The baby backpack sits on my waist and shoulders like a normal external frame should, however when loaded, Eli sits up pretty high. He can see over my shoulder and coo or squeek at all the things passing by. I have gotten to be pretty good at baring his weight so that when I am on my own two feet firmly on the ground I can manage to not lose my balance. However, when I first popped on my skis I nearly lost it like Laurel or Hardy on the ice rink.
Whoop, whoooop, whooooooop!
There was a layer of recent snow, but it had been so cold over night that it was crackly, shiny, and slick. I couldn't really do a classic kick and stand up tall like I normally do. I kind of had to squat a little at my knees. Gaining my balance and confidence, I stooped low like a Sumo, and I started up the gentle trail.
We chose Salmon Ridge, the big parking lot just as you cross the Nooksack and before the big road climb up to Mt. Baker, because we knew there were not very many hills that I would have to try to negotiate with a baby-on-board. The trails are groomed by the Mt. Baker Nordic Club. So it is pretty popular on the weekends with classic Nordics, Skate Skiers, and Snow Shoers.
Eli likes looking at new faces so when a new person went by he managed to get a reaction out of them. "First time skiing?", asked the red faced, middle-aged woman. "Ooooooh, EEeeeeg!" The answer was yes for Eli, however I did see a young man with an empty Baby Bjorn who was going to try it out with his newborn and recovering mother. We were certainly not alone in bringing kids up into the snow and Eli was certainly not the youngest.
We skied out for an hour. The cool air, snow laden trees, and the silence only a snow-bound forest can create were all very refreshing. Getting out and about and being outside just makes me feel so good. We climbed the gentle meander that the old road follows and caught glimpes of Mt. Shuksan and the babbling Nooksack.
After we ate our sandwiches, fed Eli, and reloaded the backpack we turned back toward the car however what was different about heading back is that it is mostly downhill. Now when it is just me on the skis, I like to just zoom down and pretend to be setting a new speed record. With Eli on my back I was a tad bit nervous. I had gotten used to the weight and swinging of his legs, but I still started with a snowplow just to be cautious.
The faster I went, the more he squeeked. He loved it. He loved it so much that after the next two slopes he was fast asleep; totally oblivious to the rocking and swaying and the trees and people passing by.