Pogonip Edition

     So for the second morning in a row, the Pogonip has rolled into the basin, at least in this neighborhood anyway.  Pogonip, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a Shoshone and Washoe Indian word for freezing fog. The Washoe believed that the Pogonip could kill you if you breathed it in for too long. The frozen crystals get into your lungs and you die. Fable, myth, truth?     

     I do know I loved skiing on days like this. Heavy fog covering the lake, but as the chairlift climbs in elavation you break through the fog and it's sunny and beautiful. You look down on the fog covered lake and it's all so surreal. Big cotton balls covering the lake and up to about half way up the face of Heavenly Valley. You just left a grey cold damp place and within minutes you're in the sun, floating on the snow carving big turns.

     Then the reverse happens as you ski down to the parking lot. One minute you're in the sun the next you're in the cold and damp fog, making your way to the base in search of the truck, hidden in the mist. Make your way to the old blue Chevy,  unbuckle your ski boots, slip on a pair of tennies and crack a cold beer stashed in the bed of the truck. Wipe your brow from the wet fog and and stare off into the pogonip. Drive home and build a fire, get out of your ski clothes and start dinner as the fog hugs the house.

      Ya know, my Doctor, Physical Therapist and Attorney all told me to not go skiing anymore but there are times where I feel like saying "screw it, I'm going!".  Now this would be a risky proposition as I no longer have insurance and my workman's comp. case has yet to be reviewed by the state. Maybe just a little cross country skiing in the meadow? We shall see, as I don't want to do more damage to my knees and back than I already have from being a garbageman for 31 plus years.

      Looking out the window at the fog and reflecting on all those years of skiing and loving every minute of it makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy that I was able to do it for so long and having such great memories of my times on the long boards in the sun, and yet sad as I can no longer do it.

      So if you're in the fog, try and get up in altitude, into the sunshine, and if you get high enough, into the sparkling snow with the sun beaming down, dry crunchy snow beneath your skiis and a beautiful ski run ahead of you.   Watch out for the trees on the sides and stay focused on the moment. Big wide fast turns,  rythmically turning left and right, your hair blowing back and your thighs feeling the burn from the work out as you shift your weight from side to side. As you carve a left turn your weight is on the inside edge of your right ski, a small pole plant and a slight lifting or unweighting and you turn to the right,  now with your weight on the left inside edged ski.  At the bottom of the run you're slightly out of breath but exhilerated and rushing towards the chair lift to go back up and do it all over again....and again and again and again.

      Well the pogonip has burned off so I guess I'll go out and fill the birdfeeder and get on with the day. Gotta get ready,  another storm is heading this way on Tuesday. A lot of the snow has melted in the last couple of weeks. My neighbor Ron rode his snowmobile up to Blue Lakes yesterday and said the snow was disapearing fast.  So come on, let it snow!   My back is almost healed up from the last storm!

            Take care, Bob of the boat