When my family goes hiking in the woods we like to explore all our senses as we mosey along the trail (and off the trail). Today’s temperature was just warming above 0 degrees F and the winds were very mild at around 6mph. The trails were a mess of prints in the newly fallen 2 inches of snow. Just delightful. It’s so cold that one can only smell cold. Our breath frosts on our scarves (and fogs my glasses). Birdsong is clear while rest of world is muffled by snow over. We trudge through the piles of snow and continually test our balance and proprioceptive senses. The heft of dragging our feet in the snow and the slippery sensation until we find our grip. My body feels warm because I have on my layers and I notice my muscles moving and the soreness of arthritis in my joints; I relish ability to keep moving. Motion is lotion for any body!
Our walk/trudge lasts about two hours and is simple and wonderful and exhausting and exhilarating. We spotted a Northern Saw Whet owl nestling in a pine and stared at each other for a while. Our connection to nature was replenished. Our stresses seemed less and the world felt peaceful.
