What is leadership? I wonder if it is the being ahead, or the being followed by others, that makes a true leader. The leader of a team instills his vision in the team, and encourages them to pursue it. When the leader changes course, the team follows. When the leader in a race changes course, his competitors continue toward the finish.
All this thinking is to keep my mind off the exhaustion I feel, trying to close the distance between myself and my skiing partner, who is barely visible on the trail, far ahead of me. I approach a party of six other skiers with backpacks, actually half a party of twelve, whose leader also has charged ahead and lost sight of half his team. Sun Tzu refers to the leader as representing several virtues, including wisdom, courage, and benevolence. As I pass, the lagging party attempts to make out unintelligible squawks over a walkie-talkie.
I stop to catch my breath and peel another layer. I conclude that a true leader can create willingness in others to follow him; a false leader simply charges ahead, determined to win the race. Why, then, does hiking or skiing so often become a race between members of the same party? I believe it is the victory of ego over benevolence. (*Pant.*) Time for some water.
Our destination is the lookout above the Foss River, near Index, Washington. A forest road in summer, this long, gentle valley trail is closed to motorized travel in the winter. Skiers looking for an easy day's ski (or a first-time overnighter in the snow) will enjoy the Foss River road, even though it is seldom scenic or interesting. The lookout is gone, replaced by a modern radio tower. Mt. Baker and several other peaks are visible on a clear day.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.