Guess what happens when you swap bikes for boots? Magic, that’s what! Last Thursday, we traded our usual “Thursday Night Ride” for something a tad more frosty and a lot more slippery. Welcome to our Thursday Night Recreation – Hiking edition!
Our adventure began at the Rattlesnake Recreation Area’s lower parking lot. Imagine this: A crisp, icy evening with the moon casting a silvery glow over the snow-laden paths. There’s Julie, bundled up like an Arctic explorer, Laurie with her ever-ready thermos of hot cocoa, Larry and Aaron cracking jokes to keep the cold at bay, Alden, Dave, Jon Garvin, and yours truly, stepping cautiously but excitedly into the winter wonderland. Only Mr. Cymbals Ed, our usual trip coordinator, was missing. We missed his quirky route ideas and signature cymbal-claps that echoed through the trails.
Despite the icy conditions making it nearly impossible to ride, we weren’t deterred. We hiked, slipping and sliding, laughing at our clumsy attempts to stay upright. It’s one thing to ride through these trails, quite another to hike them under a starry sky. Each frozen branch and snow-covered rock seemed like part of a winter fairy tale, and we were the characters braving the unknown.
We shared stories, marveled at the serene beauty of the Rattlesnake Recreation Area under its icy veil, and even had an impromptu snowball fight. Laurie, with her sniper-like precision, managed to land a snowball right on Larry’s beanie. Payback for his endless dad jokes, maybe?
As the night deepened and our laughter echoed through the cold air, we realized something. It didn’t matter whether we were on bikes or on foot. What mattered was the camaraderie, the shared experience, the joy of being out in nature, no matter the conditions.
We returned to the parking lot with cold toes, rosy cheeks, and warm hearts. This might have been a deviation from our usual Thursday night routine, but it was a reminder that sometimes, the best adventures are the unexpected ones. And as for Mr. Cymbals Ed? We’re sure he would have loved every icy, hilarious moment of it.
Resources:
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