A Graybird Ski Day Overlooking Lake Tahoe

It was a classic graybird day up in Tahoe this past February. A fresh coat of snow from the night before clung to all the pine trees, making everything feel quiet as I started out. The sky was a solid, flat white, and the air was still.

The first few runs were through the trees, which were heavy with new snow. Here and there, the forest would open up, offering glimpses of the mountain across the way or the lake down below. The snow was soft and easy to turn in.

Eventually, I made my way to the runs with the big views. Even under the cloud cover, the sight of the lake is always impressive. The water was a dark, steely gray that matched the sky, with the opposite shore just barely visible through the haze. I watched another skier head down the slope ahead of me, a small figure against the vast landscape. It was a good, simple day on the mountain.