Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
I can’t really complain about winter weather. It’s rained and been windy but hasn’t been so bad lately. And the water content of the snowpack in the mountains increased from 24% of normal at the first of the year to 80% of normal last week. That’s very welcome! What I miss is foliage. And color. I’ve browsed some photos I hadn’t gotten around to posting before and I’ll roll out a few for some brief winter relief.
First we came upon this smiling face on our daily walk.
Later we found this little grin.
Is this the beginning of a happy movement? Sign me up!
I can’t honestly say whether I picked this shot because I like the photo or because I love this spot on the trail. It may be a little of each. And at this time of the year I miss that lush green foliage, so there’s probably some winter longing, too.
Today is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official start to winter. We ushered out autumn yesterday with snow down to sea level. Although there has been snow in the hills in recent weeks, this is the first seen by flatlanders in a couple of years. Rain, with more predicted, means it’s not likely to last. So I guess if one dreams of a white Christmas yesterday was an excuse for an early celebration.
It’s the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Stay warm and dry.
Sometimes it’s hard to know where the trail is heading. This day, this achingly beautiful sunny day, it felt like walking into a tunnel of forest light. Other days it’s time to pull up the hood and keep on moving. Sometimes you just don’t know ’til you’re there. And always it’s one foot after the other.
I’m heading on a new trail for a little while and taking a break.
I may have posted a view of this spot before. It’s part of my regular walking route at Dungeness Recreation Area. It regularly grabs me because it’s so nicely situated to catch slices of light in the late afternoon and early evening. During winter it’s particularly nice to emerge from the nearby forested area and see the light radiating across this part of the trail ahead.
I almost overlooked these railroad ties that formed the backbone of a mural and sign at the Johnson Creek Trestle, last Saturday’s post. Rough hewn and strong, these ties are nearly 100 years old.