. MY FEET HURT…ALWAYS. I feel like I have a battle every time I ski, my feet! Yes, arthritis in my feet. I know, quit skiing, running etc but I can’t. It’s what makes me tick. Yesterday at Targhee it was serious braille skiing. My brother and I skied down Crazy Horse avoiding the football field (flat) to get to the chutes. I couldn’t tell if I was skiing down, sideways or up but the goods we found were well worth it! Oh my gosh…heaven! Ten glorious untracked deep & steep powder turns. And that’s why I deal with my feet. Such a great day.

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Why I love to ski, Bonding. I bond with people. Connect with others that I never would in any other circumstance. It’s amazing. Whether it’s skiing High Boy with a new ‘cute friend’ you just met on the chairlift or with your dad or brother, skiing powder up to your chest while choking on snow. We connect. Not all people can connect, but those who can it’s magical.

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Skiing has brought me a lot in my life. I’ve met amazing, unique people through skiing. I’ve cried, laughed as I wiped that silly grin off my face, and connected with strangers and those close to me while skiing. It’s my happy place. And I’m never going to give it up. Some may say I’m crazy, not normal, and obsessed but I’m happy. Really happy. I’m grateful it’s something I can do with my family, my nieces and nephews, strangers, friends and those dear to me. I’m grateful for the passion I have for the outdoors and skiing. I wouldn’t change anything. So thank you mom and dad for all those Saturday’s, I mean EVERY single Saturday from 2 until I moved out the house that we spent on the ski hill. There’s a bond that can never be broken and that bond melts all my other worries away when I’m on the mountain. It’s a great day to be skiing!

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To my family of ski bums, Lenox (2) to Natalia (19) to mom (dying of cancer but still skis) to my dad (66, skis more than me) and Jess (skis her heart out when she’s in the west even if it kills her) and Mike (will always be a better skier than me and I ski A LOT more days) and Jill with her whit and natural talent (I have to work really hard at it). I LOVE my family who skis because that’s just what us HUSKINSON’S do, we ski and have fun while we’re doing it!

dear SKIING – i’m PATIENTLY waiting

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, SkiingLeave a comment

as_1315_mrdpanPC: Mike Tittel

I can’t believe it’s November 18th and there’s little snow! I’m going through withdrawals and I know I’m not alone. Skiers, we’re a different breed. We live, sleep, eat, drink, sacrifice, loose jobs, relationships and everything else in our life so we can ski. To say we LOVE it, is an understatement. I know most people don’t understand me and my lifestyle but I don’t expect them to. I’ve always NOT been the norm. But I’m happy. I’m surrounded by amazing people who appreciate a sunrise, a sunset, an amazing powder day, hiking through the Alps on skis, seeing pure joy on someones face at the bottom of a run they skied for the first time, they enjoy the simple things nature has to offer. And for us, that’s good enough. We don’t have fancy houses and sometimes we don’t wear the latest fashion but we have priorities; the best skis, coat, goggles, trips to find the perfect turns through bottom-less powder or skiing the couloir you’ve had your eye on for years. That’s what we do. No, we are not normal but we are happy!

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Mom and Dad, the best thing you ever gave me was the skill to ski, enjoy nature and appreciate nature and enjoy a sport that has given back to me more than I will ever have to offer. My family still skis together, grandma, grandpa, sisters, brothers, in-laws and grandkids. We all LOVE to ski! Even my little adventure buddy loves the snow.

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Find your passion. Find your happy place. Life is too short. I dare you! You may never come back… but I promise you’ll be happy.

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SKIING through LEAVES in OCTOBER

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Running, SkiingLeave a comment

Crazy it’s October 12th and I’ve already skied three days! After the St George marathon, I posted “Done with running and now I’m ready for winter and skiing!” I had no idea I’d be skiing great powder three days later. It was fun and as we were hiking up it was cold, snowing and windy. I would have thought it was the middle of winter, not the first of October. Teton had fun one day with me but looked was covered with snowballs.

 

A recent article was written about the influence of social media and backcountry skiing and the decisions people are making. You can read it HERE. I found it interesting in the US  27 people die in avalanches a year. At a conference last weekend, attendees not only heard from physicists but neurologists, behavior scientists, and psychologists. More focus during backcountry ski training, they say, needs to go towards decision making. It is a skill that needs to be taught. Some food for thought as we enter the ski season.

