From the Ski for Light Bulletin - Spring 2005
by Fran Howley
My 3rd year as a Guide for SFL once again renewed my respect for the VIPs and MIPs and their willingness to put their 'bodies, so to speak, in the hands of folks like me, who can't quite get right from left. When I spoke of my days at Snow Mountain Ranch to friends back home, they all commented on the level of trust it must take for the VIPs and MIPs to explore the outdoor trails on sit-skis or x-c skis AND to then take direction or help from the Guides. I sometimes wonder that I don't get complaints from my skiers when, after five separate occasions, I announce a curve to the 'right' only to be gently corrected: "No, Fran, this is a curve to the left!"
The story I'd like to share involves my trip back to Colorado a week after SFL. I joined eleven other backcountry skiers and headed for a weeklong hut-to-hut trip in the 10th Mountain hut system. Let me describe what this entails. First we drove 1-½ hours to reach the trailhead for Betty Bear Hut. Each of us donned a backpack loaded with sleeping bag, personal warm clothing, at least 1 breakfast or dinner for 12, camera, first-aid and emergency parts of equipment, and in my case another smaller backpack for day use. Needless to say, the weight, which included 2 quarts of water, made an impression on my mind and my body. I was wearing heavyweight leather boots and a pair of telemark skis that weigh at least 3 times more than my x-c boots and skis.
The start of the journey kept us on a snow-covered mountain road for 4 - 5 miles that gradually added elevation and led us to the final 1-½ mile trail UP to the hut. This first 4 - 5 mile section challenged me due to snow that kept accumulating on the bottoms of my skis, thus forcing me to pick up each ski rather than glide. In order to trudge up the very last section, we all fastened "skins" on the bottom of each ski. These attach in the front and with a glue type action, fasten onto the entire bottom of each ski. The bottom of the skin is a type of plastic that allows one to walk up snow-covered hills without slipping and sliding. (At least that's what's supposed to happen!)
This is where my Ski for Light experience gave me an unexpected gift. The trail was surprisingly steep with sharp curves, icy surfaces mixed with deep pockets of snow. I got scared! My skins were not allowing me to walk up as hoped and I was struggling with the weight and balance of the cursed backpack. At one point I managed to take off one of my skis and then hobbled on one ski with my other foot sinking to the knee. In hindsight I'm reminded how when I get psyched out, my clear thinking becomes quite muddled! Eventually I took the other ski off and found my progress even more incredibly slow and awkward. (By the way most of the other group members were well ahead of me by now!) This was a ¼ mile section that probably took me an hour.
Comfort and encouragement arrived in the form of a friend who came up behind me, on both of his skis! I realized the only way to sensibly travel up this trail was on two skis, so I managed the feat of again getting into skis. It took an hour more to traverse the icy, steep, curved trail and I managed it by repeating a mantra "Trust, trust, trust, trust, trust". My plea of trust to myself was to accept that my equipment could work as designed and that if I relaxed I could indeed continue the upward journey.
As I recited my mantra, I continued to visualize my SFL friends who spent all week long trusting me and all the other guides. Thank you Ann, Harvey and Stan. You have each given me a gift that money can't buy. I made it to the hut on courage I gained as an SFL guide.
Let me add that Day 1 for me was the only crack in an otherwise incredible exploration of beauty, quiet, 3 plus feet of snow, star-filled skies, and wonderful friends. Just as I look forward to the next SFL adventure, I'm anticipating the next backcountry challenge and know that I'll trust more, right from the start!