There is something so satisfying about drinking steamy hot chocolate while gazing at a world saturated with snow. This is my new normal and the realization sends chills of excitement and ambivalence down the back of my arms. I recover quickly with another sip of my creamy coco and turn my attention to the unwrapped package laying at my feet. Today on Christmas morning is the perfect time to try out my new neon green snowshoes! In a moment the merino wool and Gore-tex are layered on and Kevin and I head out to the Far North Bicentennial Park.
The snow is crunchy dry and my snow-shoe feet sink deeper than expected as we forge a new trail meandering into the woods. I soon become aware of not only the cold settling into my feet but of little icicles forming on my eyelashes as the moisture from my breath escapes past the balaclava.
We approach a clearing and spy a possible snow covered beaver den. We hesitate a moment to examine the tracks of others that ventured before us across the frozen water. The view is surreal to this So. Cal. girl. I feel as if I can’t open my eyes wide enough to take in the sparkly snow covered forest, framed by distinguished mountains, all while standing by a beaver den.
Even passing moose poop seems oddly satisfying in this beautiful setting. A few more photos are snapped and my fingers join my feet in protesting the cold. It’s a much quicker trek home over the lake, through the woods, and back to our apartment. Once inside the first order of business is a kettle on the stove and within minutes I’m once again cradling a steamy cup of coco and gazing out at my own little winter wonder land.