Adventures and More: December 2007

I realize this is late- but the story is good...So the story starts on a beautiful powdery dry snowy day where Justin and I had just finished lunch on a logdge near the top of the bowl on Crystal Mountain. Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle new terrain, I looked up and decided I could take what looked like the easier side of the mountain (not the bowl part). So Justin and I head to the lift to go up to the top of the mountain. Justin does read the sign that says (Terrain and skiing unlike anything you have skiied before- dangerous) as we sit down on the lift and are swept upwards towards said terrain. Getting off the lift- I realize, "Yup" definetely out of my league...but Justin- bravely leads the way and I willingly follow since the only way out is down and following Justin was definetely the safest route. A while later after passing by numerous cliffs with large trees- Justin sees an opening...I look ahead and see an easier path beyond some trees. I tell Justin to go ahead and I'm going to head to the open area because it's easier- Right? :)
I never made it...my path took me to the edge of a cliff like slope mostly covered with rocks,a drifting of snow and bushes poking out all over..Justin wisely unsure if I was going to make it followed me and also ended up at the beginning of said cliff. I decide that I could either take off my skiis and walk up or down past the trees and justin also at the same time comes to the same conclusion. So we take off our skis- I sit down and said out loud- maybe I could slide down...now I didn't mean to the bottom of the cliff..but famous last words. I slide a bit and then way way out of control. My thoughts came in pieces and kinda panicky ---"Sliding" "Rocks" "This could be bad" "Now I'm sumersaulting" "Not good", "Ouch- rock" "Still tumbling" "Bushes" Oh, good snow" "Still not stopping" Still not stopping" "Still not Stopping" I finally stop and look up. I'm at the bottom of the cliff- thankfully still able to walk and Justin is halfway down the cliff as well.- He also slid- but totally by accident. He skillfully and scarely braved the cliff to get both of our skis- pretty much the hero for the day and went on to conquer the bowl- both impressive feats..I limped back to base and enjoyed a hot cup of hot chocolate while sitting outside in the snow. So it ended well for both of us. So moral for the day: If unsure- trust the signs:)