Here is the view my friend and I had from the summit of Mount Tumalo just outside of Bend. It was a clear day – the first one I’ve ever had on this route during the winter – and the skyline was simply stunning. What made it more special was to be able to share it with a good friend, long-time friend.

We started the day in Springfield at 5:30 AM and returned nearly 14 hours later at around 7:30 PM – then watched Life of Pi in theaters (read the book instead. It’s much better) to cap off the evening. There was lots of driving in between… LOTS of driving, mostly because we forgot to get a snow pass when we kept striking out looking for trailheads (we didn’t actually start snowshoeing until just after noon). But we used the extra travel time to share stories, laugh, and commiserate about the struggle of figuring out what we really want to do in life.

All in all, a good day. A full day. Thank you, God, for good friends and the breathtaking beauty of your creation.

-Daniel