This winter of my life

I am off work today, bundled inside watching the winter storm work its way in with deepening grey skies, wind whipping the leaf-less trees and dried brown grasses, with the temperature continuing to drop.  It was 9 degrees at sunup today, now it is a balmy 23 degrees, and today's high of 27 was hours ago.  It is forecast to snow later this afternoon, through the overnight and into tomorrow, then slowly clear, with a sunny high of nearly 50 degrees Saturday.
I leave for vacation next week.  This is another quick drive to Florida, to see our son for the holidays, and bring back what stuff we can in my small car.  The 2-day drive will be quick, for sure.  Two 13+ hour days, driving about 1820 miles each way through two time zones, a bunch of major cities, travelling all Interstates will leave us 5 days to visit with family and friends near Orlando.  Then repeat the drive back here with a loaded car.
The weather looks good with no snow or major storms each way.  When we get back, we will both work through the holidays in Colorado, just like we did the past 2 years, and probably will the next 3 to 5.
I will try to write about the trip, as I have before.  Perhaps we will stop someplace cool, or visit a neat site with a story to tell, or catch some photos of a place not seen by us before.
So whether you stay home or travel, please enjoy this holiday season and celebrate it the best you can.  Happy Holidays to you and yours and have a great New Year!

Coming Up - Free National Park Entry Dates

Don't say I didn't warn you!
Beginning tomorrow, April 16 through 24 is National Park Week!  Enter a National Park for free all week!  Check out the link above for more parks.
In Colorado there are: Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Also there are 8 National Monuments including: Browns Canyon National Monument, Colorado National Monument, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Chimney Rock National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, and Yucca House National Monument.
And there are 3 National Heritage Areas: South Park National Heritage Areas, Sangre De Christo National Heritage Areas, Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Areas.  You can read more about these HERE.
Visit a park near you!!!

Jim Kern

Jim Kern

The Florida Trail is just one organization started by Jim Kern, a Florida resident, a photographer & filmmaker and real estate developer.  Jim came up with the idea of the Florida Trail after hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  "Why doesn't Florida have a trail like this?" was his question.  Aside from the high elevations which the mountainous states all have, Florida has a lot of scenic wonder, sometimes whole ecosystems pop up in only one inch or two of elevation.
So Jim went around, and asked his question and didn't take no for an answer.  He created the Florida Trail Association and served as its president the first dozen years.  Those orange blazes were first painted on trees marking the Florida Trail at Clearwater Lake campground in the Ocala National Forest in 1966.  Part of these trails you hike today were first surveyed and cut through the woods by Jim's friends and partners in the Florida Trail.  His organization has grown over the years to include many members, volunteers and supporters (yes, even trail angels) all over the state.  Nearly 150 people attempt a through-hike annually, hiking during the winter months, moving north with spring.
Jim's first Florida backpack trip was a 12-day slog through unmarked wilderness from the Tamiami Trail to Highlands Hammock near Sebring.  His publicized trip heightened the real need for a Florida Trail, hiking through waist-deep water, swatting flies and mosquitos just like the rest of us.
Jim Kern also created the American Hiking Society giving a national voice to hikers and backpackers in 1976, and Big City Mountaineers to mentor urban youth in the outdoors, and his newest development, the Hiker's Grand Slam.
What I like about Jim Kern is that he followed through with an idea he had until it actually happened. An Eagle Scout, Jim showed the courage to create what he felt was important.  He lived his dream and in doing so created so many other dreams for the rest of us.  That's a character trait I truly admire.