Holidays away from Home

Looking up at the skiers on Mammoth Mountain, I am instantly reminded of ice fishing in central Wisconsin. Backstory: My first experience with ice fishing was in northern Minnesota. With two dogs, one friend, a sled full of gear, we took off on cross-country skis for a frozen lake in the Boundary Waters. Not another soul in sight. To me, that’s ice fishing. Later that winter, I traveled to a friends house in central-ish Wisconsin. Whoa... so many ice shacks and turned over buckets with seated people, all crammed onto the frozen lake only a mere toss of a beer away from each other. On the ski slopes here in Mammoth Lakes, no difference.

Ants on Mammoth Mountain

Hence why I enjoy cross-country skiing. Unless in a ski race or in the immediate area around the nordic center chalet, you aren’t skiing with any more than a handful of people around you, and at times, you can find solitude. Just the other day over a busy Christmas and New Year, I found myself peace and quiet while out skiing.

Horseshoe Lake

I enjoy the simplicity of cross-country skiing. Skis, poles, warm clothes and your muscles are all one needs to head off into the woods. Living in the Midwest encapsulates this feeling of simplicity: a ski trail at night lined with ice luminaries, standing on a dirt road away from town watching the northern lights dance across the sky, watching iron ore carriers pass through the Duluth lift bridge, or going to the store on a game day Sunday and not being able to distinguish shoppers from employees (as all are wearing Packers jerseys).

On the flipside, to celebrate the holidays in Mammoth, the Mountain hosted a “Night of Lights”, complete with live music, fireworks, and illuminated skiers skiing downhill amidst lighted snowcats. Most people watched for free and stood on the snow, but some paid either $25 or $35 for a spot on the outdoor patio or in the indoor viewing area. We were also treated to a short video on a blinding white/bright screen showing “Woolly”, the Mountain’s mascot, cruising in a convertible down in the L.A. area. The level of distractions and flashy lights present served as a reminder of the limited attention spans that many, not all, but many people have that keep them from noticing and/or enjoying the small things in life. 

Alas, it was a bittersweet Christmas. I spent time with friends, ate tasty food, went on walks with furry dogs, but it wasn’t quite the same as a simple Midwest holiday.

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