Skiing In Literature: Pete Seeger’s “Snow, Snow”
Haunting Song Evokes Winter Night Snow Fall.
Everybody knows Pete Seeger and his folk songs from archival ballads to anthems of struggle, the peace and labor movement, and the rest. What is not widely known is that Pete was a lyrical poet, and some of his lesser known works are rich with images and emotion. One of those is “Snow, Snow,” appropriate for listening to by a fireside on a cold night with a gentle snow fall outside. It’s a bit minimalist, perhaps somber in its simple description of snow falling on a town. We offer it here as a chance for our readers to reflect on what else snow can be. Click on the Youtube video below to hear a rendition.
Credit: Shot Photos
Snow, Snow By Pete Seeger
(Chorus after each verse)
Snow, snow, falling down
Covering up my dirty old town
Covers the garbage dump, covers the holes
Covers the rich homes, and the poor souls.
Covers the station, covers the tracks,
Covers the footsteps of those who’ll not be back
Under the street lamp, there stands a girl,
Looks like she’s not got a friend in this world.
Look at the big flakes come drifting down,
Twisting and turning, round and round.
Covers the mailbox, the farm and the plow.
Even barbed wire seems beautiful now.
Covers the station, covers the tracks.
Covers the footsteps of those who’ll not be back.
“Snow, Snow” was released on the 1973 Rainbow Race album.
Short Swings!
CALIFORNIA
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows made a $150,000 donation to the High Fives Foundation as part of its Military to the Mountains program, which hosts and trains injured US Armed Forces vets on its slopes. The resort offers active duty US military personnel a Silver Tahoe Super Pass for a $25 donation. Last season, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows provided 13,800 complimentary lift tickets to active duty military.
CANADA
Western Canada has the biggest accumulations of early snow. Snowpack at Whistler is 252% of average for early November and Lake Louise is 169% of average.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jackson Ski Touring Center in Jackson, N.H., has added four new trails totaling six km (3.75 miles); and eight new trail bridges. It is the largest x-country ski center in the Northeast.
PENNSYLVANIA
Bear Creek Mountain is offering mid-week (Tue/Wed/Thurs) passes for $22 with a Loyal Ski Club membership. Holiday blackouts apply.
Shawnee Mountain is stocking a large inventory of top-notch rental equipment, making it easy to arrive at the mountain unburdened by outdated gear.
JACK FROST and BIG BOULDER season pass holders can add Hunter Mountain to their skiing options. Pass holder also have skiing privileges at Mount Snow, Attitash, Crotched Mountain and Wildcat.
UTAH
Powder Mountain day passes for 75+ are free. For 75+ not wanting to go to the ticket window, a season pass is $20!
Sundance Resort day passes are $30 for 65 and older; season pass (available anytime throughout the season) is $150. Thank you, Robert Redford, for great prices on a terrific mountain!
OTHER
Best deals on Vail Resorts’ Epic Season Passes (including Whistler/Blackcomb) end November 19.
Clean Trails is the non-profit committed to keeping wild places and the trails that access them free of litter. Studies show the highest indicator that someone will pick up litter is if they Sugarloaf Mountain witness someone else picking up litter.
CNL Lifestyle Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT), sold 15 ski North American ski resorts, including Brighton (UT), Crested Butte (CO), Jiminy Peak (MA), Loon and Mount Sunapee NH), Okemo (VT), Sierra-at-Tahoe (CA), Stevens Pass and Summit-at-Snoqualmie (WA), Northstar-at-Tahoe (CA), and Sunday River (ME). Operations of each resort are expected to be unaffected by the sale.
Patagonia gave all of its employees Election Day off , and encouraged them to vote.
This Week in SeniorsSkiing.com (Nov. 11)
Keep up the snow dance.
The season has started at Arapahoe Basin with a few open trails. A dump is expected in Colorado next week.
There’ a terrific interview with Jackson Hogen, publisher of realskiers.com. He shares views about the impact of corporate vs. family-owned ski areas, growing old on skis, and the importance of older skiers to the sport.
Part 2 of the Shape Up series has a variety of exercises that will get you ready for the season.
And there’s a video on synchronized skiing in the Alps. Pure grace on snow.
There are more seniors skiing every season. If you like what we’re doing, please tell your friends and on FaceBook, “like” us and “share” our articles.
Thank you!
[authors_page role=contributor]