[at-l] Peace in the Valley - another trip report

[pmags at yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

Experiencing the outdoors can happen in many different
ways. 

Experiences of epic hikes, grand views and majestic
vistas.
A weekend of bold strokes and flourishes. An
exclamation mark
to punctuate the day.

If last weekend was one of bold strokes, this past
weekend was of
subtlety and fine detail. The softly falling snow
blanketing
the trail. The sound of skis gliding along the path.
Where instead of limitless views there were subtle
delights. No exclamation mark but an ellipsis...

With a backcountry hut trip coming up in less than a
month, wanted
to get some skiing practice. I am, at best, a novice -
intermediate skiier.
Not falling down is a great victory for me!

The trip decided was the aptly named Peaceful Valley.
Relatively low (below 10k), sheltered by the trees
with a gentle up and an equally gentle down. Perfect
place to get some backcountry skiing practice! 

The day was very overcast with a small bit of snow
still coming down. But at the trailhead it was
magical. No wind, suprisingly warm, and the softly
falling snow gave the area an almost magical quality.

The day was just about right. Ten miles round trip of
moderate skiing. Naturally my favorite chocolate lab
was on trip. If a dog ever enjoyed playing in the
snow, it is my friends' dog! He did not seem to be
coated in ice and snow. It was just another great day
for playing. Was my attitude as well.

Ended the day with the customary slurping of cocoa. A
thermos of hot drinks
is a wonderful item to pack on a snowy Colorado day.

Last weekend I enjoyed views of snow covered peaks and
skies so blue that it almost seemed unreal. This past
weekend? A blanket of white and gray, only broken up
by the green of the trees. Both weekends were great;
both weekends displayed aspects of outdoors I enjoyed.
The majestic and the sublime. The subtle and the
grand.  Life can be really good at times. 

Pics at:
http://gallery.backcountry.net/cowint06?&page=2

(They are 800x600, if you want a higher res pic, let
me know).


************************************************************
The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust 
caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau
http://www.magnanti.com