I lived in Washington D.C. for two years before moving to Boston. After growing up in New York and spending plenty of time in Maine, the one thing I missed most in DC was winter. When I took my first BC Law tour, my tour guide mentioned the Killington ski trip. My mom, who joined me on the tour, saw my face light up and knew I was sold, as silly as it might seem.
This past weekend was the long-awaited trip, and I was nervous about it. I finally recovered from a bad flu that made the start of the semester wobbly at best. I got back to the gym and danced once I healed up, but was worried my body and mind were out of sorts. I was also rooming alone and wondered if I was missing out on the bonding experiences 2Ls and 3Ls talked about on prior trips.
I drove up with my skis in the trunk hoping to make the most of it. My first night was spent at the Pickle Barrel club where I got to meet up with everyone who made the trek. The band that played was fun, and my Contracts TA mentioned they were the main act last year and she came to the club just for them.
The best part of the weekend was that first morning. I woke up at 6am, geared up, and went straight for the slopes, which opened at 8. The sight of the mountain took my breath away. My favorite part of winter is the beauty of snow on trees–that look alone makes the cold worth it. People argue winter is lifeless and dull. The colors I saw were vibrant and stark in the morning light. All the shades of white and blue and deep green. The snowflakes catch the sunlight and turn into nature’s glitter.
I followed a long winding green trail and took in the sights: the sunlight streaming through the forest, the flakes from the snowmakers drifting all over the mountain, and the perfectly groomed trail that made my skis feel like a hot knife through butter.
Just like that, I felt whole. Everything clicked in mind, body, and spirit. I rode the lift back to the top again and took in the sights of Blue Heaven, looking around the mountain and smiling. While the top of a run can feel daunting, there is a little voice in my head that always says “C’mon, it will feel so good.” That voice made me almost giggle as I took off and started flying. It was like seeing an old friend–you pick up where you left off like no time has passed.
Finally back at the base lodge I remember sitting, eating my warm Waffle Cabin waffle and hearing a black-capped chickadee next to me in a pine tree and thinking, “Yeah, moving back north was a good choice.”
After a few days back at school, I do feel a difference. Even for those in my section who did not ski, I did notice a collective release. We all needed a reset, even if we just came off winter break. A change of scenery can do a lot for you. Consider this your push to make the trek, even if snow and winter is not your thing.
Catherine Beveridge is a first-year student at BC Law. Contact her at beverid@bc.edu.
BC Law: Impact 