it's sure to be An Experience
Dec. 24th, 2020 06:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marcicatTime for a Christmas Eve walk! Headed over to the state park for some outdoor time.
FUN FACTS
*While I was getting ready, I kept thinking 'okay, so it's WINTER, so make sure you are READY for that.' Except it's going to be almost 50F degrees, so I probably won't need that insulated water bottle to keep my water from freezing. (Note: I have never been out in cold weather for so long that my water bottle froze. But I have been out long enough for the water to get Very Cold, which discourages me from drinking it, which is Not So Good.)
*I can't remember how long it takes to get to the fire tower (today's destination). An hour? An hour and a half? It's a brisk walk away, is what I'm saying.
*The last time I was on this particular trail was a while ago. Last winter, maybe? My recollection is that the speed at which one can travel is heavily dependent on how much the trail is A) mud; B) ice; C) flooded. (This is the trail where I once met some people headed the opposite direction who told me that ice grippers would definitely be needed. I blithely assured them that I had some, did not disclose that I meant I had some *back in the car,* and then proceeded to wipe out very impressively several times. But it was colder then! I think slush and flooding is much more likely to be The Experience today.)
*Plus side: very unlikely that mosquitoes and black flies will be an issue. (Downside: pretty sure ticks get active around 45F degrees, so that's always A Good Time.)
*Will it be crowded? WHO KNOWS. Am I bringing all the Christmas bears from the advent calendar? YES, YES I AM. (They're very small!) Will it be fun? I HOPE SO.
FUN FACTS
*While I was getting ready, I kept thinking 'okay, so it's WINTER, so make sure you are READY for that.' Except it's going to be almost 50F degrees, so I probably won't need that insulated water bottle to keep my water from freezing. (Note: I have never been out in cold weather for so long that my water bottle froze. But I have been out long enough for the water to get Very Cold, which discourages me from drinking it, which is Not So Good.)
*I can't remember how long it takes to get to the fire tower (today's destination). An hour? An hour and a half? It's a brisk walk away, is what I'm saying.
*The last time I was on this particular trail was a while ago. Last winter, maybe? My recollection is that the speed at which one can travel is heavily dependent on how much the trail is A) mud; B) ice; C) flooded. (This is the trail where I once met some people headed the opposite direction who told me that ice grippers would definitely be needed. I blithely assured them that I had some, did not disclose that I meant I had some *back in the car,* and then proceeded to wipe out very impressively several times. But it was colder then! I think slush and flooding is much more likely to be The Experience today.)
*Plus side: very unlikely that mosquitoes and black flies will be an issue. (Downside: pretty sure ticks get active around 45F degrees, so that's always A Good Time.)
*Will it be crowded? WHO KNOWS. Am I bringing all the Christmas bears from the advent calendar? YES, YES I AM. (They're very small!) Will it be fun? I HOPE SO.
