The months of December, January, and February are not the best months for those of us that enjoy the outdoors. Sure, activities abound during the winter months: skiing, both downhill and cross-country, snow shoeing, and even winter hiking. As a matter of fact, I feel that a positive attitude and finding opportunities to participate in outdoor activities is key in maintaining an optimistic view during the cold, dark days of winter.
These past few months have not made it easy to be optimistic; temperatures in the single digits and not enough snow on the ground to even make a decent footprint in. Though I try to venture out during the winter months, to either hike or snowshoe, this winter has not been cooperative with regards to outdoors adventures.
So here we are, a few day before the day of the Ground Hog, and personally I have not visited the woods of William Penn since October. Not because I didn't want to, but life sometimes gets in the way. Also the weather this year has not cooperated much. Just like last year, we haven't had the opportunity to enjoy a January thaw, and the bitterly cold temperatures has provided me with more than enough excuses to not venture out and explore the trails.
So, if the rodent in Punxsutawney predicts an early spring, will that give us reason enough to head out to the trails and hike? In-and-of itself, probably not. But it would be a spirit lifter, giving us hope of an early spring, even if we have snow on the ground well past his 6-week prognosis.
For me, February is like looking through a frosted window. Spring seems to be a glimpse of something fleeting, which seems distance, but within grasp at the same time. February is winter's last hurrah. It will be cold and we will have snow, but winter's time is limited. And for those of us that try to be optimistic and enjoy the outdoors during the winter, our wait will soon be over. Soon we'll see warmer temperatures, longer days, and more opportunities to hit the trail. Soon, the hiker's of Pennsylvania will be back on the trails in full force.
And on that note, we'll say goodbye to the dark days of winter, hello to spring and look forward to many opportunities for exploring the trails of Pennsylvania.
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