When I was rubbing my eye to get out a piece of grit, I noticed my eyelashes are super short!! Did I break them off, pull them out, or snap them off? Maybe from having them freeze and build up with ice on my walks? Did they freeze off? I don’t know!

I have another set of photos from the last couple weeks of walks/hikes. I skipped the walk for a couple of days early last week because it was just so cold at -45C with a breeze. Some days have been a bit warmer and I was even able to wear my lighter down jacket for a couple walks!

I like how everyone comments on how happy I look in these photos. I guess I am? I mean, not going to lie, I sometimes procrastinate these hikes, and drag my feet, and trying to find reasons why I can’t go. But when I’m out there walking, I am happy. I get so deep in my thoughts that I’ll stop and think, “Did I already cross the bridge?” or “Did I walk down that steep hill already?” because I had done both without being conscious of it.

One day, a couple of weeks ago, I took a new-to-me trail connector that took me way up high. I find little things to do to challenge myself on these walks. There is one particular little hill that I always try to run up, since it is short and fun. I had been investigating this other trail connector, looking online and on trail satellite photos to see where it goes. Turns out it has a long loop that takes me right back to the trail a little further on. That particular day, as I was getting close to that fork in the trail, I’m thinking of all reasons I shouldn’t take that trail. Then I countered each. I can always turn around. I have cell signal. I have a package of disposable heat packets and a granola bar in my pocket just in case. The track has plenty of footprints on it. Let’s go!

It was a steady incline for 15-20 minutes to a lookout. There was another trail back down, and it was steep and direct! I was tip-toeing an inch at a time so my feet didn’t kick out from under me. Steep descents in the snow are slow and tricky!! Then I saw my move. I had a long, straight, steep, stretch ahead of me. So I sat on my butt and slid down like I was on a crazy carpet! WHEEEEEE! I probably totally wrecked the trail for anyone else who was going to try to shuffle their feet down the incline, but who has time for that!

What else is happening around here…

Last weekend we helped our friends move into a new house. It was only a few blocks, but it was a cold, cold day. They had been moving stuff for a few days and we came in to help with the big furniture that was left. I had the easiest time – I hung out with their 3 year old Cerys most of the day, keeping her busy and out of the way. She gave me a tour of her new house and we watched Stuart Little on Netflix.

This past Friday we went to the re-opening of Gertie’s. It hibernates from October to December and then starts opening weekends in mid-January for a series of non-profit fundraisers. That night was fundraising for our new Dawson City Ambulance Association (local citizens aiming to fill the gaps in our government-provided ambulance service) and there was trivia and fun games. Our team won a bunch of prizes! Unfortunately later that night a water main froze under Gertie’s causing a significant flood of its basement so it wasn’t able to open again the next night.

A few more pictures from getting outside in recent days: