On January 20th, the ski trails at Alturas Lake and Park Creek were roughly groomed with rolled passes through deep new snow. The trails were all skiable but no doubt a bit soft. At Park Creek, skiers should keep a watch for hazard tree removal on Lupine and Shooting Star. On Thursday, the 21st, additional passes of ginzu grooming are planned to further refine the corduroyed skate lanes and add classic tracks at both ski areas.
January 20th, was of course, the Eve of St. Agnes, the subject of John Keats’ most famous poem. Having visited Keats’ grave in Rome many years ago, old Davinius, returned home from grooming Alturas ski trails and took out his rosary and his dog eared copy of “The Eve of St. Agnes” to read its mysterious, beautiful verses on that starry cold night…
St. Agnes’ Eve — Ah, bitter chill it was!
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp’d trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in the wooly fold;
Numb were the Beadsman’s fingers, while he told
His rosary, and while his frosted breath,
Like pious incense from a censer old,
Seem’d taking flight for heaven, without a death,
Past the sweet Virgin’s picture, while his prayer he saith. [ll. 1-9]
Recent Comments