Category Archives: Aging

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B.A.

Bob Anderson at the front.

You know, as you grow older, you start to lose people in your life. It starts with grandparents, uncles, aunts, sometimes siblings, parents, but then you start to lose your friends. It happened to me last week when I lost a good friend – Bob Anderson. Bob was tragically killed when he came into contact with a high voltage downed power line after a storm. I won’t get into the details of that but suffice to say that Bob is no longer with us and that is a true tragedy.

Bob and I have been friends for close to 40 years. Starting way back in the Greenlee’s Mountain Bike Team days, to skiing together and hanging out after rides. Bob was an educator at Central Catholic High School. He was a favorite teacher of many of the students there even though he was tough and demanding, with his curriculum of diet and exercise. Bob was an extremely fit mountain bike racer even at the age of 63. A plant- based eater, he always paid strict attention to his health and was a fierce competitor and was extremely hard to ride with as I am getting older. I kept telling him that nobody is going to the Olympics, but Bob finished second in a race three days before he died. I did way better having a conversation with Bob after a ride than during.

But the great thing about Bob was that there was much more to his character than just mountain biking and racing. He had a heart for people and was the first one to volunteer to guide blind skiers, put on soccer clinics, help out at his church, and in general, if you needed a hand, Bob was there for you.

Bob – second from left with the group from Adventurefest.

We all attended Adventurefest together which is an annual event of Christian men getting together for a weekend of camping, riding, and other activities in the great outdoors of the Laurel Highlands. Bob was taken aback when he heard testimonies on Friday night at the cross with guys who have come back to Christianity after a history of broken homes, marriages, substance abuse, incarcerations, and other life hardships. Bob was a Christian man whose faith meant a lot to him, and we all had wonderful discussions at the campfires at night and he was always inquisitive about faith and what it meant to him.

Sunday he went to church up at Adventurefest and was the first to volunteer to permanently erect the cross at the Boyer’s Pond Campground for future Adventuremen events. The cool thing about the cross is that after the men give their testimonies, they pound a nail into the cross to signify that they have put it all back on the cross and have given their life to the saving power of Jesus. Very important to Bob.

Bob and Shark signing autographs at the World Cup in Snowshoe, WVA. LOL!!

Bob was a kind father to his two daughters, Paige and Brooke, and talked about them often on our rides. People knew Bob as an amazing mountain bike racer. Strong and competitive, he trained diligently for a long time. But there was so much more to the guy and people are just now starting to realize the other parts of Bob’s life that were truly exemplary.

The tough part about losing friends is that in most cases there is a catastrophic illness involved. People taken before their time. And many in my age group. I have lost a number of friends this year and last year. I thank God every day for my health. But this situation was a tough one. There is a lot of talk about negligence where I do not have the expertise to accurately comment. But it sure seems like this could have been avoided. But I do know one thing- Bob is in Heaven today. He went from Adventurefest, sitting around a campfire and talking about the Lord, and now two weeks later he is with Him in eternity. Wow. From Adventurefest to Heaven. Amazing! Thanks for reading

” Be dressed, ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” Luke 12:3

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To Assume

The baby porcupine

I heard it was going to be a scorcher this week here in the East so I thought I would cool you off with a winter like post on an interesting subject. I was in Alta, Utah a couple of years ago with some friends and we stopped at the side of a trail and lo and behold, a baby porcupine came waddling out and made its way over to me. It kind of looked at me and decided that maybe I was friendly and started to make its way up my right leg. I didn’t quite know what to do and just stood still while the baby’s curiosity was piqued, and my friends all got a big kick out of it.

I looked over to my left and a young female ski patrol came up to me and admonished me not to feed the porcupine. I politely told her I was not feeding the critter and it was just curious and making its way up my leg. She came over, lightly brushed the porcupine from my leg, gave me a rather nasty look and told me again not to feed the porcupines. At that moment, my friends got a little testy with her, but I simply said………..” really- I did not feed him.” She skied away shaking her head and we made our way to the lift.

The Collins Lift at Alta

Thinking about that a little bit riding up the chair, I realized that she was assuming I was one of the tourists who maybe fed the porcupines. Maybe she had some issues with people in the past, saw an out of towner like me and decided that I was just another touron making her life miserable. She assumed things and was in error. You know what they say about assuming? Well- we all know that one.

It is interesting sometimes at ski areas when the “locals” sometimes are not enamored with the guests of the resort and sometimes assume things. Whenever I get the “I am a local” line from someone on the chairlift, I ask them where they are really from and more often than not, they are from Cleveland, Houston or somewhere else not quite local. Maybe they have been there for a season or two but now they qualify themselves as a “local” and look with disdain at the people who spend money and help to employ them. They assume we are something we are not. You know, I respect them with the job that they are doing, so I would expect some courtesy on their part in return. Not always the case, because most people are cordial and happy to have people visit so that they can be employed. But sometimes you get the attitude that you are not welcome and really – that is short sighted.

