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News and Information about the People and Programs of Ski for Light, Inc.
Skiing. Sharing. LearningThe mission of Ski for Light is to enhance the quality of life and independence of visually or mobility-impaired adults through a program of cross-country skiing.
Hey, how's your imagination?
Can you, for instance, in the midst of a record-breaking summer heat wave, picture yourself out on a snowy winter trail, bundled up in layers of Lycra and polar fleece, face to the wind, heart pumping, the contents of your nostrils frozen solid, skis singing skirr, skirr, skirr, under a crisp blue Colorado sky?
Or this:
Can you, after two years of pandemic separation, imagine yourself in the warm company of a couple hundred friends, new and old, celebrating the return of Ski for Light to our home in the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch?
Hard to conceive it, I know, but in a few months we will be there, skiing, sharing, and learning together. And right now, even in these sweltering dog days, many of us at Ski for Light are working hard to bring this unlikely winter fantasy to life. You'll hear more about all that from our 2023 SFL Event Chair, Mike Evelo, along with stories from others sure to make our 48th International Ski for Light, coming to Granby Jan. 29-Feb. 5, feel very real to you. (And yes, to answer your first question: We'll be opening up applications on our website very soon, with huge thanks to those putting in overtime this month to make that process better for us in the long-term. Larry Showalter, Amy White, the whole data management transition team: you rock.)
These aren't the only feats of imagination called for in our present moment. Lately I've been asking SFL leaders-past, current, future-and members of our wider community, to think big about their own part in the Ski for Light dream machine. It takes so many different talents and resources, human and otherwise, to keep this organization running, growing, and evolving to meet new challenges. We saw some great examples of that during our virtual event in March. So many individuals stepped up to share their skills and help us connect, and some of that content has reached far beyond our SFL family: the Zoom video of Marie and Chuck Huston's Special Interest Session, "6,000 Miles in Flip-Flops: The Great American Loop Boating Trip," has drawn more than 6,300 viewers (!) to our Ski for Light International YouTube channel. Our "SFL Job Fair" in May, also viewable on YouTube, likewise sparked a lot of ideas for putting more of you to work, making Ski for Light magic. Thanks to everyone who participated in that, and don't worry, you will be hearing from me.
Over the weekend of July 16, members of the SFL Executive Committee joined me here in Cincinnati for some in-person meetings, team-building, and a leadership coaching session with guest presenter Judy Mitchell of the OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Judy really did her homework, coming in with a deep understanding of what we do here at Ski for Light, why we do it, and how each of us might be approaching our volunteer roles differently, in ways that sometimes lead to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and even mistrust. She challenged us to try on some new ways of thinking about all that, and in particular, she encouraged us "doers" (and some of us do a lot here) to imagine ourselves more as teachers: How can we activate our own experience and knowledge in collaboration with others, in support of their learning and growth as leaders, instead of just owning all that work ourselves? Is it possible that by doing all the things, by answering all the questions, by avoiding the risk of betting on others who might lack my own preparation or expertise, I'm actually, unintentionally, holding the team back? How fully, really, am I living the "sharing" and "learning" parts of our Ski for Light mission-not just in my skiing or guiding, but in how I run meetings, how I look at our budgets, how I assign committees, or how I handle disagreements among us?
These are just a few of the ideas I've been pondering in this Season of Imagination, a term I like better than "the off-season." Nobody gets a season off at Ski for Light! (It's like that soup guy on Seinfeld: "No time off for you!") The more we can show up for each other and work with each other year-round, and the more we're willing to work on ourselves, the stronger our shared vision will be-and come January, we'll all be so ready to live it.
