March 11th, 2013

too much.

_Morning y'all,

It's a blustery day up top. The high yesterday reached 48 degrees. The low was 34 degrees. It was 36 degrees and overcast at 7am observation. The mountain got plenty of sun yesterday, with the snow on the ground I'm getting a nice little base tan for my travels. There's only about 3 inches of snow left up top, but a bit more on the trails that don't receive plenty of sun. The snow makes for some very tricky footing, giving away like sand on a beach cliff seemingly at random. Be careful!

The past few days have really smelt of spring, even up top. There's a fecundity in the air, you can almost feel the seeds stirring, waking up from their winterlong naps and starting to think about sprouting. The warm temperatures and abundant sun have added to the effect... yet another storm rolled in last night and reminded me this is still March - a transition month that brings both those beautiful, warm spring days, everything bursting with life and colour... and the gray, drizzly, windswept days that harken back to January and make you wonder where you put your hat & gloves before you head outside...

night.

_This bipolar weather reflects my mood, both bursting with anticipation of adventures & reunions to come, fine mountains with even finer people, a melange of bucolic New England scenes... yet all this comes with the bittersweet finality of a good thing come to an end. I'll miss my routine here, the gentle ease of my days, a life with no demands or schedule, the monotony that is not monotony if you keep your eyes open. The constant surprises & daily gifts of a simple life up top, where a crow gliding over Myrtle Point, majestic sunset, or evening stroll can literally make your day, molding you to expect little and in return, forever and always receive much. I hike down a new man, every day, season after season and into the night...