Learning to Love Fall — Micro-Closet

It’s no secret I despise the colder months. If you follow this blog at all, you know I love summer more than any other season and dread the when the seasons change. My husband tells me there are a great many things to love about fall: cooler weather (no thank you), warm food (overrated), the colors (not enough), and football (oh please). To me it means we are just that much closer to cold, dark days that stretch on interminably, and I’m reminded of Game of Thrones when the characters would turn to each other with a dead, glazed look and murmur, “winter is coming.” Yes, yes it is.

Despite my pessimistic outlook, I’m trying to make the most of the warm, sunny weather while it lasts. This last weekend I decided to go for a hike on Sunday, somewhere close to Coeur d’Alene with views of the lake. Saturday night I receive a text from my favorite friend, Casey, asking me if I’d like to go hiking with her. Would I?! She knows the best hiking spots and her company always lifts my spirits.

Sunday morning dawned bright and warm, so I opted to wear my Zella cropped leggings, Champion tank, and Aasics sneakers. Casey brought me coffee, and we stopped at her mom’s for huckleberry muffins. My step and mood felt considerably lighter as we drove through the Silver Valley. I pointed out the changing leaves and Casey said the whole valley would be yellow, orange, and red in a couple of weeks.

An alpine lake is a great reward after a 1,570 foot elevation gain

Casey warned me the hike would be steep, but she also told me she hiked Lone Lake three weeks postpartum with her youngest strapped to her chest, so it couldn’t be that bad. That would have made me feel self conscience about my labored breathing but then she told me her 80 year old grandmother hiked it regularly and that really stung.

The hike up from the trail head was a little over two miles with a 1,570 foot elevation gain. Leaning into the mountainside as we hiked up, I noticed the leaves were turning vivid shades of yellow, orange, and red. Casey pointed out an indian paintbrush, and I wondered, “is autumn always this pretty?”

Me realizing that maybe fall does have some perks

A little over an hour of hiking, we crested the peak that opened up into a basin and there was Lone Lake. Across the water were two pitched tents and a spiral of smoke, but otherwise we were alone. The blue water was clear, and I could see the bottom of the lake. I ditched my shoes and stepped into the water. The sun was warm, but there was a cool breeze, and I felt…happy. “This is beautiful, thanks for inviting me,” I told Casey.

Casey says the best part of a hike are the snacks and she’s not wrong!

She made coffee and laid out snacks that she packed in for us to enjoy. As I settled back on our blanket with my cup of coffee, felt the sun on my face, and watched the water ripple in the breeze, I thought, “maybe it’s not so bad after all.”

But please, no pumpkin spice!