Be well,
Julie
The 48th annual Ski for Light International Week is scheduled to run from Sunday, January 29th, through Sunday, February 5th, 2023! We are excited to be returning to Snow Mountain Ranch, part of YMCA of the Rockies, located near Granby, Colorado. We are equally thrilled to be returning to an on-snow event after COVID caused the SFL International Week to be held virtually for the past two years. Snow Mountain Ranch offers more than 90 kilometers of expertly groomed Nordic ski trails, surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, all covered with snow. The week starts off with many friends seeing each other for the first time since the prior SFL event, and with many new lifetime friendships being made. The following six days will boast lots of fun on the trails, and spirited off-snow events in the late afternoons and evenings. The week will wrap up with the Olav Pedersen Race/Rally and an evening awards ceremony, both of which really highlight the magic of Ski for Light, culminating with the accomplishments that many thought were unreachable a mere and all-too-short week earlier. The popular afternoon special interest sessions will be back, too. These display a broad range of impressive talents and experiences of members of the SFL family. Topics could include better ways to use our electronics, ski waxing tips, exciting travel adventures, or an unbelievable accomplishment of a fellow SFL friend. The evening entertainment is being worked on as we speak, and may boast detective work, dancing, wild rides, and talented cowboy poets. The all-time favorites- the Silent Auction and Norway Night-- will be a given! If you have been thinking of coming, or if you are just now hearing about Ski for Light, I invite you to what many first-timers (guides and skiers alike) have called "an experience of a lifetime!" Many participants leave their first event eager to return the next year to improve their new-found skill and to re-unite with friends they've met the previous year. If you've never been on skis before, not a problem. We offer technique sessions for beginner and intermediate skiers. Also, the two-year stipend restriction for skiers is being removed again this year. As an intermediate or better Nordic skier who is interested in becoming a guide, SFL will open up a whole new world to you. Guiding at SFL will give you the unique satisfaction of passing on your passion for the sport to someone who otherwise would not experience the thrill and freedom of gliding over the snow. If you feel apprehensive about knowing how to guide, no need to fear: SFL provides a training video, a training manual, and a day of interactive instruction on skis prior to the start of the week. For our veteran guides who would like a brush up training session, we are excited to again offer a refresher class. SFL will cover the cost. Stay tuned for details. I also want to extend an invitation to those who want to be a part of this amazing family, but not on the snow. Of course, I'm talking about the volunteers, often referred to as worker-bees. They are very dedicated to the SFL organization, are an essential part of making the event go smoothly, and are dear friends. Applications for skiers, guides, and volunteers will be available later in August at www.sfl.org. Single and double rooming options will be available on a first come, first served basis. So, get your plans made for an exciting and unforgettable week at Snow Mountain Ranch! I sense a pent-up eagerness for a fantastic and long overdue SFL reunion! We are looking forward to having a great time with everyone both on and off the Colorado snow!!
Given that we both enjoy cycling almost as much as skiing, we decided to fly Nancy's tandem to Switzerland to ride some alpine mountain passes. We did this at the end of June, 2022. We hired Bike Switzerland company for the independent cycling route and hotel planning. Despite the company's concerns around our undertaking, we proved that you should never underestimate two middle aged women on a tandem! After a year of planning and training via spin, bike, and other exercises, we were ready. We learned to disassemble and to reassemble the bike before the trip, when Kris joined Nancy in Oregon in May for a week of cycling training. It took 6 hours to disassemble and to pack the tandem into two large suitcases, then 3 hours to reassemble the first time - good thing we had time to practice! Nancy went to Switzerland for a week before the cycling trip to spend time in Adelboden doing hiking and kayaking. She did not, however, learn to yodel. We met in Geneva and reassembled the bike in the hotel room, taking only an hour and a half this time! The next day, after our orientation from the Bike Switzerland assistant, we visited the CERN campus to learn about particle colliders and the origins of the universe as we know it. (See Nancy if you want to learn more.) The Bike Switzerland company shipped the empty bike suitcases to the train station in Glarus for us to pick up at the end of the trip. Our great adventure began with a ferry ride out of Geneva in the