Today I wanted to share some photos from my long hike yesterday (Saturday). Even when it’s cold outside, you can brave the elements by dressing a little warmer.

I’ve found that days spent breathing in fresh air are invigorating and rejuvenating. So even when I really, really don’t feel like going (like yesterday) I join a hike anyway and haven’t regretted it yet.

The temperature fluctuated between -2 and 5 degrees celsius and it was sunny throughout the entire hike (which lasted about six hours). Even though I didn’t take any gloves, even my fingers warmed up once we set a reasonable pace and kept moving.

This photo is from the end. Just a couple months ago, it would have been dark at 5:40 p.m. but it was still completely sunny by the time we made it back to our cars.

Most of the hike was in ravines and woods, like this. The trees and bushes are all bare in winter, so it’s not the greatest scenery. Except the rainbows! I spotted so many in my photos, but I have to admit I either missed all of them in person or they were ones you could not see with the naked eye. Is that possible?

Also, behind the rainbow, the white, is a waterfall. Beautiful.

Another of the many waterfalls we passed. How gorgeous is this?

There were steep drops towards most of the waterfalls, but looking down we could spot a few daredevils who’d ignored common sense and sometimes explicit signage and who’d climbed down into the ravines. Not something I would do.

This little pond was completely frozen when we first passed by it (pictured). We test-threw a few rocks that bounced off its icy surface.

On the way back, it was almost completely thawed with the warming air and all that sunlight!

Awesome day overall.

You can find a hiking group in your city by Googling hiking groups, finding one on Meetup.com, or dragging a few reluctant family members and friends and you might be surprised by how quickly you all turn into avid enjoyers of the outdoors. We’re born nature lovers… So it doesn’t take much.