ice wonderland

"We saw something today few people see," Matt mused this evening as I hobbled stiffly about my apartment. (Of course, he's feeling excellent.)







I'd never been in a forest that was iced over like that. As I ducked by some bowed branches, I licked its icicles because I was thirsty and they looked so inviting. The ice clinked. I imagine the latest storm caught the rhodos by surprise because their leaves were held flat by the ice, not curled like they usually are on cold days. The sun came out, and ice started raining down from the trees. At one point on the descent, I wasn't trudging through snow anymore, but churning through a stretch of fallen icicle pieces.

Yes, it was beyond beautiful and all ours for there were no other footprints in the snow. From Catawba Falls, Uwharrie and I followed Matt up Chestnut Branch up the escarpment to Ridgecrest. We then descended on the four mile Young's Ridge Trail, and Matt ran the roads to fetch the car and complete the loop.

I'm really digging winter this year because of the snow, can't you tell?