Saturday 3/19/16: Only the second official day we were in Alaska and we went to Alyeska for some outdoor adventure. Options included skiing, snowshoeing, or the tram ride. I have only attempted skiing once 20 years ago and decided I would be adventurous and try ski lessons in Alaska today. The morning was spent making our way to Alyeska in the heavy snow. Then when we arrived we checked in and brought all our bags in for 12 students and 2 staff. Then we made our way to rent ski's. I was told I needed to take the shuttle (which runs every 40 minutes) to the "Day Lodge" to sign up for lessons. I waited about 30 minutes for the shuttle while some students and staff sorted out their rentals. When I arrived at the Day lodge I excitedly signed up for ski lessons, then found out they only do lessons twice a day. I had to wait 1.5 more hours until my lesson would begin. The morning was pretty slow to say the least. But, I had all my equipment and was looking forward to what was to come. When lessons started it was beautiful outside. I barely needed a winter jacket. I was in a group of 5. We were all fresh beginners. The instructor started us out very slow and I learned some good techniques. At the end we were swooping slowly in and out of cones.
Our instructors name was Josh. He said he began skiing as a young child. I began asking him questions about it. I wondered if he was Native American or Alaska Native. I asked if his parents brought him skiing as a child. He said no. I asked him where he was from and he told me about a place in AK. I told him where I was from and then that is when he told me he visits the area once a year, because he is descendent of Turtle Mountain in North Dakota. I was pretty thrilled about the connection.
Once ski instructions wrapped up he explained where we could go next for beginner skiing. I decided I would try it. I rode a ski lift chair for the first time in my life. I was overwhelmed with the height and a little excited. I had a great guy next to me who said to just breath while going down the hill. He said he began skiing in his mid 30's and is an instructor now.
I did. I breathed and recalled the techniques I learned. I was so scared of the mountain. It felt to big and powerful and I was on the lowest level. I watched kids fly by and thought "okay- Ive go this. Just take it slow." I stopped three times. I would look around, recompose myself and go again. The last time I stopped I realized I was close and thought "okay, just one more time and you are there." I began to make my way to the bottom and was picking up speed. I was uncomfortable with how fast I was going and began the technique I was using to stop before. But, I was going too fast, the snow was icy. I was turning to the right toward the side of the hill. I felt myself loosing control and suddenly my left leg was trailing behind me. My left ski was catching on the thick, wet, icy snow and I heard "POP!" in my left knee before I landed on the side of the hill.
The pain! I couldn't talk, just think. I thought "HELP! Please help. I'm not screaming. No one is going to know I need help." Then the third skier was a man with a white cross on his jacket. I knew he was help. I said "Take my left ski off please." I struggled with my words as the pain is all I could focus on. I said it again. "Please take of my ski. The weight is hurting my leg." He told me he was going to. He had to take off his ski's . I saw him situate himself and lean down closer. He asked me my age, then made a call to "dispatch" I heard. Once dispatch was called I saw more people with a white cross and red. They surrounded me. I just looked while feeling the sensation of my brow clenched. I heard them discuss the plan. "Go get the snow machine and we'll need a splint." I held my left knee and grunted "aaaagghhh". I felt disappointment. I felt alone. I felt discouraged.
I was lifted onto a sled and brought to the aid station where I thought I was going to throw up. My nerves and the pain were getting the best of me. After I was on the gurney I text a few people to make them aware of my situation. I had a peer (Deb) who came to be by my side. We decided to stay at the resort, as planned, and then go to the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) the next day. Besides, the roads were too bad to return to Anchorage and we all agreed it was not an emergency.
On Sunday 3/20/16 we returned and visited the ER at ANMC. They put me on the "Fast track" so I could get x-rays and get in right away. It was very fast indeed and I had a very nice, young and handsome Doctor. I found out I have no fractures in my knee and the Dr. recommended I see my primary provider back home. For now I am to wear the brace I was given at Alyeska, ice, and elevate my leg. The nice, young, handsome Dr. said I may have stretched or tore my ACL or MCL. I think the nice, young, handsome Dr meant LCL because that is where I heard the pop. We will see when I return. For now crutches and elevation....but not the type of elevation that got me into this situation. However, next winter you will see me back in ski lessons and hitting the slopes.
Our instructors name was Josh. He said he began skiing as a young child. I began asking him questions about it. I wondered if he was Native American or Alaska Native. I asked if his parents brought him skiing as a child. He said no. I asked him where he was from and he told me about a place in AK. I told him where I was from and then that is when he told me he visits the area once a year, because he is descendent of Turtle Mountain in North Dakota. I was pretty thrilled about the connection.
Once ski instructions wrapped up he explained where we could go next for beginner skiing. I decided I would try it. I rode a ski lift chair for the first time in my life. I was overwhelmed with the height and a little excited. I had a great guy next to me who said to just breath while going down the hill. He said he began skiing in his mid 30's and is an instructor now.
I did. I breathed and recalled the techniques I learned. I was so scared of the mountain. It felt to big and powerful and I was on the lowest level. I watched kids fly by and thought "okay- Ive go this. Just take it slow." I stopped three times. I would look around, recompose myself and go again. The last time I stopped I realized I was close and thought "okay, just one more time and you are there." I began to make my way to the bottom and was picking up speed. I was uncomfortable with how fast I was going and began the technique I was using to stop before. But, I was going too fast, the snow was icy. I was turning to the right toward the side of the hill. I felt myself loosing control and suddenly my left leg was trailing behind me. My left ski was catching on the thick, wet, icy snow and I heard "POP!" in my left knee before I landed on the side of the hill.
The pain! I couldn't talk, just think. I thought "HELP! Please help. I'm not screaming. No one is going to know I need help." Then the third skier was a man with a white cross on his jacket. I knew he was help. I said "Take my left ski off please." I struggled with my words as the pain is all I could focus on. I said it again. "Please take of my ski. The weight is hurting my leg." He told me he was going to. He had to take off his ski's . I saw him situate himself and lean down closer. He asked me my age, then made a call to "dispatch" I heard. Once dispatch was called I saw more people with a white cross and red. They surrounded me. I just looked while feeling the sensation of my brow clenched. I heard them discuss the plan. "Go get the snow machine and we'll need a splint." I held my left knee and grunted "aaaagghhh". I felt disappointment. I felt alone. I felt discouraged.
I was lifted onto a sled and brought to the aid station where I thought I was going to throw up. My nerves and the pain were getting the best of me. After I was on the gurney I text a few people to make them aware of my situation. I had a peer (Deb) who came to be by my side. We decided to stay at the resort, as planned, and then go to the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) the next day. Besides, the roads were too bad to return to Anchorage and we all agreed it was not an emergency.
On Sunday 3/20/16 we returned and visited the ER at ANMC. They put me on the "Fast track" so I could get x-rays and get in right away. It was very fast indeed and I had a very nice, young and handsome Doctor. I found out I have no fractures in my knee and the Dr. recommended I see my primary provider back home. For now I am to wear the brace I was given at Alyeska, ice, and elevate my leg. The nice, young, handsome Dr. said I may have stretched or tore my ACL or MCL. I think the nice, young, handsome Dr meant LCL because that is where I heard the pop. We will see when I return. For now crutches and elevation....but not the type of elevation that got me into this situation. However, next winter you will see me back in ski lessons and hitting the slopes.