Pointy Knob Trail in Winter

When you get up in the morning in the highlands, the questions isn't "am I going out today?" It is, "Where are we going out today?" It was the first Saturday in December (technically autumn, I guess). The snow was falling steadily. We chose a tributary to Red Run along the Pointy Knob trail. We rock-hopped across the rushing creek and slipped our way up the snowy trail. More than once I snagged overhanging branches and found snow sliding down the back of my neck. I fell into a slippery slope burying my camera in the snow. Photo work was awkward in the steady snow. Lenses kept getting wet. We debated the weather sealing of our cameras (mine isn't). We got a bit wet, but we had a good time, and no serious damage was done to persons or gear.

Out of the excursion, I got two particular photographs that I like. This first one (above) feels frenetic and captures the movement of the water. In this shot, I feel like perhaps I am a bird flying down the creek. Admittedly, this shot doesn't capture the reality of the moment.

The second shot (below) captures the quiet peacefulness that characterized the morning we spent on the creek. White snow clung to every surface. The only contrast in the scene was the ubiquitous brown waters of the highlands with the occasional tree-trunk, boulder or log peeking out from behind the sticky white snow. The simple duotone of winter can be such a relief after the garishness of summer and fall.