rain. The weather quickly improved after we started riding, as did the hills. The route took us on the pending Tour de France 2022 stage 9 route! We approved of the climb for the boys of the Tour; if we can do it on a tandem, so can they! During the week, we traversed alpine passes that climbed 4000ft to 6000ft with steepness grades of 8% to 17%; we kept smiling and laughing all the way up. And yes, we walked the bike at greater than 13% grade, wondering if better gearing needs to be on the next Christmas list!. The descents were exhilarating and scary! We were so grateful to have added a rear disc brake, which Nancy controlled, in addition to the rim brakes that Kris managed. We successfully kept the speed under 30 miles per hour on the straightaway descents and at about 12 miles per hour at the hairpin curves. Nancy's tandem has the shifters in the back (known as the stoker position), so she controls the gears. Kris only had to steer, to brake, to sing, and to pedal. The front derailleur challenged our bike mechanic skills, but once again - never underestimate two middle aged women on tandem! We adjusted the set screw and made better time once we could shift between chainrings without stopping to do it manually. Cow bells filled our ears, and bread and cheese sandwiches filled our bellies as we pedaled over alps and across valleys from Geneva to Glarus, just south of Zurich, about 300 miles in 6 days. The weather was perfect, sunny most days and cool. In Glarus, we disassembled and packed the bike in less than 3 hours, a new personal record. The bike was safely transported to Zurich and home to Oregon, as were the riders. Our pearls of wisdom from the trip: Nancy notes that it's often brought up at the International Ski week how guides and skiers feel the sync of team work and camaraderie. She appreciated our teamwork while assembling and disassembling the bike, and while cycling together up and down the Alps--as well as our constant laughter in tough situations. What an amazingly awesome adventure! Kris gained a deeper appreciation for a can-do attitude: Stay positive and keep moving! And cheese, lots of cheese! Stay tuned, we may do a special interest session at SFL 2023, where we will play some of the sound-bites from our trip and show amazing videos of the stunning scenery!
Though I am young, there are many life dreams that I have managed to achieve: I have done one boxing match, many Jujitsu matches, been a balloon chaser, and so much more--but nothing can compare to getting the dream job I have always wanted. Ever since I was a little girl, my one wish was to become a 911 dispatcher, and in May, 2022, I received the thrilling news I've always wanted to hear. I was offered a position at my local community college as a security dispatcher. I will say that it sure as heck wasn't easy getting to this point. It involved a lot of research on my part as I prepared to advocate for myself in the application and hiring process. Still, in doing so, I learned a lot. I was determined to make this next adventure in my life work, and I have always been driven to show the people in the law enforcement industry that I could do this job as successfully as can someone with vision. It has been a huge learning curve for both me and my coworkers, but we make a little more progress each day. So far, most of the kinks have involved my computer software; and, although I am still bracing for impact because more tech challenges may come my way, I am more than ready to tackle them! This is a job where no two days are the same. Sometimes, I might dispatch an officer out to deal with a squirrel in a trash can, or it can get as complex as an unruly person on campus, perhaps requiring extra assistance from our local police department. Here's a brief description of what I often do on the job. My daily duties include fielding calls over the radio to officers on duty at any of our 7 campuses. I answer calls from students or staff with questions/ concerns related to building access, to tracking of suspicious persons or activity, to providing vehicle jump-starts, etc. I am even one of the first points of contact for people experiencing minor medical mishaps! There are times when I've wondered why I chose this career path, but then I am thankful for this extraordinary opportunity that I have been blessed with. Yes, I have had sleepless nights, frustration because of accessibility issues, and with just the general day-to-day things that we all experience in the workplace as a person with a visual impairment; however, all that aside, I am proud to be the first visually impaired dispatcher in New Mexico, and just as proud that I have opened a new door and chapter in my life! I hope to have enough personal leave to attend the 2023 ski week because, boy, will I need it! I will have a collection of tales for all my Ski for Light peeps come next year, so be ready!
Editor's Note: Though the following piece describes trails that rank as a bit too ambitious to be included in an official SFL event, no story could better capture the magic in store for our upcoming ski week in Colorado!
