Eyes travel anxiously across the field, checking for the enemy, for the sudden opponent. It is a cold winter day and as you wait behind your snow fort, the hairs on the back of your neck stick up as you imagine the worst. No one had ever expected you and your best friend to go head to head in such a vicious contest, but the winter air brings just as much rivalry as it does cheer. There will be celebration once the battle is won, and the lyrics to “We Are the Champions” might just burst forth just as the first throw did. Times have changed–it is no longer just a snowball fight. This is war, with the high and mighty snow forts standing tall above the ground, the only real place of protection.
With temperatures dropping, there is constant discussion over how much snow will fall in the upcoming season. The atmosphere is infused with the hope of off days for leisure. Some students will spend the afternoons with friends, taking “Instagram-worthy” pictures of s(n)o(w) much fun. Others will take the time to catch up on sleep, warm under layers of blankets. The adrenaline filled students, however, the ones with power in their eye and confidence in their step, will spend their precious time on the battlefield, also known as the front yard.
There are many proven and methods that go into victory that just involve forts. The truth is that the best forts are built for the last minute battle that your neighbor called you for. They are built while the heart is pounding and you race to stack snow on top of snow. Moreover, the foundation is the most important aspect of forts as it will determine whether or not the walls will stand tall or fall. The best way to ensure the strength of your stronghold is by throwing water towards the foundation as it will freeze solid and be near impossible to tear down. You should not waste much time on the detail, just be sure that it won’t collapse once the younger siblings goes out to play.
In addition, few tools are needed for assembling the snow bricks together. Many snow fort builders will use a shovel, and maybe even a plow. However, the visionary will simply use his or her hands for most of the work. They push through the numbness to create a work of art so beautiful and functional that no renaissance sculptor could ever hope to create.
Another less-recognized strategy is stealth. Many will supplement their forts with cute decor, but this doomed from the start. It creates a welcoming, a sweet greeting to one’s opponent from across the battlefield. While the “intimidating” flaming torch may appear threatening, it will not do much more than melt your snow and give your enemy a signal to your position.
The annual snow brings out many different personalities from those who sleep in to those who are determined to dominate a war. They gather up the powdered white snow to create something more powerful than they could have ever imagined. It takes courage to walk out that front door, into a world much different than one’s bedroom sheets.
