the mid-atlantic states just got dumped on--two to almost three feet of snow in places...most winter loving friends i hang with would give a lot for even half of that. i am trying to zen my way through the season doing what i can to enjoy what we have. a few weekends ago, i got in a half day of skating, circling canaan street lake. the ice was thick enough and we all hoped that the forecasted heavy rain on that sunday would resurface things with the predicted freeze after. things worked out well that way, but then we got two-three inches of snow and it windpacked like crazy--so much for more skating.
but at least it was cold. and last monday, the 18th, with about five or six inches in our drive, i went off to the shaker trails and skied for the first time this year. cover was ok--a bit thin in places--but fun enough. we, skip and i, made it up to what al strickland calls "lost pond". i remember riding bike with the MOC saturday group and coming to the large stoned dam that holds in this pond. (see the map in the link above--the little dead end thumb to the south) al gets around lasalette surrounds as much as i do and we often talk of finding out of the way spots that attract our interest.
from the pond down, there is some sweet glade to weave through. i have spent quite a few hours clearing tons of blowdowns and we enjoyed the mostly clear 'tree section'. way down at the bottom, there was a bit of ice exposed under a huge pine so i detoured. instead, i found a rock with my bottom--a week later, the bruise is still pretty huge, somewhat sore, and very ugly. i am imaging somebody writing me just this moment, "omg, you are going to die!" at some point yes, but i am hoping this isn't my time...mostly because i have high hopes that it will snow sometime this season--but i will not hold my breath.
last saturday was the full moon which meant MOC (mascoma outing club) hiked cardigan to see it rise at the same time the sun is setting. i went up--no students or teachers this time--and got a great color show with the sun going down in the west, "red at night, sailors' delight!" the moon however was hidden behind a huge bank of clouds sent up the east coast by that huge storm i mentioned. i had no intention to wait well into the dark but on my way off the mountain i calculated that if things kept clearing, the same show would be happening tomorrow morning--only in reverse. i get up pretty early so i made plans to be there. sure enough the clouds were gone, save for just a thin band on each horizon. sunrise was just a moment before moonset...
it was energizing to see in reverse what MOC, at least me, usually sees once a month. the sun now in the east and the moon in the west.
putting myself outside and experiencing the everyday beauty fills me with joy. i have many issues with inertia, getting up and going, but find motivation in looking at the little things outdoors. it was a grand morning--and this time i remembered the camera.
from the pond down, there is some sweet glade to weave through. i have spent quite a few hours clearing tons of blowdowns and we enjoyed the mostly clear 'tree section'. way down at the bottom, there was a bit of ice exposed under a huge pine so i detoured. instead, i found a rock with my bottom--a week later, the bruise is still pretty huge, somewhat sore, and very ugly. i am imaging somebody writing me just this moment, "omg, you are going to die!" at some point yes, but i am hoping this isn't my time...mostly because i have high hopes that it will snow sometime this season--but i will not hold my breath.
last saturday was the full moon which meant MOC (mascoma outing club) hiked cardigan to see it rise at the same time the sun is setting. i went up--no students or teachers this time--and got a great color show with the sun going down in the west, "red at night, sailors' delight!" the moon however was hidden behind a huge bank of clouds sent up the east coast by that huge storm i mentioned. i had no intention to wait well into the dark but on my way off the mountain i calculated that if things kept clearing, the same show would be happening tomorrow morning--only in reverse. i get up pretty early so i made plans to be there. sure enough the clouds were gone, save for just a thin band on each horizon. sunrise was just a moment before moonset...
it was energizing to see in reverse what MOC, at least me, usually sees once a month. the sun now in the east and the moon in the west.
putting myself outside and experiencing the everyday beauty fills me with joy. i have many issues with inertia, getting up and going, but find motivation in looking at the little things outdoors. it was a grand morning--and this time i remembered the camera.
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