Author: Bill

I think last year we tried it too. And I remember that we even had trouble figuring out how to connect into our bindings at the time. So this year I practice it over and over in my head.  So I was ready this time. And we did it, two days of skiing.

Snuggles and I getting high

No, nothing major of course. After all a friend was just swept away and perished. Nothing against the rad slider groups out there but we prefer gentle slopes. Ones where the only danger is to get run over by a deer. Maybe later we would get better and take more chances. But for now … super safe.

Snuggles takes the lead on route finding

The hill out the back of the cabin turned out to be the perfect one for us non sliders. So gentle that it would take a 30 mph gust to move the snow. Super stable and super safe.  Plus, to climb without skins are so cool. What the hell is the use of skiing if you have to take skins off and  put them back on for every undulation. It’s like me changing tires on my bike as I am out mountain biking. Just silly.

Doing it again, skin tracks

So yea. Call us ignorant beginners. But … it’s been a while!

I got word from the biome that it would be beneficial for us to attend the Horse Prairie Guard Station for another weekend. We were directed to attend as soon as possible. So that is why we made a night push to ski into the cabin.

The next day the sun was brilliant. Since we all know that our small biome is just a part of the larger one, perhaps the universe and beyond, the sun inclusion made sense. And the direction to take skis really paid off. No surprise though. I mean we just happen to let the higher order drive and keep the communication open.

That is why gut feelings always pan out for the better. It is the entity that literally drives the shell we call self. Just listen right? So whatever the reason, we think it is because we all knew that sun is good and we needed to get plenty of it, all was pleased.

The reward for listening and reaping the benefits of much needed sun was a relaxing and memorable ski weekend at the Horse Prairie Guard Station. Can’t wait to get the next memorandium.

Our winter life involves fat biking and skiing to cabins. In the summer bike packing and other interesting stuff. But not always. In between we have to work. Self sponsored adventure requires a income. So we do mundane bullshit work in between the weekends.

I wonder though … I wonder. What if we quite those bullshit jobs and keep adventuring. Can that be done? I mean my partner IS a media professional. Couldn’t we share what we like, make some cash on the inter-webs, and keep the adventure going?

While we contemplate that we still do the bullshit … squeezing in bike rides to and from work.

No sunrise this morning. No options to recreate since it was too deep to hike and no solidity to ride fat. Enter the Clue Epic. A epic series of 12 Clue games to determine just who was the best sleuth in the Beaverheads.

Today was our last day and we contemplated just staying. I mean who would be renting this cabin on a Tuesday night? But since there was a 30% off sale at the Patagonia Outlet we needed to get back out. Well … and we did have to work the next day as well.

After a lengthy chore session, chopping wood and cleaning the cabin, we were off. It should be easier then walking up the hill through drifts. And maybe our tracks up would hold us.

Not the case. I mean the tracks were solid but narrow … unless you were Hans Ray. Walking past the sign to the cabin I wondered if we could ride our loaded bikes like a strider. You know those little bikes that children have.

After riding the top tube and falling twice it suddenly hit me. Duh!  I buried my seat post into the frame and tried again. Sweet victory. I rode at least 30 yards before crashing off the narrow track. With the snow being deep it was sort of fun. Kind of like falling off a log while trying to ride along it.

We got pretty good at the manual dropper post and by the time we arrived at the car we were carving turns in the snow. I thought dropper posts were gimmicks.

We had hiked our bikes up here. Through drifts and deep snow. And it was hard enough for me to give up on the idea that we were going to be able to do any biking this weekend. Previous plans were dependent on snowmobiles but there were none up here. In fact there was no one. Just us. And lots of wind blown snow.

“I know …”, I waited for my partner’s attention. “Lets just walk through the snow and try to gain that ridge”. I motioned out the back window.

“OK”

First order of business was to explore around the Guard Station.

But we never made the ridge. The best we could do was use some recent moose tracks to go up the road a pace.

On the way back we got a chance to get a overview of the valley. The cabin sitting about 600 feet from the valley floor was just enough to give it great commanding views over it.

We imagined the old days when native americans picked their way through these parts trying to avoid the murderous calvary. What has changed really? I fear for the people at Standing Rock.

It is ever increasingly hard to live in a place and watch the injustices. These retreats bring it all to a different perspective. Could we break free and find a place like this to live. Get off the grid. Be free. And just watch every sunrise and set? Would’t that be nice.

The darkness is upon us but there is still time. We just need to find shelter. There are obstacles sure enough. But keep struggling. When you fall down get back up and struggle against the oppression. Its cold and it will be dark soon. Keep going. Keep going.

And when you crest the hill you still may not be safe. You must keep going. Keep going. Find shelter and wait for a new day.

It will come …o/o

Yesterday marked the end of an era for many of us. We said goodbye to someone who wasn’t just special, he was extraordinary. Ben Parsons. In the wake of his passing, I’ve found myself lost in a sea of memories and articles, searching for photographs that capture the essence of who he was. It’s in moments like these that we question the cosmic fairness – why do we lose the good ones early?

Ben was one of those rare souls who made the world undeniably better. He was a human dynamo, an energy cell in the vast battery of life. His presence was a positive charge, electrifying everyone around him. It’s tough, isn’t it? When the world loses someone like Ben, we’re left grappling with the why. But in this loss, there’s a lesson, a call to action for all of us.

The best way to honor Ben is to embody the qualities he exemplified. His infectious smile, his unwavering positivity, the way he was a beacon of hope and inspiration as a father, a husband, a teacher, and a friend. Imagine if each of us, touched by Ben’s life, could replicate even a fraction of the impact he had. Pick one of his many admirable traits and make it your mission. Be it his kindness, his zest for life, or his commitment to helping those in need.

This is how we transform a negative into a positive, how we make sense of a tragic loss. It’s about taking the essence of Ben’s spirit and weaving it into the fabric of our own lives. So, next time you see me smiling on the trail, know that there’s a piece of Ben in that smile, a reminder of a great man who taught us how to live better.

In Ben’s honor, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support his family through this difficult time. For those who wish to contribute, you can find more details here.

Resources to Enhance Your Day:

1. Ben Parsons’ Legacy: A GoFundMe page dedicated to supporting Ben’s family and keeping his memory alive.
2. Coping with Loss: Helpful resources from Psychology Today on dealing with grief and loss.
3. Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: Be inspired by stories of kindness and learn how to bring positivity into the lives of others.
4. Mindful Living: Discover ways to incorporate mindfulness and positivity into your daily routine.
5. Trail Running Tips: Embrace Ben’s love for the trails with expert advice on trail running and connecting with nature.