Gimme Shelter

I have not been getting out into the woods this year the way I used to. No scrambling climbs up rocky mountains sides, no backpacking to breathtaking views on bald mountain tops. Age has taken its toll on my body. I have all but packed away the backpack and traded skis for snowshoes. I am adjusting to just pulling on boots for a leisurely hike carrying not much more than water and a snack in a day pack.


And so I was looking forward to an LL Bean sponsored group meetup, proposed as a 3 to 5 mile hike, or snowshoe, depending on the weather. What interested me was that the hike was to be in a State park very near to where my oldest daughter now lives, until she moves in a couple of weeks. We had never been there so we both signed up. But just as the pinky toe I injured four months ago was finally getting better, I re-injured it stepping on a dog toy in the middle of the night. Damn. And then we had a ton of snow and my body just cannot do 5 miles of snowshoeing. Nope. Nada. Not anymore.


But I was going up to daughter’s apartment anyway to help pack for her impending move so we decided to go to the park for at least a short walk.


We thought we might walk on the frozen lake but warmer temps earlier in the week rendered that not safe.








And we were definitely not going swimming.


There were many groomed ski trails but the park roadway had been plowed so we decided to walk along it and take in the views of the lake from there.


It was a very cold and blustery day and 30 minutes in my face was frozen, my toe screaming, and I was beginning to regret my decision to go hiking in such brutal weather when we came across this warming hut at the far end of the lake.







A small fire was burning and the warmth gave us much needed relief from the cold and wind.






There was a cozy corner stocked with nature books including many for children, and there were quite a few educational exhibits such as tree specimens and animal tracks. Although I was not pleased with the stuffed animal head.





I planted my butt on this couch for quite a while.

It was a huge improvement to the primitive Adirondack shelters I am used to when backpacking.





I could have stayed for quite awhile in its cozy comfortable shelter but we had to get packing so we hiked back out.. If the State could just provide more of these kinds of warming huts, perhaps with a stocked fridge, in the Adirondack wilderness I would definitely dust off the ol’ backpack and head back out there.

Morning View

Usually by March I am tired of the snow but this has been

a particularly beautiful snowfall

coating all the trees and making the world

look like a wonderland

Dick's

Yesterday Dick’s Sporting Goods announced they would no longer sell assault style rifles. They would also not sell high capacity magazines and that it would not sell any gun to anyone under 21, no matter what the local state regulations were.








I met the owner of Dick’s (Mr. Stack to me) very early in my career. He owned one stand-alone sporting goods store adjacent to the city I worked for and we were trying to entice him to open a new store in our downtown. It was a time when downtowns were dying and no one was investing in city retail.





But Mr. Stack had once worked in our downtown and had a soft spot for the city. He truly wanted to help in its economic development, even if it presented a financial risk to him. For about a year we sat and planned. I was pretty much an underling at the time but he and his family always treated me with respect and gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities.





When the new store finally opened the Stack’s always gave back to the community and were interested in the surrounding businesses’ success as much as their own. Mr. Stack’s son eventually took over the company and I was delighted when I learned that they had since expanded all over the country.





I was not surprised by their announcement yesterday as they always were always a family based, community oriented company. I am happy that they have not strayed from their roots and values.


Today I am going to my local Dick’s and buying something. Anything. I want to support them as they join the fight to turn the tide on gun regulations just as they supported me and my former community. I hope you will give them some encouraging words on their social media or, if you are able, go buy something. They have great camping gear : )