My neighbor Rebecca and I decided to go cross-country skiing last night with Dennis' sister Alicia and her husband Jonathan. They had gone up at Aspen Grove on MLK Day, and they have night skiing from 6:30-9:30 p.m. for a really great price ($9 for the trail pass & equipment, $4 just for a trail pass). We decided it would be lots of fun, so after haggling sitters, our husbands, etc., Rebecca and I were off. We met Alicia and Jonathan at the Borders bookstore in the Riverwoods and then headed up the canyon. Unfortunately, when we got to Aspen Grove, they weren't open. I had skis, and Alicia let Rebecca borrow her skis so we could still go (since we were already out). They told us there was an easy lower loop and a more difficult upper loop that would just bring us right back to the lodge. Alicia and Jonathan showed us the trailhead, then they headed back to Provo and we headed out on the trail. We did the lower loop, but somehow cut into the upper loop and were back in what seemed like 15 or 20 minutes, so we decided to try our hand at the upper (slightly more difficult) loop. We had a marvelous time chatting and skiing and enjoying the peace and quiet and the gorgeous scenery and the stars. Wow! I forget how many stars you can see from up there.
Well, after about 2 1/2 hours, we thought we should be just about finished with the loop, but we weren't. We just kept looping around and around and we were turned around and weren't sure which way the lodge was. We both started to pray. Being a mom, I was carrying a small pack with water, carrots, trail mix, and granola, plus essentials like Kleenex, band-aids, etc. We also both had cell phones. We were pretty warm from all the skiing, so we weren't too worried, we just figured we had to orient ourselves and we'd be fine. Uh huh. Rebecca's husband, Dan had called, and she told him we were a little disoriented, but we could see the lights from the lodge and just needed to figure out how to get back there. We came upon a grooming machine and a sign that said "Sundance Nordic Center," but we thought certainly we couldn't have gone all the way down to Sundance. We hit a road, but were worried about walking it and not knowing which direction to go, so we headed back on the groomed trail, figuring it would "loop" us back around and we would be fine. Another hour passed, we were really praying (both individually, as well as several vocal prayers together). We called Alicia and Jonathan, who had been there before, and they got online to check out maps and figure out where we were. We kept talking to Dan and Alicia and the Lord. We couldn't talk for long, however, because our fingers would freeze, and it was hard to hold the phone and the flashlight and ski, and we wanted to keep moving to keep warm and to get back "quicker."
Alicia and Jonathan were giving us directions, and we ran into a guy out grooming the trails. It was about 11 p.m. He confirmed that we were indeed in Sundance and gave us directions back to Aspen Grove, but told us we had a good 30-45 minutes to get back. We can do this! He was a little creepy, so when he asked if we were okay, we said that we were. Rebecca had an impression to get his phone number, but he was already gone, so we skiied off in the direction he told us. Unfortunately, our flashlight batteries began to fail at this point, so we skiied in the dark, only flashing it on occasionally to confirm we were still on the trail he'd just groomed and (hopefully) heading in the right direction. We came to a big field and found ourselves skiing in circles. We called again, getting desperate this time. No one could believe where we were! We were smack in the middle of the Sundance cross-country ski trail system, and they couldn't really tell how to get us back (especially without a light). See map below:
Finally, Dan & Dennis got in touch with Sundance Security who radioed the man out grooming the trails who came to pick us up (we finally found a sign labeled 22, and practically sat down in front of it until he showed up to get us). We were thrilled to be rescued, but a little leery about the guy who picked us up. Rebecca was sure he was going to have his way with us. I was a little more confident since there were two of us, and I was carrying a pretty have mag light (which had been a pain skiing with, but I was sure grateful to have it then!). We were also texting and talking on the cell phone with our husbands, so he knew that a lot of people knew where we were and who we were with.
Anyway, he took us back to the Sundance Nordic Center where a Sundance Security officer was waiting to drive us back down to Aspen Grove and our car. I have never been so happy to see Rebecca's jeep before. We called everyone to let them know we were okay, then headed home. We pulled in just after 1 a.m. and gratefully crawled into bed not much worse for the wear. We were so blessed.
Things we were so grateful for last night:
1. It was freezing cold (between 9 & 12 degrees), but we were moving and warm. If you're wondering about how cold that was, the water bottle I was carrying in the bag against my body was almost completely frozen. When we pulled our hands out of our gloves to dial or answer our cell phones, they would instantly start prickling and then go numb.
2. It was not snowing, nor was there a cold wind blowing (it was really pretty still last night).
3. Exercise--we've both been working out faithfully, so we were and pretty good shape, and not even that tired, which was wonderful. Neither of us is too sore this morning (my neck is a little sore from carrying the pack, and Rebecca has some bruises from a few falls, but all in all, we're in good shape).
4. Cell phones--we stayed on the groomed trails, and had bars most of the time, so we knew if all else failed we could call 911 or search and rescue or something.
5. A guy out grooming the trails--he only grooms the trails occasionally, and we were so blessed that it was last night. Also, the security guy didn't even know they were on the same radio frequency--we were blessed he figured it out and was able to get ahold of him.
6. Alicia & Jonathan--we have been looking at the trail maps this morning, and we have no idea how you were reading them so well to tell us where to go, thank you!!!
7. Husbands who called and found someone to rescue us and helped keep us calm.
8. PRAYER--it works. I know there are billions of people on the planet, and so many having different problems at the same time, yet the Lord is aware of each of us individually and our needs, and he sent angels to watch over us last night and we will be eternally grateful.
In the end, we skiied for just over 5 hours and about 20 miles (Sundance has over 14 miles of trails that we skiied at least once, if not two and three times, plus we skiied all of Aspen Grove and the distance in between the two). I am so glad to be back home with my family in one piece (and poor Rebecca will survive the bruises from a few falls on the trail). Thanks for a fun, exciting evening that I have no desire to repeat again, ever. However, I still plan to treat you to a root beer float at Sonic! :)
