Both time in Germany while in the Army. Keep in mind, I'm a California Coastal boy. Didn't even visit snow until I was about 16. Anyways, my Army unit use to bus us to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the most southern regions of Germany. An absolutely beautiful place in the winter. Well this town is right next to Zugspitze Mountain (the countries highest peak). Of course, my Army buddies (all skiers), convinced me to give it a try. I made a wreck of things almost immediately.
You know them T-Bars where you sit on one side, and a partner sits on the other, and you just sorta Ski uphill? Well, I think I wiped my buddy out about half a dozen times, before getting the hang of it enough to make it up. He & the people in line were pissed. I was simply embarrassed. Once at the top, I looked down, popped off my skies, and proceeded to walk. That place was HIGH! I was terrified, and my buddies had long deserted me.
So there I was, literally at the top of Germany, with my skies over my shoulder, and proceeding to walk down the mighty Zugspitze. That's when my 1st Sergeant stopped me. He was actually from Germany, and started to yell at me about how I would never make it to the bottom that way. At least not alive. So he started to give me some ski lessons, at least until he realized that maybe I wouldn't kill myself on the way down. Then he was gone.
So the one thing I could never get the hang of was turning. Each time I tried to turn back, I'd eat it. And that's how it was...., all the way down the mountain. by the time I got to civilization, I was soaked, and freezing. Made it back to the hotel, got a hot shower, and vowed never to do THAT again.
The very next winter...., I tried it again. With the exact same results. From taking several tries T-barring up the mountain. To arrive at the bottom completely soaked, and half near frozen to death.
Yeah...., that was it for me.
