This was my second year to hang with the Barneløpet ("children's race") at Snow Mountain Ranch outside of Fraser. The local Sons of Norway lodges organize the event which features a 1k, 2k, and 5k race in the morning...after some initial lessons for those new to the sport. And in the afternoon young skiers and their families and friends can follow an "orienteering" course which takes them over the valleys ("daler")and hills ("bakker") and into the woods ("skogen") on the far side of the course. The last two years I've laid out that course and am finally getting the hang of it. The joy is in skiing out late in the day on the course and picking up the markers along the way, holding in my mind the sight of boys and girls (and adults) relishing a sunsplashed winter outdoor day.
