I suppose it gives a sense of the mourning process. The years start to blend together, memories start to fade and time moves on. Another year passes and you make the extra effort to remember friends and family that you’ve lost along the way. The remembrance is never as sad as the initial tragedy, but you might get a flash or two of the way you felt when you got the news that changed your life.
If you’ve got some roots in the backcountry community, a few days might pass by this winter that set you remembering. November 29th, December 7th, January 13th, January 20th, February 1.st Friends and family will meet somewhere special, drinks will be had. You might even make an extra effort to go ride some pow.
Other days of the winter, you’ll probably find yourself in some crazy situations. And you may have internalized the lessons you’ve learnt, but you never know how the rest of your life is going to unfold. So if you’re in a situation where your instincts are telling you to be scared, let your self make the right call and always know that your buddies upstairs are keeping an eye on you.
I get on-line and say this every year say this every year but I constantly have to remind myself to take my own advice. Respect the fact that the mountains can take as much as they give. Listen to the messages they send you and have fun doing the things you love.