Perhaps it was the look of near-tears desperation on my face as I inched my way up an incline suitable for 6-year-olds. Or maybe it was the fact that actual 6-year-olds lapped me several times on their harried way to another trip up the lift.
Wait, the kicker: Just as I made it to the top of that little hill, my ankles locked, my eyes bulged, and I skied (in the loosest sense of that word) backward -- right into the metal railing. It was like being a kid again, wobbly on roller skates and trying to complete a spin around the rink. (Except they weren't playing Juice Newton on the sound system this time.)
Whatever the case, be it out of pity or sympathy, Eugene and Doug, a couple from New York, came to my rescue recently in Stowe, Vt.
''Is this your first time skiing?" Eugene asked.
''Yep."
''Ever?" Doug piped in, visibly surprised.
''Well, honey, didn't you just see him?" Eugene responded. ''I think it's pretty obvious."
It was obvious. Still, I couldn't be annoyed; these were my skiing saviors, after all, the guys who gingerly helped me lock my feet into place, avoided the inevitable jokes about gripping the ski poles, and taught this skiing neophyte from the Midwest a thing or two about balance and stopping.
Doug and Eugene were also in Stowe earlier this month for the Winter Rendezvous, an annual event sponsored by the International Gay and Lesbian Outdoor Organization (IGLOO -- get it?). The heart of winter, even an unrelenting one like this year's, doesn't stop gay men and women from experiencing the great outdoors. It is, rather, an impetus for such a frigid affair.
Besides, even beginners can get the hang of it. Following a 90-minute lesson and some serious soul-searching from atop the beginner's slope, I skied straight down the hill, cutting perfectly round circles as the wind picked up and snowflakes drifted gently around my head.
Oh, and did I mention the falls worthy of ESPN bloopers?
New England has plenty of outdoor organizations for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered that welcome seasoned outdoorsmen and women, and beginners, even ones who crash into the railing. Annual memberships usually run $20-$40, and most clubs invite you to participate free in an event before joining. A sampling of resources:
Chiltern Mountain Club. Be it a leisurely stroll in a garden or a strenuous jaunt up the White Mountains, this 1,200-plus-member organization has it covered all year. Members tend to be a spontaneous lot: Elizabeth Samit, outreach and advertising coordinator for the club, says an impromptu e-mail list notifies members of spur-of-the-moment happenings, in addition to activities listed in the group's newsletter. Spring Activities Day is April 24 at the Stevens Estate in North Andover. Visit www.chiltern.org.
Gay Outdoors. Find comprehensive information about outdoor activities at this website, which features events, articles, discussion groups, and even personals. Best of all, you can narrow your search for New England-specific events. Visit www.gayoutdoors.org.
OutRyders. For midweek ice-skating trips to the Frog Pond on Boston Common and drinks afterward at the Alley, OutRyders is your best bet. The region's first and only GLBT skiing and snowboarding group has an extensive calendar of events. Visit www.outryders.org.
OutBoard. Why carve straight, folks? That is the question for gay and lesbian snowboarders who can't wait for OutBoard 2004. The annual snowboarding event happens this year in Steamboat Springs, Colo., from March 31-April 4. Visit www.outboard.org.
Triangle Divers. OK, so a plunge into New England's icy waters sounds downright dreadful right now. Well, this scuba diving organization has the right idea: Members travel to sunnier pastures and warmer waters for their sport. They just got back from Costa Rica and are set for a trip to the Bay Islands (Honduras) in May. Visit www.triangledivers.org.
Venture Out. The women and men of Western Massachusetts have plenty going on thanks to this organization, including camping and skiing, canoeing and antiquing. It's also the only one brazen enough to call itself an ''outdoor adventure club." We like the sound of that. Visit www.ventureoutwma.com.
Women Outdoors. Like Chiltern, this national organization has regional coordinators who plan member-led trips year round, often three months out. Some 250 members across New England participate in everything from camping trips to tea time. The National Gathering, this year May 28-31 in Peterborough, N.H., is the group's largest attraction. President Debbi Wright stresses that Women Outdoors isn't exclusively lesbian, but the vibe is still different from that of a co-ed group. ''You know that saying that men hike to get to the top and women hike to look around? That's us." Visit www.women-outdoors.org.
Outbound, on gay and lesbian travel, appears the fourth Sunday of each month. James Reed can be reached at jreed@globe.com.
