Cross-Country
Skiing in Western New York
Cross-Country
Skiing
in Western New York
submitted by Glenn Beachy
Over New Years, 2002, trippers Cheryl Rapose, Kendra Pense and Julie Ainslie joined trip leader Glenn Beachy for three days of cross-country skiing in Western New York State in Allegany State Park and environs. After a brief refresher on the basics, Julie had a good day of skiing and was inspired to record her experience in the following poem.
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The Glide Commit to the glide, "the cross-country ski instructor told me. Commit to the glide. Shifting weight from one side to the other. Digging in the poles with a crunch in the icy layer beneath the powder. Extending the arms all the way back to enhance the power. Commit to the glide in this snow on this hillside in these woods. Commit to the herringbone steps up the steeper slopes. Commit to the long downhill ride, sitting back on the heels, faster than you wanted to go. Commit to the glide through these woods, over this terrain, through the wet and dry of it, the cold and the wind of it. Over the fallen branches. I will. I will commit to the glide. To the frightening, exuberant joy of it. |