If hiking isn't your thing, here's an alternative form of exercise.
Temps in the 30s, rising to near 50, sunny.
With the higher temps and bright sun, the deep snow won't be here for long so I took my snowshoes out for perhaps a last romp on the trails.
First, my sticker collection for the week.
Just one week ago, I peeled off stickers from this spot. This week were two replacements.
I walked around Merimere Reservoir and put on my snowshoes when I picked up the Blue Trail at the north end. I planned on following it all the way to Castle Craig but got sidetracked when a long dormant thought popped into my head: I always wanted to follow all the way to its origin one of the brooks that feed the reservoir. I figured there's got to be a spigot at the source that I can shut off 😀.
Thus began a long, difficult journey through untrampled woods, harder than any trail in Hubbard Park.
Fallen trees, boulders, steep walls; it was quite the workout. And due to the warm weather I was shedding layers, including my hat and I'm almost NEVER without a hat.
I had only a vague idea where I might end up when I reached the top, but I could tell when I was near because I instantly felt a cold breeze across my cue ball head. Time to put the hat back on.
I never did find that spigot.
Snow was piled so high from the snowplow that I snowshoed along the top of the guardrail on the way back down.
I spied that word "Mondo" on the guardrail bumper. Whenever I hear or see that word I'm reminded of the song, "Mondo Bondage" by The Tubes. They were quite the live act in their day with one of their hit songs being "White Punks On Dope. Searching for an ahem, suitable for all audiences video of Mondo Bondage, I came up short, VERY SHORT. Search youtube if you dare. I'll leave you with audio, and your imagination.
You may need some exercise to clear your mind after that. A good snowshoe hike in Hubbard Park is the prescription.
