Winter Mountaineering
Call me crazy, but hiking the White Mountains in winter is one of life's most awe-inspiring, humbling, and peaceful experiences. The picture (which is from near the top of Mount Washington in February 2000) says it all. The disclaimer is that unless you have the right gear and know how to use it, and unless you already know your intended route well, you shouldn't be up there. It takes time to get the expertise and equipment you need, but I think it was worth it. Usually the people who don't think they could ever do it are the ones who should try it, while those who think they could do it easily are asking for trouble.
There's nothing in the world like collapsing in front of the wood stove, amid the company of the close friends with whom you've just shared a strenuous day of mountaineering. You've satisfied every junk food craving you've ever had--just to keep warm and energetic--and you know you've spent double those calories. You're so exhausted and sore (in a good way) that none of your pre-existing "problems" matter anymore, and you're trying to capture the moment with a few words in your journal. You close your eyes and see flashbacks of the day turn into dreams as your writing hand falls limp before finishing the first sentence. The pen mark trailing off the page is your real entry.
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