“May your trails be crooked,
winding, lonesome and dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your
mountains rise into and above the clouds.”
-Edward Abbey
Ah, snow. There is something to be said for
four seasons, and having the chance to enjoy snow for a few months. It freshens
up the leafless world, brings a spirit of fun to the cold weather and enables a
variety of outdoor activities. I love having a good snowball fight (complete
with battlements of course!) and sledding, but I especially love skiing.
Whether it is observing the sights while plugging through the woods cross
country, or the exhilaration and focus of steering downhill, it is a great way
to get outside. I had the opportunity to ski for a day with my sister while
visiting Utah in December. It was my first time downhill skiing in almost 7
years, but I was amazed to have my skills come back in the course of an hour. I
forgot how much I enjoyed it, and how successful I felt after the challenge of
a long run down the mountain.
While visiting Utah, my sister also
introduced me to a new sport involving snow- snowshoeing. Although I had
strapped on a pair in the past, walking around my yard didn’t prepare me for
the experience of hiking while in the mountains wearing snowshoes.
After an intro course on the Bench Trail
before work one morning, I got the real deal on a weekend hike. Breaking free
of the inversion in the valley we headed to the Willow Heights Trail located
outside of Salt Lake City in Big Cottonwood Canyon- getting there involves a
drive up to 8,000 feet, essentially doubling the starting elevation. As I
learned throughout the course of my visit to Utah, almost everything my sister
and brother-in-law do for fun involves pain. Getting out the car, I could feel
the difference in the altitude, and as we prepared for the hike I wondered what
I had gotten myself into.
The trail is slightly less than 2.5
miles round trip, and leads to a large meadow with a frozen lake. Getting there
requires a steep climb of ~600 feet, which had my calves and lungs burning, and
my pace lagging. At the top the hill, I was rewarded (as is almost always the
case after a strenuous hike) with a gorgeous view of breathtaking, snow-covered
mountains. The combination of sunshine and exercise made for an enjoyable jaunt
around the lake, even though the wind was stiff.
Although the approach the lake had
been tough, the descent back to the car was enjoyable. I was able to take in my
surroundings more, and noticed a variety of animal tracks crisscrossing the
snow. The sounds around me were muffled by the snow except for the whistle of the
wind and the crunch of my snowshoes. The sun streaming through the aspens
almost felt tangible, as if I could reach out and touch an individual sunbeam.
The combination of the stunning
view while crossing a pristine sea of snow didn’t feel like a workout, but
instead inspired me to be as quiet as the things around me, and take in the
beauty of the moment. Simple colors of blue, green and white came together to
create a masterpiece. Sometimes a simple scene is the most complex sight of all
when you take the time to give it a good look!
