A disappointing day turned out wonderfully!

[Muffin]

Today started out quite poorly. I was looking forward to telemarking at Loch Lomond, which is hands down the most challenging lift area skiing in Ontario (and yes, I envy folks out west). In particular, there are three exceptional runs -- a groomed run with a steep pitch (but not quite so steep as to require a winch cat), a bump run with an even steeper pitch, and tucked away to the side, a very steep run that requires open jump turns. Unfortunately, due to a recent sacroiliac problem, I am not supposed to ski, so I figured that I would stick to the groomed run just to keep loose.

I arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed at the hill this morning, only to find that the run I was anticipating was closed off for a race. I was left to putter about on the bunny runs, which sucked the big Lebowski.

At the top of the longest bunny run in the province, I came across a track where the grooming machine had ventured off into the woods. Having nothing better to do with my time, I followed the track.

Hallelujah! The hill owner got it in his head to drive the groomer along the top of the mesa to Big Thunder, a nearby ski area that has been closed for a few years. And it wasn't just any ski hill; it had been the national training centre for both jumping and cross-country, and was built specifically for the World Nordic Championships. Even better, the grooming excursion didn't just go from one facility to the next; the fellow groomed out many kilometres of cross-country trails so that he and his friends could go snowmobiling.

Since I moved to Thunder Bay, I have been told again and again how unfortunate it is that I never had the opportunity to cross-country ski at the now closed facility. This always struck me as odd, for there are two cross-country ski areas in the region that are world class, and many other excellent cross-country areas that put most of the rest of the province to shame. But skier after skier kept telling me that the back side Big Thunder was in a class of its own.

So there I was today, skiing the back side of Big Thunder. It was everything as advertised: delightfully laid out trails through rolling terrain in a beautiful mixed forest! Challenging descents, arcing turns, long straights to skate up a head of steam, and perfect snow conditions. Such cross-country skiing as dreams are made of! And I had it all to myself!

What a day! I never would have guessed that it would have turned out as it did! I'm heading back there tomorrow -- Yippee!