My First Week

2010-01-16 17:07:07.000 – Nick Lovejoy,  Summit Intern

Sunrise

This is my first week here on the summit, and what a week it has been so far. On Wednesday as I climbed up into my first snow tractor at the base of the auto road, I was filled with anticipation and excitement. We crept up the side of the mountain slowly, getting higher and higher as I watched the windows of the tractor begin to frost over. When the doors finally opened and that cold burst of air hit my exposed face, I knew I had arrived.

The next few days consisted of a whirl wind (pun intended) of new experiences. Climbing the frozen ridgeline to Mt. Clay with a film crew shooting an intriguing and mysterious movie, practicing some self arrests, and getting a few turns in on the East Snowfields with fellow observers were a few highlights. I’ve also begun to look at some mundane chores a bit differently. Have you ever had to think about how you hold a shovel, or place your feet, as you shovel your walkway? I’ve learned very quickly that these simple placement choices can mean the difference between getting the job done and watching your shovel grow a pair of wings and fly off into the clouds.

I couldn’t imagine a better place to spend my winter.

Nick Lovejoy,  Summit Intern