Day 1 – Okemo

Day 1 of a New Season

Live Real Life is about the pursuit of firsts.  Expanding ourselves happens with a series of first steps.  

On November 20th, 2017, Jay and long time friend Dave got in our first ski day of the 2017-2018 ski season at Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, VT.

Dave and his brother have had a long standing tradition of skiing the day after Thanksgiving.  I’m not sure conditions will cooperate year after year with a before Thanksgiving skiing tradition, but on this day, we made the most of the two or so trails Okemo had to offer.

When in my twenties, Volkswagen Beetle sized moguls run after run were what me and my skiing pack looked forward to every weekend.  Now, a few decades away from, a back surgery, and beat up knees later…my favorite skiing comes by way of steep powder terrain and fast groomers with Velcro-like edge grip.

On this day at Okemo there were two top to bottom runs available and zero lift lines.  It didn’t really matter that there was no snow in the woods or that there were only two run (with some offshoots) available.  We were skiing on November 20th!!!  That was gift enough.

I didn’t hit my goal of twenty days in the ‘17/‘18 season despite the earlier than ever start.  But sharing Day 1with Jay and Dave will be a lasting memory.

I’ve already purchased my Epic Pass for the ‘18/‘19 season…so despite summer just kicking off as I write this, with lots of fishing and mountain biking to come…I’m looking forward to snow 🙂