The Ode and the Tree

A wise skier once asked "how can an Ode keep you from hitting a tree while skiing untracked powder?" The lift operator replied "you elevate" with a wink, a nod, and an edible.

The Ode is a tradition of the Perverse Traverse. Typically composed by the Executive Chairman, and delivered with verve. But what is an Ode you ask?

An ode is a type of lyrical stanza. It is an elaborately structured poem praising or glorifying an event or individual, describing nature intellectually as well as emotionally. A classic ode is structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode.

Thomas Gray and John Keats, shown below, are notable practitioners.

By the way, the number of ski operators in the United States is 6,652 in 2021. Even better, the average $29K salary was the same for men and women.