Stress relief from snow wallowing

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SCUM gather after Double Theta time trail–photo by Corrine Leistikow

This post was actually assembled after a SCUM workout on 16 February 2025 at UAF. However, I was lacking enough brain cells then to figure out how to embed a large video that was a key part of this post. Now with my MFA thesis defense postponed until Fall 2025 and training for and assisting with the organization of the 38th Sonot Kkaazoot finished, here is a look back to 16 February 2025

Joanna earned the right for a finish line collapse after setting a new segment record for the Double Theta today in -3 deg F chill.

Joanna collapses at the finish of the Double Theta (skiing two figure 8s on Smith Lake)–photo by Bill Husby

After our approximately 2.5 km time trial chasing the youngest skier among us (and the most stressed this week), our bodies were fatigued but our minds were more relaxed, so our judgement was slightly impaired.

Somewhere on the t-field, the decision was made to wallow in the untracked snow. While in other areas of America, winter swimming in frozen lakes becomes an extreme sport, snow wallowing requires just taking the path less traveled.

Bill started out the challenge on the T-field:

Bill gets off trail below notch of T-field to avoid out-of-control skate skier headed his way--photos of Bill above and below by Joanna Fox
Bernardo and Dan offer encouragement to Bill

Following Bill’s leadership, Dan accepted the challenge in the middle of the potato field:

Dan accepts the doubledog dare to wallow in the potato field snow–video by Bill Husby

Only to be outdone by Joanna, who was ready to really take a dive:

Joanna takes a dive for stress relief–video by Bill Husby

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