BiJae and I both loved the out doors. When ever we had the chance we were off in the woods, down at the lake, cross country skiing. It didn't matter what season it was, we were out there in my pick up truck to find some place to 'go fishing' or just to hike to see the out doors! I can remember a hundred times where we were out on the trail or making the trail up as we went along. Together we would go anywhere.

It was mid spring 1992. I remember because it was my first year in college. Sonora Pass was still closed. I had heard there was still quite a bit of snow up there. I figured this would be a great time for BiJae and me to get out and enjoy some spring time conditions in the high country. We loaded up the truck very early that morning, stopping only to grab some juice and energy bars on the way up the mountain. I rented some x-country skis for the day and headed to the winter closure point.

Every year they closed the pass because the snow was too deep. Sonora Pass is famous for its winding roads with steep cliffs. There are two points where they close the pass. One is five miles beyond Strawberry at the Cow Creek guard. The other closure point is at Kennedy Meadows, right at the base of the steep winding mountain roads. On this trip the gate was closed at Cow Creek. I wondered why because there was barely any snow at this elevation.

We arrived at the gate around 8:30 in the morning. BiJae sat upright in the passenger's seat as I turned the truck in to park. I asked him, "Are you ready? You want to go?" This was a ritual that we were beginning on this trip. I'd ask him the question a few times over and he would get more and more excited... "Please, Please, Please, can we?" It was similar to the game, "get the squirrel" that we often played together. It got us both excited and ready for the adventure ahead.

I put my backpack on my back. It was heavy with food and water for both of us. I slung my skis over my shoulder, walking toward the gate. It was a cold morning and I was bundled up in several layers. I could see my breath for crystals I exhaled. I walked past the gate, continuing on dry pavement for the next 100 yards. Just as the road made a curve to the left, did I see that we had a thin layer of snow and ice which to ski on. On this clear morning it looked as though we were going to be doing more hiking than skiing. BiJae however didn't seem to mind. Of course he was hiking either way!

I strapped on my skis and headed up the main road. BiJae put about three times the distance on me that day. He criss crossed in front of me. He was up in the trees, down in the valleys. He never got too far away from me, just enough to sniff around and do some squirrel hunting. At one point he was atop a good mountain of snow. The snow was blinding white with the sun reflecting off of it. I looked at him and saw his beautiful profile outlined in the blue sky. It was one of those moments I wished I had a camera. BiJae loved the snow and on this occasion he was in heaven. We spent more than seven hours out on the trail, traveling nearly sixteen miles up the road. We made it to view The Dardanelles, and just a little further to the town of Dardanelle. I was amazed to see that the store was open. Dardanelle has a year round population of four and some how managed to keep the store open for the snowmobiles and us crazy x-country skiers.

That night we both fell in to a deep sleep. We had expended more energy than we usually did in a week. BiJae was very young, but still slept very soundly beside me that night.