The trip home yesterday was a blast! There was about two inches of beautiful powder. For some reason (possibly salt) there was often a frozen layer right at the road, and this led to some spots that were technical. In other areas, the snow had been compacted by traffic. It was great Nokian weather, and a joy to glide through the snow with the studs silent for the first time in a month. There was one steep hill on the way home that the police had closed to all automobile traffic. I asked permission and they waved me through, "It's just closed to motor vehicles." There I was with no traffic, a hill, and beautiful, fresh powder. First tracks!

I let it run, sailed down the hill full bore with "Live For Today" playing in the jukebox in my mind and snow swirling everywhere like smoke. I floated over the white landscape as if in a dream.

I didn't actually hit the slopes of Tremblant until this morning, but, as far as I am concerned, my ski vacation began with yesterday's commute.

Paul