This was, perhaps, one of the very best skis of my life…certainly the best ski of the year for me, and the best day of the year so far.
Details of note:
-a nearly five hour skijor with the dogs
-linking summits — Crystal Summit with Scout Mountain
-the bird songs!
-going high enough to where the sub-alpine fir begin to tower in fuzzy cones, and then beyond into areas with gnarled and twisted douglas fir, forever changed by lightning strikes
-running a tremendously steady two dog team, Farley was looking strong and energetic
-the only other human presence was the very distant hum of a snow machine I could hear for mere minutes
-we were craving adventure, something out of the ordinary, so we skied trails we didn’t even know existed, winding higher and higher into the wilds
-skiing in and out of isolated flurries
-the view from up top, oh, the view
-tree lines rising upwards in furry layers, to meet the sky
-the quietude
-reading animal tracks
-a sunset blazing through a squall
-a rusted fir
-that quiet, downhill corner where I could not shake the snow from my eyes
(in commenting on the previous post:) I think perhaps those every day moments, even the ones in shadowed and quiet moments may be my favorite! I love the little peek into moments overlooked…
Oh those trees! And the snow!!!
I am enjoying our break from the frigid, frigid cold, but now it feels like spring! I am missing the snow and can’t wait for another flurry (or storm)! Today I was feeling off and then it finally started to darken (more) and drops fell… I feel like I can breathe now, even if it is rain and not snow.
Enjoy your blessed Sunday!
xo
p.s. may I pin a few of these? your photography is such an inspiration, I can’t wait for the day I can use my camera to achieve such gorgeous and candid shots!
Love, love, love it. You are so lucky to have Scout in your backyard. I loved looking out my window and seeing snow fall on her. And your previous post is superbly luscious.
holy
sounds just glorious, a beautiful immersion into mid-winter. i went skiing yesterday too – in fact my first try-out on skate skis, as guided by a patient and knowledgeable friend. can’t wait till i have the skills to try my own pup in a skijor setup. and yay for Farley, the wise ol’ boy has got plenty of runs in him yet!
Breathtaking!!
i do believe you were so far above the treeline that should the clouds part even more than captured in that last photo, you would have been up in the heavenlies….
….which is, of course, where snowshoe hares play hopscotch, which you also captured so very perfectly in that third photo….
[smile] * [LOVE]
Exquisite. Transporting. Your posts are food for the soul
idyllic <3
I think I’d have to say “holy” too…
The pictures remind me of em? outside. We having howling winds and snow blowing . Minus temps for the next few days . Thanks for the griz ring. I am going to need to be as strong as a griz to survive the next few days. stay warm my friend.
I’m am loving the fact that you’re taking us along on your skijor trips. You describe everything so beautifully, and you have such an enthusiastic way of paying homage to our lovely Mother Earth!!! Now… what about Pene? Why isn’t she leading the way through the snow? (kidding). I have to mention again how much I enjoyed reading about you being the dark horse, and then subsequently kickin’ butt on the course. You’re rad!!!
Adventure! So glorious, I can almost smell the snow. I agree with Karen. I feel very lucky to get to come along for what my grandmother would have called ‘armchair travels”. Thank you as always.
you are so lovely….
love and light
Oh Jillian! I long time reader, sporadic commenter here. I just want to tell you how inspiring your blog is to me right now. Had a house fire, pretty bad. I have been wallowing in the overwhelmedness of it all for about 3 weeks. Fire was a month ago. I start to do something and then just shut down. Finally got my computer up and running this week and after paying bills and ordering clothing, I finally got onto the world again. I am so grateful for your inspiration to GET UP OFF MY ASS AND DO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE!! My life is short on beauty right now and your blog is long on that! On the upside I am very very lucky, I have been provided housing with a beautiful yard to feed the birds and a place for my cat that is very private and quiet. It is close to Puget Sound so I can explore new areas.
But I keep asking myself, what is the universe trying to tell me that my life has been wiped clean by the wrath of fire? If I find out, I will let you know. Thanks for the kick in the pants!!