A Prayer for Snow
8:24 AM
Last year we were rich with the stuff—snow banks piled high into the sky, relentless nor’easter after nor’easter making their way up the New England coast. Even Portsmouth ended up filling an island with mounds of pure white snow. But this year, nothing. You can see the dusting on top of the mountains but here in the low country, my shovel remains hung in the garage. We haven't seen as much as dusting in December. And today, a day that is supposed to be white and glittering, warm rain falls from the sky. The christmas tree just doesn't look the same without its white backdrop.
Who knows what is to blame for it. Global warming? El Nino? A curse from our southerly neighbors? Regardless, the skiers are holding out hope. In this season of uncertainty (where it’s too cold to rock climb but too warm to snowshoe) New Hampshirites tend to grin and bare it. As for me, I may have my newly tuned skies sitting patiently on the deck but I am still finding ways to head outside. The old hardwoods hold a certain beauty in this type of weather. As the fog clings to the hemlocks and the rain falls quietly on the leaves, it’s a nice time to reflect on all we have to be grateful for. Many of us forget that we have beautiful hiking trails, tucked away on town conservation land, right in our own backyards. Living here, it can feel that the Whites and Mt. Monadnock provide the only “true” outdoor pursuits but we must remember that those peaks are far from our only options. There is something very special about sneaking outside after work and walking through the forest as the early sunset falls—enjoying the last bit of light before a long evening. When it seems that snow is scare and sun rays are even more rare, a good walk through a familiar meadow or trail can provide much relief and cause us to pause our busy schedule. So I propose a new Christmas Eve tradition, get outside and enjoy a local trail. It will only take an hour but I can guarantee that it is time well spent—well, at least until the snow flies.
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