Looking Toward the Future

The weeks are boiling down to our departure and it seems like we have so much to do before we can leave. The ski hill will be short staffed for the rest of the season, partially due to a late closing, April 13th, and the ski school managers can really lay on the guilt. The bright side is that we will have a couple of days of spring skiing when we get back. We have been hit yet again by a storm of fresh powder, which means good runs ahead... if we can get up there. Maggie has applied to UBC for graduate studies... please imagine her in Vancouver next fall. She wants to be a Canadian so badly! Until next week, take care all!

Itinerary

The process of deciding what to do in Peru when we arrive in one month has been a bit tedious. My personal feeling is that procrastination will only add to the adventure, however Maggie reminds me that we should think of small provisions like emergency health insurance and hostel reservations. We are gradually coming up with an itinerary.
The first week will be spent getting away from Lima to the central highlands and seeing Machu Pichu. After that, ideally, we will go south to Arequipa, one of the largest city centers in Peru, to study at a language school for approximately two weeks. There I believe that I've found a climb that will not be too technical or ambitious. El Misti, a 19,000 ft. active volcano two days away from the city, is our goal. If things go according to plan we might try Huaynan Potosi, although this peak, located outside La Paz Bolivia, may be difficult.
We hiked Monarch's "backcountry" up at 12,000+ ft. to get an idea of high elevation hiking, but at 19,000 or 20,000 ft. - Maggie's not sure if any training can prepare one for that! This Wednesday we're going to try to hike Quandary Pk., at 14,000 ft. it will give us a good start.

Well, another week has passed and we're still at the mountain. Working in ski/ snowboard school hasn't been quite as profitable as I had hoped so another job may be in the near future. Adding to my dilemma I had possibly the worst lesson in recent resort history. Long story short within two hours I was subjected to temper tantrums, missing children, altitude sickness, a fellow instructor who walked and children who just plain didn't like me. An irate parent who wanted to "talk to a supervisor" was icing on the cake.
I shouldn't complain due to the fact that every other day so far has been relatively pleasant. In addition I've been getting my riding in, 40 days so far. I've also decided to take up telemarking in the mean time.

Salida winter

Texan tourists, powder days, and winter storms. We have free ski days and are trying to take advantage when not catering to unprepared skiers (maggie at the gift shop) or picking up snot rag little kids from the drifts (kevin at ski school). It's a beautiful winter down south in the rockies, anyone is welcome at our luxury cabin (aka kevin's grandparent's duplex). Just in case you've lost touch, kevin's email is rckymtntravler@yahoo.com and maggie's is margaret.gilmore@yahoo.com. Hasta luego!