Riding the Crystal Carpet

"Sunglasses. I don't have my sunglasses!" I told my husband, as I finished searching the dozens of pockets in my snow gear.

We were ready to head into the country on our skidoo to visit our cabin. It would be at least an hour's drive. The day was remarkable, brilliant, but bitterly cold, and the brightness of our Newfoundland winter wonderland would strain the eyes, and possibly even cause snow blindness. Sun block and UV filter eye glasses are just as necessary on those winter days as they are on summer days.

I was amazed by the beauty of the day, so did not give the sunglasses another thought. There was no wind, and the shadows of snow and ice formations on the bushes, trees, and rocks, all made for a scene that took my breath away.

Without the tinted glasses, I could see the true colors of winter in Newfoundland. I was in awe of the vistas as we crossed a frozen pond, reached the open country, and rode over the expanse of pure white, frozen land.

The frozen ponds, with their cover of ice, were like mirrors. The huge rocks, old tree stumps, and small trees cast wonderful shadows on the white snow, while the taller trees stood guarding all they surveyed.

The bright sunlight twinkling on the snowy surface produced colors as would a prism, glittering with all the colors of the spectrum. Without tinted glasses everything was so clear, so splendid. It was a sight unequaled by anything I had ever seen.

As my husband guided the skidoo across the barren land, I savored my ride on the carpet of crystals, and I allowed the glorious sight to embed itself deeply into my soul. I had the dreamlike feeling of being suspended in time and space, surrounded by priceless gems. Even some of the trees had crystal ice formations on their boughs which made them appear to be purposely decorated. I wished the ride would never end.

I was overcome by the awareness of being back in my beloved Newfoundland, and experiencing the sense of being a Newfoundlander, something that had often been lost as I lived my busy working life, and raised a family, far from the shores of my own province.

Soon we were nearing our cabin. I glanced back at the frozen land, and the bejeweled carpet glistened and winked as if to say "See you soon." The whole experience of that day still lives in my heart. And the memory of that day is made even more wonderful, because it is highly unlikely that I will ever again expose my eyes to the stark, bright light, for that length of time.

Sun & Snow Snow blindness is a painful condition, typically a keratitis caused by exposure of unprotected eyes to sunlight reflected from snow. This is especially a problem at high altitudes and in polar regions. Snow blindness does not usually cause permanent vision loss, and resting the eyes in a dark room for several days will cause the pain and symptoms to disappear. If you are traveling in snowy regions, sunglasses with UV protection should be worn at all times to protect the eyes. Sun block is also a necessity because the reflected sunlight from the snow can cause a very painful sunburn, and possible scarring of the face.

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