Wow, what a day. A two-fer $49 coupon had me skiing for only $24 as yet another early season snow storm slammed into Northern Vermont. Jay Peak was reporting a foot and a half of fresh over the last few days with a 40″ total for the week. I quickly found out that most of the snow had been blown off the trails and deposited into the woods.
The Green Mountain Freezer was pretty darn cold! I took one run from T Freezer on the only open trail from the lift on crappy frozen granular which totally sucked. Over to The Jet I went, where the open runs were okay featuring lots of chewed up pow left over from the recent 6″. The glades were phenomenal though!!! Wow! Very hard to understand why the gladed trails were roped. A foot and a half of light pow and plenty of fresh lines! Timbuktu and Kitzw Wods were simply sensational. I met up two guys from the FTO Forums in Timbuktu and we paired up for the rest of the afternoon.
We headed up The Freezer after lunch and started wondering what Beaver Pond Glades were looking like on such a fine powder day. Only one way to find out I quipped! We hiked up above the Freezer so as not to duck any ropes and proceed to lay waste to untracked foot and a half boot deep freshies. Spectacular. We jumped into Beaver Pond and had an awesome time trying to find fresh lines in the exceptional powder.
On our second run through Beaver Pond, I ran into a tree and the tree won shattering my elbow. My binding pre-released and launched me over the tips into the obstacle. With no way to check my momentum, I attempted to maneuver fragile body parts out of way giving my right side the full impact leading with my elbow. I hit hard but did not loose consciousness. After getting my wind back and taking stock, I knew it could have been worse but I was sure my right arm was out of commission. I bailed out of the glade, doing my best to break through man made snow, and got to a trail I could easily slide down. I met my buds who I had been skiing with to inform them my day was done.
Ski Patrol was majorly understanding about the situation despite my willingness to tell all and prepare myself fro the consequences of breaking the rules. My rules for ducking rope include do so with others only if the conditions truly justify the action and be prepared to self rescue. I got myself down to Ski Patrol without rescue and did so with friends. Things certainly could have been a lot worse. Patrol iced my arm, put me in a sling, and gave me directions to the nearest hospital.
Worst thing is it could have easily been prevented. Ski patrol took a look at my bindings (since my accident was caused by a release) and noticed that one of my settings was a DIN 7 instead of 8. A pre-season tune up would have ensured the binding was set correctly and would have avoided the whole mess. Live and learn.
My first broken body part and my first serious ski related injury have put a damper on an incredible start to the 2005-2006 ski season. Not even half way through December and I already had 10 days total with 70% of those days being powder days. After visiting the hospital for x-rays, initial treatment, and the Splint and Sling treatment, I was sent into Surgery to have two pins and a wire inserted into my elbow. Physical Therapy to regain strength and control will last at least two months of prime time ski season. Despite the huge impact on this incredible season, I still count myself lucky that it could have been worse.
