by Magdalena Dajka, ’20
Thomas More College, because of its location in southern New Hampshire, affords students plenty of opportunities for adventures of all different kinds. One of these is skiing and snowboarding. There are many mountains within a one or two-hour drive, so both beginner and advanced skiers can find something to suit them. Every winter, students take advantage of this opportunity to spend some time on the slopes.
The first ski trip of the semester took place last Saturday, February 8th. The campus was abuzz with excitement for several days prior, as Resident Director Mr. Daniel Leahy and his cohort of avid skiers cajoled everyone they encountered into taking part in the expedition. Nearly two dozen students piled into the school vans early Saturday afternoon and set off for Pats Peak, a fifty-minute drive away. At least 
half of the students who went had never been skiing before, but most caught on quickly and spent an enjoyable day in the fresh winter air.
The conditions were perfect for skiing—cold but sunny, with a healthy layer of snow—and all the trees, coated with ice, sparkled in the sun. Then came a beautiful sunset, turning the western sky red and orange, as a golden full moon rose in the east. The views from the mountain top were truly striking. At twilight, the lights which lined the slopes turned on, and night skiing began, with a charm of its own. Most students skied or snowboarded until the lifts closed at 10 pm,
some enjoying the gentle green trails, others speeding down the double black diamonds. At last, it was time to return to campus. The skiers slept soundly after their full day on the mountain and returned to their studies refreshed.
