A reason to enjoy a cup of cocoa…

Today is a gorgeous day. It is 14 F, the sun is shining bright and warm and is higher in the sky than it has been for months. I took Molly to the farm for a little cross country skiing. We went through the woods, up and down hills, and across the fields, just enjoying the exercise and the magnificent views of the Chugach and Talkeetna ranges.

I decided it would be fun to do a little back-country skiing and followed a trail that hugs the boundaries of the 700 acre farm. I derailed a bit and cut across the muskeg bogs that are now covered in snow, the short clumps of moose browsed willow scattered about the bog. Molly was up to her neck in snow and I swear I could actually see her smiling. She jumped her way across the deep snow and retreated to my ski tracks for a bit of a break when she needed.

I eventually hiked my way out of the bog and clamored onto the narrow trail, thick with spruce, birch, alder and some aspen. There was fresh snow from yesterday and mine were the only noticeable tracks on the trail. I felt free breathing in the chilled air and gazing at the trees still clumped with snow, the sun beams angling downward through the crisscross of branches.

When I reached the end of the trail there was a steep slope with a slight angle towards the end that I knew would test my skiing ability but I went for it anyway without thinking. Slip, slide…oh no…turn left, turn left…no….hello tree. Ouch. The air was quiet except for my cantankerous curses thundering above it all…I felt silly afterward, what’s a little snow in your face? This is cross country skiing afterall. Molly and I took the trail back in towards one of the farm fields and glided across. I could feel my muscles getting sore, what a work out! Ah, think I’ll head back home for a nice hot cup of cocoa.