My face may be wind-burned and my legs are weary, but to quote the late James Brown, "I feel good."
Such is a winter day in the High Country.
I did go snowshoeing on Sugar Mountain this afternoon which is basically climbing up the ski slopes and using cut through trails. It was a short trip and not nearly as tough as I wanted it to be, but I learned I value a good pair of cleats on the snow/ice. Next time I have a ski/snowboarding gig I will ask for a pair of snowshoes instead of using skis. And, it is really a hoot to run down a mountain. Cleats the size of bear claws are good things.
Afterward I visited Grandfather Mountain. I had hoped to catch some rime ice photos, but the photogenic trails were closed. I'm glad they were because man, it was some kinda cold up there. This photo (above) looking southeast was not easy to take. The wind was relentless as it sliced through my body. I used my Jeep as a windshield. I realize the horizon is off-kilter in the photo, but really, this was not ideal conditions to be shooting in (winds gusting 45-60 mph) and I was lucky to get anything. I used my 300mm lens with a 1.4 teleconverter. Oh and, I was able to see the Charlotte skyline about 100 miles away. Again, it isn't a great shot and certainly is not as good as Hugh Morton's posted here but still, it was cool to know the sky was clear enough to see (not with the naked eye) the big city. I wish I had a polarizer filter to fit my 300mm lens, some extension tubes and morning light. Sigh. It is a live and learn photographer's life....
And Google this. Google comes to Lenoir. Will there be a brain-drain from Watauga County?
