Cross-Country Skiing Class

Craig Miller--Southwoods Office

For some Wheaton College students, the
transition back from Christmas break can be difficult, whether one is saying
goodbye to family, warmer weather, or mountains higher than, well, flat.  Some intrepid souls make the most of this
transition and face the onset of classes--not to mention the blustery Chicago winter--by taking
advantage of the opportunities the winter can offer. Such a group of students
found its way up to HoneyRock over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend for the
annual cross-country ski class.

Led by the knowledgeable and energetic Dr. Bud Williams and
his cadre of instructors, 50 Wheaton students soon found themselves engaged in
a waltz of diagonal striding, kick-double-poling, dog-trotting and numerous
wedge turns and stops.  The eager pupils
learned the basics of equipment care, including the intricate art of waxing the
skis, and some finer points of technique as well as exploring the extensive
HoneyRock trail system.  The instruction
varied between large and small groups, giving students plenty of time with the
instructors.  One day was spent over at
the scenic Anvil Lake trail system where students got to
hone many of the skills they’d acquired the previous day. A nighttime ski to
Does Acres also proved to be a very memorable part of the weekend.

In addition to providing the chance to learn a valuable
life-long skill, the cross-country skiing class enabled the students to spend a
prolonged time outdoors, experiencing the beauty of God’s creation.  Whether it was feeding chickadees at Anvil Lake,
seeing deer and squirrel paths through the woods, or catching one’s breath at
the incredible expanse of stars overhead, our time at HoneyRock enabled us to
experience the presence of the Creator in ways not easily done down on campus.  If nothing else, I think the weekend at
HoneyRock encouraged students who were making the transition back into a new semester to
be more aware of the creation around them.