Hiking Towards a New Year

This past week I have enjoyed some wonderful hikes with friends most beginning down in the spring like green world and hiking up into the wonderful white world of snow. It’s just been totally awesome! The first hike, on Christmas morning, we encountered a little snow on the ground in some places as we made our way up to the cross. Hiking to the cross is a favourite of mine because it is close to home and only takes a couple of hours. You get great views of the bay and it is a spiritual place, a place that allows me to be quiet and reflect. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning of the day that marks the birth of Jesus.

At the Cross...one of my many "thin places"

Looking out across the bay

The second hike, to the same mountain, took place a couple of days later. We headed out in a light rain and we weren’t too far up the same trail when we ran into snow. It was deeper now and still coming down. By the time we reached the cross and headed up higher towards the summit the snow was quite deep.

Heading up to the cross - Hike #2

It was fun to find the trail among the trees and bushes. It was so quiet in the forest and it felt like the four of us were alone on the hill. Simply amazing. It was peaceful, we were playful and we were blessed to be able to be there in the snow.

My wonderful hiking pals enjoying the snow

It’s not often that we get snow here on the island and this past week has just been perfect. Snow up high on the mountains and yet down below the roads are bare. To me it’s the best of both worlds and is turning out to be the most perfect of winters.

Snow covered trails

It being a long weekend I was able to fit in a third hike and thankfully two of my hiking pals chose to head over to Saltspring Island where we hiked up Mount Erskine, a hill I have never climbed before. Wow! What a beautiful place. As we began the steep ascent we couldn’t help but stop and stare in awe at the huge wonderful arbutus trees. They were so colourful, some red, some orange where the bark had peeled away and others darker brown or black looking. Their twisted and bowing limbs formed many different arches and shapes.

Beautiful arbutus trees

Many shades of colour and different shapes

If the trees didn’t make the trail interesting enough there were also Fairy doors along the trail. Someone has taken the time to build and put in place magical fairy doors that filled me with childlike joy as we discovered more and more of them as we climbed.

Lovely Fairy Door

 Upon reaching the summit we were surrounded in low cloud so there would be no view but the wonderful white snow made up for it.  I believe I could really get into hiking through snow covered pathways. It really adds to the adventure and has the landscape looking totally different than its usual green self.

In the low cloud resting on the summit bench

It’s the perfect time of year to spend lots of time out in creation. As we come to the close of this year I always find it good to look back and reflect on the ups and downs that have happened. I am always thankful for all the blessings that have come into my life and I try to be thankful for the challenges that have come along as well. I know there is much to be learned from the struggles and trials that life brings to us. They are as important as the joys we receive from all of the good things.

Deciding what the view would have been had it been a clear day

I also take time to think about the coming year. I try and set some goals and think of things that I can try and change to make this coming year even better yet. It’s never easy but I find it important to continue to set goals that will help me to grow to be a better person, to learn from the lessons life’s struggles have brought to me and to use those experiences in a good way.

Creations art work

Like the mountains our bodies have form and are a base from which change is made over time.  Just as the seasons and weather bring changes to the mountain, it’s rocks and plant life, our experiences, our struggles and our blessings bring change to the person we are inside. We all change and grow through our lifetime. The bases of who we are will always be there, I am who I am but I have the ability to be better. Tomorrow I can be better than I was today and next year I can be better than I was this year. I can work towards making this world a better place for others and for the earth itself.



The view from my doorway - A mountain yet to be climbed this year.

 These next few days will be a time of reflection, a time to breathe deeply and to look ahead with anticipation of another wonderful year. Hopefully there will be time to climb another hill as it always is a time for personal thoughts. Most of my "ah ha" moments come from being in those "thin places" out in nature and especially on mountain tops.   

 

I found this quote the other day and it really spoke to me. 

In this coming year may we all find life's greatest blessings in the love we share with others, the adventures we have together and the memories we make. I am so blessed with wonderful family, amazing caring friends and so many love filled adventures. It all continues to amaze me. Blessings to everyone for a wonderful year in 2016!