The Greater Toronto Area was hit with a snowstorm the night of December 26th. Now, I’ve biked to work, and I’ve run to work, and I’ve even in-line skated to work. The white whale of active living commutes for me though, has been the idea of cross-country skiing to work. It would take a lot of special circumstances, most importantly a fresh snowfall. I figured it was still holiday time and the office would be less than bustling so those circumstances were going to line up perfectly today…
Well, not quite perfectly. I had brought my laptop home for the holidays. Luckily, I brought it in a backpack rather than the typical shoulder bag laptops come in, so I could carry it, if I was willing to haul the extra 10lbs or so. I also had to shovel the driveway before leaving (I got some help from Shark Boy). Life (especially as a family man) has taught me that things are never perfect, and unless there’s a serious, serious obstacle –
Going to cross at item off my #BucketList today… Can you guess? #fitfluential lockerz.com/s/272363894
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
I couldn’t resist the tease… |
So, though I got a late start after my wife took Shark Boy to daycare (with the Lightning Kid along for the ride), I got suited up to go. I couldn’t find my Garmin heart rate monitor, so I just used Endomondo to track the trip. I also decided to live tweet the whole thing.
OK… Ladies & Gentlemen, boys & girls of all ages, coming to you live via Twitter… The #SkiCommute!
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
Backpack (with laptop) #SkiCommute lockerz.com/s/272384514
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
#SkiCommute Facemask lockerz.com/s/272385146
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
Hoorag on display |
#SkiCommute skis lockerz.com/s/272385671
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
And off I went. I actually skied on my own street to avoid the side-walks that my more industrious neighbours had already cleared. I also skied across a few lawns, just to be able to spare my skis from cement, salt, or whatever. Still I had to take them off and walk for a bit (though it gave me a chance to joke with an elderly lady shovelling her driveway. Once I hit the park, I was good for a long ride on my skis.
Of course, I hadn’t thought the whole route through…
#SkiCommute have to take ’em off for this part lockerz.com/s/272388704
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
This would be the first of two bridges I had to go under… |
I became aware of just how little snow I was skiing on by the fact that instead of the usual satisfying ‘crunch’ the poles make as they crush snow beneath their tips, there was a startling ‘knock’ as they hit the gravel or pavement just under the snow. I got used to it after a while, but it rattled my nerves a little.
#SkiCommute kept the skis on for this part; didn’t think it would work.
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
This part was real ‘bush-whacking’… I enjoy it when I’m running, but even I’m less agile with planks stuck to my feet. Still, I managed not to fall (especially not into the neighbouring river), and I was really enjoying myself. I was just about done…
Last effort…uphill #SkiCommute lockerz.com/s/272395782
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
After I took that picture, I think I put my Blackberry back in my pocket. I took my skis off at the top of the hill, because it was all side-walk from there on in. I wanted to terminate the Endomondo session and tweet victory, but I noticed the Blackberry was not in my pocket, and the pocket was unzipped.
I figured it fell out as I bent over to take off the skis, but I couldn’t find it at the top of the hill. I retraced my steps to where I took the picture and couldn’t see a sign of it. I dug through the snow, I looked at every suspicious hole in the snow. I eventually ran inside, asked to look at Endomondo on someone’s computer.
You can see almost exactly where it must have been. I ran back outside, and searched a 25 square foot area for a good 20 minutes, digging with my hands, kicking snow with my boots… nothing. The mishap put a damper on my mood… I can’t say it ruined the day since I’d accomplished something I’d been fantasizing about since we moved into our house.
And so the great #SkiCommute comes to an ignoble end… with a lost cell-phone.#Fitfluential. goo.gl/8j2OR
— Axel Kussmann (@apkussma) December 27, 2012
I got out of my ski clothes in the change rooms, and treated myself to a hot shower. I think everyone is still in holiday half-sleep, since the sight of me walking around the office carrying skis didn’t raise any questions at all.
PROOF |
The Blackberry was gone, and I had to report it as such, but the good news is I had my new Samsung Galaxy S3 waiting in the wings (as described here). This gave me the excuse to embrace change and get it activated; I’m still getting used to it, but Endomondo was the first app I installed so that I could make the trip back home.
On the way home, I didn’t live tweet, I didn’t take pictures. I figure all that goofing around was what led to me losing track of the old phone. I just concentrated on skiing. Due to that focus, and the fact that the snow had been tramped down by hikers, toboggans, bikes, and I don’t know what else, it was much faster going; almost like skiing on a track-set trail. The stats from Endomondo seem to back that up:
I got home and squared away most of the gear, then started preparing dinner – Chili! What every good ski commuter eats for hisher reward meal when he/she gets in from the cold. I guess I should invest in snow-shoes so I can do another wacky commute… after all, a snow-storm is no excuse to miss work!
Can you turn a ‘bad’ weather day into an opportunity? Let me know!
Love it! I grew up in London, Ontario (just down the road from you) and we regularly cross country skied to the 7-11!
I'm thinking that snow shoes might be easier though, in an urban setting….
What?! That's pretty awesome. A ski commute. We never see snow where I live unless it's trucked in. So this is like a magical tail of whimsy and fun for me. Great post and fun read. Sorry about your phone though….
What?! That's pretty awesome. A ski commute. We never see snow where I live unless it's trucked in. So this is like a magical tail of whimsy and fun for me. Great post and fun read. Sorry about your phone though….
Thanks Ladies! You remind me that even though there's lots of places with more/better snow… there's always ones without any!
Thanks Ladies! You remind me that even though there's lots of places with more/better snow… there's always ones without any!
Cool. Sounds interesting. I better try ski commute soon. Thanks for sharing the app too.
Skia
Cool. Sounds interesting. I better try ski commute soon. Thanks for sharing the app too.
Skia