Transitions

Don’t get us wrong, we love winter as much as the next ski bum. I mean, once winter is on, like really, really on, we’re all about it. It’s the in-between part we struggle with. It’s the transition from fall to winter that’s so difficult. Trading in the long, warm, colorful days of autumn for the short, dark, bitter cold days of winter just feels so harsh. Seriously, when was the last time you celebrated the end of daylight savings time? “Woohoo! It’s dark at 5pm now. Sweet!”

We grudgingly kiss our flip-flops goodbye while trying to recall where, exactly, we might have stashed our Sorrells for the summer. We trade in the lawn mower for the snow shovel, the chain lube for the ski wax, and the ball cap for the beanie. We’re in the midst of half-heartedly packing up the bikes, the climbing gear, and the trail running shoes when suddenly, without warning…we come across our climbing skins, our ski pack, and beacon. Cool. And there are our skis. Dang, these things could really use some love, might be time for a tune up. Oh yeah, and here are our goggles and ski poles! I forgot this pole needs a new basket. And wait, what’s that? Why, it’s my backcountry ski pants with a petrified Clif Bar and $10 in the pocket that I must have forgotten about at the end of last ski season! AWESOME!

And that’s all it takes to move through the transition and into the winter stoke…

At CBMG we’ve been working on our own winter stoke. These early season ski pics should help inspire you to move through the fall to winter transition with a little more grace. Enjoy.

~ Tiffanie Simpson

You know it’s shallow when you can still see the grass near Baldy Peak.

Powder conservation in the Anthracites.