Brian here. It was a moderately cold morning in the Washington, D.C. area when I learned about the difficult decision to cancel the 47th International SFL week at Snow Mountain Ranch (SMR). I immediately reached out to Don Rosenberry to make sure he would still be my partner in crime and would ski with me if I came out to SMR as scheduled. We had arranged a similar trip the year before-- until COVID undid our plans--and I certainly didn't want history repeating itself. So, I packed my bags and headed off to SMR to make some great memories and to ski some awesome trails. What I did not anticipate was being paired with two, fantastic guides who both knew the entire SMR trail network. We had a rollercoaster week of enjoyment from skiing easy trails to doing some backcountry skiing, and even a final exam that tested my fearlessness, confidence, and technical skills. My adventure began with a disturbing turn at the end of a morning flight to Denver: My cross-country skis did not arrive at their appointed carousel. Luckily, they were found after spending an anxious hour waiting for them to come out of the baggage area. I would have had to invent a new way to Nordic ski without my awesome new skin skis that I was oh so eager to put to good use. After the Home James shuttle wound its way around the switchbacks over Berthoud Pass, and then through Winter Park and Fraser, the driver delivered me to Aspenbrook Lodge, my home for the week. Don here: Brian and I had planned to ski together at SMR just prior to the 2021 SFL event. Although we were still hoping to ski, even with the cancellation of the event, COVID got worse yet, and Brian ended up cancelling his trip. Willing to try again this year, Brian arranged to arrive a few days before the start of the 2022 SFL event at Snow Mountain Ranch. With both of us vaccinated and boosted, I figured that masks indoors and cold, thin air outdoors would keep COVID at bay. Given that Brian's a pretty young guy and I'm, well, getting a bit long in the tooth, I had the perfect excuse to ski more often and longer each time so I'd be in tip top shape for his arrival. Therefore, I also was greatly disappointed to hear the news about the second cancellation of the SFL International event. I completely understood, and agreed with that tough decision, but darn that COVID! I sadly undid my vacation plans, just as had so many others who had been looking forward to SFL week, and then I happily remade them after receiving Brian's email saying the trip was still on. Back to you, Brian.
Prior to my journey to SMR, I had heard about the poor early season snow conditions. I had no idea what adventures my guides had planned, nor how well I would respond during my first time skiing this winter. I arrived to a couple feet of snow on the ground and not one, but two, guides! In addition to Don, Tim Feldman was also available to ski with me during the week.
Don here again: Tim really saved the day. During the short time between the SFL cancellation and Brian's email, I had agreed to take on some work-related obligations during what would have been the event week. After receiving Brian's email, I was able to walk back some of those obligations, but not all. Thanks to Tim's flexible schedule, the two of us were able to keep Brian out on the snow every day during his trip. During one of those days, the three of us ended up being able to ski all together, which was great. Back to Brian.
My ski adventures started early each day with temperatures usually well below zero as I walked to Schlessman Commons for breakfast. The minus 20 morning was particularly bracing. Each day warmed above zero, though, and near the end of my trip, we had a couple days with highs in the mid-20s. Don took me out the first two days, both times heading up Tabernash to warm up before venturing out into the various zones of the ranch. I had to get comfortable skiing again, as this was my first and only time this winter that I'd gotten out on the snow. Happily, it didn't take long. Then Don and I skied up the valley on Keenan, which led to some blue-black terrain. We gradually ventured more broadly yet, skiing Lynch, Cranmer, Mill Gulch, Upper and Lower Young, Eagle Valley, and Heckman, with some pretty fast speeds at times on those trails, all rated black.
Don again: On our first day, I took Brian on trails that I knew would be familiar to him. We skied Pole Creek (an SFL favorite), Milligan, Donner Pass--all trails with relatively small hills, but with some good turns that allowed me to get back into my guiding groove. It was near the top of the hill on Gaskill, way up above the reservoir, when Brian and I stopped for a photo op. I asked Brian to back up a bit so I could get the trail in the foreground with the continental divide in the background and with Brian as the center of attraction. I was paying so much attention to composition that I did not notice Brian's precarious position. One more step backwards and he would have been on the ride of his life, careening backwards through deep snow down a steep hill that ended at the frozen reservoir. Bad guide! Once I realized my mistake, I urged him to step forward. It's a good thing Brian can't see that incriminating photo!
