Note to self: avoid skiing in the rain!
Today started with the rain. We were awaken by neighbours in the room next door to us at 7 am. The sun was still up, and even if it was we would not be able to see it from all the clouds. It was raining. It actually never stopped raining from last night. There was still snow on the ground, but it was definitely liquid precipitation that was coming down in the morning.
The front desk told us it was raining at the top of the mountain, too. It was 6 degrees Celsius at the base, 3 mid point, and 1 at the top, so not freezing yet. But, the temperature was supposed to go down during the day, and start snowing in the upper part of the mountain. So, I was hopeful.
We checked out of our room, went to a near-by restaurant for breakfast, rented the skis and boots, and were at the ticket counter at about 11.30. I was able to save at least on the rentals, and use some points from a credit card to get a free rental. The lift tickets here in Whistler were almost twice as much than in Colorado. Fortunately, today was the last day for the pre-season prices, which were some 20% less. Skiing in Canada, this part at least, is a very expensive sport. Many of the folks we saw working there, helping with the ski lifts, in shops and hotels, were from abroad, Australia and Latvia.
When we boarded the gondola that would lead us almost to the top of the mountain, it was still raining. I actually looked at few shops there for a rain jacket, but they didn't have any. I was hoping to maybe at least get one of those disposable once, but they told me last year they were giving them away at the guest kiosk. I was able to get us the last two they had, but they were a strange kind that didn't have sleeves; it was more like a pullover. Better that than nothing. Our jackets were feather filled, and not rain resistant.
The Gondola ride was about 15 minutes. It was still raining at the top when we got off. There was plenty of snow from before, but it was getting wet and heavy to ski on. The sleet mixed with rain would stick to our goggles, fly into our face, and wet our jackets. After two rounds, our gloves were soaking wet. We literally had to squeeze the excess water out of them. The lift chair were covered with wet snow, and even though a guy was quickly cleaning each chair as it turns around, there was still enough to slowly soak into our selves. We started to feel cold riding up on the lift when the wind would blow through the jacket that was getting more and more wet.
I decided after hour and a half that we should stop at the rest center at the top and dry our gloves. We spent about half an hour in the restroom drying ourselves under the hand drier. It helped with my gloves, but jacket was drier only on few surface areas. There were many other people there doing the same thing. On a related note, there were not that many skiers today, for obvious weather reasons, which made it easier to ski down the slopes without the crowds, and there were absolutely no lines on the lifts. The silver lining.
After we dried our gloves, we continued skiing. By this time, the snow started to fall in the top one third of the trail we were skiing, the middle third had sleet, and the bottom part still rain. After only one run, our gloves were again soaked. From then on, I continued to drain the water from the every time we reached the top of the lift. After 4-5 runs, I felt my arms were wet. The water soaked through the jacket, sweater and a turtle neck, because the sleeves were not covered by the rain poncho. Runs 7 and 8, last one, I felt water all over my body, and the fingers were really cold. But, when you pay as much as we did for those tickets, plus everything else that was needed to allow us to ski today, we wanted to make most use of those tickets.
At 3 PM we caught the last lift from half of the mountain to the top, and then started to make our way down to the mid station gondola. There we unbuckled and took a few pictures. As we were walking back and forth for picture taking, just in few minutes, I started to feel my right calf muscle started to heart. It was kinda hurting during the last two runs, but I just figured I am getting tired, plus that booth seemed too tight from the start. When we started to go down with the gondola, the pain really intensified. I couldn't stand on the right foot, and I could feel the muscle contractions every 5 seconds. I was bent over trying to find a good position where it was hurting the least. At the bottom of the ride, I had to use the poles as crutches to get out of the gondola. I could not move that leg at all. The muscle was completely in spasm.
My friend went to get the car so I don't have to walk to the ski rental place and the hotel. While waiting, a ski patrol guy came out from one of the gondolas and offered to help just after dropping some stuff off. I was just sitting on a bench, all soaking wet, and holding my right leg to keep the muscle tight. Applying the pressure to the muscle seemed to help. I managed to take the ski booth off, which is hard even with a good leg, so I just did it very slow and bit my lip through the process.
While I was waiting, at one moment I remembered that I was wearing a St. Bernard (patron saint of skiers) medal, which my friend Joe gave me for my last ski trip and reminded me to wear for protection for this trip. I thought that maybe, because of his prayers, I avoided a bigger accident and was just left with a pulled muscle. The silver lining.
When the paramedic, Kenny finally came back, after what seemed like half an hour, my foot was locked in one position. The slightest use of the calf muscles sent a throbbing pain down my leg. He, of course, had to examine the muscle by applying pressure to it, which was extremely painful. I already took three Advil's in the last 4 hours, but that wasn't helping. Kenny said that the muscle, after being really tight while skiing, was now loose after unbuckling, and it started to twist. If I still had the booth on tight as it was while skiing, it probably wouldn't heart as much. He then put an elastic wrap around it which felt comfortable after he stopped touching it. There was no traumatic incident that caused this, like a fall or a hit, so he just told me to rest it, keep it tight, elevate the foot and apply cold patches.
My friend then came with the car, I hopped into with with few people helping me, and we went to the hotel. Kenny was kind enough to take our booths to the ski rental place, so we didn't have to. At the hotel, I again hopped inside with my friends help, and I asked if we can use their restrooms to change, since we already checked out of the room. My friend went to bring our stuff, and brought it back in on one of those luggage carts they use in hotels, with metal handles on the sides and top. I then sat on it and he wheeled me into the elevator and to the changing area. It was oh so good to get out of those wet clothes. Every clothing item on me, except the socks was dripping wet. I have never skied in worst weather conditions. Snow storm and strong winds are not as bad as being wet, cold, the soaked jacket weighing you down, and sleet into your face. Brrrr.
During our two hour ride home, I took another Advil and massaged the muscle. By the time we arrived, I could again stand up, although limp a bit. We even went to couple of stores in the mall, and walked to a pub for drinks. I'll just have to take it easy tomorrow so I can be ready for another day of skiing on Friday. :)
We woke up to beautiful blue skies, not a cloud in the sky. We were supposed to get an early start, drive hour and a half to the mountain, and start skiing at 9.30, but that didn't happen. We were about three hours behind, but that was all right. I am on vacation!
We arrived on the mountain just in time for the half day fares for ski lift tickets and rentals. Those two together were less than half the cost of just the tickets on Whistler. And the conditions: clear blue skies! What a difference it made! The view of the mountains was gorges. There were some low skies in the valley and the peaks were visible high up. The mountain reminds me of the place where I used to ski in my childhood, Jahorina, with not so wide trails and side way roads. There were more people on the slopes than on Whistler, but still it wasn't busy at all. The only negative was that the ski lifts don't have the ramp that goes down to rest your skis on, so on the longer lifts my legs get tired from hanging. We covered almost all the lifts and slopes from left to right. I was able to catch the very last run at 4 PM, so I used the tickets to the maximum. I am so glad we had one day of skiing with such nice weather.
At home we had some homemade spinakopita and then arranged to meet with the Bosnian couple that was there the night before, Gordana and Nenad. First we stopped by their house to see her art studio, she is a painter and a sculptor. Next we went for a stroll by the pier and another old Bellingham downtown area. Too bad it was dark and I wasn't able to fully appreciate the area. We ended at Boundry Bay Brewery for a pint of Bellingham Blonde.
