The New Year Begins

The days around the beginning of the New Year are always a time of both dormancy and new life. Heavy rains bring torrents of water flowing down the gullies of the steep hillsides. Gusty winds blow down large branches and, at times, large trees over hiking trails. Fallen, colorful leaves cover the ground.

Gushing Gullies

At other times as I hike through the West Hills of Portland, periodic blasts of arctic air, snow and freezing rain keep most life scurrying to survive.

It won’t be long until I begin seeing new growth. It’s both a time of waiting and of enjoying the few signs of new life to be seen. But, wintertime has its moments too. The high Cascade volcanos are covered in bright fresh snow. A few songbirds overwinter near the city. Murders of crows cover the sky flying back to their roosts in the evening. Predators and prey (coyotes and squirrels) are busily searching for food.

There is always a stark beauty to the winter unfolding in the hills.

Full Moon on the Rise