luna

full moon ski on friday night lights

“It is a kind of church, back in these last cores. It may not be your church -- this last one percent of the West – but it is mine, and I am asking unashamedly to be allowed to continue worshipping the miracle of the planet, and the worship of a natural system not yet touched, never touched by the machines of man. a place with the residue of God – the scent, feel, sight, taste, and sound of God – forever fresh upon it”
-rick bass, the book of yaak

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mother nature kept dealing.

the snows drove me indoors to my treadmill for cadence and momentum, while the chores to simply get me out of my driveway and keep my horses fed drove me to the mountains for balance and keeping cynicism towards an element at bay. friday night lights has evolved organically the last few years mostly driven by the blonde and recently it has morphed into extra outings on the skis watching friends new and old become more confident and adventurous in both the backcountry and snow parks that populate our growing outdoor church. the less ego you carry, the more you become part of this tribe. luna's emergence affords a nice change of pace for this locale known for it's strava rage and sprinter van clogged parking areas. it's beautiful to still find empty or untracked trails and stillness stealthily playing within sight of the overpopulated tourist township simply by changing from day to night. my best ski days this year have been under the cover of darkness. i strongly believe it's akin to the spirit of the awesome midnight run. it's been a good winter to play. 

the dutchie

big meadow

choices

looking across the valley

unbroken

sentries

frozen soldiers

looming

sunshine

shadows

finishing. photos by WC

tthis was a beautiful ski to close out this past year.

been some chatter about changes in the sport and what's one of the biggest differences. i read a blog entry that i think hit a mark. it's not that everything now is bad, it's just different and those changes caused a bit of moving away in how the stories are told. i'm guilty. i'm drawn back to writing here as i get more minimalist in my sharing. my thought is, if you seek it out, i'll endeavor to make it worth the search. i've had great mentors and inspiration over the years and i'll admit to having felt a bit stale in what's fueling my stoke. i'm looking foward to what's coming/