Cross Country Skiing 02/02/2014 Photo Album
Shortly after Jane and I moved to Colorado in 1990 we decided to purchase cross country ski equipment since we experienced more snowfall in Castle Rock than we were accustomed to in Allentown, Pa. More important than the amount of snow, however, was the quality of the snow due to the higher elevation. We quickly learned that when it precipitates in the winter; it snows, and we weren’t faced with rain, freezing rain, or sleet.
We continued enjoying our equipment over the next twenty years, but Jane gradually realized that her boots did not fit properly thus leading to foot pain and blisters. Consequently for the last two or three years when we’ve skied together, we generally visit a nordic center where she can rent boots, skis and poles. True to my frugal nature, I persisted with my 20+ year old skis and boots, although I noticed my skis tended to ice up quickly on snow that was soft or warmed by the intense rays of the sun.
A Pause Early On
As Christmas approached in 2013, I asked Jane if she had any gift wishes, and she mentioned cross country ski boots. Before departing for Argentina we made a visit to Wilderness Exchange and then REI to examine their ski packages, and Jane eventually settled on some new skis and fashionable black boots. I purchased these and hid them from her and then wrapped and placed them under the tree. While at REI I asked the salesman if there was a way to revive my ancient Fischer skis, and he suggested a can of SWIX wax. Jane purchased this item for me; I totally forgot about it, and it reappeared as a stocking stuffer on Christmas morning.
On the Sunday after Christmas our entire family decided to go cross country skiing, and Jane welcomed the chance to test out her new skis and boots. We chose Eldora Nordic Center because Joe, Amy and Dan needed to rent skis, and we didn’t wish to battle interstate 70 traffic on a Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s. Jane had a great day on her new set up and did not experience any sort of pain or blisters. I meanwhile defaulted to my old skis and boots, and I was noticeably slower than the rest of the family. The air temperature was quite cold, probably around 20 degrees, so I did not have issues with ice forming on the bottoms, but clearly my skis did not glide smoothly like those of Jane, Amy, Dan or Joe. My new can of ski wax was still secure in its packaging as I forgot to break it out for the Eldora trip.
Navigating the Boardwalk
When I returned from Eldora I remembered to carry my skis downstairs and then the next day after they had dried, I applied a coat of the new wax. Applying was a simple task using the sponge pad that came in the can, allowing the wax to dry for one minute and then wiping off with a rag. My newly waxed skis rested in the garage awaiting some significant snowfall in Denver to be tested.
Four or Five Prairie Dogs Visible Here
At the end of the last week of January Denver received approximately 4-5 inches of snow, so Jane and I decided to break out the cross country gear on Saturday morning. We did a loop along the Sand Creek Trail and then through Bluff Lake Wildlife Area and then returned to the house. I was ecstatic over the performance of my “new” old skis. In fact, I can’t believe I skied with slow sticky boards for as long as I did without applying wax. We had so much fun on our one hour and fifteen minute loop that we decided to venture north five miles to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge on Sunday morning.
A Herd of Deer
What a joy it was to smoothly glide over the crisp four inch layer of snow in the refuge with no one else around except for prairie dogs, deer, eagles and a coyote! I can’t wait for more snow to arrive so I can continue to cruise in my twenty year old skis.