I had a really fantastic holiday over the last four days. I've been really busy all this year ever since coming back from Germany and haven't really had a time where I could just relax (well some people might not call what I did relaxing, but it was for me:P). Now I feel full of energy and am ready to jump back into the swirling whirlpool we call life:)
The weather report had been looking pretty promising all week, and so laden with about 30kg of stuff (skis, tent, food, clothes) I caught a bus up to Marysville and pitched my tent in darkness (and did a surprisingly good job in spite of the lack of vision). No sooner had I done this than it started absolutely pelting down. Sitting in the shelter eating my baked beans and reading my biology book, it didn't worry me at first, but it was sure hard getting to sleep that night with the heavy thud of the raindrops smacking against the fly of the tent and the growing wet patch on the side of the inner tent wall. I just tried to reconcile this slight discomfort (at least I was still warm in my many layers of thermals and my excellent sleeping bag) against the fact that if it was raining and 3 degrees down at Marysville at 400m above sea level, it would definitely be snowing way up on high (well for Australia at least - 1500m isn't a real mountain:P)!
And sure enough it was:) The next morning I emerged, not too cold or damp from the overnight treatment and hitched a ride up with a bloke from out Frankston way and his son. It was snowing really heavily even while we drove up. I had never seen the snow advance that far down the mountain before, and I've been going up nearly every year for about 10 years now. Driving without chains was out of the question in their sedan (and the icy conditions probably would have troubled even the most firm-footed of 4WDs), so we had to make a slight pause and jack up the car (damn those low profile tyres!) to put the chains on. So it was a bit of a long ride up (and I kicked in for the entry fee thank you very much), but I couldn't wait to get out there and test out the snow and see how rusty I'd become in the four months since my last skiing excursion.
It turned out I was pretty damn rusty. I was really struggling, having to step up most of the hills. I watched on in envy as two very professional guys glided effortlessly up this hill that normally wouldn't have challenged me either. There weren't many other people out there, so I just tried to enjoy it a little bit and hope that it would be better the next day. I decided that it wasn't my fitness or necessarily my technique that was the problem, it was just going to be tough out there with trails that were covered by super soft snow as soon as they were groomed. Perhaps it would've been easier had I waxed my skis (those two guys definitely would have), but skiing into a blizzard is never a big bowl of fun. Still I managed to get a solid five hours in, which I probably overenthusiastically wrote in my blog as 40km.
After hitching back down the mountain with a kind 4WD toting group, I sat in the Marysville bakery reading my book and trying to evaporate the moisture out of my damp and smelly clothes. It didn't work very well, and I crawled into my sleeping bag that night still wet in the hope that my body heat would do the trick. If you're thinking of trying that one, don't, because it doesn't work at all:P I wasn't cold, having put on every single layer of clothing I had, but it was still uncomfortable feeling all damp.
----------------------------------------------
The next morning would wipe away all those slight concerns though:) I caught a lift up with a very interesting guy, who had retired and was now a full time cross country skiier! I felt privileged to be able to grab a few hints off a guy who'd recently skiied a 2:35 marathon, winning his age-group in the process. I was a bit apprehensive about meeting him on the trails though as he was going to be doing classic and said he normally caught the 'hack skaters', a group which I feared I was a member of.
The snow was so much better, the difference was unbelievable. The team had done a great job of grooming the trails and it had set slightly overnight, so skating felt effortless. I was relieved and comforted at how good I was feeling. The hills that had defeated me yesterday were now child's play and most importantly, my technique was starting to feel smooth again. Perhaps a little overconfident, I decided to go round Jubilee - the hardest trail on the mountain - a few times. After two laps (and I later discovered they weren't even full ones!), I was destroyed and was doing about as well as I did on Friday up the hills. I desperately wanted to get off and back on to the easier trails, but I got lost! So I ended up having to do another lap haha.
It was in this state of tiredness that I re-encountered my chauffer of the morning. I subconsciously picked up my form, trying my best to avoid looking like a hack:P It turned out he was feeling pretty tired too so I needn't have worried:P We skiied together for a few kms before he peeled off to the car-park and I was chuffed to hear that I 'ski pretty well' (I did ask him what he thought of my form though, it wasn't an unprompted compliment:P). High praise coming from him:)
A little bit of energy returned following that encounter, and I was able to do another two hours, to bring up five hours for the day and around 45km. Had a nice chat with a friendly couple from Alexandria on the way back down. After eating dinner, I found a cozy bar with a nice fireplace and finally managed to get dry:) I slept well that night.
--------------------------------
Setting my alarm early the next day to get a decent ski in before I had to catch the bus back to Melbourne created some difficulties getting up the mountain. Apparently not many people go up the mountain at 7:30 :O. I eventually got a ride up with a ski-patroller, who gave me a handy hint about 'poor man's wax': spray a little Mr Sheen on your ski and you're good for 5-6 hours apparently. Definitely could've used that on Friday!
I was expecting to be experiencing some major DOMS/residual fatigue from the past two hard days, but instead, I found myself stronger than ever! To start off, I skiied up Royston Road - a 3km, 10% grade uphill slope, which I reckon is good preparation for 'The Paralyser' in the Kangaroo Hoppet. Being up that early, I was skiing on almost virgin, groomed snow, broken only by the tracks of one other skiier. Watching the sun rise through the snow covered trees was breath-takingly beautiful.
The unexpected strength lasted about two and a half hours, and then I bonked big time. My muscles began to feel what they'd been put through over the last three days, and I struggled, walking up the hills. It didn't phase me though, I was still enjoying it too much! Another few loops and I was finally done, which meant it was time for the most enjoyable part of the day: skiing back down Royston Road. I only just managed to restrain a whoop as I carved some telemark turns:)
After fourteen hours of skiing in three days, I was feeling very satisfied, but glad it was over too. It was just the right amount to do. I definitely didn't want to do any more that day, especially as it had started to rain, spelling an end to the good snow. Unfortunately, leaving that early meant I had to wait around in the rain for ages, watching car after packed car (including one full of teenagers from which a cigarette lighter was thrown at me:s) drive past, until a kindly VW driver picked me up. He was a fellow skiier who hadn't been out to Lake Mountain for years, so there was plenty to talk about. I even picked up a snow driving tip (don't brake round the corners).
-------------------------------
So that was it. I packed up my bags, shook the leeches off my tent and picked up my deposit from the caravan park owners (who were busy talking to the police, probably about a former resident) and hopped on the bus back to Melbourne. Watching the mountain subside into the distance, I couldn't help but feel quite melancholy. A big part of me longed to stay in Marysville, away from the big smoke. I wish I were retired and could ski all day....
-------------------------------
My Garmin FR205 came today! I couldn't believe it came so soon - they only shipped it on Thursday! Looking forward to taking it for a spin tomorrow:)
No comments:
Post a Comment