I finished a seven hour drive through weather so moody and inconsistent I felt it’s changing by the hour.
The day began sunny and bright but as I climbed into higher elevations, I quickly encountered what felt like every state and format of water in quick succession.
Fog turned to drizzle which began to pour as rain which froze to the trees in sparkling ice till finally snow began falling.
My intention had been to reach a remote nature preserve in the mountains known for its views but also the switch backs and hairpin turns required to make it up (and down) the elevation climb.
I left as early as I could muster given the 4pm sunset that comes this close to solstice. I didn’t want my last climb up the hill to be in the dark. I barely made it by sunset.