Turns All Year year-round skiing                 Year-round skier:  Lara Pazemenas

How I got started skiing year-round:  Halloween 2000 was when I discovered the riches of my neighborhood. A neighbor, Greg Lange, and his barely 2 year-old son, Cedar, came over for Trick-or-Treating. Greg attempted to coerce Cedar into saying "trick or treat", but failed. Then, Greg pointed to a picture on the wall of me and a friend atop Mt. St. Helens with skis on our backs. Greg pointed and asked Cedar, "Cedar, what are those?" With a huge grin on his face, Cedar exclaimed, "skis!" It was then that I discovered the ski "streaker" in the neighborhood. The following August, Greg invited me to join him on a hike/ski near Heather Meadows. I had asked if I should bring my crampons with me. Greg didn't think we would need them. Well, as we crossed the snowfield (icefield) to be skied, I, of course, slipped. Down I went, passing over the ONLY rockband on the field. A bit bloody and in need of stitches, I decided to just ski from where I had stopped. Greg thought I would never go out with him again. I had done a few hike/climbs with skis on my back before, but this was the beginning of an adventure. August 2001 began my streak. Criteria for what counts as a ski trip:  I'll admit I'm not TOO picky, but I guess a girl's gotta have her standards. I've been skiing ever since I was 2 years old, according to my mom, so skiing's in the blood. I have been lured into the backcountry the past two years, but I still love a free ride up. Therefore, I do count lift-assisted turns in my streak. However, I've still toured every month since I started anyway. As much as I love skinning to ski, I'm not afraid to strap all the gear to my back and go for a nice long hike to get some turns. So the means to the skiing aren't important to me, as long as I get some turns! I usually am able to get in at least 500' of vertical, but often quite a bit more with some yo-yoing, if necessary. Oh yeah - I've only cross-country skied once in my life, so I only count vertical skiing. Biggest threat to my streak:   Alright - this one's easy. My health. For the most part, I'm quite a healthy gal who rarely gets sick. BUT, I do have a history of cancer (finally in remission just recently!) experienced at an early age, as well as chronic joint and muscular problems. I don't like to tell many folks about all the crap, but basically, I tour with pain all the time. Sometimes it's better than other times, but for the most part, it sucks. So, I just hope my tenacity for turns will keep me going through all the tough times. Type of equipment I use:  The gear has varied in the past from long sticks to fatties. However, I finally obtained official touring gear in October of 2001 after a hell trip on Rainier. I swore I would NEVER put all the gear on my back again when I could just skin up. I now own (and LOVE) a pair of K2 AK Launchers (180cm) loaded with Diamir Fritschi bindings. Clamped to my feet are a pair of Dynafit Tourlite boots, which for touring, are quite comfy and decently stiff for the way down. Strategy for skiing through the low season:  Convince other fellow skiers that there REALLY is snow out there. Gotta have a partner! Drive a bit farther for better turns because it's usually worth the extra time! Muir Snowfield and Flett Glacier in those tough late summer-fall months. The best fallback: there's always snow on Table Mountain, especially when you don't feel like driving all the way to Rainier! Worst and best backcountry ski trips:  Worst: I think about weather, I think about snow conditions, all playing a part in my decision. But, I guess the one trip that sticks in my mind as being the worst didn't really have to do with snow conditions or weather. Before I get into it, I apologize to those who were with me this day, but I think they might agree with me anyway. I was heading out on a tour I had only done once and with 2 people I'd never toured with before, but had known via email contact for almost a year. In a nutshell, the touring, led by the other 2 because they knew the way, was unsafe, inefficient, and just plain crappy. I was led to believe they knew where they were going and were prepared, as well. They didn't and they weren't. To end the story, I did get some good turns, but just a couple. The ski "home" was horrid (death cookie hell) and we ended up skiing the last hour in the DARK. I took off my gear and walked out the last 1000' of vertical 'cause I really like my knees the way they are. It really sucked.    Best: Thank goodness this is a more difficult decision to make than my worst trip. SO many good ones to choose from! I think my best is probably one of the least "epic" trips I've had. In June of 2002, my neighborhood clan headed out to Chair Peak near Snow Lake. The day was gorgeous, we got an early start, and the snow couldn't have been more perfect corn. Plus, my pain level that day was manageable. We got to the top, had a snack in the warm sun, then attacked the hill. Avy danger was practically non-existent, so we all skied together. Just picture this: a group of four, skiing down chutes through the trees, sunglasses on, mouths grinning and screaming, for a few thousand feet. Not bad, eh? We even had a good ski out of the valley. No one got hurt or even fell. The weather was perfect, the snow was impeccable, and I was surrounded by some of my closest friends. Definitely one of my best days. Oh yeah...I have to add the entire hut trip I took to the Mt. Carlyle Hut in B.C. in March of 2003- every day was fresh powder, blue skies, and amazing views and turns, of course. It was one of the most incredible experiences in all aspects of my life, in addition to one of the most physcially challenging, too. Skiing activities in the past year:  This year I skied the most days I've ever skied in my life. From Nov. 2002 to Oct.. 2003 I skied 46 days (not bad considering I've only skied 182 in my life- yes, I count). I did everything from a Steep Skiing Clinic in the backcountry of Whistler-Blackcomb (with Pro Guiding Service) to a seven day backcountry hut trip in B.C. to hiking to ski summits such as Mt. Daniel. I also attacked the Paradise Glacier and Muir Snowfield on Rainier, a long ski approach to the north side of Mt. Baker via Hadley Peak, a circumnaviagtion of Pinnacle Peak (mostly hiking), a ski into Silver Peak, playing around the Blackcomb Glacier in summer, and many tours into the Commonwealth Basin to ski Chair Peak and others nearby. Now I'm planning this season's fun.....B.C. again? Maybe the Spearhead Traverse? Maybe the Forbidden Tour? Hmmm...it would be nice to be rich to be able to just ski whenever the passion hits hard.....My definition of skiing: when grit meets grace and power embraces passion. Everyone enjoy!

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