Spring Forward

Spring doesn't mean the same thing in Crested Butte as it does where I grew up in New England. Storms are a big part of the rebirth that comes with spring. Here in the West Elk Mountains, spring generally means snow and mud. The net snowpack in town is on the decline, but it continues to snow almost daily. The resort has received a couple feet of fresh snow this week making for unbelievable conditions to ride in. The slush and mud that covers the streets and alleyways in town continue to grow during the day and freeze into treacherous configurations at night. In New England the snow would dissappear and be replaced quickly with sprouts of green. Here in CB, the rebirth will have to wait. The window in my office bathroom is completely buried under snow. The snow will recede to higher elevations, but the northern aspects of most buildings in town will hold snow until June. As much as I look forward to lounging on the lawn, I don't expect to see it for another month and a half. My neighbor had to give me a push out of the snowy driveway yesterday. Today it is sunny and cold - gonna be a great day to ride snowboards amongst the crazed spring break crowds.

The days will get an hour longer, and then some, starting tonight. My beloved skatepark is buried and needs to be dug out, but snowboarding continues to be the dominant force in my life right now. Next weekend the USASA National Championships begin at Copper Mountain, CO. The kids I coach have been working all season to qualify for the event, and we are going in with a ton of momentum. As urgent as spring is to make its presence known, winter still has us under her spell.

The 2004/2005 winter has been one of the best I have known as a slightly fanatical snowboarder. Storm after storm has smothered our little town in deep snow. Arching down the mountain with snow billowing over my body has been commonplace this winter - something I don't take for granted. When nature permits, I can fly. That is something many people seek metaphorically or through artificial means, but on a topographically amazing mountain like Mt. Crested Butte slathered with deep, light snow the phenomenon is as real as it gets. Of course there are gravity, rocks, and deep soreness to keep you in check, but that's all part of the magic.

I'll spring forward when I'm damn well ready.