Peak Experience

Bird’s Eye View

By: Charles Giuliano - Dec 22, 2017

Peak Experience

Twist and turn along 108
Stowe’s Moutain Road
Past motels, resorts, restaurants
Base of  Mt. Mansfield
Elevation 4,395 feet
Looking up at trails
Broad swaths swaggering
Blazed through pines
Spectacular snow sculptures
Frosted Op art patterns
Brilliant clear blue sky
Blazing northern light
In the gondola’s endless ascent
Swing and sway
Making our way above skiers
Criss crossing below
How ironic compared to
Porto just a month ago
November more like summer
Above the Douro River
Similar but different
Conflated impressions 
Slowing to a halt we
Exited to arctic blast
Colder than a witch’s tit
Geared up against elements
With helmets and goggles
Some with face masks
Preparing for their runs
Snowboarders strapping in
Surfing on snow
Cresting on frozen tsunami
Mid week not much traffic
No lines for the lift
Just before Christmas
Slow day on the slopes
Edging toward to the crest
Up against the rope
Magnificently treacherous view
Fearing for my life
She called me back
Asking why did you do that
For the thrill I said
What mountains are for
Looking down and about
We could see for miles
And miles and miles
Like clear still morning 
After acid trip at Benno’s
Night of Moosh Magique
Dancing in the hearth
Kalidoscope of memory
Way off yonder
Imposing Mt. Washington
Simply sublime
Highlight of our time
In frozen chosen
Wacko snow birds
Craggy lovers
Slip sliding along
Chilled to the bone
Flew the wrong way
Who knew it would be
So friggin divine