I have found as I have gotten older, that it is important to look beyond the obvious and try to see the world from another’s point of view. There are people who are hurting, have had a tragedy in their life that they are trying to recover from- not always in the best way. I think it is important to deliver the benefit of the doubt to everyone with whom you come in contact. Try to see the world from their point of view. Try not to assume that they are wrong and have no say in an issue.

People are busy today. They often don’t have time or don’t think they have time to assess a situation and dismiss someone with an assumption. Sometimes young people see me with my gray hair and assume that I am old and in the way. But maybe if they would stop for just a moment, get to know us old gray mares and maybe see if there was something of value from us, life would be a lot more friendly. We most often would shock them with some revelations about our skill on a mountain bike, a pair of skis, or just general knowledge instead of just blowing us off.

Old gray hairs that can still ski. Don’t assume. We don’t let the old man in.

We all are in the same boat. We all assume things every day that might not really hold water. We dismiss people who are really not who we think they are. The homeless are not all drug users and alcoholics. I met a kid who was eating at the Light of Life Shelter here in Pittsburgh who was trying to put himself through college at Pitt and had no residence. I helped a lady to her feet after a bad fall on the sidewalk and took her to the Urgent Care. Hundreds of people drove right past her either too busy to help her or assumed that someone else would help. They assumed that she was ok and kept on driving because their schedule would not allow them to stop.

We all need to stop assuming and try to put ourselves into another person’s shoes. That really is the only way to stop division, and perhaps help someone who maybe does not agree with you, or you assumed they would not agree with you. You know what they say about people who assume? Thanks for reading. Stay cool this week.

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The Geriatric Ride

Jeff, Darrall, and Steve. Pounding through the rocks at Laurel Mountain

So it was an absolutely beautiful day in the Laurel Highlands this weekend and a fun group of eclectic individuals came out to ride the challenging rocks and roots of Laurel Mountain. These trails are not for the faint of heart but the challenge is always accepted by riders in the Western Pa. area who are up to the task. The interesting thing about this weekend was the conversation and the condition of the participants. One amazing stroke survivor, one guy with a prosthesis ( amazing rider), one guy who just had two cortisone shots in his shoulders the day before, one guy with a pacemaker, and the rest of us reveling in the senior years on the trails. Now with all of this going on, it was fair to say that they all went for it and “sent it” for the whole ride with some of the actors opting to even add more challenging additions to the ride. Outlook Trail, and the whole Black Bear Trail. The rest of us finishing on the Spruce Run Trail which, in our minds, is even more challenging than the popular Wolf Rocks Trail.

Samra on the left had some funny comments for the group.

One of the more amusing comments on the ride came from our pal Samra when she was listening to all the ailments being described and said,” what’s next Pat, a discussion of upcoming colonoscopy appointments?” We all laughed hard at that one and kept riding along the Silvermine Trail to an interesting stop. Now this group is like a lot of mountain bike groups. There are a lot of characters and seeing how they react to certain situations gives one some perspective into how they tick. Take our friend Jeff. He wanted to get up ahead a little bit to get through a rocky section because he still has some peripheral vision issues resulting from his stroke. As we came up behind him, he told all of us to stop because there was a rattle snake crossing the trail. Jeff being Jeff was a little impatient and got a stick to get the rattler moving and when he raised his head in the strike position, he seemed to be looking right at Steve as if to say, ” why are you guys messing with me, man. Don’t you know it is our feeding and mating time?” Steve told Jeff in no uncertain terms to back off, which we did, and the snake went along his carnal way looking for the ladies. Not our ladies on the ride but his ladies in the woods. LOL!!

Rattlers at Wolf Rocks. They are there but if you don’t mess with them, they won’t mess with you.

One of the next more interesting things for the seniors pounding the trails was when our friend Don had a mechanical. Now on these kinds of trails, there tend to be some mechanicals along the way. Mostly with the bikes but Don C had one with his prosthesis. The rocks bent it a little out of shape and Don got his tools, took a time out, and repaired the mechanical ankle with dispatch.

This guy can repair his prosthesis in the field due to rock damage and still outride most people. Amazing.

All in all, you have a very capable ride group with Don O and I giving options along the way. Darrall and I are the most senior of the group with Don C right behind and the rest descending in chronological order. But suffice to say- youth is wasted on the young, and this group tends to squeeze the most out of any challenging conditions with a smile on their face and the attitude of ” give me more.”

