Thankful Thursday ~ SNOW!

I've decided to bring back my weekly Thankful Thursday posts!

This week I'm thinking a lot about SNOW and how thankful I am for an appreciation of winter. Honestly, when I hear people complain about winter, I wonder if they've ever tried skiing or snowshoeing. When was the last time they went outside and enjoyed watching snowflakes fall onto their eyelashes? Was it not since childhood when they felt the wonder and magic of snow? When I hear things like, "I wish it wouldn't snow," in my mind I'm thinking, "What is the matter with you!? We want MORE snow!" This is because I have developed not only an appreciation but a love of winter recreation. If you've been following along in the blog, you've probably noticed I've been doing a lot of skiing and getting outside in the snow, so this won't be a surprise.

To be fair, there was a time when I was entrenched in the "Winter Sucks" camp. This was when I was still in college, living in Iowa, and snow and cold weather was nothing more than a nuisance I had to scrape off the windshield when I was running late for work. Yes, snow was pretty to look at, but more often than not, it was in the way.

It wasn't until moving to Wyoming in 2007, to the mountain paradise of Jackson Hole, that a true appreciation of snow and winter weather struck me. That winter was a record snowfall winter with something like 500 inches of snowfall. It started snowing one day in October and it didn't quit until spring. I'm not lying when I say that it literally snowed every. single. day.

What was a girl to do but ask for snowshoes for Christmas and learn how to ski? That first pair of snowshoes my parents gave me got a lot of use tromping around the mountain trails of Grand Teton National Park. You don't know peacefulness until you've been alone in nature on a snowy day.

Learning to ski took more effort. I began on the bunny hill at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, piggy-backing on lesson groups and trying to pick things up here and there. Thankfully, I'd been graced with strong thunder thighs and a natural athleticism that definitely came in handy. I'd ask friends for help and advice, and even some of my Couchsurfing guests. Gradually, things began to click, and I'd notice small improvements each time I went out. One time, a Couchsurfing guest told me that if I could learn to ski any run at Jackson Hole, I'd have no problem skiing anywhere else. So, I made it my mission to do that. Each day off of work, you'd find me on the mountain, working on becoming a better skier.

Riding the chairlift on a recent trip to Whitefish.

I've had my ups and downs with skiing since then. I had a classic ski injury in tearing my ACL, requiring surgery, in 2009. But that didn't keep me from enjoying winter. I rehab-ed my knee over the spring and summer, transitioning to hiking mountain trails in Bozeman. I kept my knee and legs strong and started winter recreation more simply with snowshoeing and Jeff also introduced me to cross country skiing. Eventually, I went back to Alpine skiing. Though I'm still working through the hit to my confidence that knee surgery left me with, every time I go to the mountain, a little bit more of it comes back, one run at a time.

Today, Jeff and I own our own snowshoes, Alpine, and cross country skis. Even though we don't get a ton of snow where we live, when we do get it, it's so great to have equipment on hand to go out and enjoy it, and we're only a few hours drive from several downhill ski resorts in the state. I've grown to adore my cross country skis as I've gotten better at remaining upright on them. I had a mental block that they were "so different" from my Alpine skis and I "couldn't do this," but in the end, I think the balance and basic maneuvering is more similar than I once thought. Credit also a basic mindset switch I've been working on in myself in the past several years.

Taking a break while skiing at Essex.

So, yes, I'm thankful for snow. I'm thankful for it as a means to have fun in a season that used to be drudgery for me. Snow provides a way to get outside, be active, and find joy. Remember the feeling you used to get as a kid when you'd play outside in the snow? Building forts? Making snow angels? Snowball fights? It also lends itself so naturally to feelings of peacefulness and contentedness.  If you take a hike on freshly fallen snow, you'll feel it. You can still have that! All you have to do is get outside and enjoy the snow.

Jeff and I on the trail at Essex.

And if you say something about wishing it wouldn't snow and then you notice me giving you a funny look...well, now you know why! :) I'm on the other side of the fence, praying for more snow, and wondering how many more days I'll have on skis this winter.

Lastly, this quote is only tangentially related to this post, but I liked it. It makes me think about the fears that creep into my mind post-surgery when I'm on skis. What if I fall again? What if I get out of control? A dear friend of mine recently posted this on her Facebook: "Always regulate your fears according to the situation, and then you will not go into the valley of the shadow of death when you are only lost in the mountains." ~ Grace Seton, A Woman Tenderfoot. You have to learn to be comfortable with discomfort and know that even if you are uncomfortable, it doesn't mean you're not in control. Don't give up. Being lost in the mountains can be pretty transforming.

What are you thankful for this week? 
Do you love snow? 
What fears can you better regulate?

Could be a poster for Coors Light, no? Born in the Rockies!
What can I say. Beer tastes great after a ski! :)