I started blogging two years ago this past Thursday, as the first backcountry skiing blog in North America. About 700 blog posts and 2,000 comments later we’re still going strong thanks to all you readers and sponsors.
Hats off to you all! Happy WildSnow.com Blogiversary everyone! (Perhaps it’s spelled BlogAversary? For some reason it’s not in my dictionary…)
That’s two straight years of blogging almost a post a day. Shew! But it’s been worth it. I’ve learned a ton, been humbled, felt empowered, helped a few people, and had fun. What more could one want?
We’re planning another terrific year so keep visiting! Again, THANKS EVERYONE.
Since you’re not here to raise a glass with us, please leave a comment.
December 24 Update: Christmas Eve is here, we’ve been out skiing then we’ll hit a peaceful candlelight service at church, then wrap those last minute presents after the shopping frenzy. Tradition here is to try and make Christmas day a ski day for the family, either resort or backcountry. Looking forward to that. Merry Christmas everyone!
Moving from shopping to mysticism, I was searching around the net looking for mountain mystic verse and found this beautiful Zen poem by Master Hsu Yun, more such poems at this website.
Crimson Stream Temple
At Crimson Peak the clouds are thickest;
But the mystic’s road is clear though it turns
Again and again.The mountain flowers, glistening with frosty dew,
Reflect the moon;
And safe within the stands of bamboo, a kingfisher bird
Scolds humanity.At dawn, rain beats a tattoo on the rocks.
In a crazed sortie, the dragon strikes at distant retreats,
Making clouds come in so thick that morning turns to dusk.By noon there’s Armistice!
Sun and peace and a world that’s fresh and new.
And this by Christian mystic Meister Eckhart
Expands His Being
All beings
are words of God,
His music, His
art.Sacred books we are, for the infinite camps
in our
souls.Every act reveals God and expands His being.
I know that may be hard
to comprehend.All creatures are doing their best
to help God in His birth
of Himself.Enough talk for the night.
He is laboring in me;I need to be silent
for a while,worlds are forming
in my heart.
(Google ad removed in honor of Christmas!)
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