Young people who we meet along the way are kind of shocked when they see older riders performing at this level through this kind of challenging terrain. It kind of gives them a peek of their future if they keep riding and stay healthy. With most people our age tending to back off a little bit, this group goes to Laurel Mountain. As we get older, sometimes we have to get out of the comfort zone a little bit and challenge ourselves. That occasional push tends to keep us young not only physically, but mentally with the thought that, ” yes we can still do this.” It is great to hang with a group like this.

Keep Riding the Rocks!

Bottom line, if you are a senior, or one approaching the senior years, keep doing the things you like to do. Challenge yourself. Do it with maturity, but push yourself every once in a while. It keeps you young, vibrant and not ready to throw in the towel just yet. My neighbor always says to me, “Patrick, don’t ever let a number define you.” I agree. Thanks for reading

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Christmas Carol

Decided to post a little early this week to honor Mother’s Day and a happy day to all you dedicated moms out there. This is a picture of my mom, my sister Molly, and me back in the day. My mother was a character to say the least and here are a few anecdotes to honor her on Mother’s Day.

First off, my mom loved Molly and me unconditionally, but loved my father first and foremost. Seems like that is the recipe for a happy marriage to put your spouse first and then the kids. My mom must have really loved my father because she did so much for Molly and me. Imagine how dedicated she was to my father if she treated us so well? But again- getting back to the fact that she was a character. My mother had perfect pitch and was always singing at parties. She had a beautiful voice and the main reason I kept playing the piano as a kid was to accompany her singing. Walking in the rain and the snow to my piano lessons was all worth it when I heard my mom sing. In later years, when I parked cars at Shannopin Country Club, I was ready to call it a night when I heard my mom start to sing. I told the boys we better order a pizza because it was going to be a long night. When my mom started to sing, we were there for the duration.

Mom and yours truly at Lake Erie.

I remember when I first learned to swim. I was afraid to take my deep- water test at 5 years old and my mom looked at Don Geyer and told him to throw me in. She knew I could swim, and she knew I had to overcome my fears. Much to the horror of her friends who were all sitting poolside in hysterectomy row, she told them all that the water would get deeper and deeper every year. When I swam to the side with a big smile on my face, my mom looked at me and said,” You can do anything you want to do in life, Patrick.” And then she told Don to throw me off the diving boards.

I used to swim at the Northside Y, and one night when my dad picked me up, I told him I saw the police come into the lobby and chase down a guy with a knife that had stabbed someone. It was fairly alarming to a young guy, but my mom told me that life was not all about the suburbs. She had no problem with me witnessing the other side of the tracks. Same when I worked at St. Joe Paper Company as a laborer in the summers during college. I told her all about the shenanigans in the “bottoms” of McKees Rocks and she once again told me that it was good for me and would teach me how to deal with all kinds of people. She was right.

Young Pat with the ski outfit put together by my mom. LOL!!

My mother was not much of an outdoors person or athletic for that matter. But she made sure my sister and I learned to swim, play tennis, and ski. I always joke when people ask me if my parents skied. I said “no” for my dad who had a bad back and yes for my mother. She skied 3 feet. When she fell back and hit her head, she told her friend Virginia Ruth to” “take the damn things off”. But she made sure Molly and I learned. When Bob Rose used to pick us up for the weekend, she cooked our dinner on Friday at 3:00 and made sure we were ready to go when Mr. Rose was in the driveway. Then she entertained the whole lot with pots of chili when we all got back on Sunday.

I was able to drive my mother’s ’64 Buick Special convertible in high school. My dad outfitted it with heavy snow tires and concrete bags in the trunk for the winter. On a snow day, my mom said, ” school is cancelled- are you going skiing?” Kind of hilarious in that she knew that I was hell bent to go skiing in those instances and she was fully supportive. Ever since she rear -ended a garbage truck, she was hesitant to drive and eventually quit. Giving me her car was the perfect excuse. But again, whatever she could do to support us as our mother was readily apparent.

My mother loved Christmas. In fact, all her friends called her Christmas Carol in that she always orchestrated a huge Christmas Eve party at our house every year. It was so well attended and was a lot of work for all of us, but relatives, friends, and neighbors were all welcome. Eventually, I told my mom that if she kept inviting people, we would have to switch the venue from our house to a banquet hall. We all laughed at that, but my mom was intent on always entertaining year- round, but especially at Christmas. She gave a lot of people a lot of happiness in those years and some of them really needed the friendship and the care. She always told me that ” happiness is like a perfume. You can’t sprinkle it on others without getting a little on yourself.” Her friends and relatives were everything to her and her dedication to their happiness was heartwarming.

