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.