Aqueduct

Pardon me if I seem a little spacy, re-entry is tough and the come down after the most perfect week is sure to be a bit loopy. Every once in a while, you get a day that makes life worth living. When the snow started to fall last Tuesdsay, I could smell the possibility of it, and when I got the call at 5:15 am on Wednesday that there was indeed a snow day, on valentines’s day, I was giddy with possibility.

To some, the idea of spending two hours shoveling sounds like the start of a novel set in hell and yet, for me, it was as if the fountains of Naples, Florida decided my pennies were worth a Valentine’s day blizzard. I followed up shoveling with valentine themed arts and crafts which we delivered [via snowshoe] to the ladies next door. I cooked dinner with my husband [ginger beef with spicy green beans, a bottle of Barefood Merlot], got in another round of shoveling and went for my first real snowshoe hike of the year.

I grabbed the snowshoes again on Saturday, Sunday and again today and hit Mt. Greylock - the tallest mountain in Massachusetts. Saturday, I started out too late in the day, got a short hike in down to a waterfall and then back up, before I was afraid the sun would go down and I’d be bear food.

Sunday, I got out early and tried out a trail my brother tipped me off to. My hike up was fast and furious, it was cloudy and I was cold, but the climb felt good. I encountered a few people who were climbing in with their skis on - maybe next year I’ll give it a try. I didn’t make it to the summit - maybe 1.5 miles up? When I made it back down to my car, the sun was shining, I was sweating and my body felt great.

Today, I headed out for an afternoon trek around the ridge trials. Thudnerbolt goes straight up, where as Bellows Pipe winds its way around the lower part of the hill. As I got back to the car I snapped one more shot across the valley, to remember the end of my perfect weekend.