bring a friend to work day

If the nightly climbing gym sessions and riding on the tractor to plow the driveway wasn't enough, Tessie had to go to work with me this morning! We decided that ice climbing was out of the question for her since she couldn't really swing an ice axe, so we opted for the dawn patrol at Kelly Canyon. Since the ski hill isn't open on Mondays, the dawn patrol is simply looking for fresh untracked snow before the resort opens, which we've had plenty of the last few days.

We skied up the Moose run and followed another set of up-tracks off to the right and up the hillside. Tessie was pretty excited at first, but after a while, she realized we weren't going back to the car anytime soon We took turns breaking trail. Tessie would be out front until she'd get scared of the snow covered trees.

After about 45 minutes of up hill work, we reached the top of Kelly Mountain and Tessie pointed out the best line of untracked snow below us. Good dog! I wasn't sure what would happen with Tessie as soon as I started down hill since the snow was well over my knees with my skis on! Would Tessie follow in my ski tracks going down hill like she did going up, or would she cut a few powder 8's for style?

I did a few turns and stopped to check on Tessie. She was still sitting on the platform I had stomped out in the snow. Of course she was whining and unsure what exactly to do. So I did a few more turns and stopped again. Yup, still there. So, I called to her and without hesitation she leaped off the platform and into the untracked powder snow trying to beeline it right for me...carving sweet powder 8's! I couldn't help but laugh when all i could see was her snout sticking up out of the snow while she swam down hill. I suppose this is what others would call a mask and snorkel day on the ski hill! She'd connect with my tracks, stop to get her sights on me then bound off into untracked snow once she could see where she wanted to go. I was laughing pretty much the whole time.

Our open slope powder run turned into tree skiing near the bottom where we could connect back to the Moose ski run. Tessie drifted too much inot the fall line and got sucked into a large tree-well which called for a swim in waist deep snow sans skis back up hill to get her. She didn't like being down in such a deep hole all alone and out of sight from me. You can image the noise she made! Kind of like when mom and dad leave her home alone. I pulled her out and we headed down to the bottom of the slope. She bounded off following my ski tracks, chasing after me wagging and barking.

The groomer had been up the Moose run by the time we reached it and Tessie finally had the upper hand in speed. (skidog5.jpg), beating me to the van back in at the parking lot. She sat in the passenger seat all the way home with her tongue hanging out and that look in her eyes. I knew she was thinking about what we're gonna do tomorrow....