STILLNESS IN MOTION
The tree skiing on Wolf Creek Pass, in southwest Colorado, has a particular feeling. The trees are older, and more widely spaced. The snow is deeper, and more consistent. The pitch of the runs is perfect for the typically deep snow; nothing radical, but consistently pulling me down the mountain. The crowds are elsewhere, chasing the thrills promised by more popular resorts, accessed by ubiquitous multi-area ski passes.
Beyond those characteristics, there is an ineffable quality to these woods. I can feel it in a photo, and in the subtle quality of the smile on a friend’s face the following week. I can see the silence.
It’s hard enough to get there, and even harder to leave. I’m fortunate to visit, and know this place so deeply. At these times, I don’t really want to leave. However, to quote Robert Frost,
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.