I think that I shall never see a more improbable charismatic megaflora than Yucca breviflora, affectionately known as the Joshua Tree.
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Category: Winter
I take it all back
April snow is not an alien phenomenon in New England, but that doesn’t mean it’s welcome.
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Breaking trail
I’ll get this out of the way upfront: I’m not a big fan of snowshoes. They’re awkward to wear, cumbersome to carry, and my natural gait places one foot in front of the other, so the side by side snowshoe waddle feels particularly awkward and trip-prone. Nonetheless, I set out with my snowshoes for a hike up Smart’s Brook, and was glad to have them!
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Big pines & sculptured rocks
It doesn’t take an epic hike to visit outdoor splendors. On recent cold, clear days I’ve taken some shorter walks to replenish my vitamin D, get some fresh air, and admire the woods and waters.
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Ghosts of Decembers past
For the past several years it’s been my habit and my pleasure to take advantage of the long holiday shutdown to travel. This year the Covid-19 pandemic is still raging, and travel is unwise.
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Opting outside
The Covid-19 pandemic has upended a lot of cherished traditions in 2020, but I’m happy to report that this year I was able to keep my longstanding tradition of not participating in Black Friday shopping. Taking a page from REI, I spent the day after Thanksgiving on a hike up and back down Sabbaday Brook trail.
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Social Distance
Since last Monday, my employer has strongly recommended that all employees who have the ability to work from home do so. I’ve chosen to interpret work from home as rusticate in a cabin just outside the White Mountain National Forest. After a work week glued to laptop video conferences, two days of bluebird skies and winter hiking were an exceptional relief, and also perfectly aligned with social distancing guidelines.
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Mythical snow creatures
Even before I started skiing, I heard the legends. These whispers told of an elusive creature glimpsed only during or immediately after winter storms. Like the yeti, this creature is seldom spotted in the northeast, but today I’m visiting it’s native habitat, and it’s snowing.
My comfort zone is at sea level
Yesterday I received from my employer an auto-generated email congratulating me on my third work anniversary. Since I took up skiing the last time I was between jobs, that means it’s been just over three years since I started learning. This trip down memory lane is relevant because right now I’m in Snowbird, Utah looking down slopes both longer and steeper than I’m used to and reminding myself that I do this for fun.
Ice Climbing with SendHers
I’m proud to be part of a very cool group of women from the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Boston Chapter Mountaineering Committee called the SendHers.
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