Winter Wanderings

There is something about walking through the woods in the middle of the winter. There is a quiet and calm under the canopy that I find minimally Zen-like. Perhaps it is the carpet of snow on the ground covering all the Earth's imperfections or that only the most dedicated are willing to endure the harsh winds that bite at the skin. Whatever the reason, the peace and tranquility is amazing and perfectly simple.

Even in the winter I am a minimalist when it comes to hiking. I still tend to wear shorts and take the minimum amount of gear I need. I do tend to wear shoes but, only for thermogenic reasons. I have been eyeing a pair of hiking shoes from BackCountry for a while now but haven't the funds to get them...yet. I think they'd be perfect for the rock terrain covered in snow and leaves and whatever else debris litters the trail. Many of the trails I tend to travel fall into one or two categories, rocky and/or steep. So I've been looking for a shoe that will keep my feet dry and warm, only for the winter mind you. I still prefer going barefoot.

I went up to Col. Denning State Park again on a weekday afternoon with a buddy of mine to go in search of a plane wreck. It seems about 30 years ago a plane had crashed into the mountain range and was just off one of the trails. It was a small plane and very little wreckage remained but it was interesting to see. The trail itself was a bit steep initially and only after a mile or so did it level off. I was shedding layers like crazy to the point of going in just my shoes and shorts, everything else around my waist. Even in the 25 degree air I was sweating profusely without a shirt on. Though every time we stopped for a breather I was soon freezing again...motivation not to stop...lol.

The top of the trail led straight to a wagon wheel of trails of which we took the trail leading to Flat Rock, one of my favorite trails. After checking into the shelter along the trail and an hour of uphill hiking we made it to the top. Though the clouds were out the view is still amazing. I was even able to get a video of some buzzards flying overhead.

I'm still entranced by the way being in nature ehances my mood and overall well being. I can understand completely where Henry David Thoreau was coming from by moving to Walden and living the life he did. It puts things into perspective.

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