4.25 miles, packed frozen snow, ice, and a “Real Feel” temperature in the single digits was all that stood between me and a W.C.A. [Winter Contingency Act] approved 25-Mile/5-Day Week.
Posts Tagged → The 2025 Ignorance is Bliss Tour
Stomps & Budget Cuts
The week of lumbering has been OK, but not my best. Monday through Wednesday, snowshoes were needed to make things more efficient, and today (Thursday), I opted to strap on my Kahtoola Micro Spikes1 in an effort to speed up the lumber over the snow, which the Groomer Gal and her magic sled have packed down tight.2 And to be honest, I should have just used the snowshoes; there was a 0% improvement in my overall time, it was just less noisy.
Shorter and Quicker
On Monday, I bit off more than I could chew during the morning’s snowshoe hike. Not physically, I felt fine, but a later start and a slower pace put me behind schedule for the day’s duties.
So, this morning, I made sure to get in the woods before sunrise with my headlamp, took out a small hunk of trail, and finished at my normal time. Yes, I had to settle for the hike being .75 miles shorter, but it’s winter, there’s snow on the ground, and I’m forced to use snowshoes, so just getting myself out the door is a victory.
Post Ornery Stomps
Part I, The Orneriness
The long (too long) weekend brought our first substantial snowfall of the season, with about 6″ dropped in our area. While I am no fan of winter and snow, I do appreciate the normalcy of snow when it’s supposed to snow. Way to normal up, Ma Nature, bravo.
We did luck out with the timing of the storm, when it was pushed back from starting early Saturday morning to late that afternoon, which allowed Brennan to stay another night and still safely dive back to East Lansing before the snow fell in earnest. Again, bravo Ma Nature, bravo
Friday Lumber, T-Day Recap
Come early Black Friday morning, I was in the dark, frozen woods with my camera, happy and content with our Thanksgiving holiday (see below for more on that). There were no Door Buster Specials, no adults fighting for crap toys, and no signs of capitalism’s evil grip on society. Just crunching leaves, crisp air, critters, and miles to lumber.
Thanksgiving No. 54
The week of lumbering has been “good enough” so far, with 15.75 in thus far. However, I did break from tradition today and skip an early morning Turkey Day lumber due to blustery conditions and the need to go super early so as to finish before the annual Turkey Trot trail race. Having said that, as I type, Wifey is out doing a 3-mile training run in town for her upcoming Jingle Bell 5K. Chapeau my love.
Getting Distracted
Oh, that weekend! It was a good weekend, but to be honest, it had no right being so.
As I mentioned in the last post, Saturday morning, I was up at 5:20 to coffee up, and get down in the Not So Stankment to put a second coat of paint on the walls of B’s bedroom. I have to say it turned out pretty sweet.
A Short Week Done
Overall, my week of lumbering was good. There wasn’t a ton of photos taken, but I felt good and ended my goal-shortened week with 26.41 miles in my feetz.
A Crunchy Lumber
Just as I was about to pull into the trailhead lot on Thursday, a large owl swooped out of the pines and off into the darkness. I was hoping that was a good omen for critter sighting during the morning’s lumber. Sadly, it was not.
Cold Hikes & Painted Rooms
Ah, the mid-week update of my mundane life/micro-adventures. It’s the post that no one needed or wanted (not even me), but since I’m not in the people-pleasing business, I’m posting it anyway.