Wednesday - Day 3 - ANOTHER Unexpected Day Off!

Okay, so this is DEFINATELY the LIFE!!

I was called last night by my Gate Judge Chief, Jesse, with the somewhat surprising news that once again, we weren't going to be needed today, as the Ladies` course was just going to be maintained and not used today, due to mild, damp conditions. So, ahhhhhhh...a good night`s sleep was in order...a leisurely start to the day with some reading in bed, a lovely hot shower, a lovely hot cup of tea with my host, Loraine, and I was on my way to the hills.

My plan for my day off was to hit the Breadfast tent, do an 8km walking trail through the valley from Whistler Creekside to Whistler Village, have a bit of lunch, and ski a few hours in the afternoon - wanting to keep skiing to a minimum, as well, you know, don't want to burn my legs out and all...

Well...when I got to the breakfast tent, I found a couple of Gate Judge mates, and we started watching the men's practice runs on the big screen T.V., and of course thought it would be a great opportunity to catch that live, just - well - since, for no other reason than - well, we could!

But, by the time we got all suited up, and traversed our way to the gondola, the course had been cleared due to foggy conditions - no more racers. So, now what do we do? We go skiing, of course!!!

When in a mountain ski resort village, and it's raining, no worries - just ascend a couple of thousand feet or more, and you'll find snow! Uuuuunfortunately though today, we also found fog, and when I say fog, I mean "fog SOUP"! Half the time, we couldn't see a thing - absolutely no difference between the white of the snow, the white of the air around us, and sky...what sky? Man, I had trouble with this...we simply don`t get these conditions in Collingwood - I was totally out of my element: at elevations high enough that we were completely above the treeline - so, no forest, just skinny little wire posts, like the kind people in the rural areas use to mark the end of their driveways. about every 75feet. Oh, and you can`t tell when the pitch suddenly increases, except for the sudden sensation of the ground dropping away from your feet - YIKES! With the tension from skiing ``blind``, the steepness of these upper mountain runs, and the heaviness in the moist snow, my legs were just killing me after a few hours - AND, I kept taking wrong turns because I coudn`t see where I was supposed to go, and consequently kept ending up at lifts that I hadn`t been aiming for at all. But, my pals kept finding me, and all was well in the end.

Ski tip for the day from Jim, the ex Ski Patroller from Colorado: when in fog, and sking with forest on the side of the run, hug either side - the fog is much thinner there, so you can actually see the surface that`s approaching as you ski - cool! The only downside is if you catch an edge...well, let`s just say you`d better go flying INto the run, `cause if you go off the other way, you and the trees are going to have an up close and personal encounter!

Off to the Weasel House for a few, a great phone call home to family with the complimentary long distance phone provided for us, and now here back at Nita Lake Lodge for my online time.
Good news is we`re getting a bank of computers added to Weasel House - I guess I`m not the only one who`s been requesting them.

Time to go home to my wonderful hosts with their amazing Italian home-cooking, and warm reception. I am being so well looked after - I feel so special, so spoiled, so thankful...