and it's a perfect night for feeling melancholy.

There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word. Whitman

Morning y'all,

It's another beautiful day up top. The high yesterday reached 30 degrees. The low was 16 degrees. It is currently 23 degrees and clear. The mountain received no new precipitation and our snowfall total has dropped to about 2 inches. The trails still have decent traction, since there has been only my foot falls to pack them down. I would bet that they'll grow slicker in the coming days as they get packed down and we start to get some temperatures above freezing to accelerate the thaw freeze cycles. Be prepared if you intend on visiting the summit, it is still pretty cold up here and the ice is sure to be tricky.

Top photo: Branches on branches. Above: Snow, but not enough. I want the front door buried.

I went out for a micro adventure yesterday afternoon. I usually limit myself to the dawn and dusk hours unless I am out for an all day hike, they are typically the best light, the time of the long shadows and night creatures. I suppose I am drawn to them by habit. However, a new year should be about trying new things. I made an effort to get out during the peak of day and it was worth it. I ran out to Myrtle Point and Cliff Tops. The sky was an ecstatic blue and the ravens were putting on a mid-day show that I must typically miss. They seem to be the only creature more active at this time of day than at dawn and dusk. It was a pleasant surprise to make their acquaintance again. From Apollo Overlook, I saw one atop a crooked tree at Myrtle standing sentinel. As I closed in about a half mile later, I saw that he was exuding confidence at his place in the world. Anthropromorphism is a tricky idea, it can not be proven one way or another as we can not know another creature's mind, but at that moment, I would bet that raven was full of pride. There are some things beyond knowing and language. He had plenty of that.