The powder sprayed this way and that as I maneuvered. The tree trunks began crowding in tighter as I went, but it was exhilarating. Light from the overcast sky filtered shyly through the thick pines – enough to light my way, but maintaining a bit of mystery for what was ahead.
I was no Olympic skier, but I could hold my own on the slopes. What I most loved, though, was fresh powder in the trees like this. It may be a little hazardous, but goddamn, is it fun!
It was exactly at that point, as if to underscore the hazards, that he came flying in out of control. A wild scream of “Oh shit!” gave me just enough warning to brace for the impact.
Out of all the forest space on the mountain, some dumbass had run directly into me.
Spitting out a face full of snow, I rolled slowly over. The side of my thigh throbbed angrily where it had greeted a narrow ponderosa.
“Ugh…fuck me,” I heard from over my shoulder. The guy who had run me down was eating just as much powder as I, and had apparently come to rest with a shoulder against a tree. “Uuughhh…”