Adventures: Snowboarding

This is only my second time snowboarding (the last time was January 2007), and this photo pretty much sums up my day trip at Northstar in Lake Tahoe--humbling views of Tahoe, lots of fresh snow, tall coniferous trees ranging from orange to green, and cramping legs! 

I used to go up to the snow when I was a kid, in fact, I knew how to ski at one point, but those days are far gone. Last Sunday I took a day trip with Rodolfo and a couple of friends, who were kind enough to lend us snowboarding gear and drive us up to Northstar. Purchasing gear can be expensive, but there are places to rent gear--my choice for renting boots is Sports Basement in San Francisco. For those who know me, trying new activities does not come easy for me--I tend to worry about little things--even seemingly simple things like renting a board or boots. I am very thankful to have friends who were willing to take the time out of their own playtime to help me and Rodolfo get acquainted (and reacquainted) with the snow and snowboarding (Thanks Tiff & Kenny!). The folks at Sports Basement are incredibly helpful and nice, and I found myself at ease this time around renting some gear. That was the first step for me: moving past the worries and looking forward to a new experience.

Our day trip was spectacular--once again I found myself humbled by the sights I saw: the beautiful mountains covered in snow, the endless trees, the sun setting behind the mountains forming an orange glow across the sky...what a contrast to urban landscapes! I completely forgot how nervous I was renting gear and that anxiety was replaced with excitement and awe.

 A beautiful view of the sky through Mark's goggles

Aside from the awe-inspiring views, this was a very special trip, as it was Rodolfo's first time seeing snow and snowboarding! We both had an amazing time, and again, I feel silly for not making more time for these kinds of trips. 

I fell so many times, my body was aching at the end of the trip, but I had a blast. This is one of the reasons I want to continue blogging--I tend to get caught up in what I'm doing, but I don't take enough time to reflect on the things I have accomplished--this is an excellent way to document my daily happenings and by December 2013 I hope to have a blog packed with memories and experiences.

Toodles!