It’s early morning-you quickly get out of bed, open your closet, and shove on a bunch of long underwear, which is a term skiers call layers. Then, you brush your teeth and eat a quick yet filling breakfast to prepare you for the day ahead. You hop in the car and load all your equipment: skis, helmets, boots, goggles, and extra gear just in case you get cold. You turn up the music and begin to envision your happiest self fearlessly skiing on the mountain. You leave behind your worries and think about dominating the mountain.
Anyone can enjoy an activity and escape from reality in their own way. For many Montgomery County residents, skiing is perceived as a positive, safe escape during the pandemic.
Jon Sherman, a Podiatrist in the Kentlands, has been taking his daughter Sienna Sherman, an 8th grader at Lakelands Park Middle School, skiing to Whitetail almost every other week.
Whitetail is a ski resort located in Mercersburg, PA. Montgomery County residents find it is one of the most convenient and closest options to ski, snowboard, or go snow tubing.
Whitetail includes many slopes ranging from advanced to beginner levels. At the base of the mountain, there are two lifts. The Easy Rider Quad (EZ Rider) contains greens and some blues, and the Whitetail Express Quad includes blues and a few blacks. These colors help to identify the skill level of a run, where green is considered the easiest, and black the most advanced. At the back of the mountain, there is an Expert’s Choice Quad filled with black slopes-the most challenging Quad.
Many people feel refreshed by this escape. Sienna Sherman feels “happy and free” because she enjoys being in the mountains away from everyone. She appreciates being challenged and goes on intermediate and advanced slopes. “I like Drop In, Jib Junction, Limelight, Homerun, and Bold Decision,” Sienna Sherman said.
Carter Midgley, a sophomore at Quince Orchard High School, also enjoys escaping the “different” present. Midgley, like many other people, has obtained more time in their schedule to spend time doing activities they cherish. “Being able to ski almost every week has honestly made me feel so much happier and has added so much more positivity in my life,” Midgley said.
Skiing is considered by many to be a safe activity that can be monitored through social distancing and wearing masks. Jon Sherman thinks skiing allows you to “forget about the dirtiness of the world.” “You are outside all the time, so you are less likely to contract the virus,” he added.
Midgley doesn’t mind wearing a mask or the additional safety measures that accompany skiing during the coronavirus pandemic; as long as she gets to ski, she is set. “I love being able to ski…by staying safe and wearing a mask while skiing and on the lift,” Midgley said.
Therefore, nothing can separate a person from what they love. Nothing can stop a skier or snowboarder from escaping the world on the mountain. Even in this pandemic, skiers have discovered their escape while taking safety precautions.
Ultimately, people can continue experiencing life in a way that makes them content and appreciative of these activities that keep them thriving.
Article by Madison Sherman of Quince Orchard High School
Photo by Cathy Boman of Winston Churchill High School