April 10, 2022 The Ski Season Ends

A pulsing ringing circled his head, the world spun into consciousness. Barrman rolled over and his eyes peeled open to greet the day. His body ached and his head felt like someone was squeezing it between their hands.

The only hand on his head was his own. 

Barrman felt every one of his fifty-two years, he pushed to his left and forced himself to move. He was motivated not only by the urge to ski but the urge to… never mind.

His first glimpse out the window showed a blue sky and the sun was starting to light up the day. The brightness of the morning infected his mind. It was the last day of the ski season and he would make the most of it.

Kaydee groaned and rolled over and looked towards her husband, “what time is it?”

“It’s 7:45, time to get up and go.”

The smell of coffee wafted into the bedroom – Karbella must be up. They brought their friend to the condo to enjoy the last day of the ski season.

It was time to move, they had agreed to meet their ski buddies at first chair. They rolled out of bed and began to get ready for the day.

At 8:20 the three ski friends slid into line. First in line were Mullyman and Evy. Behind them stood Cookster and Crispie, Barman slid into line and joined Braffster, then Karbella and Kaydee were lined up next. Everyone stood in anticipation under the gleaming blue skies. It was going to be a stellar bluebird day to end the season. 

“Buddy, you made it, did you close the bar last night?” Barrman asked Braffster as they stood waiting for the first chair to begin lifting people to the top of the freshly groomed slopes.

“Ya, Vi wanted to keep dancing, Jon Bos was on top of his game,” Braffster replied.

“Wow, good on ya man. We left at midnight and I feel a little worse for wear.” Barrman was impressed his buddy was there before him after closing down Snowshoe Sam’s.

“Yaaaa!” A cheer went up as the gates opened and the diehard skiers slid forward onto the Ridge Rocket Express quad chair lift.

“Dude look at those pristine groomers, it is going to be a good day. Sadly it is the last one of the season,” Barrman looked down at the run known as Exhibition and smiled.

“Sad indeed. It has been quite the year, day 132 for me.” Braffster fist bumped Barrman. The last day of the ski season for 2021-22 began. “At least this time we made it to the end of the season.”

“Ya man the last two years shut down early so it’s fantastic we got the final day this year.” Barrman was relieved that covid hadn’t shut down the hill this year unlike 2020 and 2021. He turned to his buddy and they high-fived to celebrate the moment.

As the chair reached the top of the mountain Barrman knew what run he was going down, “Born To Run is my choice man, what about you?”

“That’s tempting, but I think Exhibition is my choice.” 

“Okay see ya at the bottom.” Barrman grinned.

They shot off the top of the chair and turned to race down the hill. The sound of the theme from James Bond echoed through Barrman’s head as he rode through the trees at the entrance to Born To Run. “Da, do, da dum, dum da do da dum dum da da, do da do” He imagined the gunshots ricocheting off the trees as he cruised the untracked groomed run.

Barrman stood at the bottom of Born To Run and admired the fresh turns on the lightly coated groomed run. He beamed with excitement as he watched Kaydee turn her way to the bottom. 

“Woohoo!” Kaydee giggled as she cruised up to him.

The ski buddies rode the morning on the mountain. Cookster, Crispie, Braffster Mullyman, Evy, Karbella, Leon, and Kaydee, rode the freshly groomed slopes. Braffster left to go get his kids and the group was joined by Big Boarder and Roberto. They cruised to the top of the mountain and carved the mountain to the bottom of the Gem Lake chair. It was a large group of ski buddies who celebrated an epic end to a great season on Big White Mountain.

Barrman, Big Boarder, and Roberto broke off to go ski the Easter chutes while Kaydee and Karbella went their own way, the rest of the group broke up and everyone agreed to meet after skiing at the Globe to watch Jon Bos play his musical skills. 

Barrman was determined to be at the top of the T-Bar for the end of the season.

Barrman was at the condo at 2:00 and ready to head back out, he couldn’t convince the girls to join him for a few last runs to the top of the T so he called his buddies Robin and Braffster to see if they were up for it. Braffster met Barrman at the Bullet and they dropped into the Easter Chutes for the last time of the season. With whoops of joy, they rode the steep trees and found some fresh tracks. 

“Ya man that was awesome!’ Barrman beamed and high-fived Braffster. “That’s why it’s called the Easter Chutes because there are still fresh tracks at Easter.”

Braffster laughed, “ya baby it was sweet.”

The two ski buddies rode to the top and met Robin at the T-Bar. Ski patrol stood there waiting, the head of patrol Juice smiled at the ski riders, “Once you see the red jackets get on the T that’s it.”

“Glad we made it then.” Barrman smiled and the T whisked them to the top for the last run of the season.

The three buddies slid up the T and looked over at the knoll, the party looked like it was going on over there between the Bullet and The Black Forest instead of the top of the T bar this year.

That was not where they wanted to be. 

They wanted to see the T-Bar stop spinning and be there for the final cheer of the season. They soaked in every turn and skied down to Trappers Trail and joined a few other buddies sitting on a snow pit relishing the last of a season of turns on snow. 

“Well buddies, this is it, let’s make the most of it.” Braffster smiled at Robin and Barrman. He turned his skies downward and pushed off. 

The three buddies savored the last turns of the season and rode into the village and cruised to the Globe to listen to the musical sounds of Jon Bos. It was a fitting end to the year. 

It felt like the coronaverse was in the rear-view mirror and a new beginning was there to welcome the ski buddies. 

They laughed and sang along, it was a celebration of a year well spent.