Crammed into snowsuits like overstuffed br sausages, rainbow colored scarves br hid determined grins. Clouds of warmth br billowed up from our bellies as we marched, br dragging wood and metal in our wake. br br No path in the dazzling white ocean, br only instinct and children's screams br carried in the wind's ear, winding through br the forest playground, calling us forward, br full of careless snowy frolicking song. br br Once at the sacred crest we flew br on frozen feet, bouncing padded bellies br on a wild wood mustang footloose br and flopsy mare, as the frigid white br rushed into our blinded mute senses. br br After 75 seconds of this eternity, br we trudged upwards again and again br to swallow a dozen more flights of reckless br abandonment knowing steaming cocoa awaited br to melt us back into warm elfin flesh.