Better Living Through Literature
Words + Projects + Stuff I Like
There hasn’t been been fresh snow in the mountains for a week or so but it’s been cold enough that the old snow has stayed on branches and collected frost, making some extraordinary crystals. I kept expecting the see the White Witch come around the corner in her sledge.
There was a little fresh snow from Saturday on the trail and it made everything look like it got dusted with powdered sugar. (Or maybe I’m just feeling like doing some holiday baking.) Either way, it was pretty.
I posted this first pic on Instagram and a friend from Vermont commented, “Snowliage!” A beautiful day AND I learned a new word? Win-win.
It was a cloudy day and the leaves were almost all off the trees, so maybe I can think of the canyon as sleeping for the next two years instead of inaccessible and about to be fundamentally changed?
I’m going to miss that stream at the top, but I have to remember the same water will be at the bottom, too.
Millcreek Canyon’s upper gate closes for the winter on November 1, but this time it’s going to stay closed for two years while the road gets widened. (I felt a little better about such a big construction project after I read the environmental assessment, but there’s no way around them taking out trees.)
Anyway, we’re trying to enjoy the last couple weekends at the top. It was a brisk 45 degrees up there yesterday but still so nice to be out.
If you’re between projects and have a lot of sick time that doesn’t roll over and your partner has a bonus day off, might I recommend calling out and heading to the mountains?
You can go to the trails that are packed on the weekends and only see a handful of people and just generally enjoy the trees and the clouds and the play of light and shadow. 10/10, strongly recommend.
Dr. Toby was on the case Saturday while I recovered from my covid/flu shots (get vaccinated, y’all!) but I was all better Sunday and we went out to 70-degree temps and peak fall colors.
I’m not sure who left two jack-o-lanterns at the trailhead (probably a group getting pictures?) but I can only hope some little creature recreates Mousekin’s Golden House.
We did another Friday afternoon hike and that golden light sure is something.
The colors are starting, too!
We did our Millcreek hike on Friday about 4:00 this week–but the light was already looking like evening, not afternoon.
And THEN on Sunday, look what was outside Trader Joes:
It’s Decorative Gourd Season again.
What a nice pattern of little adventures: an evening in (literally) Millcreek, a hike up Big Cottonwood to test out the pack I finished Friday (more pics tomorrow!), and time with Toby in between.
