Nothing will stop my happiness

my local mtn has been having power issues, but the website said it had been resolved and night skiing would be open

I step out into the cold to warm up my car. I stop and look around at the solid 8” of snow covering everything. Not heavy snow, I’m talking nice, dry, light snow. A smile finds its way on to my face. This is paradise to me. From Kittitas county, to king county, to whatcom county, snow. is. everywhere.

I left my house at 1pm, expecting to arrive at the hill and gear up around 1:45pm. I decided to stop for a lotus at the Mercury’s by the freeway. Drink was mid, oh well.

As I climb up the pass, listening to the Brock and Salk podcast, I am astonished at the beauty of the mountains. The sun is out, and the entire field of vision is glistening white. I am quickly snapped back to reality as a chevy cruz whips in front of me in the left lane, hits the snow on the side of the freeway and almost causes an accident. meh, people are stupid. I'll just keep my distance and/or wait for them to exit.

A WSDOT posted sign flashes in bright orange: "EXIT 58 BLOCKED". No problem, I'll take exit 57 and take the long road to the parking lot. After taking exit 57, I run into a massive backup. It takes me 25 minutes to travel less than a mile to the parking lot I wanted. What caused this backup? Families trying to get in/out of the tubing park.

At this point, @tri_photo texts me to let me know the power issues are back and the mountain will be closing in 90 minutes. Still doesn't phase me, it will be nice to get a few laps in. Then I saw the lift line... good golly that was one of the longest lift lines I've ever seen.

In that line, I see jerries, gapers, entitled parents, every stereotype of skier was in this line. All the people who make me angry were here. Took me 15 minutes to get on the lift. Don't matter. I am here, and I am skiing. After the line and long lift ride, I make my way into the park. Take a halfway decent run through the rail garden, but decide to hike a few features instead of waiting in that line.

I key in on one feature in particular, the rail that Andy Parry pulled the nutcracker on in LTC 14.4

K-Fed? Nope. Back 4? Nope. Back Swap continuing 2? Get real. All I could muster is a few scrappy back 2's. I do not care. There is not a place I'd rather be. Here in the 16 degree cold on top of a mountain.

Writing this, thinking about the mere 90 minutes of my day spent sweating from wearing so many layers and not landing anything fun or new, I can't be angry. My mind is still there, and I will go to reclaim it when I return friday.

Nothing will stop my happiness.