Sights Of Winter

I want to show you some of the things I saw just yesterday from my latest hike. If you're not looking at the snow, then you're missing something wonderful. Some of you may have to look out your window to do it, and some of you may have to follow along with me and my stories to enjoy winter. However you do it, it's worth seeing this while it still lasts!

The forest is a completely different world when there is a fresh snowfall covering everything. This is a place that is magically transformed from a world of summer green to a world of winter silver and white. The air even has a different quality in the winter. When you breath in, you get such a clean, refreshed feeling, that you don't want it any other way.

When I go out here I dress very warmly. I wear hiking boots, with the best thick socks underneath. I wear long underwear under my pants. I wear a jacket under my coat. Multiple layers of clothing always work very well. I always wear warm, but thin gloves, so I can still operate my camera. And I make sure my head, and especially my face, is well-covered.

After dressing this way, which isn't difficult at all, I didn't even feel the cold when I went out yesterday. I was as warm as if I were still indoors. I'm saying this for all of you who can go out this time of year but choose not to because you think it's too cold. I'm telling you, with the proper clothing you don't feel the cold even a little bit. And I spent very little to get it.

Here is the place where I saw a squirrel licking the ice to get water a few weeks ago. The great thing about the snow is that the squirrels will never get thirsty. Almost every one of you already know that snow is just frozen water crystals, so all a squirrel has to do for water is to lick the snow. It's even closer to their trees than the lake is.

And now the squirrels can cross the lake to find new adventures, and new homes, for themselves. Some animals are built very well for winters like this one. I'm one of them.

Can you see the hiking trail in this picture? The snow is hiding it very well. Nobody walked along this trail since this snowfall. I was the very first. The marks that dot the snow in so many places are from snow that fell from tree branches as the wind blew. It was great to be able to walk on fresh new snow. Where no one has gone before.

The best thing of all was that I knew that I was truly alone out here. I was free to follow the animal tracks and listen to their chattering off in the distance, without any human disruptions. I felt peace in this snow. This is what I get from hiking in the winter. The great thing is that you can even feel this same peace when you have the company of another like-minded adventurer. Alone or together, it all works the same. Winter is a wonderful time.