My third day of the season happened during the third month of the season. Some years, I have skied three days before November. Most years, I have skied three days before December. Almost all years, I have skied three days before the new year. The 2001-2002 season was the last time that I skied my third day after the new year. Spoiler alert, that same trend and that same reference season repeats itself for my fourth ski day during February.

This was my first time riding the lifts with COVID-19 mitigation measures in effect. Cannon handled the situation admirably. Most guests conducted themselves in an appropriate manor. Just a few skiers had their masks down while in line. Lift corals were well positioned with reasonably good spacing. Indoor seating areas were spread out; but I would have preferred that no mask lowering be allowed indoors, even for eating (eat outside or in your car). I kept outside except for restroom breaks.

While in the queues, some skiers tested my patience. I knew full well that solo riding impacts lines due to the current restrictions. But the signs said to only ride chairs with people who arrived in the same vehicle. Yet, many singles requested to join me. I wish folks would just follow the rules and lay off the requests to pair up.

The biggest issue was that the conditions did not merit the lines. Cannon had powder day lines for groomed hard pack conditions. My own own patronage was just as much to blame as the other skiers and riders. But understanding that concept did not compensate for the ratio of turn quality to line wait. The experience was quite uncomfortable for mediocre skiing.

I will return to Cannon later in the season when all options are on the table and conditions improve. Until then, I will earn turns and ride my indoor bike trainer.

Just as the season has setbacks, so does my recovery. I knew it was going to happen. The seasonal setback happened going into this weekend. My personal setback would happen during the following weeks. Grinding out 12 work days in a row, half of them 13+ hour days, left me totally depleted. My routines were shot, my progress stalled. I accepted that it was going to happen and mentally prepared myself in advanced. Get through it and then get back on track.

My personal setback has been far less jarring than the seasonal set back. January suffered from winter’s multiple personality disorder in the worst possible way. Small snow accumulations, wash outs, rain/freeze events, cold blasts, a record breaking warm day. Some small snows but no big storms. We’ve had far worse January’s but it is still significantly worse than average. It is amazing we have as much open terrain as we have given the weather pattern.