Greetings,

Well, we just got our first decent snowfall and that really gives the skiers and snowmobiles that crazy “snow itch.”

I personally ski about once every three or four years. I think I’m due again this winter but I’ve got to come up with a way to “weasel out of it!”

Skiing is a great family sport. My cousins, my daughters and a nephew of mine all ski like daredevils shot out of a cannon. Me, I don’t turn so good, or stop so good, so I end up in a snowy ball with one ski wrapped around my head and the other ski heading south all by itself. My cousins have a let’s call it “crazy sense of humor” and it brings them much laughter and joy to see me “all stove up” and moaning with pain. That’s OK, when we’re done with this little excursion I usually am the one mixing the drinks at the aprs ski party. It seems that they usually don’t hit the slopes at Shawnee Peak until late the next afternoon, Gee, I wonder why? Toucha!

My father loved snowmobiles. He was always tinkering with them and continually trying to get them to go faster. One such day, my father had his Polaris with the track up in the air on a makeshift jack trying to adjust his throttle. To make a long story short, one one ride, he somehow he got the throttle stuck and the sled took off with him trying to desperately hold on to the back bar behind the rear of the seat. Down over the snow bank goes the Polaris with my dad in tow. He didn’t make out so well. He finally let go of the sled when he drove his face in the tar. Bleeding profusely and swearing worse than 16 pirates, he watched his beloved snowmobile head up the main road at full throttle swerving side to side as it careened off the snow banks. The sled traveled a full two miles up the road and had met three vehicles before it finally crashed into the Convene Road church.

If any of you knew my father, you can appreciate the humor in this mishap, as the look on his face was priceless. This incident is still talked about to this day and is fondly remembered as “Lionel’s snow-cross”!

All kidding aside, when skiing, snowshoeing or driving snowmobiles and even ice fishing, you really need to keep safety on your mind as mishaps and “snow-snakes” lurk in the shadows.

Until next time, have fun and be safe.

Hutch