Hola, montaña
ANDORRA | Wednesday, 13 May 2015 | Views [147] | Scholarship Entry
A travel treasure is a moment that reminds you of the reason you are there and makes you wish you never had to leave. It’s that precise moment in time that you sit back and think; I am going to remember this forever. Although I have multiple moments that I could mention, I have a specific memory in mind.
I recently spent a winter on the snowy Andorran slopes, and while there I made many memories that I treasure, however the morning that I caught the first chairlift is a moment that I know will last a lifetime. Despite seeming an easy task it was rather challenging when my bed was a very appealing location on my only day off. So after forcing myself out of bed, and muffling myself in my ski gear, I headed for the slopes solo (another first). Hurriedly clicking my snow-coated boots into my slightly dilapidated skis I shuffled to the front of the queue, already ecstatic that I had made it. The clock clicked around to 9am and the cold chair swept me up, taking me to the top of my mountain.
Sitting alone on the first chair, I looked around and knew that it would be a good day. The cold wind blowing the clean smell of snow into my face, and my eyes taking in the powdery snow in front of me, brought joy to my heart. Heading off down my favourite run, carving new tracks in the untouched snow, the only person there, singing my heart out and loving every second, was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. Gliding down the slopes, knowing that I was one of the only people around, it felt like the mountain was mine, and it owned a large place in my heart. That’s why that moment is my travel treasure.
Next step: how to recreate this moment. Well, obviously not everyone has four months to spend working slope-side, however taking a trip to the mountains in the off-peak season, getting up early and snagging the first chairlift up the slope is possible. I would definitely recommend listening to music whilst you ski, but one earphone only; you have to stay aware of others, even if you can’t see them! If you can, take a picnic/mid-morning snack, and find an isolated patch to sit on the mountains and survey the tracks you’ve just created.
Tags: 2015 Writing Scholarship
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