In order for there to be a thaw, the ground needs to freeze. It hasn’t this season. I hiked without a hat and coat today. I was “summertime thirsty.” Late afternoon shadows on pocked snow made the woods look like images of the moon surface. Sunlight on melting snow crystals cast rainbows of color.
I have no clue if this unseasonable warmth is a result global warming or part of a pattern that is so vast, it cannot be observed in the course of a lifetime - and maybe not even in the course of several reincarnations.
I hike past trees that are much older than me and realize I’m “deep woods deprived.” I need three weeks in deep woods, breathing fresh air, sleeping under the stars and without any electronic devices.
I need to process all I’m learning. There are so many distractions. If I headed out to the woods tomorrow, I’d need at least a week to slow down and reconnect.
If I stay in this climate zone, I’ll be waiting at least four months to get outside long enough to slow down.