Winter doesn't seem to want to give up

[silenthunterstudios]

Normally about this time of year, I'm planning local hikes on old country roads and at local parks. Regional trips too, to parks on the Chesapeake Bay, in western Maryland and central Pennsylvania, and on the Delmarva, or Eastern Shore. Fishing and hiking, and hopefully as my health gets better, camping at these spots.

I know that plenty of you are hardcore, camping in hardpack snow and in some pretty frigid conditions. Winter has taken a toll on me though. I'm just in Maryland, and we haven't had too many bad snowstorms, no snow on the ground right now, but I just want to start recovering from this cold weather. Winter is coming back this Friday, the first day of spring, with sleet, freezing rain and snow.

Any pics you have, of camping, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, working outside, messing with your kits outside, anything, please share it. Need some pick me up waiting for spring.

 

[cybrok]

That should help you. Tayrona National Park, Colombia:

 

[adubbz]

You guys are gettin' beat up around there. I am doing a sun dance for you!!!

 

[JWL]

I feel you. We still have at least a foot, maybe 2, on the ground here in Maine.

 

[jackknife]

The Big Sur California coast last year. Temps in the mid 80's, light breeze.

Pearl The Wonder Corgi watching ten mile creek flow, last summer.

 

[taldesta]

Jackknife ... wow. I can feel the warmth of the sun.
Can't compete with big sur ... but from my late last fall camp trip after a season prevented from enjoying the camp experience ...

My Daisy .... 'mossing' I think that may be what vegging-out is called today?

Susan

 

[taldesta]

Yah, but it's gone already ...

More, on the camp last fall ...

This is an old Coleman tent, my mum gave me in the mid '90s. It is the first tent I ever owned in which I was able to stand upright. Or just sit on a chair and read on a rainy day. Hey, no more rocking back and forth on a (hopefully but not likely) buoyant air mattress to get dressed in the morning. Whew.

My camping style is changed from light backpacking with a couple of dogs to mostly water access and car-camp, more so recently - mostly because I have inherited some wonderful dogs from close family. Keeping the life and love known to the dogs was so important to my people. I honour that. I am personally enriched by having them in my life.

I always take a kibble-fueled chair warmer. Please note the paper towel holder/camp shovel also known as privy on a stick.

The loggers have left a lot of campfire fuel in this area - I always have respect for the rules while taking/or not .. firewood in parks while travelling in the US and Canada. I get it absolutely. The campfire wood here is a luxury. Abundance of fallen white birch bark starter and deadfall pine added warmth to the first night meal and fire because I had arrived very late in the day. My first choice destination was washed out. Could not get the vehicle safely in. Lost time.

I use energy to cut fuel when necessary, but this late in the day I was hungry, had a camp to set up, dogs to feed, meal to prep, windbreak to put up, pics to take ... and the night was setting in fast. I just used snagged pine I dragged under each arm to feed the fire without cutting.