My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 14th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which teachers from around the world participate in posting a story per day.

Skiers are always talking about getting in “100 days in a season.” It’s a milestone that is meant to show that you are a true die-hard. If you get 100 days in a season, it means you’re not just skiing when the conditions are great - you’re skiing every chance you can — rain, below-zero temperatures, ice — whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

I haven’t had 100 days in a season since college—and even then it was only achievable because I worked at a resort as a ski instructor, so I was required to be there, rain or shine.

Last year, for the first time in a long time, I was on track to hit 100 days. I was only able to accomplish it by getting up at the crack of dawn before the lifts were spinning and hiking the mountain to ski before work, or hiking and skiing at night after work, as well as all the weekends and school vacations I could get. But then the pandemic hit. Ski areas didn’t only close, they put up cement barriers to keep everybody out—no hiking, no nothing. We had to stay away from the mountains completely.

So this year, I’m on track. Last night I hiked and skied after work with a friend, and that put me at Day 85! The resort doesn’t close until April 11, and there are usual at least a few weeks, if not more, of hiking the closed trails and skiing on the leftover snow after that. Last year we had a huge storm on Mother’s Day, so I’ve still got time to squeeze in the last 15 days of my goal.

Cross your fingers for me! I’m putting on my stuff now to go squeeze in some runs before my kids get home from school!