I don't think I'll ever tire of it, no matter how long I live in the mountains. The first snow is magic - the promise of winter and all that it brings. The holidays, long cold nights and short days, winter sports, studio time... winter is my season. I'm a person who'd rather be cold than hot, rather deal with snow than rain, and who's garage is stocked with winter recreational tools like ice skates, skiis, and snowshoes.
We are getting ready to close down the resort and I made one last (I think) drive around the horn of the Sierra - at least the last for this season. The clouds were amazing on the east side and it was an ever-changing show from Bishop to Mojave. I believe we were experiencing what the weather people call an upslope event - as the clouds were swirling around and dipping into the canyons and down practically to the valley floor.
I took photos blindly - while keeping my eyes on the road - just by holding my phone up and clicking. A few turned out well enough to share and the rest... well, that is why there is a trash bin in iPhoto, right? I think that is what won me over with digital cameras - there is no price for taking many, many photos in search of a decent one. I remember getting film developed, racing to open the envelope and find only one or two out of each roll that was worth saving. Now it takes me a little time to edit, crop and go through all the digital files, but it isn't such a blow to the ego.
The cloud show and "This American Life" podcasts kept me sane on yet another long drive. I have to admit I am really tired of driving this drive. It doesn't help that our Toyota truck, an older Tacoma, is quite possibly the most uncomfortable truck ever made. We have all sorts of back support contraptions that we try using in it but the angle of the seat, the distance from seat to floor - something is just not right for the American body. It kills our backs.
By the time I got here I forgot all about my back aching and I began to feel that familiar anticipation of winter that I feel with the first snowfall. This was no dusting, either, this was a substantial snowfall for early October. As you can see, the USFS had to plow this road over Kaiser Pass.
The leaves haven't even changed colors yet and Kaiser Meadow is covered with a blanket of snow. This could change - we could easily see a long indian summer now - but for the moment this is the magic of the big meadow.
On the other side of the pass, not quite so much snow but all the peaks are covered and the air is cold and crisp. We drove up out of the Fresno overcast skies, into thick fog and then popped out into perfect blue skies.
The lake has a beautiful mist over it morning and night, and the banks are spotted with snow.
My plan is to hike this trip - since I did not hike at all over the summer. I may only get in short hikes but anything will do at this point. My promise to myself is that this will not happen next summer. I will carve out time in the backcountry both on foot and on horseback. No more horse and hiking-less summers. Life is too darn short.
The smell of woodsmoke, the laughter of people gathered in the cafe, the magic of a big moon's light on the snow. No wonder I couldn't sleep last night. I was up at 3 am, reading by headlamp and drinking hot tea, unwilling to simply toss and turn all night. Now, of course, I'm paying for it with a groggy head but it'll be okay. I did get some good reading time in.
This is the lake this morning. The guys are out wrestling with the cold and cranky boat motors, the dogs are frolicking in the brisk air, the cat is outside posing on a stump and I am enjoying it all with a strong cup of coffee and the woodstove fired up. Ahhh, heaven.
