early visit to Teacup Lake

I did indeed ski yesterday, and it was utter bliss. I can't even describe how lucky I feel for being able to do that.

Josh was very encouraging and even lent me his Rav4 (I drive a Honda Fit which I often take to the mountain, but only on clear days, yesterday was too stormy for that). I bought him tacos from our favorite taco place on the way home as a thank-you gift.

I got really lucky - I store my trekking poles in my car so I don't have to try to remember them every time I go out, but that means they were in my car when I packed up Josh's car. I tried to remember but forgot. I use my trekking poles for cross country ski poles also as they are adjustable and have interchangeable snow baskets. And cross country skiing is basically snowy hiking anyway - with a slide action added.

I decided to get my sno-park pass at the nearby Mountain Shop just because it's close and I enjoy shopping there, instead of getting one up in Zigzag, and as I was walking in, people were walking out with all kinds of gear, including poles. POLES. Which made me realize I hadn't grabbed mine.

But Mountain Shop is like, less then five minutes from home, so I was able to swing back home and get them with only a ten minute delay in my departure time. If I had stopped on the mountain for my pass, I would have never made it to the sno-park at all, probably. I guess I could have rented poles from Otto's but that would have put a pretty big dent in my time. Anyway, crisis averted!

I got my coffee at Fernie's on the mountain - she has added so many more skeletons! It makes me soooo happy! I took photos. We chatted about the early snow and the unsweetened almond milk she uses for coffee. So pleasant.

It was sooooooooooooo snowy and so beautiful up there. Calm wind, dark snowy skies, just perfection.

I mean, bluebird days are perfect in a different way. There are many versions of perfect in the mountains.

Mountains fix everything.

Josh was right also - cross country skiing did not hurt my foot in the slightest. I knew he was right as soon as I laced up my ski boots, actually. They felt good.

This was the first day they were able to get "the big groomers" out. And they groomed Vista! It is not a popular trail because it is out-and-back and folks don't want to reverse the hill and make the climb, but it is my absolute favorite, it is a perfect combination of long and steep with a perfect curve at the end. Often they skip it, especially if there is wind as it tends to get drifted out in the middle, but they groomed it for meeeeeeeeeeeeee (that's what it felt like; I often have it to myself on quieter days like yesterday). So grateful.

It's still a bit warm for skiing (30) and the snow was slow and sticky which made for a very chill ride down Screamer hill - more like standing on a people-mover at the airport lol. Which is actually incredibly relaxing. To just stand on the skis and drift down casually.

I was so happy I kept talking to everyone I saw lol. Poor people. I was just giddy.

Didn't bother to go into the cabin, and I totally forgot about my tea, so that was a nice treat for the drive home. I decided to take the longer way home through Hood River since the pass had been thick with snow, the plows weren't quite keeping up, and there were amateurs out there, not ready for this much snow this early. Going home the other way I hit rain almost immediately, much less stressful. I had the perfect driving snacks lined up - almonds, an egg, a few cassava chips for salt (my body does not hold onto salt and it's especially important after long hard endurance exercises that I replenish), two persimmons, my strawberries and cream black tea with a little bit of milk and hot cocoa mix, it helps keep me alert and less stressed to snack while driving on the freeway after a long day on the mountain, it was helpful. I felt like I earned my snackies lol.

passed out last night when I got home. Cynthia wants to walk at noon, I have an appt at 3pm for new glasses and to replenish my contacts. The sun is randomly out after days and days and days of rain so I asked Cynthia to walk and she said yes! Only she said noon which little does she know will be rainy but I didn't tell her that lol. I don't mind the rain but she does. Sorry you're gunna get damp lol oops.

This is our only sunbreak for several days, I took Avalanche out in it early and basked.

There is so much I want to do today, before going back to work tomorrow. I'm so behind on laundry, the kitchen and floors need to be done, I *need* to bake, this is no longer a want, lol. I have orders and website stuff, I need to prep for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and Small Business Saturday bleargh lol. I'm fortunate to have these problems! I love my problems, really.

My legs kinda hurt lol. I took it relatively easy and slow, I only skied six miles, typically I'll do eight. Booked soaking appt for Josh and I tonight, that'll be so soothing. His shoulder is hurt so I'm hoping it'll help with his pain a little bit. He posted photos of his visit with Emily on social media, and he told his parents that he went to visit her. One of the photos looks less than innocent. This is a big change from last year when he told me not to tell anyone we were opening our relationship. I'm proud of him.