Winter time being a great time for story telling, and having been
involved in some story telling on another thread, I thought I would try
moving in to its own topic. I know there are some good stories and
story tellers out there, and we're all ready for a good laugh or sigh.

The funniest situation I ever saw of bravado, and only funny because it
turned out ok was regarding a skier here in Colorado.

I was skiing at Keystone in the Out Back, when I came across a young
man maybe in his 20s, in T-shirt and jeans. He had no jacket, gloves or
hat. He had rented skis that day, and without lessons, set out on his
own to learn to ski. He figured that if he went to the highest lift,
and found the steepest run, that by the time he got to the bottom, he
would know how to ski.

I passed him probably 15 times on the Triple Black Diamond, and offered
help each time. I saw others also offer assistance, and with the same
result -refused, he was going to teach himself. Someone apparently
notified the SkiPatrol eventually, though they were not able to do
anything as long as he did not consent to their help.

At the end of the day they were sweeping the runs, and just in time,
because they found him hypothermic and disorientated. This time they
did not need his consent, as I saw them bundle him shaking onto the
sled. I heard later that he had survived.

The part that was funny, was I remember seeing him going down the mtn,
head over heels, skis going every which way. Like they say "Yardsale!"
Then he would have to scramble through the snow to get his gear
altogether, strapped back on, go five feet and start all over again. A
moving living Disastor zone.

Sorry about the OT story, but I have not been kayaking long enough to
have my own kayaking story, so I look forward to yours. TnT