Surviving the Ski Hill

With the temperatures dropping to the lower end of the thermometer, we’re about to learn just how near nature and near perfect the Spokane area is when it comes to the winter season. Enjoy scraping a layer of ice off the windshield of your car every morning and that white stuff that seems to cause every west side driver to go spiraling off into the ditch.

Luckily, we have plenty of other things to do with snow other than skating around on it with our vehicles. With several ski resorts just a short drive from the city limits, Spokane is about as downhill winter sports friendly as you can get. All we’re missing is a gigantic jump over I-90 and a half-pipe going down Freya.

But like any activity, skiing and snowboarding can be full of pitfalls and speed bumps not created by your buddy doing a face plant. So after putting our collective skiing and snowboarding experience together (which includes countless hours of playing 1080 on the Nintendo 64 and growing up in the snow-mecca that is Chewelah, Wash.) and consulting experts (people who went down mountains more imposing than the bunny hill), we’ve come up with a guide to ensure that you have an excellent time out on the slopes.

1. Pick the right people to go with
Skiing and snowboarding is a social experience and a trip up to the mountain is going to be only as good as your buddies make it. “Go with someone that’s going to push you to the limits,” said John Dodge, the graduate assistant at EWU’s EPIC Adventures.

If you already have a snow posse, then consider yourself lucky and occasionally buy them a round of hot cocoa, because otherwise you’ll have to deal with these people:

The Complainer – This person makes it a full-time job to let you know that it’s cold out, the lodge food sucks and you’re going too fast on the trails. However, they’re always the first one to give you a call when they want to head up to the ski hill.

The Lodge Prowler – This person spends more time looking for members of the opposite sex in the ski lodge over hot cocoa than being outside. In fact, you’d better make sure that this person at least packs their skis or snowboard.

The Double Diamonder – Despite the fact that your collective experience as a group is a short lesson with an instructor of high school age, this person keeps insisting that you try to go down the “Death Man’s Run” trail which looks steeper than K2. There’s pushing limits and then there’s just insanity.

The Ski-Lift Loafer – This person always seems to find a way to fall down right in front of the ski lift drop point, causing the operator to make an emergency stop so they can pick themselves and their pride up for the umpteenth time of the day.

2. Be Prepared
Depending on where you’re going, always make sure that you have the proper equipment and necessities. While you’ll probably remember to bring your board, skis and clothes, make sure you don’t forget these less-obvious items.

Brown Bag Lunch – For cross-country or long-trail trips, make sure you pack a lunch because you’re not going to get the opportunity to stop at the lodge every half hour.

Water Bottle – Get this, even though you’re sliding around on frozen water. You’re going to be sweating a lot and could become dehydrated without proper replenishment.

Shock-proof and water-proof camera – You want evidence of how bad your buddy is at snowboarding, right?

Cell phone – If by chance you get lost, or you just need to get a hold of someone to meet up somewhere on the hill, cell phones are your best bet. Just make sure you put it in some sort of water-tight baggie, “It’s amazing how ski mountains have reception for cell phones,” said Dodge.

Sunscreen and sunglasses – The potential for a nasty sunburn is heightened by the fact that the sun’s rays are being reflected by the snow. Sunglasses not only reduce glare, but also keep those harmful rays from getting to your eyes. Which is a bad thing, by the way.

Gloves – This seems like a no-brainer, but people do forget these. Make sure these gloves are water-resistant too, otherwise your digits will be colder than Vin Diesel’s movie career.

3. Make sure you have a car that can actually make it up to the mountain
That 1994 Ford Taurus with bald tires might not have what it takes when going up to the ski hill. You want to make sure that the vehicle you’re taking can handle snowy and slick roads, because chances are, you’re going to be going up some steep inclines and several switchbacks.

According to Dodge, Mount Spokane and 49 Degrees North have just two-lane highways up to their resorts, with lots of switchbacks.

In bad conditions, you don’t want to be sliding around corners and going into ditches when everyone else is on the road as well.

While some ski resorts have better access, maybe even just a turnoff on the freeway, keep in mind that on good days, traffic is going to be heavy and if you’re sliding around, the chance for an accident is much higher.

4. Treat your body right
Sorry chubbs, you’ve got to be in shape before heading up to the ski hill. Chances are if you have problems walking up a couple flights of stairs to get to your office cubicle, you’re going to have a heck of a time trying to navigate ski runs that can be a couple miles, if not longer.

Know your limits, and if you get hurt, don’t try to tough it out because treating an injured person is a lot tougher when they have to be taken off the mountain.

Also, don’t mix alcoholic drinks with your winter sports too much. As we all know, alcohol can have a detrimental effect on your motor skills – which you’ll need while speeding down a steep embankment toward the lodge.

5. Dress Right
When dressing up, you should have multiple layers of clothing that not only keep you warm, but also keep you dry. Three shells are recommended:

Outer – Water-resistant layer including snowjacket and pants. Proper coverage is needed for you to stay dry so make sure that your outer layer actually fits. No bare midriff on the ski hill.

Interior – This should be an insulating layer that will keep you warm. Remember, you can always take layers off so do not skimp on this layer. Sweats, smaller jackets, long-sleeved shirts… use them all.

Under – This should be comfortable against your skin and also has some insulating qualities.
Also, bring an extra pair of socks so you can change into them after you’re done skiing and snowboarding. Even though your boots may be water-tight, keep in mind that your feet will probably be sweating quite a bit and will soak your socks in no time.

Story by Brandon Hansen. You can reach him at brandon@htsports.org.