Trail Chaser: Change of Plans… a.k.a. We Couldn't Resist

It's been an extra busy week, and an equally slammed weekend. I had plans to ski with Hawk, but ended up stuck at home with an unexpected load of homework. (Yes, I'm now trying to balance work, life AND college. Yikes.) Meanwhile, Hummingbird was drowning in tax preparations (because she is an accountant who does more accounting on weekends just for fun. Right.) Understandably, we knew we'd both be in need of a computer break at some point in the day. So we planned a local quickie hike, and hoped to time it before all the snow melted off the trees. But even if it did, it'd still be exercise. That's our current motto. Good or bad conditions, it all counts. We both need to get back in shape. (I suppose those brownies I made tonight negate any benefit I got. But, well, rule #1* is in play. And I earned them, dammit!)

Our intention was to do that new pond trail we discovered. Frohock Brook. Short, easy, satisfying, and we suspected it'd be beautiful after a snow like this. I'm sure that's true, but I guess we'll have to find out another day, after another storm. As usual our hiking minds were in sync, and on the way to the trailhead, driving past the Alton Mt. Rd. viewpoint, we simultaneously agreed that we simply couldn't not hike Pine. Those views! We just had to do it.

We chose the side trail, which wraps around the summit (technically just below it), adding some distance, but making the climb more gradual. Not that Pine is difficult at all, but with this being our first snowshoe of the year, plus knowing how awkward the ledgy area can be in snowshoes, we figured the long way would be easier. Plus no complaints about the extra distance and time! The sun had come out, and it was beautiful as expected. Truly hiking in a winter wonderland. I'm happy to report the snow still covered the trees as well. So pretty.

We were quickly reminded that snowshoeing is a bigger workout than regular hiking. It's very enjoyable, and burning extra calories is a good thing, but whew! We did need a few more breaks than usual. But I think we'll get our snowshoe legs back before too long.

I resisted taking more than one obligatory photo on the summit when we hiked Pine a few days ago (and didn't even post it online), but today I was back to my usual ways. It was hard to resist snapping more pics, even of the same shot I just took. The way the surrounding mountains were all frosted in white, and the sharpness of the snowy shoreline contrasted with the still unfrozen blue lake was particularly striking.

And so, I'll stop talking about how lovely it all was, and leave you with a deluge of photos.