As a rule, I never say no to a sunrise start- from 2:00 AM starts up some of the hardest mountains I’ve ever hiked to early morning dips in icy lakes to getting up before the sun to roller skate around the park. The best views, I think, are hard earned and made even better by a little sleep deprivation. Add in the possibility of a warm breakfast and a hot coffee on the other end, and I’ve never regretted an early beginning.
That said, when my alarm went off at 5:45, I was dismayed to see that the temperature was hovering around 4 degrees. Nevertheless, I struggled and groaned my way out of bed and began to layer up: base layers, a fleece, a vest, my favorite puffy, and my trusty hunter orange AmeriCorps beanie (my formula for winter dressing hasn’t failed me yet!). I shoved my rain layers (just in case), a granola bar, and a bottle of water into my pack, and just like that, I was ready to face the day.
Stepping out of the house, I was pleasantly surprised- there was no wind to brace against, which made leaving the warm safety of the kitchen possible. As my cloudy morning eyes cleared, and fellow LRCC Member Mike and I drove to the trailhead, I realized that I was able to make out the shapes of trees and houses on the sides of the road- we were late! It suddenly became a race against time to make it to the summit to catch the sunrise!
Many of the trails in our network have become very familiar. I have picked favorite trees to visit each time I pass. I can point out each stair that needs replacing and every water bar that needs cleaning. But in the early blue light of the day, every trail becomes brand new, and even more magical than usual. The nocturnal animals are settling in for the day, and the birds are just beginning to sing. The snow sparkles in an absolutely fantastic way that doesn’t happen any other time of day. If you take a moment, you might hear the kind of silence that doesn’t exist outside of these perfect dawn hours.
Even as we hustled up the hill, huffing and puffing, almost running, I could enjoy the little enchantments of this place. And we made it! We reached the summit just in time to see orange beams bursting from the mountains. Just like that, I felt the thrill of being outside- despite the early wake up call and the cold temperatures, it was a perfect moment. After staying up there for as long we possibly could without freezing solid, Mike and I headed down to warm up in the car, happy to have had the chance to get out before our day really started.
It’s easy to get comfortable, especially in the winter. Staying in bed for an extra hour or two, or heading straight home after a long day of service to an episode of Survivor and another knitting project is cozy, and something I indulge in often. However, the lesson I learn, time and time again, is that going out on that hike or heading out for a run, or even just taking the time to watch the sunrise or sunset is always worth it.
When Kodi isn’t on the service grind, you might find her slowly increasing her knitting repertoire. She’s made a hat, a balaclava, and is currently working on a sweater. What should she do next? Learn more about Kodi here!