With only 3 days left until we leave for our road trip, it’s really starting to sink in that we’re heading out of here. It all started with the boarders leaving on Monday morning. Not all of them left, but lots did and a few pretty good friends as well. They were closely followed by the skiers leaving on Wednesday morning, and it was Hot Dog Day.
On Tuesday we headed up to the mountain, and because some people were going to be leaving before Hot Dog Day, we kind of had our own Nonstop Hot Dog Day. Crappy timing on everyone’s part for not coordinating that better, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault, really. Hot Dog Day was originally scheduled for much earlier in the year, but it got pushed back because of weather. In any case, it was fun to see everyone dressed up in ridiculous 80’s ski garb and ski like morons all day.
The real highlight of the day though was a picnic up on the mountain. Since there was no way I was going to be skiing anywhere, the ski host for the course, Jenny had arranged with Ski Patrol to get me a snowmobile ride up to the Bear Chair, which I then rode up, and then got a ride down on another snowmobile to the picnic area! It was a ton of fun to get on one of those, and the ride up the Bear Chair was pretty surreal as well. It had been over 2 months since I’d been actually up on the mountain and it felt GREAT to get up there in the fresh air.
After the picnic it was another snowmobile ride down to the base area where everyone was hanging out. We had a couple of beers and then headed to the Aquatic center for a swim. I have to say that was a pretty good time as well, and it felt good to get the knee exercised with a little resistance.
Tuesday night as well, we had our skiers farewell dinner. Awards were passed out, slideshows were watched and everyone had a very good meal. I even got an award! Granted, not the one I was hoping for, but that’s okay. Apparently at one of the instructors meetings they were talking about injuries this year and how they could have prevented them and my name came up. Unfortunately about a third of the instructors had no idea who I was because I was hurt so early in the course, so I got the ‘Where’s Waldo’ award!
Wednesday was an incredibly mixed day because in the morning we had to see the skiers off. Luckily for us, most of us had decided to stay on for after the course was over for a few days, but not all. We did have to see Brendan off. I picked Brendan up from the Calgary airport, and he was the first person I met that was also doing this course, so it was hard to see him go. Polly and James were off as well, and I’d gotten to know them much better over the last week or so of the course. There were many more that left, and some will be back next year, and it will be great to see them then. I think it can go without saying that it was a tearful morning all around.
The rest of Wednesday was Hot Dog Day and we headed up the hill around 1 or so. Had a bite to eat at Kelsey’s with Jonny while everyone was skiing. I was actually feeling really crappy, because people had left, sure, but I was also starting to come down with a cold that I haven’t been able to kick yet. I actually decided to go home and get some rest. I was just not feeling Hot Dog Day. That didn’t stop anyone else from having a good time though!
Apparently there was quite a bit going on up the mountain as well…
There were about half as many people on the other side as well, and the split in the middle is only because there is a huge jump right there. I saw a couple of video’s of people absolutely flying off it, it was just hilarious!
Thursday was pretty laid back, and today most people have gone up for the last few days of skiing they have left.
With only 3 days left, we’re all determined to make the best of it.
