Inspiration comes in a myriad of forms.

“… miles to go before I sleep” is a popular refrain – quoting Robert Frost in “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

Long before the scattering light could be perceived on the horizon I was tucked in my warm hat with a headlamp positioned on my forehead.  The parking lot was empty.  Reaching up, I gently slide the switch and power down to a lower beam of light that lands just in front of my feet.  Above, The Hunter is twinkling and to the right I hear the snow groomer fashioning a corduroy playground.

Moving upwards the darkness is calming.  Each step of my snowshoes is coordinated with the inhale and exhale of my breath.  Almost imperceptibly the flow of the air changes.   I feel a hint of its effort on my cheek; a surprising contrast to the warming dampness forming on my back from the uphill exertion.

The goal is three miles away along a pathway that in the winter is used by a variety of recreational pursuers – cross country skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers and boot clod walkers.

Undisturbed snow stretches with the glimmering of snow fleas taking pictures of my passing.  By now, the scattering light has changed the darkness to a lighter shade of navy on my  eastern shoulder.  Tracks of fox and snowshoe hares bound from tree to tree.  Pink and yellow permeate the once unperceivable clouds and fashionable hats of white are tightly fitted on the various shapes and sizes of the altitude reaching mounds that spread before me.

Catching my breath I stare.  Momentarily I forget the reason I’d gotten up this early this particular morning was to take photographs.  That seems so meaningless now.

On the drive NPR was speaking about literary classics … how the attention span is so short that the longer literary classics need to be shortened to be read by the public at large.

Climbing a few more feet two benches are reached and are nearly devoid of snow.  Misshaped footprints tread in the crooked stunted trees.  The gap below straddles two descents.  The wonderment of the moment does not go unnoticed.  Beckoning is silence.  I momentarily hold my breath in wait for the next inspiring glimpse of life waking.  Inspired … I was inspired to step out in the darkness this morning to witness this slow glow of awakening.

Deadlines looming no longer seem worthy of concern.  I hear the birds unwrapping their feathered wings and the crack of ice on a spiny blade of browned grass stretching in the day break warmth.  I’ve slowed to the morning rhythm and shudder as the temperature changes a degree.  “Seeing” for a few more minutes’ clarity transforms my thoughts and I turn to head down in the light of the morning climb.

About Step Outdoors, LLC 

Step Outdoors wants you to go outside and we lead individually inspired one foot in front of the other adventure pursuits to get you there.  In the summer, we will tailor a first time overnight backpack or a more challenging multi-day hiking adventure just for you.  In the winter, we offer snowshoe hikes appropriate for beginners and for those with a tad more experience.  Perfect for mothers and daughters, couples, families, co-workers or a group of friends, we provide a 100% guarantee of fun.

Check out our blog at http://stepoutdoorscolorado.com/blog/.  Or send us an email at info@stepoutdoorscolorado.com.