What a wonderful morning! I took off at 7am for the ski basin. I can see that whole mountain range of the Rockies from my living room window, and as the crow flies, its only a few miles. But the road up the mountain is steep and curvy with ice and snow in the forever shaded spots of road. Its about 20 miles. I went to take pictures of creek ice, which is unlike any Ive seen anywhere else. It is ice sculptures, bent, globed, waved, straight, reflective, clear. The sun was not to be seen for the first couple hours, but the ice in the half light is beautiful. I walked up a mountain side in the frigid air. If not for the walking stick/ski pole, I couldnt have done it. I still slipped one foot, one glove and one hat into the water. Within one minute of taking the hat out, it was frozen solid. When the sun came out, it was golden ,and the ice was completely different in sunlight. The altitude is such that the sun wont melt the ice. I kept going and going, as usual. I forgot to eat before I left. After a mile and a half or so, three things drove me back: hunger, dead camera battery, and an allergy to cold. Literally. Cold Urticarria, its called, which just means hives. My skin turns bright red and hives follow that itch badly. How silly is that? As all women know, having to go outside when its cold is a bear. I mean bare. My butt was itching so bad, I nearly ran back down the mountain. Attractive image, no? Down in Santa Fe the sun was so warm not even a light jacket was required. But oh, up on that mountain, it was gorgeous.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:35:50 +0000