First snowshoe of the winter

Snow covered trees 

born on a hillside overnight

reach toward the pale December sun, 

like a prayer to the wrong god. 

Drop by drop, an existence trickles away 

until the next snowfall rushes across the land.

Northwest Wilderness Group

Shots from a second snowshoe hike the following day:

To understand the size and scope of Mt Hood, note the trees in the lower right hand corner of the second picture.