Skiing in a winter wonderland

What a gorgeous afternoon! The mid-afternoon sun was doing its best to warm up the frigid Wisconsin air. Its shine was causing the snow crystals on the ground to sparkle, blinding you with its brilliance.
In short, it was a beautiful winter day and perfect for one of my favorite sports: cross country skiing. I can't think of a better way to spend a winter afternoon than gliding through forest trails smoothly and swiftly on skis.
It's a sport that can be as relaxing or exhilarating as you'd like. You can crawl slowly on wooded trails or fly down hills, turning at the last minute so you don't crash into that tree near the bottom. I settle somewhere near the middle: I love the quiet moments where you are just enjoying being outside, and I like those moments where your heart gets pumping as you tumble in a pile of snow in order to prevent hitting that skier in front of you.
Most importantly for me, is that it gets me outside during the winter. I think, for every season, you have to have something to look forward to that gets you outside. You can ski in frigid temperatures, because you stay pretty warm. The only requirement is of course: snow. You can't really make a cross country ski course. And the joy of it really, is to be able to wander wherever you want. You can go any park or open space with snow. It's quite liberating.
So if you're in a cold snowy area, give it a try. It doesn't take that much coordination. Renting skis isn't expensive. And, it will make you feel better about the winter instantly.