I'm no pied piper

Last week was the genesis of a tale that will be told for the rest of my life and will forever polarize those who hear it as powder hounds or casual skiers. Last Friday, the 17th of February, 2023, only armed with the information, "The hike takes 15 mins." Laura and her dad Tim joined me on the flute hike. We started at a familiar wooden frame, removed our skis and started "Booting it."

There were two dozen other people on the path and overcast clouds that concealed the peak, and these two factors may have helped convince them to join me in this endeavour. Shuffling my boots up the trail reminded me that the flute hike may have been longer than I had thought (Closer to 20 mins… maybe a bit on the north side of that). 5 mins difference is a big deal when you have skis on your back.

No exercise class can prepare you for the workout of hiking in ski boots. The inspiration behind Nike was Phill Knight's track coach, who painstakingly removed grams from running shoes to improve the performance of the Oregon track team runners. The old running coach adage is, "An oz off your legs is worth an lb off your waste." For those who've never worn a ski boot, imagine dipping a pair of timberlands in ballistic plastic. A single boot can weigh up to 8lb. It goes without saying Usain Bolt's next gold won't be in a pair of Lange's. To get a sense of how I hike, jump on a treadmill, turn the speed to where you begin to jog and the incline up to the max; not bad in the aforementioned cement slippers.

Tim and I on the descent of the flute

Unfortunately, this results in only being within earshot of those who I hike with me for a short period. Packing with some critical gear, I left Laura and her dad with only one option, get to the top to get down. A lack of consensus can lead to mutiny, aka some chirps at the top where we all regrouped.

Being a guide for a group is difficult. I'd observed my father assume this thankless role on family bike trips across Europe. In retrospect, I regret every non-positive comment I've ever made. Biking the hills of Italy in a rainstorm or heatwave with no map, there are more than a few comments I'd like to take back. Though every bike was challenging, the meal at the end of the day was fantastic, and not just because we were in a small town in Italy.

As we went over the crest of the peeked, we saw the field of boot-deep, untouched powder. There aren't many thrills that can replace the joy of skiing powder. The three of us regrouped at the chairlift, and the chirps became more cordial. Tim even recommended that a Texan who joined us on the chair, the snow was great if he could stomach a hike.

We won't always choose the hardship we face, but a challenging climb leads to unforgettable peaks and fantastic descents. Keep pushing to climb your mountain, and remember you'll forget about the difficult times the second you catch your breath at the peak; the memory decent will last much longer.

Note: If your looking to try the flute yourself please find more information here.