The house on Pineview Drive. The Christmas Eve venue

In later years, my mom didn’t understand my love for competition and events. I ran the Boston Marathon one year and I remember sitting on my parent’s deck at the house and was so excited to relay my experience. The crowds on Commonwealth Ave., the Newton Hills, the Wellesley College girls screams heard miles away, the finish near Fenway Park and the Green Monster welcoming us home. My mom looked at me and said, ” well that’s nice- would you like some more potatoes?” She just didn’t get it, but ironically, she started it all. I would come home from Tuckerman Ravine after camping and skiing for a week and explaining the steepness of the terrain and the chunks of ice and rock that fell which were the size of a Volkswagen. She would look at me with kind of a blank look and say- ” more potatoes?”

My mom had lots of friends as she was fond of saying ” to have a friend is to be a friend.” In the end days when she was receiving lots of blood transfusions, she was always positive. She said she just got up in the morning, washed her face, and kept going. Nothing stopped her. She used to look at me when I walked her up the steps after my dad had passed and she would laugh and say ” how the hell did I get so damn old.” Even when she was quite ill, she and Mary Struk and Sally Rose would go to the “club” which was Grant’s Bar in Millvale. She loved Grant’s Bar and one day when the big flood came, the police came into the bar and basically kicked them all out saying, ” if you ladies don’t leave now, we will be taking you out in a row- boat.” The ice machine from the Grant Bar was floating down the street minutes later. The gals got out just in time.

My mom was a character but if it were not for her persistence, I don’t know whether I would have had the exuberance that I have for skiing, and other outdoor endeavors. She always pushed me, and I am forever grateful that she did. I enjoy a lot of things because of my mom. I miss her as she had been gone 20 years. But I will always remember her smile, her beautiful voice, her fabulous meals, and her kindness to friends and relatives. Someday I will see her again – forever. In the meantime- Happy Mother’s Day in Heaven mom. Thanks for reading and always cherish your mom.

The relatives. Looks like Molly was upset with me. LOL!!

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The Bowl from Dingle

Years ago, I rode my road bike through Ireland and had the experience of a lifetime. Great stories like when the guy in the pub asked me,” Where are you from Yank?” I asked how he knew. He said, ” not many people wear shorts and running shoes around here.” We both had a chuckle(craic) over a classic Guiness pint. Or the guy who took me to his friend at the hardware store and told him to sell me a lock for my bike and not to ” give him a hooking.” We laughed at that one too and he told me he was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous and this was his good deed for the day. The Irish are real characters molded by their history, weather, and humor.

As I made my way west, I ended up in the Dingle Peninsula where I came across a pottery shop. I bought this bowl seen above and had it shipped to my home as I could not carry it while riding the bike. Most days, I was gone all day on the bike. Just me-self, peddling me arse all over the country. So, when the bowl arrived weeks later, I was so thrilled to get it and lo and behold( or faith and begorrah), I have had this bowl for almost 40 years. It has proudly served me soup, cereal, oatmeal, salsa, pasta, and many other meals over the years and every time I use it, I think of the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry and the whole west coast of Ireland, which by bicycle, was absolutely spectacular.

A very young Pat McCloskey riding through the Sod.

But the amazing thing about the bowl is how well it has held up over all these years. Hours in the dishwasher, sitting on the counter, etc. Didn’t crack, break, or become useless much like it’s owner. Somehow it manages to stand the test of time and still be the bowl that I remember all those years ago. Truthfully, it has held up pretty well considering the abuse of 40 years. It is a beautiful, workable, piece of art. Everyone should have a cereal bowl like this- especially with it’s history.

Another miracle- shamrocks that were my mother’s. She passed 20 years ago.

Riding my road bike through Ireland was a treat. I was given a map in the morning at breakfast, and all I had to do was make it to the next stop on the tour by dinner time. The van took my bags to each town. All day, by myself, taking in the sounds, sights, and smells of Ireland. It has been a long time since I have been there, and I can’t believe that Janet and I have not been back. That hiatus will end this August when we will go to Ireland. Me, for only the second time, and Janet for the first time. I can’t wait to see the changes and some of the places where I have not been. Gratefully, Dingle is on the program. As beautiful a seaside village as you will ever see and as far west as Europe goes. In fact, there is a sign that identifies a Catholic church as the westernmost parish in Europe. Next parish- Boston, Mass. This time we will not be riding bicycles. We will be in a small van with some other folks. Hopefully I will remember some of the roads where I rode my road bike like Sleigh Head Drive? Maybe we will see the sheep with the colorful dots on their backs identifying their flock. An aside on my bike trip, I came whipping around a bend and came upon a flock of these colorfully marked sheep and slammed on my brakes. The shepherd said” it would have been a soft landin there laddie.” The Irish humor is dry and so funny. Maybe I will buy another bowl in Dingle? Maybe not? Chances are this one will outlast me. Slainte’ Thanks for reading.

