Wildwood

I made the escape from town to visit some old apple orchards in Wildwood. The conditions were frozen making each movement through the trails less than stealth. Our skis made scrapidee-scrape sounds in the icy tracks with each slide forward. I would stop and shout ahead to my friend, inquiring, “Are your skis being just as loud as mine?”

Kutchhuh, sckutchhuh……

The day was gray, as the days tend to be from now until May. I would attempt to reduce the noise from my movement by skating through the powdered ice, as opposed to the packed groomed iced trail. My ski’s through this powdered ice sounded like pouches of glass beads being tossed across a round table. My brain filtered through bartering strategies. These ice crystals won’t last through the spring, but their current sound is invaluable.

The path we took was through an old logging forest. The first 50% was mostly up hill. Halfway through our journey, we stopped at the top and ate organic chocolate in the frosty air. We stood still, finally resting our ears from all the scrapidee-scrape sounds. We stood still, silently juggling mittens, water bottle and pocket food. We stood still and listened to the comforting tranquility of the wilderness in Wildwood. A pair of field hawks casually flew through the frozen grassland we had just climbed out of. I watched their silhouette pass behind the trees we stood amongst. They flew swift but relaxed as if arrival to their destination was guaranteed to be ahead of schedule. They chatted carelessly with each other. I listened in awe to their enchanting gulck-gulck sounds.

The Layers Show

Pink Hat, $10, Walgreen’s Seattle
Black striped turtleneck, $6, K-mart, P-town
Yellow Woolie, $2.00, Sal Arm, Hungry Hollow
Pink Burton Mittens, Gifted, (Thanks Dad & Barbara!)
Pink n’ Brown Vest, under $30, K-mart, Sea-town
Black Tights, $9, K-mart, P-town
Snow Pants, Gifted (Thanks Mom!)
X-Country ski’s, poles & boots, borrowed, (Thanks Mom!)
Maggie’s Organic Cotton Socks, gifted (Thanks Mom!)
Old Soccer socks turned leg warmers, 50 cents, Resaling in Harbor
Ankle high Smartwool socks thin from wear, $9, Moosejaw Chi-town

Getting out, breathing fresh air…priceless.