Christmas Day 2010 - I woke up to sunshine which is a welcome respite to the week of low clouds and snowy weather. Today I get to try out my Christmas present - new snow shoes! I have never snowshoed before, so I decide to take a short hike up to the ridgeline behind my house. The temp is in the low 30's, so layering up against the cold seemed like a good idea. So after putting on a full set of "snugglies", I add jeans, turtleneck, fleece pullover and a fleece vest in addition to my new winter gloves. I sat out on the back step and fitted the snowshoes over my winter boots. Clumsily took a few steps on the snow-covered deck and exclaimed this will be interesting. So off I head, the trailhead is between my and my neighbors house. A deer had been in the yard earlier this morning, so I followed its' tracks down to the trailhead.
Wow, walking in snowshoes takes a little getting used too. Do I walk with one foot in front of the other, side by side like a bow-legged cowboy or what?After a few steps, things seem to come together naturally. So I headed up, stopping every now and then to catch my breath and marveling at the beauty of the mountains and snow. I am loving it! The sunshine, fresh air, cool temps, snow and breathtaking views! As I continue up to the ridgeline and look out over the canyon, all I could think was "look at all those trails I can now explore!" and "man, I am hot!" Not HOT, but hot -- so one layer and the gloves get peeled off!
As I reached the top, I look over to the East towards Morgan, UT. The Morgan Valley is beautiful, glistening in snow. As I take a deep breath, I can hear the train coming though the canyon. What a great way to spend a Christmas afternoon, enjoying the beauty of God's creation!
After a few minutes of reflection, I begin the decent down. Going up is easier than down in snowshoes! I was glad that I had hiking poles with me. Yet, I soon figured out to just let the snow shoes do what they do best and took my time. Loving every moment, with a smile across my face, I think "why hadn't I got snowshoes earlier!"
So after an invigorating snowshoe hike, what better to enjoy than a cold beer. Perfect end to a perfect adventure.
Hope you enjoyed my little adventure in My Mountain Green.
