another road where maybe i could see another kind of mind there.

What you call bareness and poverty is to me simplicity. God could not be unkind to me if he should try. I love the winter, with its imprisonment and its cold, for it compels the prisoner to try new fields and resources. I love to have the river closed up for a season and a pause put to my boating, to be obliged to get my boat in. I shall launch it again in the spring with so much more pleasure. This is an advantage in point of abstinence and moderation compared with the seaside boating, where the boat ever lies on the shore. I love best to have each thing in its season only, and enjoy doing without it at all other times. It is the greatest of all advantages to enjoy no advantage at all. I find it invariably true, the poorer I am, the richer I am. What you consider my disadvantage, I consider my advantage. While you are pleased to get knowledge and culture in many ways, I am delighted to think that I am getting rid of them. I have never got over my surprise that I should have been born into the most estimable place in all the world, and in the very nick of time, too. Thoreau

Top photo: Flying out. Above: WHOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!!!!!

Morning,

It was another insanely mild day on the Mountain. The high was 52 degrees. The low was 36 degrees. It was 46 degrees and cloudy at observation. It looks like today will be a bit of a rainy day up top.

I spent yesterday reading down at Alum Cave. It was a great day for falcon watching. I think they must be nesting, as they seem more territorial than usual. In addition to their calls, I was able to hear the impressive WHOOOOSH of their deceleration into their perches above the Cave. They are almost too fast to believe. I took my time at the cave, reading in the sun for 3 hours.

I set a personal record for 'soaking it in' on the way back up, taking an hour and 45 minutes and stopping all over the place to take pictures and soak in the sun. I can't believe this is my last night solo on the mountain! I'm having ebbing, flowing feelings about my time here. There is already a deeply rooted nostalgia about this amazing place competing with a preternatural joy about what's around the next bend in the trail. Life!

PS: I am trying to get to New Hampshire for my new job in late March and am looking to buy a used vehicle. I am looking for anything at/under ~$1,200 that runs. A pickup, small car with good gas efficiency or motorcycle would be ideal. If any of you kind readers have any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it! Email me at jpkrol@gmail.com if you have any leads!

Best,
JP

My very scientific sign of the first day of Spring - I get to hike barefoot.

Another great sunset.