Cabin Fever? Let’s go hiking.
A few weeks ago, we had a massive snowstorm here in the Midwest - one that fell on top of a fresh sheet of ice.
Impossible to shovel… almost impossible to drive in.
And, after a couple of days of being stuck inside, my mood slowly deteriorated. We’re talking hours of couch-surfing and a constant Gilmore Girls binge on Netflix.
When it’s -2 degrees outside… what else are you supposed to do?
Just when I thought my frumpiness had reached its all-time low, the weather app delivered good news:
The temperatures were rising.
Like… to a mostly habitable level.
And, as long as I wore basically every layer of clothing that I owned… I probably wouldn’t become hypothermic.
Beggars can’t be choosers, right?
To add to the excitement, another light snow was falling - leaving a layer of pristine powder that I ached to sink my boots in.
At that point there was no hesitation. It was time to GO.
I gathered gear into a daypack, layered up, stopped at a coffee shop for a hot chai, and then headed in the direction of a local favorite trail.
During the slow, treacherous drive, I was already giddy over the vast blankets of snow surrounding me. The fields and snow covered trees took my breath away.
Finally, I reached the parking area and began my trek to the Yellow Loop trailhead on the east side of Binder Lake.
In the past, I’ve hiked this trail during the warmer months when the leaves were still on the trees and the waves flowed freely across the 16-acre lake.
I knew the winter version of this experience would be a bit different.
Boy, was I right.
The lake was mostly frozen over - with the exception of a few cracks and puddles for the birds to drink from.
Grinning like a fool, I happily hiked along the shoreline - completely enamored with the snowy white scenery. It was freezing cold and more snow was falling, and yet I could feel my winter angst melting away.
A few of my usual stops along this trail expressed a new beauty in the wintery landscape.
My “thinking rock” that overlooks the lake for gorgeous introspective sunsets:
A little finger of the lake that I have dubbed “turtle cove” - because of the large number of turtles that sun themselves on the rocks and branches during the warmer months.
I don’t think any turtles were hanging out here today:
And finally, I can always count on spotting at least a couple of swans out on Binder Lake. They really don’t like when you paddle in their territory - and will let you know by aggressively dive bombing you.
Today, the swans were lined up along the west side of the lake - accompanied by a friendly flock of geese.
I could see them through my binoculars.. curled up into their feathers, trying to stay warm:
I’m always amazed at how many creative details I see when I’m out in nature. The patterns of the tree bark - varying textures of moss - the shapes, sizes and colors of mushrooms, rocks, flowers….
What I discovered on this hike is that even when everything is covered in white there are still an infinite number of creative details to enjoy.
Mother Nature is, hands down, the ultimate interactive artist.
As the snowfall increased and my chai supply waned, I knew playtime in the snow was nearing an end.
Though I spent an hour and a half covering only 1.6 miles, it was just enough to fill my cup for the crazy evening ahead…
which included my house being raided by four squealing pre-teen girls living it up at a birthday sleepover.
This winter hike was such a great reminder that even when conditions aren’t optimal, I can still find small ways to get my nature fix.
It doesn’t have to last very long or be super epic for it to fill me with joy and calm my nervous system.
Whatever uncomfortable season you’re in - literally or figuratively - I hope you find the courage and motivation you need to take a step out into it. To find the bits of wonder and inspiration your soul needs.
And when you get back to your life and it’s just a little bit too noisy? Just put on some gigantic headphones and dive back into trusty old Gilmore Girls.
I know I did.
Hey there, thanks so much for reading!
If you enjoyed these words and pictures, you might also enjoy this winter nature vlog + music.
Have an amazing day, and I’ll see you next time!