Forecast Calling For 200 Inches In Higher Elevations...

Snow.

To you, this may just look like a bunch of that icky white stuff. You may cringe at the very sight of those great white flakes pouring from the malted gray clouds above. Does the thought of snow give you angst?

Getting slapped silly with a cloud of powder is the prime reason some of us live where we live. Move "West," and the powder days are the reason for the season. While some sit at home and hide from winter's confetti, this breed seeks ways to spend more days rolling in it. It represents something much, much deeper than a chance in tomorrow's weather forecast.

DEEP.

When you move away from your hometown to chase snow, you make major sacrifices. You miss out on things like photographing a friend's wedding, attending friends' weddings, baby showers, and family cookouts. Birthdays become recognizable in the shape of taped up boxes shipped from miles away, and getting any kind of package from home feels like a godsend.

Every day spent out in the snow, you realize its worth and the sacrifices that went into making it possible. It's deeper than the surface and in that sacrifice, you find comfort in pursuing your passion and pushing your limits- doing what makes you feel most alive! You build confidence that carries into other aspects of life and begin believing in yourself again. You could say it's an addiction or you could call it a passionate desire to experience the richness of life.

Each turn and every lift ride to the top of the mountain is given a greater sense of fulfillment than sitting in wonder, thinking about the what ifs of life. You did it, you are here, and it came with life's greatest price. The ticket on this item cost memories, homemade food, and quality time spent with bloodlines. It cost more than any amount of money.

Yet you find a sense of freedom going down that mountain. You stop thinking so much about the future and remember to live in the now with every carve into that icky white stuff. Each moment it splashes you in the face, you are reminded what Heaven must feel like and why you chase it in the first place. That pow-pow, that is. The fresh air combined with the gnarly butter coasting makes for one heck of a life spritzer, and dang it feels good to just feel life rather than try to figure it out.

GO RIDE.

Some days, you question your choices. What am I doing? What greater purpose am I fulfilling? Why did I come here again? And maybe you are questioning, because you have gotten off track of the reason you came here in the first place- for the snow, for the mountains. When you pick up your whole life and move to the other side of the country to chase snow and don't make snow a priority, life gets muddled.

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On the days you are hoping we don't get that two inches of fluff the local weather station is predicting, we are down on our knees praying for 16 inches with every ounce of being committed to snow dancing the night away.

We dream of waking up to so much snow that boot-packing to the ski lift is the only way to get to the mountain and take a few laps in that freshy fresh. So when you hear of snow in the forecast and say you hope we don't get it, excuse me for the utter look of disgust smeared across my face and not so subtle disapproval in my forehead lines. I will dance on your behalf.

Now stop what you're doing and go ride.

Next Up, Raft Season.

*Disclaimer* Adventure Pickle does not promote calling in sick to work or abandoning necessary meetings. Always make an appointment ahead of time with your Shred Doctor.