Gobble Gobble!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

My family and I cruised up to Vermont for Thanksgiving at this placed called the Hawk Resort. It was kind of strange not being home in Cincinnati and seeing people and doing the whole traditional thing... but still good.

The place we stayed had some wicked good meals and Thursday I nabbed the classic Thanksgiving dinner (although I had to avoid the temptation of Beef Wellington). We went skiing on Black Friday after sleeping through all the shopping insanity. Killington was looking pretty good with a variety of trails open including a quality bumped out run.

After a half-day of skiing, we went "crafting" in some random teeny towns in Vermont. Let me tell you, I'm a crafting champion. Painted gourd santa ornaments? Yeah, we picked up some of those. Looking at fancy hand-crafted wood furniture? I'm all over that. Sampling home-made jellies? I'm your man.

I hope everybody is getting ready for Christmas and neglecting everything that comes in between (finals, projects, bah!).

Fred Beckey

Last Thursday,Fred Beckey came to speak at a special Outing Club presentation. This guy is a climbing legend! He was born in 1923.... so he's.... 84. And he's still climbing on stuff harder than I can (like 5.8).

His slideshow had more insane pictures of amazing rock and mountain climbs (Denali, Waddington, Rainier, Hood, etc.) than I could previously imagine. For many pictures, Fred would say something like "this was about ten years ago." And you're thinking.... so that means you were 74?!?! You were navigating a glacier as a 74 year old?

After the presentation I asked Fred what allowed him to climb so long into his years. He kind of gave me a funny look that said "I'm old?" And then explained that once he got started he just never stopped.

Wow...

SKIING!

This needs some serious updating!

Two weekends ago we began to hear rumors of snowmaking at Killington. With a bit of internet browsing we determined that they had been making snow on a run on the upper mountain in anticipation of opening day a week from now-ish. No lifts spinning... no problem! Killington is on state land so the "officially" can't kick you out (unless you're being ridiculous).

The crew (Tim, Jeff, and myself) got organized and got after it. Incredible first turns of the year.

The target is in sight.



YES!