
Back in France, in the Ariège, the very best way of getting out into virgin snow and becoming at one with a pure, glittering white winter landscape was take yourself off to the nearest mountain, strap on your snowshoes and walk through the fresh crisp air as if you were the only person in that particular bit of world. It was hard work though, and after the first hour, I’d had enough.
Three years on, and the memory of the pain, sweat and general exhaustion of the entire procedure has faded. I remember instead the vivid sunlit skies and startlingly white and unspoilt snow. And sometimes there were shadows: clear silhouettes mirroring, yet enhancing the world above the glistering mantle.
This week’s WordPress Photo challenge is ‘shadow’. The challenge is now issued on a Wednesday rather than a Friday. I think I’ll now usually respond on Saturday, not Sunday.
Looks wonderful if painful.
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No, it’s not painful – snow is forgiving to fall into when it’s as deep as that. But it IS exhausting.
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My memories of hiking with my parents as a kid are very similar. You forget all the blisters, soreness, and cold, and just remember the views from the top of the mountain. 🖤
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Just as well we always forget the pain and remember the good bits! Thanks for commenting.
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Having moaned about how cold, hungry and fed up you are all the way up!
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Stunning. Spoken from the warmth and comfort of my chair whilst outside the waether flirts with the prospect of scattering a few paltry flakes…
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Well, you have a few more flakes than us today then. Inside’s the place to be today, I think.
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Love the shadows against the stark white snow…just beautiful. I’m so glad I found your blog!
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Thank you! And thanks for commenting too.
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We are in the Ariège at the moment and looking forward to all sorts of snowy activity. Jeremy is sharpening and waxing skis as we speak. Regarding your last post your garden is way ahead of ours. We’ve had viburnum bodnatense and heleborus niger flowering since before Christmas but apart from that only snowdrops in bud, just.
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Well, who would have thought that Yorkshire would steal a march on Sussex! Have a great time in AV and give the Pyrenees our love x
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Great pictures – The shadows on the snow are wonderful.
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Thank you. Good memories!
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Wonderful photos and your description poetic! An antidote to the awful weather today.
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Thank you. Yes, we’re good at foul weather at the moment, aren’t we?
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Oh yes!
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I can feel the crisp, cold air in my face and the crunch of the snow beneath my feet…literally since it looks like this here right now! Lovely photos and enjoyed your poetic descriptions.
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Thank you. And lucky you. Rain rain and more rain here 😦
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Nice shots!
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Thanks – good memories.
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It’s so beautiful at first and beautifully shot as well, but we don’t want it around too long when it goes to sludge, do we?
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It never seemed to do sludge on the mountains.
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I love that contrast of bright snow and deep, long shadows. Snowshoeing IS hard work–I always over-dress, too, and then get sweaty and cranky. But being outside on these perfect snow days makes it seem worthwhile.
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I’ve almost forgotten what perfect snow is like. No such thing here in the UK this year 😦
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Beautiful. I was snowshoeing for the first time in Chamonix last week when the light was too flat for skiing. I’m so glad it was, for I would never have experienced how wonderful it can be!
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It IS wonderful. But perhaps the memories are sometimes better than the actual slog!
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