A joyous day in the woods

     Today dawned into a brightness that inspired at least a measure of what can only be called joy. Snow from the huge dump earlier in the week covered the countryside in an almost undisturbed white blanket. It frosted with white all the boughs and branches in the forest and the light raised sparkles not only in the snow but in the air as well. The day made you feel happy to be alive and in knowing your are where you should be. I had to leave the East Pole for a while today and it was kind of like getting a par on the last hole of a bad round of golf, a day like this in the woods makes you want to come back. I stopped several places along the trail just to take in the, well, the joy of the day.

     I dug the truck and trailer out, packed everything on board and headed down the road. Between Rustic Wilderness and Willow I saw several dog teams trotting along the trail about 20 feet or so from the highway. One in particular caught my eye, going in the same direction. The driver had slowed some and began waving an arm at something off toward the woods. I followed the direction of her (I am only guessing by her size and colorful clothing the driver was a woman) gaze and wave and it turned out she was waving at a moose maybe 50 feet away just inside the brush line. The ears alert and sticking up gave it away. I broke into a big grin. Now that is the atmosphere of joy in this particular day, waving at  a moose you pass while driving your dog team. So Alaskan.

     A little farther along I saw a big old bull struggling through deep snow. You know what I did? I waved at the moose. A joyous day to be alive, indeed.