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Overcoming Adversity

Jeff Chetlin and Pete Hilton -North Park trails.

You know, the great writer and pastor Chuck Swindoll always said,” life is 10 percent what happens to you, and 90 percent how you react to it.” A lot of truth to that statement and when you think about it for a minute, it hits the nail right on the head. At least, that is how it should be for all of us. A lot of us react with a positive attitude when something happens, others do not. But if you can handle adversity and make something good come out of it, you are better off personally, and also you can make life better for those who interact with you. Personally, I also believe that it is a good chance to share your faith and be a good witness to the Good News even when bad things happen to you. Handling adversity is not for the faint of heart.

Take my friend Jeff Chetlin, for instance. Now I have posted about Jeff and his lovely wife Julie before but as a refresher, Jeff had a stroke a couple of years ago that could have been devastating in consequence. Jeff was having a routine heart valve replacement and produced a clot on the operating table and had a stroke. His recovery was slow and steady, but Jeff always had a positive and a “can-do” attitude which helped his recovery over the last couple of years. I remember his first mountain bike ride after the stroke down at the Bowling Green area of Frick Park. He was a bit apprehensive but wanted to do it and I remember telling him- ” you know how to ride a bike, just get on and peddle.” Which is what he did with a big smile on his face. Fast forward a couple of years and here he is this weekend riding all the trails at our North Park with very little trouble at all. Jeff has always been a “go getter” guy and his attitude towards his recovery has been exemplary. Although he admits that he is not back to where he once was before he had the stroke, he is grateful that he can ski at his home area of Mt. Bachelor, Oregon. He makes beautiful turns- I was witness to that last winter. He also has been riding the trail systems in Bend with no issue.

Julie Chetlin- leading the way in more ways than one for her hubby Jeff.

Along with his uber- supportive wife Julie, the active couple shares their time between Bend, Oregon and Pittsburgh. Julie has family here and she spends time with them, and also with all of us who are their Pittsburgh team of friends and support. But the cool thing is how much Julie and Jeff are involved in their active communities both here and in Bend. Mountain bike riding, skiing, hiking, in two different parts of the country- all while Jeff has continually worked to improve his situation since the stroke. He has done remarkably well, and you would never know unless you spoke to him about it, that he had this setback. Not many people in his situation could come back and ride the muddy, rocky, root infested trails of North Park and do it with expertise and a smile on their face like Jeff.

Pete Hilton- Jeff’s North Park shadow.
Jodi Griswold- slaying the trails at North Park.

But perhaps the most salient comment on the ride this weekend was from our friend Jodi Griswold. As we took a break on the North Ridge, Jodi remarked how inspiring it is to see Jeff willing to speak to people about having a stroke and the consequences and recovery challenges in his life. He has done well, no doubt, but Jodi is right. Jeff spends a lot of time on calls with stroke recovery victims and also speaking to them in person both here and in Bend. He encourages them and tells them that if they work hard like him, they can return to some semblance of a normal life complete with all the activities they used to enjoy. He also is candid if he thinks that there will be limitations and doesn’t want to give false hope to some who may have had more difficulty with the stroke situation. But even in those instances, he is positive and encourages people that life is not over, and that positivity and the right mental attitude can do wonders for recovery.

Our riding buddy and doctor- Syed Hyder- instrumental in Jeff’s recovery.

Jeff is in the midst of writing a book on his challenges and recovery. It will be interesting to see what he has valued, and his lessons learned along his path. I am sure he will credit his wife Julie as she has been steadfast in her commitment to him and her willingness to be there every step of the way- encouraging him with his riding, skiing, and his willingness to share his story. The great thing about Jeff is he has always been the pied piper of his ski and riding groups. He now is the pied piper of all those who are trying to make a comeback from a catastrophic event in their lives. Like Jodi said, he is positive, encouraging, and candid, and would not be there if those same people who he is used to gathering about him, would not also be there supporting and praying for him. He is grateful for friends and continues to gather them on rides and on the slopes both in Bend and here in Pittsburgh.

Jeff and his posse here in Pa.
Jeff and his posse at Mt. Bachelor in Bend. ( Tim Girone’s birthday party)

The take- away here is that yes- things happen in life and especially as we all get older. How you handle the difficulties is dependent upon a lot of factors, but Jeff and Julie have handled it well. The important thing is to share your experiences with those who may be going through the same thing. Your experiences, your highs and lows, and your positivity are critical to a lot of people, and it is so inspirational to see a guy like Jeff willing to go out there for people in need. We all are called to do the same thing. Whether you have a critical event, or recognize someone in your community having a difficult time, be there for them. Think of what Jeff would do. Thanks for reading.

