It was a bit thin on the ground this week – the number of Beaver Tails skiers at Gai Luron that is – not the snow. (For the bean counters in the club – that translates to 8 people). Spies report there were just as many if not more at Cap St. Jacques.
Our president, switching sides for this week (don’t worry – he is just downhilling in BC in balmy warm conditions) was not available. Keith being of ill mind and body, suffering from flu/cold, sent me in his place to represent the club. Weather was a warm -5 degrees with a grey sky and messy roads. However, when I arrived the sun came out. Perhaps it was the time change or the end of spring break because it was quiet at the ski center with parking still available in front of the chalet.
At 10 am there were only 2 BTers ready to go (Rick B. and yours truly) until the Stowe Derby girls Monique I. Helene and Cheryl showed up raring to go. Then there was Glenn, then Jack and then Dennis. If anyone else trickled in after 10:15 I did not encounter them.
I got the group, and I use the term loosely, photo and off we went to check out the freshly groomed trails. Most went out on the “L” trail and Rick and I decided to do the rest of the trails (“A” “G” “U” “I” and “G” again to add in the expert boucle). I think this was the first time this year I used Blue wax and did not need a tube or mittens or 3 layers of underwear.
As the morning got warmer my blue wax started to fail me in the kick zone. The last loop was hard work. I know I should have put on some violet or a warmer wax as the temperature was hovering around -2 but I did not bring it with me.
We never saw the other skiers which is unusual because you normally bump into people where the trails cross each other. The parking area was busier when I left around 12:30 but it was not full which is unusual for Gai Luron on a Sunday afternoon.
I had to try out the new Timmys on the way home only to bump into an ex-CCBer I had not seen in a long time. After lunch I found that my legs had indeed had a workout because they were tired but I got a second wind and checked out the newish Premier shopping center on the way home. You would be amazed how much work it is searching for bargains. I think this was more tiring than the skiing. It is quite an interesting layout for an outdoor mall. Just walking from my car to the shops was a 1 km walk. This could become a new biathalon “ski-shopping”. Anyone else interested?