A Little Pocket of Paradise

I found my little pocket of paradise this past week.

It's not much. No grandiose views although it is a bit photogenic.

Nothing earth shattering in its location or history.

It's just a pocket and a quiet little pocket, just what I needed and what I didn't know I was looking for.

When I found my pocket I knew though that my heart and soul would forever think of this place when in need.

In times of need when I want to envision my happy place, I think of an alpine meadow shrouded in fog. I feel protected and at peace.

But here on this little knoll looking out into a meadow nestled between basalt bluffs, I felt at home. Beyond protection and peace, this place was comfort.

I could have stayed there forever yet I have no desire to encroach on the landscape by building a home. Maybe in that corner over there so I could have this unspoiled view to myself.

Shared with the deer wandering through the meadow, uncertain of me yet also unafraid.

This is my little pocket of paradise.

One Beauty of a Day

Mt Rainier, 4 miles, 2/17/08

Cloudless sky, virgin snow, and fog-filled valleys - what could be better? Not much I would think. That was how a recent Sunday greeted us as we snowshoed through the meadows above Paradise. We had no destination in mind, just the exploration of freshly laid snow and to see how far we could go.

It was a fresh clear day after several days of rain in Seattle and snow in the mountains, so the fresh snow beckoned to us as we drove to Mt Rainier. The parking lot near the Jackson Visitor Center was buzzing with activity as people prepared for their day's adventure. Several groups looked to make the summit their adventure's destination while others looked as though a day playing in the snow would not be considered a wasted day. But it didn't take us long before we were enfolded in the muffled world of a winter wonderland.

Snow, frozen on trees glistened against the white hillsides rolling up to the ever present mountain set against the blue sky. Not wanting to destroy the pristine layer of snow, we followed a trail tramped in the snow by those ahead of us to just below the hill leading to Panorama Point. Here we finally broke our own trail to a hill over-looking the valley for a snack break and marveled at the skill of a couple of telemark skiers as they carved their way down the slope.

We soon followed them down the hill then back to the Paradise Inn and the snow play area. Kids were laughing and screaming as they careened down the hill and bounced off the snow banks. It looked like such fun and although the sun was still high in the sky, our day was done.