Slice of Life Tuesday: A Good Sport on the Trail

Last week, after a lengthy Slice, I promised myself that for the month of March and the Slice of Life Story Challenge, I would write posts that are more brief. Brevity has never been my long suit, so we’ll have to see how I do.

Over the weekend, we were able to cross country ski at our cabin. We had guests and since the Arctic freeze of subzero temperatures had finally left our region, we provided gear and introduced our friends to this winter sport.

My husband is an accomplished x-country skier, starting at age 14, he regularly went out with is mom and her friends to ski in the county parks in Western New York. I, on the other hand was a downhill skier, being introduced to the skiing world at roughly the same age by a boyfriend. I belonged to ski club in high school and continued to go in college as I could afford it. When my husband and I were newly married, we’d go to Lake Placid in March for some spring skiing, in both versions of the sport. We each taught each other the opposite form of skiing.

As our family grew, we bought all of our boys x-country skis. One of them regularly skis in the winter when there is enough snow where he lives. My husband and I cross country ski a few times during winter if we are lucky. This weekend provided such an opportunity.

Usually, we go on the groomed trails through the woods near our cabin. This is part of the Timm’s Hill National Trail system and Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. But, while it is a very nice trail, winding through the pine and hardwood forests of Northern Wisconsin, it can be a little challenging with some hills to navigate. For a Trail Map, click here.

Our cabin sits on a lake to which we have about 200 feet of frontage. We can walk right out on to the frozen body of water right now. So, we knew going skiing was outside of at least one of our guest’s comfort zone, my husband suggested we ski on the lake. Now, obviously the lake did not offer groomed trails. But, the snow was soft and only a few inches deep on the frozen lake surface, so it worked.

After helping our guests learn how to don their skis, we walked to the lake and put them on. My husband, Jim, is a patient and good teacher. He assisted me in 2019 with putting snowshoes on about 35 people at a local Land Trust event that I organized; he was my hero that night! He knows how to help with snow sport equipement!

Anyway, our friend seemed to enjoy the short trip out onto the lake on skiis. It was probably a one-mile round trip. No one fell except for me, as I was the caboose. I was hurrying to catch up on our way back and lost my balance traversing a 8 inch mound of ice previously made by a vehicle driven across the lake.

We really have to credit our friend, who tried this new activity despite it being out of his comfort zone. He did a great job and was a good sport!

Do you ski in the winter? If so, do you downhill or cross country or both? Do you ski locally or go to a resort? Let me know in the comments!

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday. Thank you to TwoWritingTeachers.org for offering this weekly space for educators and authors to share their writing. During the month of March Slice of Life Story Challenge Participants are encouraged to write daily for all 31 days! This is the fourth year that I’ve participated in this challenge! Will you join us? It is not too late to register! Click on the above link to find out about the challenge and sign up!

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