Although it was sunny, I was not looking forward to walking Bella yesterday with the extreme cold but she only had little walks this week because of the weather and was getting pretty antsy. I actually needed to get out in nature also because it always replenishes me on all levels. We were due for a hike.
I put on 3 layers of clothing, the trusty hiking boots and started off to the mountain with Bella whining with anticipation in the seat next to me. On the way there I fought with myself to keep a positive outlook on this little venture but after all it was 5 below zero with the wind-chill. My positive outlook took another hit when I realized half way along the service road to the mountain, my car would not make it due to the snowdrifts. I put the car in reverse, stuck my head out of the window and proceeded back up towards the main highway as Bella jumped around the back seat with excitement. I could feel my eyeballs start to tear and freeze. This did not make me happy. I found an area where it would be safe to park at the entrance and we started our hike up the service road to the mountain.
As we got to the base of the mountain I realized we were the only humans there and I let Bella off leash. I did a mental check of emergency supplies of which I had little, my cell phone, a tissue and a Chap Stick. Just the other day I chided a friend about hiking into deserted places in the bitter cold because if anything happened, one could freeze to death before help came. It was dangerous and here I was about to do the exact same thing. If anything were to happen at least I would have smooth lips and a clean nose when they found the frozen corpse. The voice in my head shouted "No fear! Just do it!" Ok, so up the mountain we climbed.
The physical activity of trudging up the snow-covered rock trail made me very warm and I was able to remove my hood and open my jacket. Bella was having the time of her life running willy-nilly, grabbing sticks and following animal tracks. Before long I was amazed at the intense beauty of this place. The snow reminded me of the Ivory Snow Flakes my mother used as laundry detergent a lifetime ago. The sun caught the flakes and made them shine like dancing crystals refracting the light into prisms of color.
The only things I heard were the wind snaking through the trees and the squeaking rubber sound of snow in below zero temperatures being compress underfoot. At the top of the mountain I could see the peaceful and quiet landscape below with sporadic house tops nestled in-between groves of naked gray trees and distant purple shaded sister mountains. I felt as if I arrived in heaven and the peace, solitude, and beauty filled my soul to overflowing.
I climbed down that mountain with much more that I started.
Lesson learned…
When one starts a journey, no matter how daunting and uncomfortable it may seem, there is beauty in the undertaking and if one finds that beauty, they will be forever changed for the better.
