pencilfox, deep snow, shovel.

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while out snowshoe'ing last saturday:

stepped into chest-deep snow. 

wedged into the snow:

flat. 

deep.

stuck.

i could not pull my way out:

i was stuck. 

plain and simple. 

i did not panic. 

instead, i lay'd back on the snow behind me:

the idea was to harden the snow

for a packed trail onto which i would 

pull myself upright

when out of the deep fluff. 

then: 

sat up.

dug myself out with my gloved hands.

did a belly-flop onto the hardened snow.

pulled myself up onto my feet.

snowshoe'd my way home. 

tired. 

snowpack in my wool sweater. 

snowpack in my sorel boots. 

determined. 

determined to load up next time: 

shovel. 

mobile phone. 

dry sox. 

dry mitts. 

water for thirst. 

with that said:

a brand new voile' avalanche shovel. 

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