powder days

If you've had them, you'll understand this. If you haven't, it'll make you want to. Read on and drift into the powder...

How can you put feelings into words about days with 40cm of fresh snow on the slopes? I'll try: sit back and close your eyes - Imagine . . . Mountains, blue skies, skis on your shoulder and not a worry in the world. The rocks are covered with fresh crystals, and you are first in the lift que. This is powder day. There's you, the mountain and a small group of friends. All heading for a secret spot you know (well maybe a lot more know - but today it's your secret).

Once off the cable car, there is a rush as every one heads for their own small spot. After a short traverse. while making sure no strangers are following, you hit your first powder run of the day. Behind you are two rocky peaks. The smaller covered in weeks of accumulated snow the other reflecting sun light off the sparkling glacier that covers it. Below, the slope is wide and open gleaming with waist deep snow, eventually disappearing in the distance below a ridge. While all around where ever you look there are other peaks all dripping with freshly fallen snow.

In the distance the heavy clouds that only recently covered the slopes slowly recede, in a haze of sunlight and darkness. One at a time, to avoid avalanche risk, you go, and you're first. There is not a track in sight and before long the wake of snow is obscuring your view. You create a firm base on which your skis can turn by pushing in to the deep fresh snow. The sense is one of floating. Well you are, you are on cloud nine. This must be a dream. With every turn, the fresh snow so light it feels like the cold wind in your face, covers your entire body as it flows around you.

It's incredible but the snow gets deeper. There must be 1 metre of fresh snow. The adrenaline starts to flow as the thought of avalanche comes to the front. However, there's no stopping now. To do so would only create problems. Out of nowhere the slope rises and before you know it, you're airborne. For the first time in 30 turns your visibility has returned. You take the small 2 metre jump and land perfectly. Trees are starting to appear now, all of which are dripping with 3 days of snowfall clinging to them. You veer off to the left, spraying snow over a 10 metres radius sprinkling the already covered trees. There is a small outcrop of rocks, a quick correction of turn and a new line through the trees appears. This is combat skiing. Though the trees are close, they are not so densely packed as to prevent you skiing. The skills that have been developed over the years will be pushed to the limits as you attempt to weave in and out them. This is slalom skiing in powder.

Once in the trees, the depth of snow reduces fractionally, enough so that the spray is no longer as intense. The plumes are still there, which is enough to give you a sense of movement through the still trees. One, two, three ... you leave each tree behind in a wake of snow and nicely executed turns. The slope disappears below you but you react instantly. Although your arms flail for a second you recover your composure, and control is regained.

Still moving you wipe your goggles clean and see the run is near at an end. Two more turns to go. You sink down to complete a perfect run when without warning you loose it. Head over heels, you tumble freely. You roll with the incline until you naturally come to a stop. There is no need to struggle, just let the deep cold powder bring you to a halt. This leaves you buried up to the neck in powder light snow, destroying an otherwise perfect run. But it doesn't matter.

You shout in excitement and encouragement to the others. The sight of your tracks through the trees and others following is all that matters. Your body is buzzing with adrenaline. You are covered in a substance that is intoxicating not in its nature, but by the visions and actions it creates in all around. This is the nature of skiing and snowboarding alike. It inspires.

This feature comes from the website Alexski, a personal site with some great information about doing a season.