Post Christmas - Fun in the Snow

     After Christmas we had several days of snowy weather that dropped a foot plus on the upstate area.  The winter wonderland allowed us (well me) to enjoy some of my favorite winter activities.  David and I hit the slopes at Jiminey Peak for two mornings of downhill skiing, averaging 13 runs.  Since the weather was bad for skiing last year, I was a bit rusty, but it's like riding a bike(well except the wheels and handlebars).  Below C'est moi at Jiminey.

     In addition to the downhill, I went cross-country skiing twice: once at the invitation of daughter Erin and son David on the old trails in Petersburgh, with the kind permission of their mother,  and a second time at Pineridge Cross-Country ski area in East Poestenkill.  Pineridge is owned by my old friend Walt Kersch.  Walt was principal of Berlin Jr.-Sr. High back when I started teaching, actually he was the guy who hired me.  After his career in education, he added to a large parcel of land he owned in East Poestenkill and developed the ski area.  In my second career(attorney) I represented him when he bought the property and set of the corporation for the ski area.  He's done a great job developing the area.  We talked quite a bit about the business and how terrible conditions have been the last few years.  The day I was there conditions were great and I had the place practically to myself.  I skied almost 10 miles - a great workout.
     I've always felt more maneuverable with long boards strapped to my feet than having snow shoes on.  But it's winter so the snow shoes went on twice.  The first time was a warm-up through the woods behind our house  We're lucky enough to have a sewer easement with a long access road that covers over a mile through the woods.  We take the dogs on walks there and in the winter snowshoe or cross country. Rarely do we meet anyone.  It was a good warm-up for our major hike in the Adirondacks.  Now usually Round Mountain doesn't really qualify as a major hike.  It's a little over 5 mile hike which gains almost 1,900 feet in elevation.  Not bad until you add in 2 feet of mostly unbroken snow.  It was work,
     We went with Sue and George, their friend Christine, and Nan's friend Kara.  My wife and Kara led the way to the top.  The rest of the group alternated keeping me company in the rear.  We were reward with some great views for all our hard work.

     Sue, George, and Kara decided to make the hike a loop trip by going down the other side of the mountain.  The trail was totally unbroken, they lost it, ran into cliffs and 8 foot snow drifts.  I was glad we went back the way we came, although it did sound like an adventure.  We went back to Sue and George's camp for the night and shared a great meal and good company.  They had a tree up which had  ornaments from our parent's tree.  It was a nice way to end the trip.

     The only thing we didn't get a chance to do on our stay north was skate.  The closest we got was a hockey game at RPI.  Erin and I went on New Years Eve and had a blast.  We met Puck Man

     And RPI won(not the most common thing so far this year).  And so the old year ended.

Holdidays North and More

     We took our time heading north after the close of the Fall semester.  We waited for word that our bathroom renovations had been completed before hitting the road.  We were thrilled with the new bath and spent a number of days painting and doing some of the finishing work.  I went out to Schoharie County to join my former co-workers for their Christmas Party. It was good to see everyone and get caught up on their news. We went to see The Hobbit with David and was disappointed.  It's a simple story and it would have been nice to have seen a simple film.  Despite the disappointment, it was good to spend time with David and get the graduate's expertise on the film.

    We had only been home a few days when a violent wind storm knocked out our power for 3 days. I opened a corner of our swimming pool so that we could get water to flush the new toilet in the new bathroom. Fortunately it wasn't bitterly cold and we kept the fireplace going. Dinner out and visiting friends kept us busy.   This was the first year that Krista didn't join us for Christmas and Christmas Eve. She and Spike came a few days before Christmas. We had planned an pre-Christmas breakfast and then our traditional once a year bowling expedition, but with the power out plans were changed.  Of course we did the bowling, with Spike having a personal best.
     On Christmas Eve day Nan and I went up to Grafton Lakes State Park for a hike with the dogs.  We hiked a six miles loop through the forests on the east side of the park and had a great time.  The dogs of course loved covering new terrain with lots of interesting smells.

          Christmas Eve was at my sister and brother-in-law's home in Saratoga Springs.  As usual, my sister pulled out all the stops and hosted a very enjoyable time.  We were joined by friends Tony and Jane, Jim Miller(family friend from Averill Park) and my brother-in-law's mother Rose who has just moved north from Queens.  Erin and David were also there.

     After a great meal and present openings, I hustled back to AP to sing at the candlelight service.  We did five numbers and as usual the service was very moving.  It's tough not to think back to the years when the entire family would attend the service.  Then we'd come home to a big midnight dinner.  After dinner we'd sing carols around the piano and finally open presents. Then dessert and  off to bed at 3 or 4 in the morning.  It was always the highlight of the year.  It still is in many ways, but now it brings some sadness with it.  Things change - kids grow up, people move away, and others are there only in spirit.  The memories are great though(except my 1969 attempt to sing at the candlelight service and accompany myself on as autoharp - but that's another story.)
     Christmas day was just as busy.  After a leisurely morning with Nan at home, we joined our  friends Tom and Jackie C. and their son Luke together with Sue and George at Moreau State Park for a Christmas Day hike.  It was beautiful -crisp and clear with a trace of snow covering everything.  After about 4 miles we headed back home and opened the rest of our presents - a nice Christmas.