Pennsylvania&Vermont

After a few days back in PA, I was able to apply for some jobs and even got an interview.  I don't want to go into too many details, except to say that I'd really like the job I interviewed for, and am hopeful it works out..



Of course I got some skiing in while I was in town too..

Ali & Dan at 7Springs

Some time has been spent catching up with my sisters, niece, and baby nephew in Indiana.

And Sunday a large number of us headed up to Jay Peak,Vermont for a week of skiing in the Green Mountains.

The temperature never went above 0 degrees.  I don't think it was even above -10. It was absolutely the coldest weather I've ever been in.  So cold, it just hurt. 

But we pushed through it, bundled up, and had a great time anyway.

Because of the extreme cold and blasting winds, the lifts and tram to the top of the mountain didn't run for our last two days of skiing.  We were still able to hit a lot of terrain just off of a few lifts, but the last day, in the afternoon, a few of us decided to find a way to the summit. 

Matt, Jon, and I had our skins and other equipment to help us climb.  Skins are long pieces of fabric on one side and sticky glue on the other. They stick to the bottom of the ski, hook on to the ends, and aid in walking up a slope with your skis on.  The fabric prevents you from sliding backwards, although if it's really steep sometimes you have to work in switchbacks or zig zags to keep from slipping.  We also have back country bindings, in which the heel can release, similarly to cross country skiing.
My dad and Tom Swartz, hiked up to a trail just shy of the peak, carrying their skis and poles and digging in with the toe of their boots - tiring work. Jon, Matt, and I went the whole way to the summit, and once we reached the final stretch to the top, we got blasted by cold wind and snow. There were a few snowboarders that had also hiked to the top and informed us that there was a basement with heat that we could warm up in before descending. 

At first I was skeptical about going in to some basement, but once we saw it was safe we were all grateful for the shelter and chance to thaw out. Even though skinning is pretty labor intensive and you get warmed up a bit, the cold was too extreme for us to even work up a sweat.

Friday morning we left Vermont and got back late due to poor road conditions, but we made it home safely. It was wonderful to spend a week with family in a big house in the mountains :)

we missed everyone that couldn't come :( 

 This weekend I'll be in PA, then Monday I'll fly out to California for a week at my old assignment home of Santa Rosa with my friend Brittany and some others.  We'll venture over to Tahoe for a couple days, and then I'll come back for another short period before leaving again..

I'm really enjoying unemployment :)