cross country tour

to celebrate the new year (and a day off!) david and i broke out the cross country skis.  we went to a little park up in south fork canyon and tromped off into the woods along a "groomed" trail.  groomed meaning others had been there before to cut through the 3 1/2 feet of snow, but as you can see in the first photo, that's about all that's been there.  we forgot our camera, so i took a few photos with our phone--i know, i know, it isn't national geographic or audobon, or anything, but they'll have to do. 

the trail was an uphill climb nearly the whole way, so it was quite a bit of work, but it was well worth it to have a chance to go through the winter wonderland and see so many wonderful sights.  i think i enjoyed getting back to the car the most--as going into the woods was nearly all uphill, leaving the woods was nearly all downhill!  now, i've never downhill skied before, and i don't expect to in this life for fear of breaking everything in my body and in those around me, so going downhill on cross country skis was quite the trip!  i tried a few little hills myself, with david waiting for me at the bottom to act as my brakes.  we then had the great idea to go downhill together!  i hugged david from behind, putting one ski-donned foot between his and the other on the outside, and clung on for dear life as he navigated us through a downhill torrent of trees, bridges, and streams whizzing by.  it was really quite fun!  i yopped a few times, we got a lot of grins from onlookers on their way up, and fell just a handful of times.  we made it to the car in one piece with just a few bruises.  definitely worth it!