This was the longest year of my life. I started it in Medford, Mass., at a party at my good friend’s college house and ended it in Kenai, Ak. So it was therefore my longest year by four hours.How did I spend the extra four hours? That depends on where you add them on. Were they simply the four hours between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Jan. 1, 2010? If that’s the case then I really didn’t do anything special with the hours – just had another drink or two with some of my coworkers.
But I don’t consider this a year of wasted time, so I refuse to accept that thought.
When I was in Montana, I posted about climbing life’s mountain. I wrote of being at the base of a long ascent. Well, on Jan. 2, 2010 I found myself near the top a ski resort unlike any other I have ever been to. The top section of the mountain is a glacier where you can ski in any direction you choose. And those who dare to can climb a few extra hundred yards for a few extra turns in some fresh powder. I decided to make the climb.
It isn’t the snaking down through the powder that meant the most. I actually fell about halfway through because my skis got caught up in a rough patch of snow. Falling in powder so deep is more like flying in the “Toy Story” sense – falling with style.
No, it’s the climb I’ll remember and the deep burn in my chest that came from hiking in plastic ski boots with my skis and poles flung over my shoulder. When I got to the
top, at least the top where everyone else had decided to stop, I slammed my skis into the snow and flopped down into a bank to admire the view. The mountain looks back into the Cook Inlet, whose backside is guarded by other snow-capped mountains. It’s like a dreamland. Really, I can’t explain it. It’s like the land on the snowflake that the Grinch and the Whos live on.I sat there looking down, my heart still beating hard and my breath still returning to normal, and then I looked up. There was still more mountain above me and behind me. If I wanted to keep going, there was terrain to cross. It might have been without the ski resort’s permission, still, it was there. But instead of climbing on, I just sat there and tried to steal my breath back from the view, satisfied with what I saw below me.
Comments welcome,
Andrew
Andrew, The picture is fantastic depicting the clarity, crispness of the day at the ski slope. Being alone and just looking at the picturesque landscape is always a very satisfying feeling for me.. even skiing WINDHAM. I also enjoy the landscape in golf when looking on the background of the catskills. I can not appreciate the scope of what you see in Alaska.. and the picture is awesome in of itself. I recall the first time in Utah/ (work assignment) when I brought my Ski boots with me on the business trip and rented skis in "Alta" Utah. Seeing the high mountains and taking a ski lift double with no safety bar... (it was very inspiring) was awesome. I hope you keep the energy and approach to your experiences with you for ever. It allows you to appreciate the moment and experience every day as an adventure. one question.. if you go down the mountain in any direction, how to they deal with a chair lift whn you are on the opposite side. Anyway, I am thrilled you are taking advantage of what Alaska offers. The ski experience seems great and you should consider yourself lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy life and to your credit the courage to make those opportunities yours. We missed you at the xmas chanuk.. party. Everyone was interested in your well being and all asked how you are doing.
ReplyDeleteall the best.. and hopefully crime in alaska picks up so you can get that story of a lifetime. All my Best Howie
Hey Andrew,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see how far you've gone in a year, literally and metaphorically. And it seems like your skiing experience was breathtaking, to say the least. I'm glad I got to read about it.
Here's to everything you'll accomplish in 2010!
Tess
Howie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. I think you're right about the downhill chairlift.
Tess,
Likewise. Hope the professional life in Boston is treating you well. That's a different kind of frontier.