Desolate and Cold

Another winter hike this morning brought me to a barren quarry on the New Britain/Plainville line as I headed for Pinnacle Mountain and The Metacomet Trail. As I approached this abandoned crater looking like a true moonscape the cold penetrated deeply with a feeling of isolation with my feet planted in the snow looking for any signs of life nearby. Only tracks from coyotes and bob cats were in stride with my human footprints. I’m sure they were checking me from a safe haven.
This current cold snap will continue for another ten days rivaling the one we had in December 1989 when the temperature averaged 10 degrees below normal for the month. Actually there was a 20 day period of below freezing temperatures from December 11th-31st. The following January was almost 10 degrees above normal. Mother Nature always has a way to balance things out.