Like everything else, a cross country ski trail offers opportunities for learning. 

Last week, I wrote about a ski on the River Link trail. I went with my friend Liz, who is also an avid, life-long skier. Liz and I may have not communicated for months, but when the snow falls, a quick text or email and we are sure to find ourselves together on a trail. 

Having not ventured that far into the network of trails, I reported the River Link trail was neither steep nor difficult. But, since then, I have returned there twice more in the last three days and seen more of the trail. I have also seen it from the perspective of other skiers and learned that it will take a lot more than a few trips to unravel this woodland trail system. 

On my second trip, with a friend who is not as adept on skis as Liz, I was surprised that the “perceptible uphill” grade I reported was really much more of a steady grunt up. On that second day, we ventured farther and faced downhills that I wouldn’t call steep but that were clearly daunting to her.  And on that glorious downhill run to the parking lot, she fell but took it all in good grace.

On the third trip back to River Link, my companion was also challenged by the course. We traveled even farther in and encountered more incredible, undisturbed trail. On the way back he fell, and I heard a lot on the way home about the treacherous hill and proximity of trees along the trail. I even heard a reference to how Sonny Bono died (downhill skiing, hit a tree). It made me worry that someone would read what I had written previously and plunge in, only to be injured.

Like life, enjoying skiing is always finding that sweet spot between holding back and letting go. Too much control and skiing’s too slow and no fun. Not enough control and it’s a wild ride likely to end in a fall. 

The snow is still gleaming, the sun is streaming in the window and it’s still cold enough to ski. With warm weather coming, it is probably the last day to hit the trail locally for a bit.

Get out there and ski, but be sure to take care when trying out a new spot. Trust yourself and your abilities, but remember: it never hurts to turn back or go slower on an unfamiliar trail.