The Cabin

The wilderness calls for a pulse every season; winter is no exception. After the busy holidays, we regroup for the New Year resolution, and on a dozen winter warriors' agenda is the infamous high cabin trip. A remote wilderness cabin sits below the 3000-foot Mount Cardigan in New Hampshire. After a two-hour hike, our intrepid team fills the bunks spread three high. We cozy around the wood stove that once required us to carry the wood on our packs or sleds, drying our layers of soaked clothing from the strenuous hike we had just achieved. A hike that requires us to backpack our sleeping bags, water, coats, winter clothing, and other comforts and essentials. Each pack weighs over thirty pounds! And I remind myself that if only I could lose those thirty pounds. Trying to juggle all this on top of the ice we encounter that we grip with spikes, we somehow manage this year after year for our annual tradition. It was the most anticipated trip of the year. Why?

Describing why we put ourselves through the challenges of winter backpacking ascents is different for everyone, but for me, it's about the camaraderie of the friendships. The teamwork that it takes to plan such a trip. The logistics, the food, the gear, the energy it takes for a night in the winter wilderness. The anticipation of starting the new year challenging myself, setting the tone for more adventures in the upcoming year. Once settled into the cabin, our walls come down, and the intimacies of our lives are shared. We toast to those who left us too soon; we play games, celebrate with our favorite beverages, and eat well. Happy hour never tasted so good! The winter's day came with the kind of chill that awakened the other senses and warmed them.

Within 24 hours, we have summited high peaks, depleting our energy, yet never felt so alive and invigorated. Our 2024 expedition embraced the stormy wilderness, waking to a foot of fresh, powdery snowfall. Upon sunrise, the forest becomes snow-white with sugar-frosted trees. It has a pristine aura that begs the soul to stop for a moment and embrace Mother Earth. Outside the weathered cabin was a pristine setting one only dream of—winter magic. The sun peaked in the foggy windows, snow gathered in the panes, and we savored our hot beverages, looking into the sacred forest surrounding us. The mountain rises in splendor, a silent invitation for the heart not to accept. There is a glory in the silence, in the reverent awe of nature. Winter has taken her first step upon her months-long journey.

Check out my blog with featured travel articles and a synopsis of my pending book, Mountain Fantasies: Tales From The Trails.