What on earth is going on?

What is up with this time of the year? I swear, more shit goes down around the first week of April amongst the mountain community--it's heartbreaking. Three years ago yesterday, MC Constantinescu, a beloved Tahoe ripper and all-around enjoyer of life and making others smile, passed away skiing Squaw. This year seems particularly hard, though, with Doug Coombs' and Chad Vanderham's unthinkable deaths in La Grave, and I just learned of another incredible skier who is in the hospital in Canada, who needs positive and healing thoughts sent his way.

I feel sad, melancholy, and helpless. I also feel lucky, and I feel guilty for feeling lucky. Having just returned from Haines, Alaska, filming for Matchstick, and seeing the two other skiers I was with both get hurt (one not so badly, he should be skiing in a week or two; the other more serious--a month, maybe--but still both are totally ok, considering), it has to make you wonder. For filming, this time of the year is crunch time--people are feeling the pressure to get things done, which might encourage more risk-taking, not to mention just as far as the season goes, most skiers are feeling pretty good by now and are ready to step it up. The weather's getting warmer, even if it's still dumping. I don't know. There are too many factors to consider, and most likely it's all coincidental. It's certainly no one's fault, and please excuse my rambling--it's just what I can't help but think about today.

Now back to a positive day and positive thoughts already in progress.....Haines is an incredible place, so much terrain, and I had a wonderful time there, of course except for when people got hurt. Squaw was skiing great today, if a bit crunchy in places underneath, but I got to make turns with my youngest brother which is always a pleasure.

Be careful out there.