"A lot of times, my 'custom strengthening' jobs are brand new gloves that have barely been broken in - owner likes feel and look of new glove, but not strength, toughness or durability. What I do to strengthen a glove is add laces as needed to webbing or pocket area, by either doubling or tripling existing lacing, or adding a new lace course (and making holes as necessary). When I 'custom strengthen' a glove, I imagine how strong I would want glove to be if I had to catch Randy Johnson fastballs!"

"Another type of customization I am frequently asked to do is adding a lace run through four fingers of an infielder's or outfielder's glove (catcher's glove and first baseman's gloves don't have fingers). In most gloves, there is only one run of lacing connecting fingers (criss-crossing at very top of glove). Some high-end gloves have a second lace run connecting four fingers about midway up fingers between palm and top finger lace. This second finger lace run adds a little strength, but more than that it helps a glove hold its form and shape."

"Gloves that I have "custom strengthened" or added a new lace run though fingers serve a functional purpose plus they look great! The owner has increased confidence in his ability to catch anything and everything that comes his way, and he also can proudly show off his customized, individualized glove."

Women’s and Girls Softball Gloves

The latest ‘rage’ in Southern California girls’ softball leagues is a Doctor Glove creation, using designer eyelets instead of traditional round brass or black eyelets. “I can add pastel colors, or bright vibrant team colors, or even eyelets in fun shapes like hearts and daisies. I’ve even done ‘patriotic’ gloves with red, white and blue star eyelets. When gloves are manufactured they use just a few eyelets (also called grommets), but I can put them anywhere on glove.”

“There’s no reason why a woman or girl has to leave her femininity in locker room when she’s playing softball, and I help her make a fashion statement with her glove.”

Doctor Glove Invents Glove Potion® Leather Products

"I'm always been creative when it comes to fixing a major problem, and I believe in old saying, 'necessity is mother of invention.' Remember how 'The Professor' on old TV show Gilligan's Island could make just about anything out of absolutely nothing? Well, that's they way I am with gloves - finding ways to make even most difficult of repairs and inventing tools to get job done.”

“Anyway, I developed Glove Potion® and Glove Potion #9® cleaners, restorers, conditioners and protectors for glove leather because I wasn't happy with any of other available products. Maybe someday I'll get rich with royalties from my Glove Potion® and Glove Potion #9® (when we start selling it at places like Wal-Mart and big sporting goods stores)."

Doctor Glove Guarantees His Work

"All of my work comes with an unconditional one year guarantee - if one of my repairs doesn't hold up for at least a year, or even if a lace breaks, I'll repair glove for free.”

For more information, visit Doctor Glove's Internet website www.DoctorGlove.com or call him at (818) 521-5626.

Morning dawned, and I arose to look outside. My car had become a huge white mound. Not even tires were visible! It had dumped overnight and it was still dumping! On went “telly”. The road to east was closed again. The road to west could close at any time.

Some of lads were leaving coast in “wee” hours, much earlier than usual to give themselves extra time. Would they make it? Would they get through Three Valley Gap and then high Rogers Pass before things shut down? The road was bound to close, it was just a matter of time.

At 2:00PM, shaking off Kicking Horse powder, we headed for airport. The radio advised that all passes were now closed. Had our friends made it?

As we drove up to hanger, we saw all sorts of activity. There was Owen, and Jim was there too. The others from coast had arrived, last cars allowed through. Great relief!

However, as we assembled to count heads; 17,18,19,20….?? We were missing four who were flying to Calgary. They were not to be seen.

A cell phone rang. Chris and Kevin were stopped on Radium road. The Kicking Horse Pass was closed, so they had tried alternate route. No luck, it was closed too. They were there for night. Disaster!

Guests fly to lodge in three flights, one flight of 12 and two flights of 6. If all 20 of us were to fly to lodge that night, stragglers would have an expensive private flight next day.

Merle and her husband Mike came to rescue. A radio call was made to lodge.

“Were there six departing clients willing to stay over and fly out in morning?” Affirmative! No problem! There were many volunteers.

Merle then asked, “Now, are any two people willing to stay tonight in Golden? Then last flight of 6 will fly in morning”

Silence. Glum faces. Hands in pockets. No volunteers!

There was more discussion. “Was anyone willing to snowmobile to lodge tonight?”

Hesitation, then Tony, good old Tony, raised his hand. He would do it. A ninety-km trip on a snowmobile, following a leader at high speed on a cold night with fresh snow on an unplowed road was not anyone’s idea of fun! Tony would have a 90-km blizzard.

Merle explained, “If we sled luggage to lodge tonight, and one person sleds too, then we’ll put an extra person in large ‘bird’ and last flight will go in morning. There will be no extra charges and everyone that’s here will get in tonight.

Perfect! Relief! We would have warm drinks and a meal waiting for Tony.

The flight to Chatter Creek was spectacular, with shafts of late afternoon sunlight striking surrounding peaks. In 20 minutes, back on ground, we stumbling though fresh “powder” to welcoming door of Vertebrae Lodge. Eighteen glum-faced skiers and boarders passed us on way. After a great tour, no one wanted to leave. Six smiling faces greeted us at door. They would get another great meal and an extra night at Vertebrae Lodge, an unexpected bonus.

Two hours later, Tony arrived, a frozen “Michelin Man”. It took a while to thaw him out. Next morning, not long after breakfast, we heard familiar sound of an approaching helicopter. The last four were arriving.

Our group was complete, weather was clear, there was lots of fresh snow and our Chatter Creek tour was launched. It turned out to be best tour yet!

Travel to Golden is not usually difficult. This was an infrequent, but very possible case. The roads from east and west both go over high passes, and can pose a problem. The road from south (Spokane WA) follows valleys and is rarely closed.

For more information on getting to Golden for your cat skiing adventure, look at “Getting to Golden” page on Chatter Creek Web site. Also, Chatter News photo journal (http://powder-skiing.blogspot.com) describes all aspects of of cat skiing and life at Chatter Creek.