Chilly, soggy weather this past Sunday wasn't enough to stop us from having a great hike to Lake 22 for the November meeting of Alpine Trails Book Club. After reading trail reports and the weather forecast, we came prepared with waterproof boots, rain gear, and lots of warm layers, and it's a good thing we did. The few people we passed on the trail who weren't so well prepared looked downright miserable! Understandably so too, since much of the trail had become seasonal stream bed due to the recent heavy rain.
Read moreLife: Week 29
These days, my daily runs are scented by the abundant blackberries lining the local trails. My daily runs are also more like daily walks, since I can't handle running in this heat! I've made a deal with myself that even if it's too hot to motivate myself for running, I should at least go for a long walk. Hopefully I can keep up some level of activity through the heat to come in August.
Read moreLife: Week 14
I absolutely love this time of year. While the weather has been gradually shifting towards spring for months, suddenly it seems like everything is blooming and growing. Everywhere, instead of bare branches, there's new green growth. The walks I took through our neighborhood on the long, warm, sunny days were significantly slowed by my constant pauses to snap photos of many of my favorite blooms. The dogwood are blooming! Along with lilacs, dogwood are my favorite flowers. Lilacs, I love for their smell, but dogwood I love for their sturdy, large flowers in bright pink, white, and sometimes even pale green. They're everywhere this week.
Read moreOld Sauk River
Lately, many of my favorite hikes have been demanding trails that require high effort for the rewards of dramatic views or sparking jewel lakes. Then, along came the Old Sauk River trail, which asks very little, but gives so much tranquility and beauty in return. This is a trail that makes you slow down. Surrounded by the giant, moss covered trees, your eye is forced to the tiny details of the forest. When I hiked it on the first day of spring, those details were primarily budding leaves and blooming flowers.
Read moreLife: Week 11
After the power outage last week, I wound up getting my Monday breakfast from a favorite cafe near my office - a large chocolate chip cookie and cardamom latte. I definitely need more of that latte in my life, although I would prefer something a little less sugary and a little more hearty for breakfast next time. In other news, spring is officially here! Every morning now, the air smells like flowers and rain. It's so much better than any perfume I've ever found. In other, other news, my first cold of the year is here! I've gone from feeling almost recovered to feeling miserable at least twice now, so it seems like this one will be with me for a while. On Sunday, I felt well enough to make it to my first Alpine Trails book club meeting. We hiked the Old Sauk River, then sat on the mossy forest carpet to share snacks and discuss the book, Grandma Gatewood's Walk. All morning, the skies looked ominous, but we only had the occasional light sprinkling of rain. It was the perfect trail for the day, and I can't think of a better way to have spent the first day of spring!
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