Page 194 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL EATING IBERIA
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Bernholtz walked us through helicopter protocol,  The first runs were mellow as we found our legs,
            which emphasized keeping our heads down to avoid  progressing to steeper pistes before stopping for
            decapitation. We also got the lowdown on how to use  lunch in a sunny, snow-covered meadow and dined on
            avalanche beacons — just in case.                 blueberries, cheese, sandwiches, veggies and hot tea.
               Skiing in the wilderness has its risks. So we were  My favorite run that afternoon was a bowl we
            also fitted with backpacks complete with airbags  named Lost Glove, where I floated from turn to turn
            which are designed to be triggered if you’re caught in  down more than 1,000 feet through soft powder.
            an avalanche. When the airbag - which looks a bit like  Then we descended 1,000 feet more to our chop-
            a pair of butterfly wings when inflated - pops out, the  per pickup for the next run of the eight we would have
            skier is supposed to ride above the slide instead of be-  that day. It only got better over the next day and a half.
            ing buried under it.
                                                                 And those inevitable sore muscles? They were
               The next morning, after a breakfast of pancakes,  taken care of by a massage therapist, who worked out
            fruit and Icelandic yogurt known as skyr, we flew off to  all the knots and kinks.
            pristine peaks far above our valley base. After taking a
                                                                 That night over a dinner of Arctic salmon (I
            few minutes to absorb the impressive vistas and step
                                                              skipped the fermented shark) Bernholtz told us about
            into our skis, we were off.
                                                              Deplar Farm and his adventurous life. He left Los An-

            194   WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020
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