Happy New Year + a Winter Bucket List
Happy 2016 everyone! I thought 2015 was pretty great, but I'm looking forward to the new year with my eye on a few goals. I made a Fall Bucket List, but between sickness and business, I didn't check off too many. Now that the snow has begun to fall (already more than fell ALL of last winter), I have some goals and experiences for my Winter Bucket List.
Join a Gym and Start Swimming: So, I didn't join a gym, despite it being a goal for the fall. With winter's early darkness, cold temperatures, and icy trails, it's definitely time for me to join a gym. I'm going to go along with all of the other January Joiners and start working out after work. Relatedly, I'm going to find a public pool for lap swimming. My trip to Indonesia is coming up (in March!), and I want to be in good swimming shape by then.
Try Out New Winter Activities: I've gotten decent at snowboarding over the last five winters, but there are a ton of winter and snow sports I've never tried or only done once. Some ideas: cross country skiing, snowshoeing (I actually tried this one last week), fat biking, downhill skiing, ice skating, skijoring, etc.
Snowboard Twice as Much as Last Year: This should be easy - since I was mountain biking at 7,000 feet in February last year.
Take an Avalanche Safety Course: I want to get into backcountry snowboarding, and step one is learning how to stay safe. There are a bunch of avalanche safety courses in the Tahoe area. I just need to pick one and go.
Try Backcountry Snowboarding: After I get educated, I'll be ready to try backcountry snowboarding! I'll hopefully be able to borrow most of the gear I need, before I invest a ton of money. I've already got a snowboard and snowshoes, so I'm partway there! There's a ton of great backcountry riding in Tahoe, and I'm excited to start to experience it.
Try Out New Resorts: The last few years, I've had a Vail pass that let me ride at Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood. This year my pass is at Sugar Bowl, and comes with a few tickets at Squaw/Alpine Meadows. I'll hopefully be able to ride with friends at a few new resorts this year - Diamond Peak, Mt. Rose and Homewood.