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Backcountry Safety | Early Season Hiking | Backcountry Book | Snow Study Kit

Black Friday…

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Shop, Tetons CornerLeave a comment

So I should be posting all the greatest deals out there right now on ski gear, winter gear and everything else, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It’s the first weekend of winter and ski season (resorts opening) and the holidays. All I could think about and want to do was play outside and enjoy spending time with my family and little lovies.

I opted to #OptOutside with REI and thought that was the greatest marketing plan I’ve seen in my life. We are over-run with consumerism, shopping and the latest and greatest. Which I’m not opposed to modern technology but sometimes, I like to leave my cell phone home, unplug and not look at my computer for a few days. I want to enjoy the simple life. That’s when I escape to my #tinycabin, build a fire to stay warm, shovel the driveway and listen to the creek outside my bedroom window. The simple things in life bring happiness. Families, friends, sunsets, snow crystals glistening in the ray of sunshine sneaking through the clouds as you’re riding the chairlift to the top of the mountain or hiking to the top to ski down, listening to the snow crunching under your feet as you set out on your winter adventure, or watching your little buddy go off the trial in the snow drift and disappear as the snow engulfs him but coming up for air as he’s loving every moment of it. That’s happiness, peace, and comfort which brings a smile to my face.

Enjoy the simple things of life. We live in a fast-track society. Slow down and enjoy the simple things. I promise it will bring a smile to your soul.

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Hump Day Deals

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Shop, SkiingLeave a comment

There are lots of great deals out there for last year’s models. Same great product, just a new graphic or color change for this years models. Check out A’s top picks!

Screen Shot 2015-11-11 at 9.23.02 AM K2 Missbehaved. A great all-mountain women’s ski that will float in the powder but still hold an edge on the groomers. 102 underfoot.

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The Patagonia Nano puff vest has been my favorite find from a few years back. I now own three. On those extra chilly days I’ll wear this under my shell on top of my normal layers or when I’m in the backcountry throw it over my top layer as I’m pulling skins or skiing down. Everyone needs one of these in their layering line-up.

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We all have to haul our gear up to the mountains and it’s best to keep everything organized and in a designated ‘ski bag’. This Marmot Long Hauler Duffel Bag is a great deal and perfect size for all your goggles, ski socks, beanies, helmet, buffs, sunscreen, hand warmers and everything else. Just don’t forget to dry your gear out when you get home. Come March this bag will be really ripe if you don’t!

#MountainCrushMonday

On By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, SkiingLeave a comment

Ah…my Mountain Crush is back and I couldn’t be more giddy, happy, excited and elated! Yesterday was my first day out on my skis and it was soooo good to be back. That first trek up the mountain burns, hurts, my feet are yelling at me, my calves feel like they’re going to pop and I swear I forgot how to ski over the summer but the smile on my face says it all, I’m in love and my true obsession has returned.

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It was fun to get out on the very little snowpack we have. I felt alive driving to the mountain in my ski pants, music blasting to my favorite tunes, and bopping my beanie to the beat. Yesterday was extra special because I took my little buddy Teton out for a ski for the first time. He LOVED it! I knew he would. We put his bright yellow booties on him and his plaid puffy vest and up the mountain we went. I’m sure everyone thought, “Who’s this princess with her little princess dog.” But don’t mistake my little buddy for a princess. He hiked all the way to the top by himself and loved every moment of it. He may be small but he’s big in heart just like me. We both have a love for adventure and the mountains. It was also a special day bIMG_1432ecause my nephew Dave came with me and it was his first backcountry experience. He’s a sophomore in HS and Gpa gave him a touring set up. Dave grew up in Minnesota skiing. It must run in the genes because after a few tips Dave was well on his way and looked like IMG_1427a pro. He even skied like a pro. I was one proud day for Aunt Andria.

So it begins, my love affair with snow, skiing, the mountains and of course Alta. I’m blessed to have skiing in my life. I have met amazing people through my travels skiing, riding chairlifts and meeting up randomly on top of High Boy at Alta. Winter is here and my Mountain Crush Monday begins!