A Thanksgiving Day Wander 11.22.18

A Thanksgiving Day Wander 11.22.18

A holiday is a good excuse to take a wander.  This one in particular, offers an opportunity to give thanks for each other and all that we have.  Today, the Bearded One and I decide to take our new MSR Lightning Ascents snowshoes and find some deep snow to play in.  We arrive at Bear Lake Trailhead and decide to head out towards the Odessa Gorge.

A Day of Thanks

Setting aside the cultural significance of this day, we focus on all the things for which we are thankful.   Today I give thanks for the Bearded One coming out into the woods with me; a short work week that allows for a bit more energy left for a wander; for new snowshoes; and these incredible mountains.

Bear Lake

There are more people out on this chilly morning that I expected – young children wrapped in layers, wind kissed cheeks peeking out from hoods drawn tight.  Snow boots and snowshoes clunk along the frozen surface of the parking lot.  We opt for our micro spikes as the snow is not deep.  Our wander starts along the trail leading to Bear Lake and we smile at families out for a stroll.  I discourage people from going out on the newly iced over Lake and explain that the ice is not nearly thick enough or solid enough to safely walk over.

Longs Peak 

Longs Peak and surrounding mountains stand out against a snow filled sky.  Winds whip snow into swirls that dance across the peaks and roar through the valley.  We stop to watch the weather play with the mountains, a scene that brings pleasure to the eye and excites the mind and engenders feelings of thanks for the privilege of access to such experiences.

Squeaking Tree 

The fork in the trail brings deeper snow and the chance to break out our new snowshoes.  Soon we have flotation on our feet, gleefully dancing across the snow.  The shoes are so light and maneuverable we hardly notice them on our feet.  As we cruise along the snow, I suddenly hear a SQUEAK.  Then a longer, more drawn out SQUEAK.  We both stop to look around and quickly surmise that a tree resting upon another tree rubs and squeaks as the wind blows and causes both trees to move.  I know I must capture this on video, so we stop for an extended time to capture the sound of the wind and the squeak.  Of course, the intermittent wind makes this a difficult task.  Every time I press the button to record that wind stops and the squeak subsides.

Blowing Snow

We continue for an hour, stopping to walk through deep snow to test the flotation of our snowshoes.  We agree that our purchase was well worth the money.  As we wander, the wind picks up and snow devils pick up and swirl about the white snowy surface.  Bare ground peeks out from around the trees.  The full swing of winter has not yet arrived, but a good start has begun.

Return

Our set turn around time of 12:30 arrives and it is time to return so we will be back home in time to celebrate the holiday with friends.  The sun has penetrated some clouds to cast a long shadow across the snow.  

A tag of pine needles covered in snow catches my eye and calls to the camera lens.  It conjures a sense of longing – longing to wander far and wide and expose my senses to the beauty of these beloved mountains. 

A large, complex tree catches my attention – arms spreading up, down and sideways tickle my imagination and we ponder how one branch in the middle of the tree grew straight down. 

 

 

Another great wander with the Bearded One!

WanderJill