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Don’t Let the Old Man In

Two friends still at it- 45 years later.

This is my buddy Eric who lives in Lake Tahoe. He and I have been skiing together for 45 years, and I always learn something new from him every year. He is retired, and coaches kids at his local mountain in Tahoe. We usually ski together in Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain every spring. So last week, 10 months after my previous trip, we were locked and loaded for another round. After our warmup (LOL), which was a high speed cruiser off Chair 2 trying to stay with Eric and his razor sharp carved turns, I found myself at the top of the mountain right off the gondola and staring down Climax . It is one of the double blacks right off the summit and for a brief moment, I thought,” I have this, right?” I mean you have to be on your A game as you make your way through steep moguls to the chalky smooth steeps of the Climax face. As soon as I started turning, it was all auto- pilot and we went non-stop to the McCoy mid station to reload the gondola.

Another Climax Run- photo by Eric Durfee

After a 30K vertical foot day of steeps and cruisers, we came back to the hotel to say hello to Ryan Hurley, the manager of the Quality Inn and a friend of Eric’s. Ryan is a nice guy and probably one of the best skiers in Mammoth. What he showed us next solidified his legend.

Some things never change in 45 years. First in line. Photo by Eric Durfee
Ryan’s broken Faction skis behind the bindings.

Apparently, Ryan that day, rocketed out of Phillipe’s ( one of the steep double black runs at the top of Mammoth), and cranked a hard right hand turn and heard both of his skis snap behind the bindings. He managed to put one of the skis together and carried the other one, and skied on the one broken ski all the way down to the lodge. He said he wanted to ski with us the next day. Really?

Ryan Hurley ready to ski with the old guys ( on a new pair of Faction Skis)

Being the gracious guy that he is, Ryan followed us for a couple of runs and remarked to Eric in the chairlift that we were an inspiration to him. At 44 years old, he saw his future in us as older dudes who can still ski. He also asked how I can ski like I do coming from Pittsburgh. I said, ” Long story Ryan.” But we were happy that he was kind enough to spend a few runs with us before straight lining down Climax and jumping off a rock cropping into the distance. Like I always say……..youth is wasted on the young.

Flipping the coin a little bit, we see Freddy here who is a friend of Eric’s, and skis at one of the local areas in Tahoe. He drives 40 miles to and from the area, four days a week, skis for 4 hours, has lunch and drives back. Freddy is 87. I asked him, how do you do it? The driving, the skiing, the hiking in the off season. He says the secret is eating right ( he has not eaten meat in 20 years). He exercises and says basically he is like a shark……..always moving and looking for food. Freddy is our future barring any injuries or catastrophic illness. We also met two other senior citizens in Tahoe who were 86 and 82. Both of these guys can still ski very well and the one guy Jim, had his kids with him. Kids being in their 50’s. LOL!

Freddy ready to bedeck the bead tree on the way up the chairlift. What an inspiration. 87 years young and can ski really well!!!
The view of perfectly groomed corduroy looking into Lake Tahoe. Photo by Eric Durfee

So as Eric and I face 70 this year, we look back and think about all the great times skiing that we have had and look forward to many, many more. We will try to keep ourselves in good shape by exercising, riding our mountain bikes and hiking, and in short, try to stay ahead of the game. John, one of Eric’s friends who is 82 and a former masters racer, said his secret is to ” keep the old man out.” Not his line really because that belongs to Clint Eastwood when asked how at 93, he has the energy to still direct and produce movies. Clint always responds that he just keeps the old man out. I kind of like that line, and although comparatively speaking with John, Jim and Freddy, and Clint for that matter, we are not old. But we are not 44 either. However, the amazing thing is that we can still ski at a pretty high level, especially Eric. How long we can do that is dependent on a lot of things, but sitting in the lot after another 30 K day at Mammoth, we had some beers with a guy who we call First Chair Kurt. Kurt makes razor sharp carved turns too and as we followed him down all week on the first run, we found out that he is basically our age. He and his pals love to ski and intend to do so for a long time. Kurt skis four days a week at Mammoth and is retired. Like the other guys in his posse. They love to ski and love to talk skiing afterwards in the lot with a few beers sporting their sunglasses. They don’t let the old man in either. A good way to roll. Remember, you don’t quit skiing because you get old, you get old because you quit skiing. Thanks for reading and be like Freddy- the shark who keeps moving, looking for food.

