midnight walk

[kareina]

I went for a walk in the forest at midnight; the landscape transformed by the new fallen snow. Even at that hour, on a cloudy night, the fresh white blanket provides plenty of visibility for walking. I often say that one advantage to our home is that we can pretend to live in the country while still being only 4 km from our offices. Midnight on New Year's eve really drives home the fact that, nope, this is NOT the country! There was no place on the 40 minute loop I walked where I could not hear the explosions of fireworks as I walked. However, the good news is that from the Nature Reserve trail, where it wends its way along the shore line, one can see five or six different fireworks displays across the water in different directions. Only their largest and most brilliant explosions, of course, but it sure was pretty, and, at that distance, the sound was only noticeable, not painful like it would have been if I had taken the trip in to see any of the displays closer to hand. Perhaps next year I will bring some friends out there on purpose to watch...

Happy New Year to one and all--may this one prove to be a good one for you.

Comments

[fjorlief.livejournal.com]

I can imagine the walk, and the pretty lights, and your happiness... I remember how bright the snow made the nighttime, from the winter I spent in the backwoods of Idaho, and how the trail was visible because the snow was thicker there than under the trees...

Happy New Year to you and yours...

[catherinelaurel.livejournal.com]

walking at midnight in the snow, sounds just gorgeous

[kareina.livejournal.com]

It really is; I love living in the far north where such a thing is often possible, and invite all of my friends who want to see for themselves to come vist.

[catherinelaurel.livejournal.com]

When I was in Juneau in Jan 2011, as Queen, I had hoped to see the aurora, it was active, however, the weather gods saw fit to have high winds and clouds, then calmer winds and snow. The Mendenhal glacier was beautiful and so was the snow. I hadn't seen snow since my daughter was about 7 back in 1982, so I was happy it snowed it was beautiful... I was out early Saturday AM in my pj's taking pictures. People thought I was nuts, but they didn't realize what that snow meant to me.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Even though I have often lived in places where snow is normal, it is still special to me because of the years I have spent living where there is none. I am glad they had a decent snow while you were there. Juneau sometimes gets it, but sometimes doesn't...

[catherinelaurel.livejournal.com]

Friday when I arrived 2011, there were 80 mile an hour winds and -4 before the wind chill. The snow was Saturday and Sunday. Sunday when we tried to leave more snow, they de-iced the plane twice, that was interesting to watch, ( used to be a flight instructor back in the 1970's taught out of San Jose Intl, and Palo Alto airports) there was a break in the clouds and the plane took off. It was quite a trip. When Jade and I were King and Queen in 2009 I couldn't go to Alaska, he had temps of 59 with snow melting. When I got back from Alaska, I asked Jade how come he had warm weather and I had -4 and winds of 80 MPH and snow, he just laughed and said Alaska wanted to give me a true experience of what Alaska was really like.

I loved the trip, and the people, and hope some day to return.