Snowshoes in the dark.
What a wonderful world. There's a foot or more in the backyard.
Two or three in the drifts...

Still snowing...
Listened to the weather cube this morning with breakfast - returned from my hike and was mesmerized through dinner and into the evening. The omniscient digitized voice from the nearest repeater station reminding me of the subtly transforming compositions of Philip Glass - ever so slightly adjusting and flowing with the invisible rhythms of the atmosphere.

Snow.

With warnings of a full blizzard on the weather cube I hiked up into the Hi-Tor this morning - six and a half miles of falling snow, icy waterfalls, roaring creeks, and snow covered evergreens lining the gorge. Snowshoes probably would have helped - there was 4" on the ground when I started and at least another 2" by the time I returned to the truck. I figured I would be the only one out - but I passed a hiker coming down outfitted in full mountaineering gear complete with crampons and ice axe

My customer service praises to Eastern Mountain Sports. I purchased a Garmin eTrex Vista GPS unit nearly a month ago. This afternoon the "click stick" selector button quit working. I called the EMS where I purchased it and they exchanged it with a smile.

I spent the morning exploring Harriet Hollister Park southwest of Honeoye Lake. We usually mountain bike the impeccable single track here a few times each summer after work - this morning I was rediscovering our trails on foot and marking them with the GPS to map them for cross-country skiing...

Visited mom and dad in Hinckley, Ohio for Thanksgiving. Hiked with Sarah before dinner. The Cuyahoga Valley seems to keep getting smaller...

Leki Trekking Poles. Very Nice.

I discovered the National Geographic map software for the GPS. The program uses a simple interface for sorting and finding maps - and creating routes, waypoints, and elevation profiles. The route and waypoint data can be uploaded or downloaded from a GPS receiver. At the core of the software are hi-resolution scans of USGS maps - stitched together to create a personal on demand library - with the ability to print to scale any section one might need. The collection is expandable - I currently have the 10 CD set of the Northeast.

Trout!
Fly fishing the Frying Pan River outside of Basalt, Colorado. A friend we are working with set me up with a guide from the Taylor Creek fly shop. Kurt guides fly fishing trips all over the world, and laughed when I told him I was trout-less. He quoted that I would have my first trout in 8 minutes or less after getting into the water. We netted and released 12 trout - one rainbow and 11 browns (the largest at 18"!). I've been fly-fishing since spring after being seduced by the philosophy and physics of the sport.

Hiked up Rock Creek Canyon outside of Basalt, Colorado with Doug and his girlfriend Kim. The altitude change from 1,200 feet in Canandaigua, New York to over 8,000 feet in Basalt kicked my ass.

Contemplating backcountry cross-country skis for winter fitness and adventure. I am saddened that the Trek will need to wait out the winter in the garage. I already miss commuting to work by bicycle. The time on the bike worked the legs, lungs, and heart - but also put a clear perspective on the day at the office. We've got plenty of terrain and trails to ski right outside the door at the house (23 acres to play in) plus thousands of acres of state land within a quick car ride - and there is always the possibility of trekking up to the Adirondacks or Vermont for weekend backcountry trips....