Cold Fingers. And Happy About It

(More blog entries from sue)

Frosty

My fingers got cold yesterday.

My fingers got cold yesterday. I had to employ the trick of balling them up into my palms inside my gloves, to warm them up. It's mid-November and to me, cold hands feels like a good thing after too long of a period without snow and cold.

Howie and I hiked up Owl's Head Mountain in Jefferson. It's that distinctive very pointy peak one sees off Route 115. It's not real big, but you gain 2000 feet elevation over the 2.5 miles. Once you've looped around on the very wet grassy areas at the start for about a half mile, the trail rises steadily and dries out--thankfully! I must be in need of new gore-tex running shoes, because despite my best efforts at rock hopping, my feet got quite damp through the wet part.

There was a dusting of snow on the trail right from the start. As we gained elevation, the scenary became more and more wintery. Ice needles poked up from the ground. Crystals of ice extended from tree branches, making them look hairy and white. The ferns were still green, so the ground was a pleasing mix of white and green. This was beautiful and promising to me, as I am really looking forward to the coming of snow and colder weather.

At the top we had views to the north, west and south. (For once I brought a compass, and even used it to check view directions!) There was a clearing in the cloud cover to the south, and we could see distant mountains through one of the notches, probably Crawford. It was the sort of view that caught your eye, and we guessed it might be Mt. Chocorua with it's rugged outline.

Having worked up a sweat on the way up the mountain, I was happy to have brought a dry polypro shirt to change into at the top. I always try to remember this, as it makes a huge difference on staying warm on the less effort, downhill return. I also put on the down vest I'd brought, and it was none too warm! These are good signs--winter is coming.

Sue Wemyss

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