HYGGE
A feeling of comfort and cozy ness in the middle of winter.
NICER, a local group, joined us again to provide a memorable outdoor winter event. What a spectacle!
After a week of catastrophic breakdowns on all the primary grooming machines, somehow, after the Hygge Hike tonight, it all feels worth it. We’ll fix the broken components. We’ll figure a way to tackle the rest of Uller. The Big Snow will settle. Shoot, we’ll do it old school if that’s what it takes. It just means a bit more time.
Now what? How do we top this year’s and last year’s Hike and grooming? Invite Billie Eilish to perform at the Portal? Get Circ de Soliel up at the Whistle bonfire?
Somehow that just doesn’t feel Hygge, I guess.
I won’t worry, these young folks I’ve watched grow up keep coming up with more and more exciting new twists to our basic old ski and snowshoe trails. We’ll all be surprised and impressed again, I’m sure.
But it is time to think ahead. Now what? How many more hours will our equipment run? Is there a better prime mover out there? Is Uller a monster we’ve created? Can we come up with a plan to efficiently track Uller when we get the ‘big one’ like last week’s? Can we keep finding the people, time and funding we need to provide quality outdoor winter recreation?
Our county only has about 3,000 people, and very few organized industries. It’s been tough to get local support from businesses who would profit from having this local recreational opportunity. It’s time to figure out a way to ask them nicely, again. Meanwhile, the Rangers brain trust will think about ways to show some bigger outfit in the Cities that it would be a good thing to support our work and ethics.
Meanwhile, we’ve got some of the best conditions (on Montreal, anyway… Uller’s backcountry for the time being… although pretty awesome back country conditions) we’ve had in years, and the season is turning… lows in the teens and highs in the mid 20’s for the next week? With a base of more than 16”? Nothing better.
Get out. Ski Freely. Spring will come. Z
