there is no greater sense of excitement than standing at the top of a slope, turning on m83 full volume on my ipod, and adjusting my goggles. i’m about to glide through fresh powder and leave the first tracks amongst an uncharted patch of trees. soon i’ll emerge from the trees, flying down the mountain so fast that other people are only fleeting blurs of color in my peripheral vision. my focus is on the vast expanse of mountains in the distance and the music pulsing through the headphones, timing my quick jumps and turns. the icy burn on my face is a small price to pay for the few minutes of overwhelming control and simultaneous adrenaline rush i will feel…i already miss lake tahoe.