Snow activities make me nervous, and I don’t mean ice skating with hot chocolate. The thought of climbing to the top of a giant hill and sliding down at high speeds always put a knot in my stomach.
When I was younger I tried snow tubing. I went with my Girl Scout troop in elementary school way over yonder in Minot, ND. Needless to say I do not remember the entire adventure, but I remember the afternoon being filled with fun. We would climb to the top of the hill, and go whizzing down at high speeds at least a dozen times or so. The last time I went up the hill I must have been careless (how careful can you be when you’re 10) and went flying off of the tube. I quite vividly recall skidding down the hill on my back to a screeching halt at the bottom with the wind knocked out of me. To a 10 year old this whole experience was very traumatic.
A few years ago I attempted snowboarding with a coworker and her friends. We arrived late to the Ski Resort and I missed the beginners’ class on what to do once you’re on the board. Feeling excited about the prospect of trying something new, and thinking I had mad skills, I hopped on the ski lift with my friends and went to the top of the hill. This was no bunny hill, definitely not a black diamond, but it was way beyond my beginner self. I jumped off the lift, held my balance on the board, and then fell straight on to my face. My eagerness very quickly faded and I realized I may be way out of my league. Once we slowly shuffled to the starting point of the hill my fear got the best of me and I knew there was no way I could make it down the hill with my feet strapped to the skinny board. My coworker slowly made her way down the hill with her friend, leaving me at the top of the hill to fend for myself. (She didn't leave me stranded intentionally as her other friend was also new at snowboarding, and she wanted to make sure she got down the hill.) My nerves and fear of breaking something took over all rational thoughts, and a little over an hour later I was at the bottom of the hill. I made this achievement by either walking down the hill or using the snow board as a sled. I sat for the rest of the evening at the lodge waiting to run into my friend.
Both of these experiences left a sour taste in my mouth when it came to a giant mountain of snow, and having to slide down it to get to the bottom. I was willing to conquer my nerves and hesitation for my friend’s
party. She had chosen to go to Deep Creek Lake for a weekend of fun, snow tubing, and mayhem. I could not have asked for a more perfect venue then Wisp Resort. There were people of varying ages of 10 -50 years old which made it feel more welcoming. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the hill was not scary looking. As soon as we got our snow tubes we loaded ourselves onto a conveyor belt that led us to the top of the hill. This is a brilliant invention because you do not get tired from having to haul yourself and the tube back up the hill time after time. The hill itself was made up of different lanes that prevented people from colliding in to each other. The first few times down the hill I was screaming quietly to myself inside my head, but at the end of the second run I was having an amazing time. I think what added to the fun was all of the girls waited for each other at the bottom of the hill so we could keep going up together as a group. That way no one felt alone or missing out on all the fun! I even was so bold as to try going down on stomach so I was face first down the hill. I was very proud of myself for sucking it up and giving snow another try… it was even more awesome that my friend had such a great time at her party!
