7th Grade Makes Fast Tracks (in the snow)

When it snows one inch in Seattle that can mean a foot up at Snoqualmie Pass. With record snowfall already this year, the 6th graders hiked into the fluffy stuff with their homemade snowshoes, the 8th graders shredded Snoqualmie Summit with alpine skis and snowboards, and the 7th grade brought their natural talents to Nordic skiing. Those would be attitude, fearlessness, style, and smiles.

For their first outing of the 2007 Explorer West outdoor education season, the 7th grade had both snow and sun aplenty. Nordic names were assigned on the bus, then 7th grade spirit took over. They matched the blessings of nature with gusto and attitude that only 7th graders can muster. Here's Dagrun wondering, "So what's so hard about slithering about on ice atop flimsy little sticks?"

They tolerated faculty attempts at instruction well, and then cooked it their own way. One essential ingredient is always fearlessness, and willingness to fall, as demonstrated by Asta.



The next ingredient is style. You can't lose with Leopard mittens, as Magnus shows us.


It is always wise to accessorize with a viking hat, like Lars. Nobody messes with vikings. Would you mess with this guy?

Friendship and camaraderie are perhaps the most important ingredients. That's what will carry us through whatever the next three weeks of Nordic adventure bring. Asta, Axel, and Brigitta bring smiles.