Hub and Spoke. Audio Collective. The You're listening to nocturne. I'm Vanessa Lowe. below.

As winter fades into memory on the northern hemisphere,

many breathe size of relief,

looking forward to longer days, and the warmth of the sun inviting time

spent outside.

But some are not so excited, hanging on to the wisps of winter with its long cold nights.

My late grandfather on my father's side was a very avid downhill skier

and he was just about as fanatical about

downhill skiing as I am about cross-country skiing. I learned to cross-country ski

when I was too. That was a real connection that we had and even though he died many years ago.

Every time at cross country ski when it's very, very cold,

where every time you inhale ice crystals form on your nose hairs and your

eyelashes get covered in ice crystals I always bring

think of him because no temperature daunted him and he would always bring a silk

balaclava that he would wear when he would down hill ski in the coldest temperatures.

And when he got to a point in his life

when he wasn't really skiing anymore,

he gave me this balla clava.

And it's made in Norway, and it's 100% silk and it is always in my

pocket when I ski no matter the temperature and I've worn it many many times

when it's been extremely cold and absolutely no one I know is out skiing.

I am the only one hitting the trails.

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