It soon became clear that Brian was up for bigger challenges. One of my mottos is "fast is fun." I wanted to share that philosophy with Brian and to show him what substantial speed feels like. To make fast fun, I needed a hill with laser-straight tracks and a gradual transition to level ground at the bottom. I knew just the trail. The north end of Gaskill is moderately steep, nice and wide, with two sets of parallel tracks that are usually arrow straight. The only danger was the crossing trail at the bottom of the hill. I figured we could practice the sit command if another skier entered the picture. Furthermore, with fairly fresh packed powder, the landing wouldn't be too bad if Brian went into rapid deceleration mode. I told Brian to head down the tracks and do a half snowplow if he wanted to reduce his speed, a full snowplow as a last resort. We started downhill, speed quickly increasing, the wind sharply at our faces. Brian still had both skis in the grooves; impressive! I was watching the bottom of the hill - still wide open. Clean livin'! Just as I was thinking about telling Brian that we'd soon be reaching the bottom, Brian started to step out to do a half snowplow. It's amazing how quickly things happen when speed is involved. In about a half second, Brian went from speeding downhill perfectly in control to, WHAM!, speeding downhill on his face. Uffda, that was abrupt! Uffda, that had to hurt! Thanks to Brian's cat reflexes, he got his arms out in front to soften the blow. He slid to a stop, collected his wits, and all was fine. Still, it was a big fall. I was worried that it would set back his confidence. Amazingly, nope! Your turn, Brian.
Half way through the week, I got very comfortable skiing and was able to navigate more technical trails. I was even able to ski fast Wilson without stopping!
Don again: This was one of my proudest moments as a guide. Fast Wilson is well named. It's another fast, fun downhill, but it's not quite straight. There's a fairly sharp curve at the top that's not a problem because it's at the top, but just as the curve straightens the hill steepens and you're off and running. Near the bottom, there's a slight curve to the left that is no big deal when you can see it coming. But when you can't, well, that's what the guide's for. And then there's a substantial transition from down to up that could send Brian sprawling forward if I didn't tell him about it at just the right time. Oh, the pressure. Why do I do these things? Brian would be flying when he arrived at that turn and my timing would have to be exacting. This time, though, I had him pull his right ski out of the track, let it run straight and then push the tail out just a bit just before the turn. It worked like a charm, or maybe Brian just lives a charmed life. Either way, he perfectly negotiated the turn with a lot of speed, I remembered to tell him about the rise at the bottom of the hill, and we laughed and whooped as we snowplow-turned to a stop at the end of the trail. That earlier, traumatic face plant was now a distant memory. Each day, we skied an average of 20 to 30K. Brian was like the Eveready bunny. By the end of the week, I think we had skied almost all the trails that were groomed at SMR. Back atcha, Brian.
Waking up to each, chilly morning oddly encouraged me that it was going to be a perfect day of skiing with blue sky and little to no clouds in sight. As those days flew by, I'd imagine skiing through a forest of fresh groomed snow with snowcapped trees, finding moose or coyote tracks to ski over, or enjoying the sound of my poles hitting the snow as I'd make each stride, gliding through the terrain. I'd imagine double poling and flying through snowy, dense mountains and meadows, while putting my faith in my guides, who would make sure I made the right turns and would not run into any obstacles or crash. Little did I know, both my guides Tim and Don were preparing me for graduation day, which was my second to last day at SMR. I had no clue what this meant, and when I asked, Tim said I had to go down a trail called Old Lynch. Not till I accepted this challenge did I learn that this was the steepest and hardest black diamond course at the center. Navigating s-curves, switchbacks, and steep downhill sections.
