The landscape looks like a black and white photograph, the enormous naked trees streatching hight in their fluffy-white abode, the only color found is in the brightly clad skiers gliding through the forest. As we guide our smooth skis up he steep inclines of the Cascade Mountains, our thoughts are centered on the spirituality and silence of nature. Today's ski trip will be a short one, just up a few more steep inclines to theTrail Junction, where miles and miles of trails are spearheaded. At the junction, we will turn back, and fly down the trail we've forged for ourselves, feeling great and careless as our bodies cut through the crisp Washington air. Our hollers and laughing exclamaitons will break the silence as we experience natures own sort of roller-coaster.

Exhilarated by our ski, we are anxious to get backto the village; a place where there will be hot chocolate and fresh fruit waiting and where there is always someone who wants to engage in a long, meaningful conversation. Some of us will work on weaving or knitting, others will read our class assignments, some may be seen in the kitchen baking bread for the evening meal, and some will rehearse songs or readings for the evenings Vespers service.

Whatever we do, we will, without a doubt, feel great afterwards. Thus is life in Holden Village, a place where conservation of natural resources and faith in humanity are a given, and where the mind and body are nurtured as one.