by Kristina | Apr 18, 2019 | Backcountry, Skiing, Turns All Year
The rumbling sound is low and persistent, its origins a mystery. We are skinning next to the vast, frozen Eklutna Lake and, even though we’re miles from the nearest road, it almost sounds like someone is listening to music with heavy bass off in the distance....
by Kristina | Apr 11, 2019 | Advice, Life
The sunlight warms the pasty skin beneath my toenails as I feel my toe-hairs rustle gently in the springtime breeze. After many months trapped inside closed-toed, sock-stuffed, freedom-restricting shoes, my feet are released, yet again, into the world. It’s a sunny...
by Kristina | Apr 4, 2019 | Advice, Camping
We’d driven the parking loop not once, but twice. Visiting Mt. Saint Helens for the first time this season, the Sippel Sisters and I were looking for a perfectly level, sunny spot to camp. After deciding no such unicorn existed, we chose a primo location nearish...
by Kristina | Mar 28, 2019 | Advice, Travel
The shrieking outbursts are so loud you need heavy-grade ear protection to walk down the street. People had warned me the dogs were loud, but I was woefully underprepared for the volume of their exuberance. Standing in the staging area at the 2019 Iditarod, watching...
by Kristina | Mar 21, 2019 | Turns All Year, Tutu
As previously mentioned, skiing in February didn’t go as planned. Month 88 of Turns All Year had everything: The Good: My first skimo race; an unbelievable snowstorm; a “we were published” celebration; a ride up a 17mph rope tow.The Bad: Massive blisters....
by Kristina | Mar 14, 2019 | Turns All Year
Things don’t always go as planned. That’s the theme of skiing in February 2019. Month 88 of Turns All Year had everything: The Good: My first skimo race; an unbelievable snowstorm; a “we were published” celebration; a ride up a 17mph rope...
by Kristina | Mar 7, 2019 | Advice, How To
With a snort, the single coagulated snot ball exits your nostril in a perfect arc over your right shoulder. It’s cold and your nose is like a sieve that just won’t stop. You’ve been sniffing at this thing for hours with no relief, and you’re without a handy hanky....
by Kristina | Feb 28, 2019 | Advice, Skiing
If you run your mouth about something long enough, people will start to think you an expert in said topic. Tutus. Pooping outside. Backcountry skiing. These are my niches and I’m not at all upset about it. As a result, I often get asked to help pick out skis and...
by Kristina | Feb 21, 2019 | Advice, Life
Editor’s Note: I published this post for the first time in 2016, two years after Loren’s accident. Every year around the February 19 anniversary I republish the blog to encourage action and honor Loren’s legacy. If this is your first time reading, I...
by Kristina | Feb 14, 2019 | Skiing, Turns All Year
You’ve never been skiing out your front door before, despite the fact that you grew up in the snowiest place on earth (Montana). In the 17-years you’ve occupied the “big city” you haven’t quite been able to get your poop in a group, even...
