When days are busy and interesting there is no time to write. When quiet and settled there is time but nothing really to write about.
Today? Stacked wood, read Wolf Hall, am now listening to opera on CBC 2. My son is sleeping on the couch, a late-winter and late-day sun pouring onto him through the back window. The dog rests by the door, occasionally moans, looks at me with big round eyes. I eat too many roasted, salted nuts. I drink a ton of water.
Next I will take the dog out, walking on the crusted top of a foot or more of old, beaten snow; make a shopping list for a dinner to be cooked (fettuccine with hot sausage, kale and cheese; slices of thick steak pan seared in oil and garlic and rosemary and then served on a bed of baby arugula and with a sauce of red wine vinegar and salt; a salad of young greens, olives, artichoke, pecorino cheese); shop; cook; drink; eat.
The past few months are too full to think about let alone write about. At least not today. Today I am focusing on as little as possible as well as possible. I am busy just watching my son sleep.
David Rocchio lives, works and writes in Stowe, Vermont. (c) 2011 David Rocchio
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
A Late Winter Tale, About Backcountry Skiing, Deep Snow, Dogs and Rescue
Brian suggested we go for a backcountry ski; the second time we would be visiting this spot. The last time we went to the Sterling forest was with a bigger group and at least one person was not up to exploring high on the ridge. The area is mostly hardwood forest and the snow pack this year is thigh deep or more. If you step off your skis you disappear. This makes a back country trip challenging but also easier, if you have the right gear and know what you are doing.
There is no brush to slog through, no marshes or swamps to worry about, no problem being off a trail. No bugs. A compass and a map and we could go anywhere. Brian called and suggested we go further north on this trip, higher on the slope, to an area call Bull Moose Ridge. We would skin up, and it was steep in places, but once on the ridge we would have an easy time and then could ski back down through steep stands of old beech and maple trees.
The last time we went we did not bring our dogs -- Brian has two and I have one, Dexter, a young Aussie. We were out for hours and I thought it would be too difficult for the dogs. And I felt guilty when the trip was done; the dog would have been fine. So this time we agreed we'd take the dogs.
There is no brush to slog through, no marshes or swamps to worry about, no problem being off a trail. No bugs. A compass and a map and we could go anywhere. Brian called and suggested we go further north on this trip, higher on the slope, to an area call Bull Moose Ridge. We would skin up, and it was steep in places, but once on the ridge we would have an easy time and then could ski back down through steep stands of old beech and maple trees.
The last time we went we did not bring our dogs -- Brian has two and I have one, Dexter, a young Aussie. We were out for hours and I thought it would be too difficult for the dogs. And I felt guilty when the trip was done; the dog would have been fine. So this time we agreed we'd take the dogs.
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