Stepping Out and Up Into the Cold

I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself. I took my first steps today in embracing the freezing cold. The forecast said a high of only 49 today, which to my internal thermometer is very cold. So when a friend emailed to invite me to an annual hike up a mountain, I teetered a moment. Ordinarily, I would shrug off the opportunity knowing full well that mountain ain't going anywhere between now and next summer when the temperatures are more agreeable. But we are trying to make friends, and a field trip with a homeschool group is a good way to do so.

So we went.

And, yes, it was cold! I suppose I could just give you my Facebook status to best describe the event: Bottom of Talcott Mountain: 48 degrees. Top of the mountain: about 10 degrees colder. Wind chill: minus freezing-my-butt-off. But we made it, and the views were totally worth it.

The hike up Talcott Mountain was rather steep in places, and I worried about the possibility of having to hoist the Princess on to my aching back, but she was a trooper and didn't complain once. My other kids took off with new friends, and I barely saw them. At the top we got to tour Heublein Tower which has an interesting story.

The views from Talcott Mountain are stunning, and from the top of the tower a 360 degree view offers a glimpse of 1200 square miles!

Although the hike took a good 2 hours, the kids had a great time. As for me, I'm going to be sore in the morning, but I'm sure that frigid mountain air did my lungs some good.