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Have a Bernie Bar and Relax

So, I opened up a box that came in the mail the other day and to my surprise, it was a box of Bernie Bars from my skiing friend Mark Hutchinson up in Vermont. Hutch is a retired postal service employee and ex-ski coach at Stowe, and knows Bernie from his routes around Randolph Center. I joked with Hutch about where my Bernie Bars were, and lo and behold- they showed up. LOL!! Hutch and his lovely wife Nancy are fun people to ski with, they are avid hikers, and enjoy everything about the Green Mountains of Vermont. In typical Vermont fashion, their political persuasions are more towards the left of center, and I have always admired their zeal to persuade folks towards their way of thinking.(Ethan Allen would be proud ) I personally am becoming more and more a-political, but Hutch keeps me informed on the happenings in the government world and relays his experiences to me. Rich Roll said the other day on his podcast that the most effective way of communication is to not give advice, but rather relay experiences. The Hutchinsons have lots of experience with Nancy and her avid hiking and writing, and Hutch with his ski racing and coaching background. And they are well read on the political scene in Vermont.

Mark and Nancy skiing with us in Bend last winter.

The cool thing about skiing and hiking is that both sports attract those of us who love the outdoors, no matter what we do for a living, what our political persuasions are, whether we have faith or no faith, and have different educational backgrounds. Rarely will you hear a heated political debate on the slopes or the trails. Rather the conversation tends to be about ski technique, ski areas, the conditions of the day, and in hiking, remarking on the beauty of the trails and the great day together. You make really good friends on the ski slopes and hiking trails, many of those friendships last a lifetime – like mine with Hutch and Nancy.

Hutch and I in Mammoth several years ago.

Nancy is a school teacher and a gifted writer and we have shared experiences with our passion for writing. Hutch is a real student of ski technique, and we have many conversations about that topic. He sends me videos all summer which I love to get, seeing that I can talk about skiing all summer too. But rarely do we get into a political discussion. My view is what do we really know? What is spin and what is not? On either side of the spectrum. I don’t get too excited because there is not much I can do about the world today other than perhaps cast my vote to get someone in or out of office. Also being kind to people helps, because you never know what they are going through. Kindness is definitely a way to make a difference- one person at a time, one neighborhood at a time. Politics is not really that important to me (maybe it should be?) – but Hutch keeps me in the game. I have learned things that I did not know before. And he sent me Bernie Bars!

Lifetime friends Eric and Hutch at June Mountain, California.

I have spent a lot of time skiing with Hutch, especially when our friend Eric was laid up and could not ski at times. Hutch and I would go out and ski and never look at a map. We just went wherever we felt like going. LOL! Hutch has a wonderful sense of humor and he makes me laugh when we ski and maneuver our way around a ski area. He finds the funny things about skiing and has me in stiches, as many times he was my room- mate on our guys ski trips – organized by Eric Durfee. I tend to think that Hutch missed his calling. I have videos of him commenting on camera up at Whiteface and at June Mountain out in California. He is so articulate on those videos and also humorous. I have posted them to the amusement of my ski friends.

So, the upcoming election cycle has a lot of people with their shorts in a wad. There is going to be a lot of political division even more so than what is taking place right now. It is good to educate yourself, but like Rich Roll says, just relay your experiences in conversation and don’t ruin a good friendship with a political discussion that will really not make much of a difference anyhow. Enjoy your friends. Eat a Bernie Bar and enjoy it as people all around you lose their heads. Ski with a friend, hike with a friend, and enjoy the outdoors because the older you get, those quality days left are really what is important anyhow. Thanks for reading.

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Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

There were big dumps of snow last week in Utah. The atmospheric river that drenched California, pounded the Wasatch and the Rockies with heavy snow. As a result, there were lots of signs warning of potential hazards and the fact that Deer Valley wanted you to pay attention. There were signs of where to park, which runs were open and closed on the trail signs, avalanche potential signs, closed signs due to avalanche mitigation, and it just seemed like there were signs everywhere- just like the song. 

One thing that I have taken to heart over the years is to pay attention to signs. Take this one for instance.

Now you might think that this is funny, but in reality, the sign is correct. When you ski the trees, you have to be aware that you are skiing amongst immovable objects. Also, if you ski by yourself, and end up in a tree well( hole around the trunk of the tree with snow all around), you could have a problem. So, this sign is fair warning. 

The Daly Chutes at Deer Valley

During our time there last week, we heard the familiar blasts of dynamite charges mitigating avalanche potential in the Daly Chutes. Our friends, Judy and Mike Smith, and I wanted to ski there but knew that we had to read the signs to see when they would be open and if it was safe to ski. Ultimately, the mitigation was completed by the ski patrol ,and we were able to make a few runs in a safe environment after the ski patrol had done their thing. My friend Greg Ellis reminded me that there are in bounds avalanches that do occur and to be careful. I took his warning to heart. But we were safe because we read the signs, talked to the ski patrol, and waited until there was no issue. Read the signs. 

There is a reason to wait for the ski patrol. 

