' ' • NOVEMBER, 1 969 - the DHO

Downhill runs went dash—dot—dash
Before we learnt how not to crash.
And then in time by trial and error
Tours became a passion, no longer a terror.
We learnt our telemarks, Christies and jumps
To ski almost anywhere among hideous bumps.
We skied through the woods, we skied between rocks,
We skied on the glaciers amongst icy blocks.
We learnt how to parallel, we learnt how to swing
We've even tried wedeling to keep up with the thing.
We want to be with it and not left behind
Like some few exceptions among our kind.
We've tried long ski and short,
We've tried clip boots and tights,
We've even tried grass-ski-ing and ski-ing with lights.
But after all this, and admitting it's fun
There's nothing like doing a deep snow run.
So come ski with me and really have fun.
To start with, an easy one—Shoulder and Cowsheds
With steep little slopes to get rid of the cobwebs.
After this we'll get going and farther afield
We'll ski down the bushes and over the fields;
Through trees and round chalets until we're near bust
We'll ski in good powder and breakable crust;
We'll ski in 'pudding' and lovely spring snow
Until one or the other no longer can go.
Then we'll stop off for lunch at 'Gletscher or Grund
To stoke up with calories for the afternoon's round.
Off to White Hare in beautiful powder.
As shouts of 'slow down!' become louder and louder.
Then back to Scheidegg for a run down Oh God
And back home over Shoulder, Hundschopf and Bannwald.
The other alternative is a day's tour
With usually ten but preferably fewer,
To Faulhorn, Wildgerste or Goppenstein.
The weather's occasionally foul but usually fine
You'll ski over crevasses and round seracs,
Over ridges and by the most awful cracks.
You'll suffer from vertigo, squids and the heights,
You'll be scared stiff at some of the sights.
You'll be consoled, cajoled and told
'. . . lean out from the hill, forget the cold,
Keep that rope tight . . . don't stand still
If you don't shut up, you'll bring down the hill!'
I'll let you down crevasses and get you in slides
But put the thrills and scares aside,
I'll always bring you safe and sound
Back home to pay the umpteenth round!
And after all is said and done
We've had a good time and some damn good fun,
And perhaps some good ski-ing and a day to remember.
So maybe you'll come again one day as a member
To do something different and off-piste with me,
I'd love to have you come ski with me.
Paul L. Heller