Ski 39 - Thursday Mar 12 - Apologies and Reconciliation

Where: Butler Fork

With Whom: Jason

Time: 5:40 to 7:15

Ski Conditions: Good

So, here's the story.  I spoke yesterday with Jason about doing a dawn patrol this morning.  It was all set.  We were going to meet at 5 at the park-n-ride.  Somehow, from the time we had spoken (around 7:30pm) to the time I prepared for bed (around 9:30pm) I had completely forgotten about it.  I slept as if I was waking up at 6 to get ready for work.  I was awoken from my deep slumber at 5:10am with a text message from Jason reading only, "WTF?"  

Oh, no.  I had forgotten about the dawn patrol.  This is only the second time I had ever done this and I felt awful.  I responded, "I am so sorry.  I totally spaced it.  I can be there in 20 minutes."  

To which he said, "No prob.  I'll go for a short hike.  Go back to sleep."

There was no way I was going to be able to fall back asleep knowing that I left him totally stranded (at least the one other time I have done this there were two of them together).  I responded, "No.  I am getting up.  Go get yourself a chocolate milk and I will be there in no time."  I got up and got everything ready as quickly as possible (thanks for your help, Stacy).  I grabbed my race skis as I could use the exercise and training for the Powderkeg this weekend.  I was out the door.  It was during the drive over that I realized I had not received a response from Jason.  This meant he had not received my note saying I was coming.  Now what?  I decided to drive up BCC and find his car (I had a pretty good idea of where he was heading).  I would then skin at Powderkeg speeds to catch up and ski down with him (I was about 30 minutes behind him at the start of my ascent).  I skinned as fast as I could.  The skin track did not make this easy for me as it was super slick and I was sliding badly in places.  I would catch glimpses of his headlamp above me while I was going, but they were deceiving as to how close they made me feel.  

I reached the top saddle and still had not caught up.  As I began to climb the final vertical feet hoping he was at the summit I heard, "I thought I told you to stay home."  I nearly wet myself.  He had turned his light off and was standing only 10 feet away from me.  I commenced my apologetic story and told him I would make it up to him.  He accepted (I think).  I practiced a quick transition at the top, took a quick photo, and we skied down by headlamp.  The skiing was surprisingly nice, and I was happy with the turns I was able to make even on those little skis that I stole from my wife.

I believe in the rules of the dawn patrol.  I live by them.  I do not expect others to hold me at a different standard.  That is why I felt I had to get up.  That is why I still feel like I owe Jason.  That is why this will never happen again.