Cold Cathedral

Turning out of our drive, one quickly ascends a small knoll in what at first seems like a minor bump, until you crest and see the other side: a long, steep downhill drop to the road below. The trees lining this "corridor" are massive and tall, all of them either Douglas Fir or Cedar. I'd guess that they stand about 90-150 feet above the road. The height of the trees, coupled with the thick density and the steep hilldside, really give this short stretch of road a grand, cathedral-like feel. A cold winter morning with fresh snow really accentuates the stillness and sounds, although muffled, carry with clarity and surprise.

Today, around 10:30am, the branches sagged and hung heavy with freshly "loaded" snow bombs. We quickly shuffled thru, nervously scanning upwards for any disturbance that might send a truck load of snow down on our heads and always listening for that dreaded crack of a breaking branch.

Here we are (more or less) in the clear. We did the round-trip unscathed, by the way.

Thank the tree spirit for that one, Miki.