Spring skiing pictures

Here are some recent spring skiing pictures. I'm really going to miss skiing when it ends.

I spent a lot of time on this lift this year, sometimes alone and sometimes talking to strangers.

Deer kissing

I guess everyone needs a kiss from time to time.

He's trying to think of something to say to her..

"What lovely ears you have my deer,.. They're so soft and fluffy.." he says,. "Is that musk you're wearing?" she askes as she moistens her lips..


And then they kiss..

The last ski race

My friend Reinhard who is a really good ski racer, talked me into doing a giant slalom this weekend at Lookout. Well sort of... I wouldn't have done it if he hadn't as he had a flu and cough due to cold. We had to get up very early to travel and get there on time to register for the race. In a Giant Slalom there there are two runs and the lowest combined time wins.

Looking up the course from the bottom. The snow was frozen solid and perfect for racing.

Looking down from the top of the course. It's steeper than it looks even though this one is easier than usual.

That's Reinhard off in the distance in the blue. They are checking the timing and getting ready for the race.

I won my catagory and got the "gold" medal. There were only two people in my catagory and the other guy was a better skier, but he fell in the first run and had to hike back up to the gate where he fell. He coudln't make up that time in the second run so I won.. (I don't think it's really gold,..) but I'll take it!

That will be the end of my ski racing this year. A nice way to go out on. Still a few days of free skiing left.

Idaho skiing pictures

Had another ski day in north Idaho today. Got to get them in while I they are still running the lifts. It was pretty nice out, cold air and warm sun above the clouds. Perfect for cruising.

This is what I looked like riding the lift. I know,.. I've taken this shot before but I can't help it... Those Atomic race skis are really fun for me to cruise on, and I might be racing this weekend, if I can get out of bed early enough...

These people are dropping down into the backside bowl. It's really steep down there, but you can't really tell in this picture. They are good skiers to go down in there.

Skiing pictures

Another beautiful day in the mountains. The wet heavy snow of yesterday gave way to soft fluffy snow today. Here are some Cyber Trees from today. I had to crop it in a little to give it that Sunday go to church feeling... I'm really going to miss ski season when it ends..

This person stuck their arm out at just the right time! :) I almost didn't take my camera with me after lunch. I realized I didn't have it and walked back to the car to get it. There's always something to take a picture of, I thought as I walked back to the car in the mud. And I NEVER go anywhere without my camera.. I don't even go to Walmart without my camera..

Shark attack of skiing

When you go surfing you have to watch out for shark attacks. But when you go skiing it's much worse. Wild turkey attacks are on the rise. And they single out people in Hyundais. If you drive a Hyundai, try to make it look like you're drving a Honda. The wild turkey has spotted me and is charging!

He's singled me out.. They get in front of your Hyundai and won't let you go. "Whatcha gonna do don!" The wild turkey taunts me... He wants my bird feed, credit cards and cell phone... If this happens, lock the doors and roll up the windows. Whatever you do, don't get out!

He has me right where he wants me!

The last thing you see before they peck is that eye...

Wild Turkey

What's that song?...

Wild wild turkeys,
Couldn't drag me away..

But this one tried to pick a fight with my Hyundai. I really need to get a bigger car... But it was me he really wanted.. He got in front of my car and wasn't about to let me leave. I honked and he just gobbeled back at me. I tried to get away once and he chased me down. I was afraid I'd run over him and really be the bad guy. I finally had to get out and shoo him away and he still chased me as I drove away.

I was attacked by an EVIL GROUSE back in 2008. That was bad enough, and now this..

I'm just not in harmony with nature, that's all.. This is a bad sign anyway. You know it's gotten pretty bad when even the turkeys are against you.

Skiing in the sunshine

Today was a nice day to be skiing in the mountains. Not many people and the snow was great. All of the people were happy. Well I didn't run into any unhappy ones anyway..

Here's a don's eye view picture I took of my shadow while I was skiing. I fell and hurt my arm last week so I told the doctor to just remove it. (I'm kidding,..) It looks like I'm skiing with one arm missing but I'm holding the camera.

Squirrel

This squirrel checked me out yesterday as I made my way through its forest home. We were both enjoying the morning sunshine. The forest is starting to come alive due to a short warm winter.

Wild Horse Island picture

On the subject of trees,..I was looking at my cyber tree photos and started to miss Montana and Wild Horse Island. I took this picture two years ago from a boat trip to Wild Horse Island. I've been going there my whole life and I still go there every chance I get. My gosh.. How my life is slipping away from me. I remember composing this shot like it was yesterday. I pretty much remember my exact footsteps. I kept moving around to get a nice shot as the sun went down. I remember how into it I was.

Trees in the fog

Here's a picture I took skiing down into the fog. Eventually the fog burned off and it was nice and sunny on the mountain.

***
One time I was talking to my grandfather. He was a ranger for the Forest Service. He was telling me about going in and out of the fog on a mountain. I can't really remember exactly what he said, but I always think about him when I go in and out of the fog like this.

I think that's a Grand Fir tree in the middle there. The pointy one on the right is an Alpine Fir. The bare one in the distance farther to the right is a Tamarack.