Our house in Pennsylvania was in a valley at the foot of three large hills (probably considered mountains out here on the prairie.) The one to the east had a gentle slope with several rolling hills. Behind the house, facing south, was a hill with several fields. From the back of the house to the top of this hill was about half a mile straight up but longer if you went through the fields. Across the street from the house was another hill facing north that was about the same height as the south hill. The north hill, however, was tree covered and very steep with a distance from bottom to top slightly more than a quarter mile. There was a trail around the base of this hill that reached the top from the south side with an easier slope. The distance to the top using this trail from the house was about a mile and a half.

Soon after we moved to Pennsylvania, my parents decided skiing would be a fun activity during the winter months. That winter we all received skis, poles, boots and ski clothes. My mother took to skiing “like a duck to water.” During the day, while my brother and I were in school, she would go out on her skis and pack down the snow to make a ski run. Starting at the yard on the south side of the house, she would stomp down the snow on the first two hills. This ski trail could also be used for sleds or “flying saucers.” Eventually toboggans were added to the fleet. Over the course of the winter, Mom would make ski trails over all the hills a few feet at a time.

Of course, sliding downhill was never the only pastime in the snow-covered yard. Snowmen were built and dressed in carrots, coal and hats. Forts were constructed and stocked with snowballs. Angels were formed in new snow areas. Snow was even scooped up and eaten with a little maple syrup on top.

Once everyone was wet and cold, we would converge on the house. Hot chocolate was ready with Mom asking, “mini marshmallows or the big puffy ones?” Sometimes there was even whipped cream! All this was enjoyed by a warming fire with a plate of cookies.

Out here on the prairie, hills were at a premium. However, sleds and toboggans were still popular. My friend would head out for his saddle horse when there was good snow. By the time he was mounted, his children “were at the ready” with their sleds and toboggans. Off across the pasture they would be towed until a shout was heard, “Dad, you lost the boy again!” Like in the game “crack the whip,” the last rider had been spun off his sled. Circling back, my friend would pass the child with the line of sleds, and he would jump back on the last one. Off they would go across the pasture again.

Snowmen and forts dotted the prairie just like in the mountains. Warming up with hot chocolate was a necessity.