Making Traks

That backpacking trip I mentioned before takes place in June, so I'm already gearing up and preparing. I started this last Saturday with my pack about 1/3 full. I walked the local park paths for about 3 hours, feeling toasty in layer on layer of clothes as I picked my way over ice and packed snow. The next time I made sure to wear my yak traks for better traction. Either way, yak traks or no, there were a few spots where the path was so steep and icy, I opted to sit and slide down the path, rather than risking a trip and fall.

What I learned on my first hike:

-after only a few hours, I'm already getting hungry (made sure to bring trail mix the next time!)
-my hip flexors were the most sore after, closely followed by my shoulder muscles
-the snow has barely melted in the park because of all the shade, so the conditions on the roads and lawns are no indication of trail conditions

My second hike lasted 4 hours, and it was so cold when I started (about 4 F) that after only an hour, the straw on my water bottle had frozen solid and the water in the bottle had flakes of ice forming in it..!

I'm excited for the next hike! Aiming for 4 hour hikes in February, 7 in March, 10 in April, and 13 in May... Then gear tests in early June. So far so good.

Here's to the adventure, and this journey leading up to it!

Snow Day

The plows have been moving snow all morning, since at least 4 a.m. The streets are clear for now, but light flurries keep drifting down and disappearing into the soft white roads and driveways and lawns. The pine trees by our house are dusted with snow and hanging heavy from it. What better way to spend the morning than sipping a cup of coffee by the window, wearing cozy slippers, and watching the snow and the cold on the other side of the glass.

We had snowfall and 40 mph winds yesterday. Visibility was awful. Schools were canceled. The evening cook called in to swap shifts with me, since she couldn't even see the end of her driveway. So today I am free, unexpectedly. And snow is to thank. I think for the first time in my adult life, I actually have a Snow Day. Now if only I had a toboggan...

=)

Ep. 22: Escape

People are people, no matter their age. Some will be kind, curious, rude, condescending, bitter, or funny, and so on. I’m an “old people chef,” and this is my journal.
--

Recycling
About midmorning,
amid smells of coffee and egg bake
and fried ham and steaming orange muffins,

I gather up the recycling
and head for the door,
a momentary escape:

In summer
I swim through suffocating humidity,
carboard in one hand,
imaginary snorkel in the other,
cottonwood leaves in the grove glimmering.

In fall
the crisp breeze carries
the tang of burning leaves
and thoughts of hay bales and hot cider.

Now, today,
the first snow swirls around me
as I walk
and watch
the scenery coated in white.

Pine and cinnamon and red ribbon
eclipse thoughts of dreary frozen smudged January ahead.

For now it is November and holidays are near.
Winter is here.

(copyright EA Schueller)