December 2016Wow. December already! These years are starting to slide by faster than a Flexible Flyer down an icy road. The 5th of December to be precise. I feel as long as the newsletter slides in before the first meeting of the month I am good. For those who may have forgotten...there is NO meeting tonight. The Winter Symposium is going on in Incline tonight. Our next meeting is Monday the 12th. Be forewarned. This is a test to see who actually reads this rag.
Last month started off with our illustrious President absent. So our Vice President stepped in and did a great job hosting November's meeting.
I wish I felt as comfortable on the National scene but I promised I would not get into that. Actually Devin was rather funny. And I know funny! Watch out Chris. You might be able to finally step down after all! In a few years. Not sure if Devin's dog was just tired or had gotten into libations.
To be honest, I am not even sure if that was his dog. It didn't move much but did not flatulate either so all was good.
Then later in the month...it snowed 
. And then it snowed again. 
A lot of people were happy. 
Ski areas opened. People came to town. The winter has unofficially begun and the holidaze are in full swing.
Not so many searches yet. Hopefully we will have no more this year. People will be safe whilst exploring our backcountry. No one will trigger an avalanche simply because they all HAVE brought their beacons, probes and shovels. GPS units are inexpensive enough these days, let alone the technology in phones, that everyone will simply find their way back out to family and friends. WE can hope. But, of course, best to always be ready.
So, obviously I don’t have anything profound to say in this month's letter. But as I think of the upcoming holiday season I think of all the valuable lessons I have learned from watching TV and movies at this time of year. i thought I would pass a few on.
They are presented in no order of importance:
1. Don’t be a jerk, If you are, you are likely to be haunted by creepy ghosts
2. Enjoy getting outside. Take a sleigh ride. Feel the wind in your face
3. Find joy in the simple things. Don’t get too wrapped up in material stuff.
4. It may not be good for you but almost everything tastes better with sugar!
5. Spending too much time indoors isn’t healthy. Fresh air. See 2 above
6. Always look behind you when you go exploring or when on a search. That way It will look familiar on the way back.
7. Be yourself. Everyone has got a bit of misfit in them at one time or another.
8. Bumbles bounce. Not sure how that will come in handy but I wrote it down just in case.
9. Mean people suck. Be nice to Others. Especially nice people like George Bailey
10. Just cause you are bigger doesn't mean you are better.
Lastly, being as it is a time for all the holiday music, I thought I would leave you with a song. It is not a Christmas song but a winter song. Actually quite a few of the songs that are played on the radio this time of year are such. Jingle Bells, Winter Wonerland, Let it Snow are all winter songs and not specifically Christmas songs. I got harrased one day at Mountain Hardware by a customer because I was whislting Jingle Bells in January. They said, and perhaps I paraphrase, "Hey idiot...Christmas is over!" So I replied, and perhaps I paraphrase, " Chuck you Farley"! Sometimes...you just can't fix stupid. Nor is it always worth trying.
So...here it goes!
"Tahoe Nordic" Bells
Dashing through the snow, Someone is out there lost
Through darkened woods we go, From goggles wipe the frost
We need to find their trail, Get them home safe and sound
Like detectives without fail, Their clues will get them found
Nordic team, Nordic team, Nordic grab your gear
Time to go and find someone who tonight did not appear, oh
Nordic team, Nordic team, Nordic out the door
Grab your skis, your snowmobile and off we will explore
A day or so ago, a tourist came to town
The sky began to snow, Now they cannot be found.
They went to Castle Peak, Or was it Mount Tallac
Now off we go to seek, Whilst carrying a pack
Nordic team, Nordic team, Nordic grab your gear
Time to go and find someone who tonight did not appear, oh
Nordic team, Nordic team, Nordic out the door
Grab your skis, your snowmobile and off we will explore
A skiers gone astray, We know a ticket bought
Not seen since ‘bout mid day, His car is in the lot
Have they gone out of bounds, Most often times its YES
No need to send the hounds, We’ve got his GPS
Nordic team, Nordic team, Nordic grab your gear
Time to go and find someone who tonight did not appear, oh
Nordic team, Nordic team, Nordic out the door
Grab your skis, your snowmobile and off we will explore
I hope this finds you all well this holiday season. Merry Hanukkah Kwanzaa Christmas to all. And to all a Good Night.
Hoping it snows so much that my bills can't be delivered,
Hoyt
Dang I forgot about him!
