Glub, glub.

By Wendy Clinch •  Updated: 05/19/11 •  2 min read

I think I’m drowning here. And I’m only just a little bit kidding.

It’s official. This is the wettest spring on record here in Vermont. The creeks and rivers are high, Lake Champlain is well above flood stage, and we’ve had days on end of rain, rain, and more rain.

For me, the transition from ski season to off season is never easy. I actually get a little depressed when I can’t ski anymore. But even a die-hard like me knows that ski season can’t last forever. I know, I know — they’re still skiing at some places out west. And during the summer, there’s always Chile or New Zealand. But for me those are out of the question, as a quick scan of my bank account confirms.

Usually by this time of the year I’ve moved on to other sports. Vermont is a great place for biking, kayaking, hiking — all kinds of outdoor pursuits. But with all the rain, I’ve been limited to working out at my local fitness center, riding the stationary bike, lifting weights, swimming laps. It’s not terrible, but it’s not ideal.

Vermont’s the Green Mountain State for a reason. It rains. If it didn’t, we’d be like Arizona or Utah. Places where there’s cactus (cacti?), tumbleweeds, alkaline flats and arroyos. They say the desert holds a special kind of beauty. That may be true, but it’s not for me. I love the green rolling hills, the rushing creeks and rivers, the astounding varieties of wild flowers.

So even though I’ve essentially had it up to here with downpours, mud, and soggy shoes, I should probably embrace the rain and have faith that it can’t last forever. I’ve heard a rumor we may see the sun by the middle of next week. And even though I won’t be skiing, maybe it’s time I moved on to other things. At least for a while.