If there was any snow left in the woods, it was wiped out this week by temps in the 60s and a soaking rain. Sure, this type of weather is not completely out of the ordinary in mid-January here in the South, but it is still a bummer when it hits. A few days of mild temps and a good rain can wipe out a season’s worth of hard work put in at ski resort. Being outdoorsy people our activities are dependent on a wide arrange of factors, the most obvious being the weather. With this in mind, our attitude has to be “When one door closes, another door opens.” When a January warm spell slams the door on any backcountry snow expedition we still have the open door of the woods to keep us sane. Shed the winter blues by getting out on the trail. The bare trees will open up vistas you have never seen, providing a whole new experience to a trail you only trek during the traditional seasons. A new perspective has the potential to jumpstart even the deepest seasonal malaise so don’t waste this opportunity. Take a hike, or better yet, hang onto the last traces of that New Year’s resolution and lace up the running shoes for a trail run. A little pain, a little reflection, and a whole lot of sweat – it’s going to be in the mid-50s across the region – will go a long way for your piece of mind.
I’m sure you have your home trail to run, but one of our favorite trail systems is on Raccoon Mountain outside Chattanooga, Tenn. Stunning views await those who tackle these trails used for the Scenic City Trail Marathon 15 minutes from downtown, so hit them up this weekend. You won’t be sorry.
