Skiing Across California's Sierra High Route

Sierra High Route

The daughter of friends of ours makes a living each winter as a ski instructor in the Sierras. It's an occupation far removed from anything I've experienced, so of course her work fascinates me. As I understand her situation, she has the opportunity to ski along trails or undemarcated areas where nature is at its most wild and pure. How many people in 2011 can say they've encountered Nature in such a personal way?

Well, there are a few, and sometimes they enjoy sharing tales of their experiences. A case in point appeared in today's online editions of the LA Times. A skiier named Brian E. Clark contributed a completely enjoyable first-person story about skiing across the Sierra High Route. His journey took him into some of the Sierra's most beautiful areas. His appreciation of the pristine settings and his ardor for skiing are touching, and helps me grasp why a young woman would embrace a lifestyle that would immerse her in the High Sierras.