I really want these first four turns.
Im so ready for it.
I was focused on the turns Id make, not what could go wrong.
Now though, standing at its entrance, I cant summon those perfect visualizations anymore.
I cant play that four turn sequence through anymore.
I never duck into the safe zone to wave my friends down.
We discussed our options on the skin up.
This one hasnt, and it looks like it hasnt been skied yet this year either.
Its so perfect, inviting.
And we all have reservations.
My judgment is clouded by memory though.
Last time we skied this line for the first time and it was near perfect.
On the surface, this year looks the same.
It does of course.
But this year were standing on crusty old snow from October thats rotted into facets.
This year all sorts of things on this aspect have been sliding.
The first two of my companions are clear.
Theyll ski this line if the group wants to, but they personally dont want to.
Its so simple, well ski hippy pow back out to the bottom.
I have to slide back from the entrance.
We make our plans and I drop into the gentle slope we skinned up first.
It takes four turns to kill my urge to ski the line weve passed up.
Note: A version of this first appeared in my local newspaper last year.
What have you backed off of recently?
