If I was still a skier...

Today's view of the Wind River Range.  All the peaks are getting heavy snowfall.

If I still longed to hit the slopes on downhill skis, I would be pretty thrilled that the mountains here and around Jackson Hole are getting another foot of snow.  Oooo...the fresh powder and the freshly groomed trails would be fun.  And if it was a sunny day, it didn't get much better!

Sunset over the Grand Tetons as I'm heading back home from a trip in 2012.

At the time, I didn't care so much that I had to get up at 3:00 a.m. to catch a bus at 4:00 a.m. with  for a 3 hour ride with high school kids on snow-packed roads to Jackson Hole.  I didn't care so much that those bench-style yellow bus seats were horribly uncomfortable.  Once we got to Teton Village,  I didn't care so much that at times it was freezing cold, snowing, or a white-out on the mountain,  or that we fell down so many times on slopes that were icy, moguls that were too deep, or slopes that were too steep for our abilities.  We laughed and scored each other on the falls; although, you didn't want to be the one who scored a "yard sale," where all your friends were picking up your gloves, hat, goggles, poles, and retrieving a ski while you were digging yourself out of a snowbank!  But if you made a successful run on a difficult slope,  just think of the bragging rights you had on the trip home!  Oh yeah, and it seemed OK that after a hard day of skiing, we dined on a McDonald's hamburger and fries before boarding the bus for the 3 hour ride home in wet and/or sweaty gear. Plus, we had to get up early for work the next day.  No problem.  Couldn't wait to go again.

IF I was still a skier... I would care about all those things.