I wake to rain...not hard rain, but steady. It's quite a bit colder than last night, too...guess that storm rolled in overnight. My Mt Hardware Switch 20 bag is a champ....very warm. This is the latest in the season that I've used it, I think. I'm up and dressed, and starting a fire in the stove for coffee. I figure I'll make pancakes this morning- then tomorrow I can have oatmeal and have fewer dishes to wash before I hike out.

As long as the rain is light, I head out with Stella for a hike....the trails are overflowing with water, must have been raining a long time. There are tons of birds flitting through the trees, but nothing with fur except me & the dog. We aren't out long- maybe a mile?

I settle back into the cabin, and realize that in a way I'm glad for the rain. It encourages me to just have some downtime, without feeling driven to accomplish something- hike farther, take more photos, whatever. I light a few candles, and read the cabin journal. Get some good laughs reading about people being told that they can take a "shortcut" and hike up from the bottom of the ski hill! Yes, it's shorter- maybe 3/4 mile at most. BUT....HELLO....it's straight up a downhill ski run! Some of these poor fools were even hauling coolers. Wow. I add an entry of my own, nap, read, drink a little wine, contemplate the forest and the rain. Life is good.

Eventually I realize that the light outside is fading, and I whip up some sesame pasta. The fire is ticking in the woodstove, I have the window by my bunk cracked open for a little fresh air...a backwoods October compromise.