March 15, 2022 Powder Day

Barrman tossed and turned in the night, sleep was fleeting and powder dreams circled his brain. Rain was falling hard in town throughout the night. That meant it was snowing in the alpine. He hoped it was snowing a lot.

After a final spurt of sleep the skier awoke a minute before his alarm was set to go off – “5:59”. He turned off the alarm before it would wake his sleeping wife and crawled out of bed. Careful not to jump too quickly and wake her up.

He grabbed the coffee and ground the beans, the aroma wafted through his nostrils and he waited for his first cup of magic elixir to brew. While the coffee dripped he checked the Big White website – 20cm of fresh glorious snow. 

He grabbed his phone and sent his first message to Big Boarder “You up yet? 20cm at biggie!”

No reply.

Barrman made his lunch, anticipation rising. Where was Big Boarder? He sent another test ‘Wakey, wakey. The powder is calling.”

Still nothing.

He looked at the clock, it was now 6:45. If they wanted to catch the first chair they needed to go by 7:15. Where was his buddy? Probably in the shower…

He loaded the car and checked the time, 7:00. Where was Big Boarder? They’d made a plan if there was over 15cm they would head up to the hill. He picked up the phone and called – no answer. What the?

At 7:15 his phone finally rang.

“Sorry dude I slept in. I can be ready in ten minutes.” Big Boarder’s groggy voice was on the other end of the line.

At 7:30 the two ski buddies rolled away from their front door. Dreams of first chair were gone. 

It was another first-world problem.

By 9:30 the friends were sliding back up to the Gem Lake chair for a second time. They’d missed first tracks on Black Jack but Blue Ribbon was in great shape and the fresh snow was a powder hounds dream come true.  

“They are opening the Falcon Chair,” a snowboarder in front of the two ski buddies burst with a smile as they slid into the line for the chair.

“Sweet! I guess we know where we are going, thanks for the tip.” Barrman said to the two snow riders in front of him.

“No problem, have a great day!’ The snowboarder pushed ahead and sat on the spinning chair.

“See dude, snowboarders are good people.” Big Boarder laughed to his buddy as they sat down on the chair.

“Ha! No doubt, this is going to be an epic day indeed.”

The old-school Falcon double chair was slowly spinning to the top of the mountain. Just as they pulled to the front of the line the chair ground to a halt.

The two snow riders waited while the liftees worked to get it moving again. Their patience was rewarded and they sat down on the wooden seats of the two-person chair lift. The ground receded beneath them and they looked with anticipation at the fresh untouched terrain below. 

“No one has been here yet man, this is going to be awesome,” Barrman looked around at the untouched terrain.

“Dude, this is what it’s all about. We aren’t going to remember our workdays, but we will remember days like this.” Big Boarder raised his hand and the two buddies high-fived their fortune of the tip from the snowboarders on the last run.

By lunch, the Falcon Bowl was skied out and the two buddies rode the T-Bar to the top of the mountain. Robin and Little Braffster were waiting for them at the top of the Easter Chutes. They looked around at all the fresh snow in the alpine of Big White.

“So many fresh lines and so little time,” Big Boarder laughed. 

“Ya, we can only do so much. Robin’s waiting for us at the chutes. We have to stick to the plan.” Barrman looked up at his Snow Boarding buddy.

“That’s right, stick to the plan.” Big Boarder strapped his boot on and the two friends descended the shoulder of Camels Back and skied up to the two waiting skiers.

“Thanks for waiting guys!” Barrman smiled at the two skiers who stood patiently at the top of the chutes. There were very few tracks descending the steep treed terrain and he was excited to feel the glory of the powder caressing his calves.

He was a little surprised to see Little Braffster there. His Dad, Braffster was their usual ski buddy but he had to work. Little Braffster was all of eleven years old and the last time they’d skied together he didn’t want to go down the steep terrain.

The moments stretched out as the four riders descended the steep terrain. Whoops of joy echoed into the wilderness. 

Little Braffster rocked it and Barrman was thrilled to see the diminutive skier rip the pow like a pro. Next came the trees. And Little Braffster stuck on Barrmans tail like glue.

Barrman ripped the fresh lines in the trees, he danced with the deep snow and untouched terrain. He slowed down and looked back to make sure his new little ski buddy was there. Sure enough, the young powder hound was right there following close.

It was something special.

Barrman howled in delight and the four buddies raced to the bottom of the Black Forest Chair. It was a great connection with friends and with the mountain. 

“Wow, you are doing awesome Little Braffster!” Barrman high-fived the young skier. It must be something pretty special for a kid to grow up on a ski hill. They shared a few more runs and ripped up the trees and the steeps.

Too soon it was time for them to part ways. 

“Great to ski ya!” They fist-bumped and smiled as Robin and Little Braffster went back to the village and Big Border and Barrman turned toward the Powder Chair.

It was 2:00 and the last couple runs of their epic day.

Barrman stood on top of a snow-covered rock, fresh powder below. Last year he’d crashed in the same trees and injured his knee.

Why did he end up on the top of the rock anyway? Go big or go home he thought to himself as he pushed.

And landed the jump ten feet below in a pillow of softness. The powder caressed his legs and he howled in joy and exaltation. He’d landed it! He felt like that twenty-year-old kid that used to huck cliffs at Sunshine Ski hill. 

“Dude that was great but my legs are done,” Barrman looked over at his buddy as the Powder chair lifted them to the heavens one last time.

“Yup this is it for me,” Big Boarder agreed.

“I could just do one last run down Blue Sapphire to the car. I think skiing a groomer to end it is probably safest.” Barrman smiled at his buddy.

“I’m good with that.” 

Barrman knew Big Boarder must be getting tired because he rarely rode the groomers.

The two buddies pushed off the top of the Powder Chair and cut left toward their final run down.

They cruised the traverse toward Blue Sapphire and kept looking left into the trees.

“We could just take a shortcut and go to the run this way,” Barrman looked at the fresh snow calling him to come play in the trees one last time.

Big Boarder must have felt the same -“I’m going in buddy!” The snowboarder turned and carved a fresh line in the trees.

“Woo-hoo!” Barrman hollered in glee as he followed his buddy down the steep line of trees.

Tight turns raised the heart rate of the snow riders and they danced in the pow one more time.

“Dude, we went too far left, I don’t think we can make Blue Sapphire now,” Big Boarder called out to his skiing buddy as they reached the bottom of the steep set of trees. 

“Ya man, so much for taking the safe way home – Narnia it is! ” Barrman laughed. He turned his skis straight and went down the traverse to the back door to the magical place called Narnia where the snow was fresh and the lines were tight. 

“How often do we come in at the exact spot where the sign is?” Barrman laughed as he saw the sign for Narnia.

Ten minutes later the buddies were at the car in the parking lot exhausted but fulfilled. Another day dancing with Big White was done.

Exhausted and satiated the two friends drove back to town and slowly returned to the real world.