It’s mid-February in the White River National Forest. Snow happens almost every day, and we cope. Gratitude comes easy for me, and I am thankful for the beauty of it, and the moisture that it brings.

Cold no longer bothers me, as I’ve been doing this for two years. I know how to keep warm, and how to enjoy it.

My life is good.

In the deep winter, though, a lot of things change. Wildlife stays mainly out of sight. Bears are sleeping. Deer have moved lower down, although I occasionally see a few crossing the road.

Recently, standing beside Grace before turning in for the night, I’ve heard the chirping of a lion. It doesnt bother me (too much) because it’s quite distant.

When I first came to the mountain, I was near enough to hear the low growl. That made me nervous.

Mountain lion attacks are rare, but you may have heard of a recent one. In lion country, to run is to take your life in your hands. Just like a house cat will chase a moving object, so will the big ones. I dont run, and I stay upright.

Another thing that changes in winter is economics. Silverthorne and Dillon experience high levels of ski season traffic. Prices of everything go up and it takes time to get across town.

For the most part, travelers are polite, but some are rude, dumping their trash in the parking lots or on the sides of the road. Many are fearful on the snow packed roads and simply drive where they feel safe, instead of staying in lanes. I get that. People also park wherever they want, because snow has covered up the lines.

For townspeople, it’s a love/hate thing. They love the business, but are glad to see the end of ski season, when things can get back to normal.

Upcoming Trip

Speaking of travelers, I’ll be headed out to Hays, Kansas next weekend. I’ve heard raves about a place called Al’s Chickenette, so I’m going to check it out. Along the way, I’ll also visit the Destination Kitchen in Norton. Both look super online. I’ll report back later.

In the meantime, thanks for reading and following.

Enjoy the Life you’re living.