The print., January 31, 1979, Page 8, Image 8

Skiing
It’s just
the man
and the
mountain
Its just the man and the
mountain. Standing atop a
snowy terrain, looking at the
contender, one wonders, will
the man win or will the moun­
tain consume him in a mass of
powder?
with it, a bottle of brandy is ad­
vised to chase away the chill.
The beginner, of course,
should be taking the trip with a
friend who has close to
mastered the sport. This friend
will act as an instructor and
medical assistant.
Many skiers see the sport as
Once up to the mountain
a challenge. More ski for the
and into the lodge, the begin­
fun of it, and still more do not
ner becomes mesmerized by
know why they pursue the cold
the various activities taking
weather pastime.
place. People huddle together
Skiing is hard. The victim after a long trip down the
needs a great sense of balance mountain, their faces red and
and coordination along with a voices full of excitment telling
good set of muscles. The pains about their adventures.
of skiing must be taken with
A cot containing a badly
true grit or loud cries. shaken up skier is carried by,
The frustrations of defeat sending the beginner into a fit
show most often in the begin­ of panic. “I’m not going up
ner. A-typical first trip to the there just to end up like that
mountain goes something like guy!” screams the beginner. He
is soon calmed down by his
this:
Nervously, the beginner friend who tells him that the
guy was probably just “goofing
slowly prepares the equipment
off.”
needed for the trip: two pairs of
In the rental shop, the
pants, and uncountable num­ beginner gets a whole different
ber of socks, mittens, hat and view of skiing, It’s expensive!!!
coat. Also, if he can get away It costs the beginner an average
7
of $16 for poles, boots anj
for a three-hour period. Itt
some people that long jul
get up the hill.
The trip up the hill is
and tiring. And once up,I
is nowhere to go but dow
matter
how
scary
challenging.
Standing on top oil
mountain, the beginner fa
if he can do anything . .f
cept ski down. The sig
awesome, disturbed ora
the blur of a six-year-of
gliding past like he was
, with skis on his feet.
Debating whether to J
it by skiing down or takin
chicken’s way out by w
down, the beginner.]
through a series of argil
with himself before del
just exactly what he is goi
do.
When he finally mak
his mind to attempt the
flight down, he poises!
ready.
It’s just the man ail
mountain.
Clackamas Community C
Page 8
inches
D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer
Density