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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

The Sledding is Perfect!

You’re probably tired of snowy activities by now. It’s a fact. People should not live here if they don’t enjoy playing in the snow. And now, it’s perfect. Deep and fluffy. I said that recently, didn’t I? Well, it still is and more is coming down. So in between sessions shoveling snow, a person has got to have some fun. And so does the dog.

Our house sits a ways up a steep hill with a bench down below. When the snow is soft like this, it is a perfect sledding hill. It starts out with a short steep drop off, the scariest part, and then glides down through the bitterbrush to the bench. Of course, the bitterbrush can be an obstacle as well. Last year, the challenge was to get to the edge of the bench. I think today I went farther than anyone did last year! More than halfway across the bench. I tried once more but crashed in the bitterbrush. The hard part is the climb back up the hill pulling the sled. That’s the exercise part of the fun.

 

Luna is thinking, ‘ are you sure about this?’

 

Part way across the bench at the bottom

 

Again? You’re going to do that again?

 

 

It’s a long ways back up the hill

 

Look at how much further I went!

 

That was fun. You know, you are starting resemble me. Are you going to fix dinner now?

 In case you are concerned, Luna doesn’t ride in the sled. She runs at full speed behind me.

Methow Valley Pursuit

This weekend MVSTA is hosting the Methow Valley Pursuit – two days of Nordic ski races. Today is a skate race with skiers going the 30k from Mazama to Winthrop. It is a slow course today with lots of new snow and more falling during the race. Yesterday was the classic race that began and ended at Winthrop’s Town Trailhead. During the race I helped with traffic control where the trail crosses Twin Lakes Road. In between cars, I made a few images.

 

 

Nicely groomed trails ready for racers and other skiers

 

This fellow biked up from town

 

He just wanted to go skiing. The course was open to any skiers – we just asked that they watch out for the racers

 

And off he goes

 

Lots of really excellent racers in this field

 

 

 

Great fashions

 

All ages

 

And always – having fun!

 

 

 

Some People’s Trucks

Some people’s trucks live outside. Probably most of them. Hi ho Silver, my car, is spoiled, living in a garage. Looking at other people’s cars and trucks, it’s obvious that they are out there, in the elements, all the time. Silver, comes and goes, into the warm, well not really warm by my standard, but certainly warmer than outside, while other cars and trucks sit outside, day and night, through sub zero temperatures, big snow falls and occasional ice storms, thawing and freezing, and the occasional leaf fall.

 

 

 

Classic Skiing in New Powder

This week, Mother Nature has brought our valley some wonderful airy powder snow! What a delight. So light, easy to shovel. One lady said she used her leaf blower to get it off her porch.

Neighbor Shelley asked me this afternoon if it was alright if she started some classic ski tracks across our hillside. Oh Yeah. She and her dogs were soon scooting through the spindrift snow as more was coming down. A little while later I moved myself away from the computer and went in search of the old fish scale classic skis and the glide wax and then had to look  for the poles before finding them out in the shop with a hoard of other ski poles. We could outfit a few skiers with our outdated equipment.

And the dogs wanted to go along. They already had a morning walk. And Luna and I had done some skate skiing in the soft snow at Big Valley this morning too. That was a real effort. So off we went, up our trail and then along the road to a vacation house where we found Shelley’s tracks coming from the other side of the hill. It was a bit much for Sam, the brown dog, so I thought maybe a shortcut back home would be a good idea. It was quite a pull up a steep hillside but eventually the old dogs made it up and then we were on our regular trail heading downhill towards home. The dogs will sleep well tonight.

 

Gliding through the powder!

 

 

 

Kelly can barely see or hear. She’s a real trooper. And nearly 14! Her birthday is Valentines Day.

 

Sam wants to go. She will will herself to go despite old age and arthritis

 

And Luna. Can you see me?

 

Our little camper is in that barn with the plastic doors. Waiting for summer.

 

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

 

Kelly is thinking. Home is right over there. Put the camera away and let’s get going. It’s nearly dinner time and I need to lay down for a while.

 

Home

 

 

 

 

 

Just Walkin My Dogs

Even in the coldest and snowiest weather, the dogs want to go for a walk every morning. And sometimes in the afternoon too. That morning walk sometime after breakfast seems to get them settled for the rest of the day with a series of naps and occasional forays out into the cold, or sometimes even a major outing involving a ride in the car. Today they seemed slower about telling me it was time for the walk – maybe the snow falling slows everyone down. They were happy to get out and look for sticks and smells and try to find out which deer and coyotes and other wildlife had walked on our trail. Looking out the window, I am guessing that by afternoon, all traces of our walk will have disapeared in a soft blanket of new snow.

Kelly says, nope, I don’t like having my picture made

Well, maybe for a cookie, you can make my picture, but you’d better be quick

Luna and Sam will hold still for a cookie anytime

I’ll have that cookie now please

Sam is ready to go home