Frozen in Time

Looking out the window of my sun-filled mudroom, staring at my snow- and ice-covered car, which hasn’t gone anywhere in the past two days, I wondered what the temperature was outside. Asking Alexa, she informed me in that sweet voice of hers that it was a sunny 11 degrees. I hadn’t hiked Mt. Monadnock since Martin Luther King Day and was in desperate need of a good hike. I grabbed my car keys off my Black Dog key holder and was going to get to work warming my car and clearing the snow and ice.

I reached for the driver’s door handle, but it wouldn’t budge. I tried using both hands pulling repeatedly. I was worried about my aggressive pulling that I would break the handle, so I gave up. I tried the other three doors without any luck. Of all the days, when I really needed a good hike, I thought this is my luck, I can’t even open my car door.

I grabbed the ice scraper from my mudroom and started brushing the snow off the car since the ice seemed to be a half-inch thick and wasn’t removable without some heat source. I decided to make one more attempt, I lightly pounded around the car door and after a few minutes, the door opened, finally success. I started the car and after a good fifteen minutes of the defroster on high, the ice finally started coming loose.

I went to collect all my hiking paraphernalia and put it on the mudroom floor. I filled my thermos with water and took a protein bar for some energy before I reached the mountain. I put my boots, hat, and coat on and got into my car. As I was driving to the mountain the sun was shining brightly and I needed my sunglasses before the sun blinded me. I thought to myself this was going to be a nice relaxing hike alone. I usually go with my hiking partner, but today, I needed the alone time to clear my thoughts and connect with my inner self.

I pulled into the parking lot and as I opened the door, I could feel and hear the roaring wind. I knew what I felt was going to be much worse the closer I reached the peak, but I didn’t care, I was just happy to be here, cold wind and all. I put my Hillsound trail spikes on, prepared for the ice-covered rocks that I would encounter. I started on the White Dot trail as I often do, not many on the trail today, it was nice. I ran into my hiking partner, Jay and he said, hey buddy, I’ll join you, but I paused as I looked at him, he knew I wanted my alone time. I felt a little guilty, so I told him to join me on his way back up the mountain. I ran into three other regulars a few minutes later along with one of the young rangers. The way they were lined up on each side of the trail, I felt like I was on the red carpet. I talked for a few minutes and then headed on my way. Being as cold as it was, I didn’t want to stay in one spot too long.

As I continued my hike, I realized that Jay never came back. I felt good knowing I had the time to myself and appreciated that he was respectful of my wishes.

Once I reached the half- waypoint and the cliffs soon appeared, I couldn’t help but stop and take photos of the ice-covered trees glistening from the sun shining upon them. The water that had run off the jetted rocks from the trail, was frozen in time. It was magical and I was so appreciative of the beauty that surrounded me that day. As I trudged on, I kept noticing small details of beauty. Looking at a Krummholz tree, completely covered in ice and unmovable, it took my breath away. I took a photo with my phone, but the photo didn’t do the tree justice for the beautiful- sculptured artwork it was.

I reached the wind-swept peak, feeling my cheeks being scraped like sandpaper from the wind. I took a minute and said my blessings to the Universe as I always do. I tried to take a couple of photos before leaving the top, but my phone was dead from the cold.

I was thankful the car door opened and ever so thankful for my glorious hike that day. I often hike Mt. Monadnock but do not appreciate the sheer beauty as often as I should. Not merely because of her beauty, but what she gives back to me. I feel complete, connected with my true self. She helps me connect deep within my soul, feeling pure love, happiness, and joy. The day will be frozen in time and when I look back, I will be reminded to see the beauty in every day and remember to be happy is to be your true self.