On Saturday, I posted an idyllic backcountry photo on Instagram (see below).
For the previous 48 hours, I’d just felt uneasy, unsure, and unable to pinpoint what to do next. Now that we were essentially under a COVID 19 quarantine should I binge watch Netflix, try to make homemade croissants, or read a book? Should I walk my dog, again? Or should I crawl into bed with covers over my head?
Getting on snow — away from everyone but each other — helped a lot and we were looking forward to alpine skiing the next day. Well, as we all know now, that wasn’t going to happen.
The Last Day and A First Day
If Saturday was the last day of skiing in Colorado, today is the first day of a new reality across the U.S.
Last week, COVID 19 still seemed sort of hypothetical. Today, it’s real.
(Maybe not so hypothetical, actually. Here is our family’s first-hand experience with COVID 19.)
Last week I read an article about beating anxiety during this period of outbreak and COVID 19 quarantine. It might be helpful to you too.
Of note, it reminds us to continue to exercise and get outside — safely, away from others.
I am also sharing this excellent post from Nicole at Momtrends on how she is homeschooling and occupying her children during this time.
Finally, I’ve suspended all of my scheduled posts on Braveskimom.com. This is clearly not the time to be writing about skiing and family travel. And they’ll be just as applicable in the fall.
Depending upon how this all plays out, I may use this space to share interesting articles, like the two above. Or, it may go dark for a while.
This is the 10th year of Braveskimom.com, which is massively shocking to me. My sons, who were young in 2010 when I started Braveskimom on a dare, are young men, one still in college and the other successfully employed as an engineer.
We still spend as much time together family skiing as we can. But our family is changing and continues to evolve in the best of ways.
I am honored that so many of you have turned to this website for information and advice over the years. As of this morning, Braveskimom.com — a labor of pure love for me — has had over 1,640,000 visitors.
Thanks to each of you for your support. I love the community we’ve built and I will continue to post throughout the spring and summer on my social channels. See you over there.
And please take care. Enjoy this time with your family — the time together is an unexpected gift — and stay healthy.
Cheers, Kristen
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Beautifully said
Ah, thank you Richie! I so appreciate your friendship.
What Ritchie said.
Kristen, I have always enjoyed your blog and admired your writing and passion for skiing. You’re right — this is a difficult and confusing time. And though all of us love skiing, there are many things that are far more important. Stay healthy, and the best to you and your family.
Thank you Wendy! I admire your writing and passion for skiing as well! Take care and we’ll be making turns soon enough!
Kristen, I was trying to comment on an earlier post, but couldn’t find the place to put in comments. I want to ask you if you could let us know if the Ski Tracker and Forecast App by LW Brands comes out with an Android version. I’ve been very disappointed with ski tracker apps of late, and am happy to pay $3 for one that works and comes recommended. From what I can find, it is only available for Apple products. Thanks!
I haven’t yet seen it available for android, but hopefully they will issue it! I’ve also heard really good things about using Strava! Thanks Cora!
And the reason you couldn’t comment is that at one time I was overwhelmed with spammy comments and setting comments to close after 14 days seriously cuts it down.
Cheers!