The Killer Schnee

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I think schnee means snow in German. Someone used it in an email and I fell in LOVE immediately. Am now mulling all options for inclusion in snow vernacular:

Dude, the schnee is dumping!
Fattie schnee in the forecast, yo!
Killer schnee and freshie pow pow last weekend!

Schnee. I have a 15 year old's snow vocabulary. I am in love with a word. Happy Valentines Day to me.

In other news, Tahoe continues to beckon making up for a lackluster Sierra-and-me season last year that saw me visit maybe twice all winter. The last 5 weeks have seen stellar conditions enjoyed with a varying cast of friends across Kirkwood, Squaw and Sugarbowl set against a rotating background of beds and floors. Anything goes when it comes to getting up to the mountains and I'm deeply appreciative for the roofs extended over my head, the shared meals extended over the table, and the company extended out on the slopes.

That being said, a little 50k trail run I signed up for in a moment of panic when the snow wasn't falling is suddenly looming large sometime later in March as is an adventure race I agreed to be part of in June that requires night time mountain biking. Night time. In the dark. Biking. Dark. Night. Uh....?

So while I'm addicted to the skiing, the frenzied rush to escape work, load the car, pack the gear, get the food and go - there's a balance i'm missing in my activities and in my social life. But you know, ski season is fleeting. It could rain this week and all go to hell. And hopefully those who've missed me these winter weekends - you're out there, I know you are! - will allow me that understanding. So too, I hope my legs will interpret skiing as trail running and come March, Way Too Cool 50k will feel like another Saturday ripping down Squaw in the schneedly schnee!

Let's see - other schnee related items of note... I have a new camera and so far the pics look fantastic from the mountains. I have a new car stereo. Having broken down to one working speaker in the driver side door it was time to upgrade. My car is my lifeline to so many things and I'm grateful for it every day. Takes me where I want to go, transports what I want to bring, and contributes to the lifestyle I want to have. Subaru, I ADORE you! Roadtrips to Tahoe are going to be booming! Oh, and I got a killer pair of sunglasses at Porter's last weekend. Huge. I mean, HUGE! Gotta give a big shout out to Porter's in Truckee. They gave me a replacement heel binding, mounted it and didn't charge me a cent.

Finally, though it hardly needs to be asked, I'll ask it - who's stoked for the Olympics?! Vancouver is going to do it so well - beautiful city, great people, killer schnee at Whistler right now and the best in the world doing their things. I wish I'd planned to go. Ah, my reluctance to plan in advance comes back to haunt me. Will this be the time I learn? Doubtful.

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