Winter has landed, safely and firmly, in Lyme, New Hampshire, and that is a relief to those of us who find this season as enjoyable as Summer for the pleasures it offers outdoors.
Sure, we were worried this year would be a repeat of the past few Winters when we drove north to Cannon Mountain on January 2nd in torrential rainstorm that turned the parking lot of the ski resort into a mud season mess.
But since then, it's been nothing but snowstorms and cold temperatures. The deep snow has come and stayed. This is joy.
When Winter is this good, it means you can a Saturday snowboarding or skiing at the Dartmouth Skiway for two to three hours in powder or packed powder, go home for lunch, and then spend another two hours cross-country skiing on the incredible trails groomed by generous neighbors.
It means you forget, at least for a while, the hours spent shoveling the driveway, removing ice dams from the roof, and clearing backyard decks of snow. It means you don't mind the cold (it was 0° Fahrenheit this morning). It means the short hours of sunshine are precious, and to be spent outdoors as much as possible.
Deep snow transforms the land. Ordinary inclines become a magnet for children with sleds. Four-legged creatures can longer roam the woods anonymously. With a clear sky, the moon and sun shine brighter with the reflection from this winter blanket. Light from the sky bends and bounces differently with the deep snow, too.
The deep snow also brings moments of discovery -- an alpine ski trail filled powder. A nordic hill untouched. Yesterday, I went to the outlook overlooking Post Pond and at just that moment, the afternoon sun touched Mount Cube and made it seem alight with fire. For two brief minutes, the mountain glowed and glowed.
I've made a quick photo album that show some samples of the deep snow in Lyme last week. Enjoy them, and look forward to more posts later this week, including a few words on the 11th birthday of my youngest son, Noah, and on the Dartmouth Skiway.
Beautiful images thanks for posting.
Posted by: fire blanket | September 20, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Those are super cute. I like you on Facebook.
Posted by: North Face Coats Sale | December 22, 2011 at 04:20 AM