i'm so in love with you gurl, it's like i'm on the moon. i can't really breathe but i feel lighter.

There is no remedy for love but to love more. Thoreau

Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, clear, snowy morning up top. The stuff of dreams. The high yesterday reached 23 degrees. The overnight low was 14 degrees. It was 22 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new snow, so the total up top is still around 10 inches. The cold temps have kept the powder fluffy, so it is pretty easy walking. It is mostly around 5-6 inches deep on the trails up until the double stair on Alum, then it picks up a little. Gaiters, snow pants, waterproof shoes and wool socks make it WAY easier, I'd recommend them all for these conditions. This is not the time of year for jeans and cotton socks. I'll be out exploring, enjoy the day!

I went for a run yesterday afternoon just as the clouds were starting to break. The mountain had been in the midst of about 3 days of mysterious, ever shifting shades of grey before this grand show. While I've taught myself to savor whatever weather the mountain delivers (though I will always wish for more SNOW), intentional thinking will only get you so far. There is something special about those first few minutes of sunshine, as the clouds are gently evaporating, creating a tapestry of cloudlight that is it's own artwork, unique as a snowflake. The sun gives all the fresh snow a transcendent glow. We crave the sunshine, this promise for brighter days. The landscape osmosis leaks into our brains and brightens our moods. Before I knew it, I was skipping up the mountain, laughing at how ridiculous it is to be feeling all this beauty, the sole human resident of a National Park.