A Fine Start to Winter

Every so often, the three Hermit Woods partners manage to carve out a day where we get to just be people again—not owners, not meeting planners, not number crunchers—but friends who’ve been on a long journey together. Yesterday gave us exactly that kind of day.

We woke before first light, the kind of blue-grey morning where the mountains look like someone tucked them under a quilt of fresh snow. Early-December skiing is usually a gamble, but the forecast promised conditions worth writing home about, and wouldn’t you know it, the weather folks actually got it right.

By the time we reached the lift, winter greeted us with a proper old-fashioned snap in the air. The snow was surprisingly generous for the season—soft powder sitting neatly over a real base, not the early-season ice rink we’ve all tried to survive in years past. We laughed, we carved, and we pretended our technique looked better than it probably did. The mountain didn’t seem to mind either way.

Around midday we reached the summit and looked out over the peaks wearing drifting clouds like they owned the place. It felt like one of those rare early-winter days when everything lines up—the conditions, the company, the silence at the top—and we just took a breath and thought, Well now, this will do just fine.

When our legs eventually began whispering for mercy, we traded our skis for something equally restorative: a pint. Our car found its way to Rek-Lis Brewing Company in Bethlehem as if it had been there a thousand times before (well, not quite that many times). Inside, the warmth, music, and aroma of craft beer wrapped around us like a familiar blanket. A Pilsner for one, an IPA, and a Spruce Tip Brown Ale for another, something malty for the soul, and suddenly the day’s exertion felt like a well-earned victory.

We swapped stories about the best run of the day, the bravest turns, and one wipeout (maybe 2) that absolutely did not happen—despite the suspicious evidence of snow still clinging to a certain coat. We toasted the start of winter, the gift of good snow, and something we sometimes forget to celebrate: the chance for the three of us to spend unrushed time together.

Running a winery, a restaurant, and a music venue is a joyful adventure, but it leaves little space for quiet conversations, big-picture thinking, and honest friendship. Days like this help us reconnect—not just with the season we love, but with each other. We brainstormed ideas for the winery, caught up on personal stories, dreamed about what’s next for Hermit Woods, and reminded ourselves that this journey works because we enjoy walking it together.

By the time the glasses were empty, none of us were in a hurry to leave. The mountain gave us fresh snow, Rek-Lis gave us warmth and good beer, and time together gave us the clarity and camaraderie that keep Hermit Woods moving forward.

All in all, winter showed up early this year—and treated us kindly. And we were reminded, once again, that the best days aren’t just about the skiing or the brewery, but about the people who make the long workdays worthwhile.

Not a bad way to welcome the season. Not bad at all.