I had a fun day shredding the bunny hills at nearby Massanutten Resort in January! It was a sunny day with the temperature hovering in the mid-teens, but the right clothes made it warm and toasty. It was the first time I had skiied in many years, so I was basically a beginner all over again. It had been so long, that the foam padding in my ski goggles had become partially detached from my goggles causing me constant consternation throughout the day while fiddling with it trying to shove it back into place each time I took them off and put them back on!
I was constantly trying to go downhill as slow as I possible could, putting me in a continuous snowplow maneuver. It seems to take more effort going slow instead of just allowing gravity to do its magic, and for my effort, my legs quickly became tired. I didn’t make it past the bunny hills this time, but I ended the day intact, which was a good achievement. I like the idea of skiing but have never quite mastered the concept. Maybe a pair of fitted boots would provide the comfort I need to take me to the next level, which quite honestly, isn’t far from the bottom of the hill! A lesson or two probably wouldn’t hurt either.
My observations skills also revealed that I was one of the safest people on the mountain. I came to this conclusion because nearly everyone else must have been so reckless that they thought it was necessary to wear a helmet! Maybe it has been a while since I went skiing, because I don’t ever remember anyone wearing a helmet before. Oh well, at least I didn’t get any splinters from the skis this time!
What I really found interesting on the mountain was an amazing ring around the sun! Since they were making snow on the higher slopes, I thought I was looking at a snow bow, if there was even such a thing. I asked the Ski Patrol, but he had never heard of one. I Googled it later, and it appears to be a sun halo. No one else seemed interested in what I found in the sky, but it ended up being an added bonus to my wonderful day! It was an enjoyable day and I will return one day.