Mountains
There's a good thing about autumn here in Missoula - it's starting to let me feel more like I'm living in the mountains. Now that most mornings I wake up and see the surrounding mountains with at least a dusting of snow on them (and Lolo Peak now has quite a nice crown of snow)...the mountains somehow seem taller. Today after going in to the office to do some work and voting (and receiving my free Starbucks coffee for doing so), I took a mental health break and drove up to Snowbowl. I went for many reasons - one, I just needed to get 'away' from stuff in town; two, I'm trying to build up mountain driving experience so I'll be prepared once the snows hit (it was a misty day, so I've now driven serious mountain roads at night, during dry conditions, and now during wet conditions); third, well, I kind of wanted to check Snowbowl out to see if I ever want to go skiing up there, and whether I'd be able to drive up that way if that were the case.
Well, it was quite cathartic. The road was definitely mountain-y, but not scarily so. I had my iPod playing good and there were tiny sections of fog wrapped around the pines, and I got to touch SNOW. I don't think I want to drive that way once it really starts snowing, though...at least not without chains. But now I know. And now I feel all relaxed and like maybe I can actually get some real work done in the rest of the day.
I also realized when I was up there that for the first time since coming to Missoula, I thought of people I'd be comfortable calling to come join me the next time I go "exploring" in Missoula's backyard. It's a good feeling.
Meera and Jen - I also think this road might offer a close place to get some good mountain stargazing in once you come visit. Huzzah!
Well, it was quite cathartic. The road was definitely mountain-y, but not scarily so. I had my iPod playing good and there were tiny sections of fog wrapped around the pines, and I got to touch SNOW. I don't think I want to drive that way once it really starts snowing, though...at least not without chains. But now I know. And now I feel all relaxed and like maybe I can actually get some real work done in the rest of the day.
I also realized when I was up there that for the first time since coming to Missoula, I thought of people I'd be comfortable calling to come join me the next time I go "exploring" in Missoula's backyard. It's a good feeling.
Meera and Jen - I also think this road might offer a close place to get some good mountain stargazing in once you come visit. Huzzah!