Thursday, October 14, 2010

No hike today

Instead of hiking today, I am nursing a cold I seem to have picked up in the past couple of days. It started out with a very scratchy throat, cough, and a general feeling of malaise. But I did think it was getting better, and I even made plans for the hike today.

But last night, I woke several times with a very sore throat and lots of congestion, making my desire to go along on the hike with my friends seem a whole lot less appealing. Plus the possibility of rain was the clincher, seeing as it would not be a good idea to make myself sicker. So I reluctantly stayed home and thought about my usual Thursday post and what I would write about instead of posting lovely pictures of my day's journey into the mountains. Today might be the last time for our visits to the High Country, as this front might bring enough snow for us to start our hikes around town. Today is our last scheduled trip up there anyway, but if the weather cooperates we might make it one more time.

I have to reluctantly conclude that my little one-legged chickadee has been recycled, as he has not appeared in the last two days. I suspect that the fluttering wing he needed to use to compensate for the recently lost leg was enough to entice a raptor to check him out. If by some chance he does return, I will rejoice and let you know right away. But the signs are not good.

On a positive note, however, I watched the miners in Chile yesterday, being pulled out of the ground and was able to celebrate along with the rest of the world at their amazing rescue. It was horrible to contemplate them being down here for several more months. The fact that everything proceeded with such speed and competence was an inspiration to me: a situation that seems entirely hopeless can actually have a good outcome, given enough ingenuity and perseverance.

I have purchased a set of snowshoes so I can hopefully take advantage of the forecasted snow this winter. We have a moderate to strong La NiƱa in progress, which usually brings the Pacific Northwest more precipitation and colder temperatures during the winter. Although I am not looking forward to the moderate temperatures leaving town, I had so much fun using (and breaking!) Al's spare snowshoes that I had to buy a pair for myself. They look just like this picture, MSR Evo 22's in a nice sedate blue.

As you can see, today's snowshoes bear little resemblance to the old ones that looked to me a whole lot like a tennis racket, and using these strapped onto my regular hiking boots are very easy to use. If I have the chance to be in deep powder I'll need a pair of tails added onto them, but it's not that likely in this area. Last year we had what is affectionately known as "Cascade cement" and expect that to be more like what we'll have this year. But you never know.
:-)

21 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear that you're under the weather. Despite having to forgo the hike, you sure came up with a newsy post. I was so happy to see that the miners' rescue was successful too. Something to celebrate for sure.

    It's too bad about your chickadee buddy but that is nature's way. Still, I'm hoping to read that you've seen him again.

    Feel better soon!

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  2. ack. hope you feel better...my littlest one has been down for 3 days...it was ruled as bronchitis...back in school today thank goodness..smiles.

    sorry to hear about your one legged friend...i hope he returns. and those are some cool snowshoes...

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  3. Feel better - nothing worse than starting the winter with a cold. Sorry to hear about the little chickadee. I know it's nature's way, but still.

    Let us know how you like the snowshoes. I've thought about a pair for myself. We have some lovely places to hike in the snow between Reno and Lake Tahoe.

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  4. Sorry to hear you have a cold. I so like your snowshoes. I have had a horrible sinus headache the past couple days. Can hardly keep my eyes focused.

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  5. I hate a nasty cold. Wish they would come up with a vaccine for that.

    I'm still reliving the hours I spent watching the rescue of the miners. It's been so long since I've seen such cooperation among people that I hardly know how to process the thought it can still happen, even in America.

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  6. I am just catching up on my blogging as I have been feeling a bit under the weather too. I hope you are feeling better soon.

    Sorry to hear about the little chickadee. I love them. My daughter has a lot of them at her place.

    Take care...!

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  7. Aww, sorry to hear you have a cold.
    I've worked around people all week long, who are suffering from colds, and strep throat, I'm drinking lots of orange juice !
    Get well soon, and back on the trail ;)

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  8. Organidin for a cough.
    Allegra for a runny nose, congestion.
    Both by doc's prescription. Both are pills. Can't stand syrup!

    My cat caught a tiny bird this morning. Its little wings were flapping in Kitty's mouth. When I looked again, the bird was dead on the ground. Thank God, the cat had the good sense not to eat the bird.

    I have never worn snow shoes in my life!

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  9. Hope that you are soon on the mend!

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  10. Sorry to hear about the cold and the missed hike. We had a lovely morning here, but rain by 3:30. It's not supposed to last long, but it will be decided colder now, with highs in the mid 50's.
    I hope you have lots of snow so you can use those new snow shoes. I just don't want too much here in the city. People get crazy when it snows here.

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  11. So sorry to hear about your cold!! Feel better soon!!

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  12. I couldn't figure out why I didn't enjoy my snowshoes as much as I thought I would, until I realized that the stance was bringing me back (kinesthetically speaking) to the days of walking with a saggy baggy diaper. That's got to be an awful early memory, I hope.

    I hope your readers with kitty cats reconsider (at least with their next cats) letting them outdoors. They're very destructive to the songbird population; they're introduced (by us) and not native predators, no matter how common they seem to us. I suppose the old barn cat population took care of mice in the silo and earned their keep, plus were not numerous, but the number of cats in the city makes them extremely hard on wildlife. My two cats have been very happy with the run of the house since kittenhood. Okay, off the soapbox now. I hope you feel better.

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  13. Wow, I never thought about doing some hiking around here in snowshoes.That would be quite a trip, eh? Amaze the neighbors.

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  14. I hope you feel better soon..I am sorry you missed your hike..I know that you look forward to Thursdays as much as we look forward to hearing about them:)

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  15. Hope you're feeling better soon DJan. This one going around is a doozy!

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  16. I am "so-not" looking forward to snow in Ohio but it will come in spite of my hopes. I hope you get the snow you wanted and that the hikes never end.

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  17. So sorry you are not feeling well!!! Hope you bounce back quickly!!! And wow! Snow shoes! That will be so fun!!! And the news about the miners IS wonderful!!! Hope to hear the news that you are back on your feet soon as well!! ~Janine XO

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  18. Hi DJ,
    I'm so sorry I haven't visited for a while. I'm also so sorry for you not feeling well. Love those snow shoes. I hope we get to see pictures of them on you and in use. Not too soon, though, as this would mean you got all that snow!

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  19. And I thought you liked hiking in the rain. Get Well Soon!

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  20. I'm sorry to read you're feeling poorly today D-Jan. Hope it doesn't last too long. Plenty of opportunity to watch the birds and read a good book though!
    Get well soon.
    Blessings, Star

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