The Aftermath of Blizzardzilla- body is shot.

In the middle of Blizzardzilla the urban landscape became our ski hill. Every turn was earned on this fools errand.

Day one of the blizzard was covered in an earlier post. This includes rare audio from NOAA documenting the on coming storm.  The picture above is the only surviving documentation from the ski assault of the West Main Hill Neighborhood.  Regrets from this excursion is that I was too tired to attempt to ski Hilbert street.

west main hill

This whole neighborhood is part of a larger series of hills cut out of glacial left overs by water- basically the western high bluffs off the Kalamazoo river. Or at least that is what it seems like to me.

The next few days included getting some more skiing in, doing a lot of shoveling...and work (always getting in the way)

The Weekend  allowed me to go the Dexter/Ann Arbor area for some skiing and curling.  I did not take a single picture of a short morning tour for turns on by the Peach Mountain observatory. This area is a favorite with back country XC skiers, and as it turns out some telemarkers as well.  We had shin and knee deep powder, openish runs....but had to share them with a couple of other fellas in plastic boots etc. 

counting up the stones contemplating the mastery

it is all about style really

After the ski, on to the Dexter Ann Arbor Curling Club sheet. Not surprisingly the boys and girls have improved greatly and the DIY stones have taken a beating.

 Meanwhile back in kalamazoo the annual FTD winter canoe along the Kalamazoo River took place.  According to reports this leisurely paddle in the dead of winter down the recently oiled, historically poisoned river was not with out incident.

all hail the golden stag. hail!

With three people going in the water and a challenging kayak salvage, this trip was one to remember. A former NOLs instructor in the group stated that it was her first wilderness rescue operation...all that excitement a mere mile or two from Plainwell, Michigan.

The day after the FTD canoe and the DIY curling with the DAACC was the Bittersweet telemark fest- pins and pints. About 25 free healed freaks showed up.

and i freaking sucked

race route was up the left side..starting about 3/4 of the way up and then down the black diamond down the far right

This map does not really do the hill justice- especially the summit of the sucker where the quad drops you off. The first 40 feet are incredibly steep..especially off the right side.

I took park in the Up/ down race on borrowed gear. This was the first time i have ever worn plastic boots, and had a ski of this caliber. So essentially i was skiing for survival. It was not a pretty sight. Thankfully, the other racers and participants took my lack of skill and pride gracefully. During the race i took my skis off and boot packed up the hill ( fell on my ass on the ice)...i came in 4th (i think) on the up...after getting my skis on...i decided on another unorthodox approach...or descent actually.  I stuck my skis in the air..and glissaded on my back the first 40 feet until the hill eased up a bit.

The guy in the red helmet has no idea what he is doing every other skier pictured here is just about to kick his ass.

this guy in a red helmet knows exactly what he is doing

After all of this. I came home have needed about 2 days to recover. I am still pretty sore and could use a trip to the chiropractor.