Another sign above that not only reminds us that the lift is not open yet, but there is a reason not to jump on the chair and not pay attention to the sign. The ski patrol goes first for a reason and all of us must realize that we go when the sign is removed. 

Trail signs indicating difficulty. 

There are trail signs at ski areas that tell you the difficulty and it is important to pay attention to them. It is also important to pay attention to the signs that tell you when the chair will be closed for the day. Not a good idea to be stuck somewhere when the lift closes. Again, pay attention to the signs. 

I guess all the heavy snow brought about the need for signage that indicated certain things that we all must know as skiers when visiting an area. I have always made a practice of reading them and understanding what they say. But thinking a little bit about them, I realized that this practice is not limited to ski areas. Stop signs, yield signs, directional signs, mileage signs, etc. are all important for when we are driving – right? How about the signs that your body gives you as you age. It is important not to ignore those signs as well. People like me tend to think that we are invincible and regardless of the chronological age, we can do what we like because we are in good shape. We don’t think about it. But sometimes there are signs that your body gives you that may indicate that something needs to be checked. Kind of like a check engine light in your car. Pay attention to those signs as well and make it a practice to see your doctor to be able to remedy anything wrong and continue to live the life that you want to live. 

The Smiths and Janet – reading the signs. 

So as the Five Man Electrical Band once said- ” So I got me a pen and paper,and made up my own little sign. I said “Thank you Lord for thinking about me- I’m alive and doin fine.” ” Sign sign, everywhere a sign.” Read the signs, understand the signs, pay attention to your own signs and live a healthy, hearty, live. Thanks for reading. 

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The Older We Get- The Better We Were.

Howard Johnson’s at Tuckerman Ravine- 1984

So, I was surprised this week when my friend Eric, from Tahoe( formerly of Vermont), mailed me some pictures from way back when we skied Tuckerman Ravine together. Looking at these 40 year old photos, I thought back to a time when we laid down the only tracks one day in Dodge’s Drop ( and Eric had a cast on his wrist). We had some good times up there as we skied it many times together. But the thing that is amazing about this picture is the equipment we used. I mean, look at the skis. Probably 203 or 205 cm GS skis. Look how narrow compared to today’s equipment. 

External frame pack made for interesting attachments. 

The other interesting thing about these pictures was the external frame packs we used. We added cross bars with latches and wingnuts to secure the skis to the frame. He was from Vermont and naturally used wood. I was from the steel city and with the help of my dad, we used aluminum cross bars. All in all, with the boots secured in the bindings, our clothing and food for the week, sleeping bag and mat, the pack weighed in at around 85 pounds which was a pretty good load to haul to the shelters where we stayed. One year, I thought I would save some time and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ahead of time. By the time the week ended, that package of sandwiches had been slept on, eaten from, and generally the once nice, neat stack of sandwiches had turned into a peanut butter dough ball. Lots of memories came flooding back to me as I opened the envelope this week from my friend. 

In today’s world, people who climb and ski as we did, use internal frame packs. There are slots in the side of the packs that allow easy placement of the skis and the internal frames are much better suited to securing a lot of cargo. Lots of guys today use skins on their skis for climbing, and AT equipment to hike and ski to their destinations. Eric and I basically hauled our alpine equipment up to the shelter, and from there basically climbed up in our ski boots with our skis over our shoulders. Equipment surely changes and evolves over the years and skiing is no exception. 

Pro Skier Cody Townsend climbing with his internal pack and AT gear. 

The other things that evolve over time are the stories that we tell about the old days. Sure, there are embellishments, the runs are bigger and badder than perhaps they were, and the stories that we tell each other evolve with the passage of time. But like my friend Paul Vey still says many years later, our trip down Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole, was the highlight of his athletic career. He played Div 1 basketball at UVM and that is still saying something. Somehow the beers taste better when the stories start cranking up. Eric’s wife Helen usually disappears when she starts hearing the old stories. She has heard them way too many times. But when pictures like these start showing up again, they remind me of a time gone by and the good times that we had. I mean, we are still at it – 40 years later. Maybe not camping and hiking Tuckerman Ravine anymore, but still skiing in some pretty good places and having a pretty good time. And still skiing relatively well. 

Eric and our other skiing pal Hutch at June Mt., California. Yes, the beer tastes better when the stories start flowing. 

So, if you get a chance, go look in your old photo boxes and take some time to review your old times with great friends. They will remind you that friendships are important and like equipment and stories, they evolve over time. Having friends that you can still do things with after many years is a true blessing. Encourage each other to stay in shape, stay at it, and make the effort to get together whenever you can. And always remember- the older we get……………the better we were. Thanks for reading. 

40 years later at Mammoth Mountain, California. 

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The Headwall at Tuckerman Ravine