January 28 Powder day

White, a dirty white, I was mixed and confused. The horizon mingled in my mind and I couldn’t see the slope in front of me. We slid off the top of the T-Bar this afternoon, searching for the next path of fresh powder. At this point, we were searching for which direction was up. We knew the fresh tracks were out there near-by. Not very many people were intrepid enough to brave the near-zero visibility of the alpine at Big White.

I felt my way down the hill; instinctively I knew where to go. For the past fifteen years, we have explored this very terrain off the top of the Tee toward the Falcon Chair. I am sworn to secrecy so that is all I will reveal about our secret powder stash at the top of our mountain home.

There is nothing quite like skiing blind in the alpine. Nerves and anxiety need to be kept at bay. I ski with faith, feeling every bump and hoping I can make it across the flat spot I knew was there. This is where being a skier has its advantages. My buddy, the big boarder, had to walk and push his way over the hill.

Then we could see again. The white glory stretched in front of us.

I floated in the new-fallen snow. My skis pierced the fresh powder and I felt an invigorated emotion surge through me as I turned into the untouched terrain. It is what we are here for. My Boarder buddy, my ski buddy, and I reaped the reward of a short push across the top of the mountain in the blinding cloud and blowing snow.

A powder day at Big White was a day we looked forward to. In those moments when I fluff through the champagne powder, nothing else exists, it is simply ecstasy.

People who don’t ski can’t understand the pure joy achieved with a board or a pair of skis and freshly fallen snow. After the last few weeks of spotty snowfalls, this week’s storm front was a welcome reprieve from the sun and hard-packed conditions.  Another thing non-skiers may not get is that we look forward to the storms. Sunshine is merely a way to see what the place looks like.

I prefer a blizzard.

Today wasn’t quite a blizzard but it was a day when the snow kept coming. I cranked a turn in the deep snow, powder flew past my face and around my shins.  It was a day of first world problems. Should we go up the T-Bar or ski the Easter Chutes again.

 We chose the path less traveled.

I howled in delight as we funneled down the untouched tree lines. My ski buddy hooted in response and we communicated with shouts of joy and yahoos of pure passion.

I am one of the lucky ones.

With my ski buddy and the big boarder by my side, we rode the powder chair and connected in the basic joy of fresh snow and steep runs.

It was an amazing day in powder, I felt strong in my legs and in my heart. I empathize with all the people stuck indoors or stuck on the other side of the world.  I will do an extra run for all those not as fortunate.