Don again: Old Lynch is my favorite trail at SMR, hands down. If Brian could ski Old Lynch, he could ski anything at any Nordic center. That is a huge confidence builder, knowing that whatever is out there, you're up to the challenge, provided your guide is. After skiing with Brian all week, I knew he could do it, but Brian didn't know that; Hence, the challenge, and the anticipation. Old Lynch starts with a fairly fast hill with sharp turns to the left, then right, then left, then a less steep section with a couple of turns, and then a sharp right that sets you up for the biggest, baddest, steepest trail at the ranch. Fortunately, that steepest part is straight, which is why I was confident Brian could do it. It starts out steep, gets steeper yet, and then gradually the slope decreases until you transition into heading slightly uphill. And that's when the fun, fast switchbacks begin. It's the best 2k in Colorado. Brian did just great, but I oversold the really steep part. You know how a snowplow gets hard when you go too slow? Well, I messed up and had Brian put on the brakes a bit too much. My fault. Otherwise, his graduation run was flawless. He went on to beautifully negotiate the remaining downhill switchbacks, and rode the rails around some pretty sharp turns, leaning just enough without having to step out of the grooves. Brian passed the test with flying Fischer colors. Back to you, Speedster.
On the last day, we skied the Blue Ridge loop. Don says it's like backcountry skiing but with classic tracks. They don't always groom this part of the Nordic center because it is remote and climbs up to about 10,000 feet, which is the highest elevation I have ever skied. We were hoping to see wolves, coyotes, or moose on our wilderness journey, but only caught a glance of some coyote tracks on top of the classic tracks.
Don here: Brian is right. Blue Ridge Loop is a great experience that very few skiers enjoy because, well, it's tough. You ski up and up, and then up some more. Because of the small number of skiers willing to work that hard, the center doesn't always groom that trail. We were rewarded on this post-graduation day with freshly groomed tracks, blue sky, nary a breath of wind, and temperatures in the mid-20s. Getting to the top of Blue Ridge Loop requires substantial persistence, but another reason skiers avoid Blue Ridge Loop is that the ride back down can be terrifyingly fast if you don't have good brakes. It's not nearly as steep as are several other hills at SMR, but it is relentless, and curvy, and there are a couple places where you absolutely need to stay on the trail, particularly where the shelf road makes a turn. Brian's got good brakes; I knew he'd love it. He did. I did. Brian's graduation reward was fun and flawless. Back atcha, Brian.
I am so thankful that Don and Tim were able to be available to be my guides for eight straight days of skiing. I enjoyed every minute of my adventures, and cannot wait until next winter to go back to SMR with Don and Tim and all of my SFL friends!
PS. I am in search of a guide who might like to ski the 2023 Kortelopet event with me. Please let me know if you're interested.
Ski for Light, Inc. is loosely affiliated with eight regional organizations around the United States that share our name, but are independent organizations. They are located in New England, Northeast Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Northern California and Washington. Each group holds one or more local winter events that include teaching and guiding visually- and mobility-impaired adults in cross-country skiing. Some of the groups also offer other outdoor winter activities. Several of the organizations have summer programs as well, usually including hiking and similar outdoor activities. As with Ski for Light, Inc. all of the regionals have been largely inactive during the COVID pandemic, but all of them are now starting to emerge with programs for this summer and/or for next winter. Check out the offerings of each organization by following the links to each of their websites found on the regionals page of the SFL website at www.sfl.org/events/regionals
Our thanks go to the following companies that have provided products or services to help support Ski for Light. Many of these companies have stood behind us for years - and we're grateful. Be sure to think of our friends when you're gearing up for your next adventure.
Beyond Coastal/Chums Sun Care * Borton Overseas Travel * Crazy Creek * Darn Tough Socks * Haiku * Kuhl * Lodge Cast Iron * MODL Outdoors * MountainSmith * Nite Ize * Ruffwear * Spyderco * Wallaroo Hat Company
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Andrea GoddardThe deadline for the Fall 2022 Bulletin is October 1, 2022. We look forward to hearing from you.
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