a giant tree grows from the tiniest shoot
a great tower rises from a basket of dirt
a thousand-mile journey begins at your feet
-lao-tzu (trans. red pine)

Most people think the hardest part of a journey is the first step. It’s not. The hardest part of a journey is every additional step after the first one. People take first steps on intended journeys all the time. It is easy to take a first step when you are inspired or motivated. Sustaining that inspiration or motivation is the challenge. Seeing intentions through, resolving a step from an act into a habit, is the hardest part. First steps are trite (and not accurately quoted from the source material).

This outing began much like the last. Uninspired. I was tired from twelve hour work days and six day work weeks. But then, I saw pictures from other people on their own journeys, dealing with their own challenges. I’ve been down on internet stoke for quite a while. I don’t even like the word. Stoke. Who needs pictures to get excited to go skiing? I do, now, I guess. Or, at least, it temporarily tripped me out of my slumber, altering my gait.

Lately, I am connecting with ski touring in a different way. There is something about that sound, that cadence…

Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step.

etc.