“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” ~ Hal Borland
Friday
In a previous post, I had mentioned (Okay I was vague-blogging) a family health issue which was part of the reason I had flown home. I also have to thank you guys so much for the outpouring of love, prayers, and just all around support I received from all of you. It meant the world to me and I am sure helped with all the good juju flying around!
My Dad has been fighting a bone infection since August and they had come to the decision that they needed to remove some of the bone since it was not healing and they were worried about it spreading. At the same time they had decided to do surgery, he was diagnosed with some heart issues which complicated surgery farther.
His surgery was first thing Friday morning. Thankfully it went relatively well and he was home by noon, kinda sort of recovering.
NONE of us are great patients, and my Dad especially is not. Despite being almost seventy-five, he is something of a workaholic, and since he owns his own business, shutting off from it, is near impossible for him. Despite the doctors telling him he had to stay off his feet, he was hobbling around like it was nothing. My Mom is a freakin’ saint because as a former nurse she has been taking care of him, and he has not been the best patient. It doesn’t help that recovery has been slow, and there have been added complications with that.
Hike the Whites
With my Dad through surgery and home (kind of) recovering, my brother and I decided to go for a quick hike in the afternoon.
The afternoon plans turned into evening ones because when I got to my brother’s house my nephew wanted me to watch Inspector Gadget and how could I refuse?
Two hours after our initial start time, my brother and I finally headed into the mountains to hike Arethusa Falls. Arethusa is one of my favorite hikes which I have only documented, about here, and here, and oh here too. And despite how those posts read, Arethusa is a great hike during the Summer too. I actually use to hike it only in the Summer, but anywho.
It is a fairly easy and quick three mile hike, but I had gone for a run that morning (Have I mentioned I am Type A overachiever?) and I was exhausted. (I didn’t realize it then, but my body was already fighting the creeping crud) My brother had also gone for a run and had ben skiing all week, so we were a tired bedraggled pair.
Killed it
Despite the fact we were dragging some derriere, we flipping killed the hike. And we didn’t even realize it!
We must have stopped every five minutes on the guise of picture taking, but really it was to catch our breaths and rest. Despite all the stops, a detour because a bridge had been washed out and spending ample time at the waterfall, it only took us an hour and forty (I have done it in an hour and twenty during the summer but I was hauling) roundtrip. I felt like queen of the waterfall world.
Arethusa
There is a reason Arethusa is not just my favorite hike, but one of the most well hiked trails in the White mountains. No matter the season, it is stunning.
It was a frozen tundra with high snowdrifts covering the rocks and river. It was so deep, that we didn’t have to worry about falling in. Despite the snowy conditions, you could see water running underneath the ice as it begins it spring thaw.
It was gorgeous and we spent a fair amount of time at the base, taking pictures and exploring. Dusk was falling and though we had head lamps, we decided to head back.
While the trail is rocky during the Summer making fit placement precarious, during the Winter when it is snow-covered Arethusa is easy and fun to run down. It took us about twenty minutes to get back to the car our feet pounding the packed snow the whole way. We made it just before the sun set.
Grateful
While the first half felt like torture, it was wonderful to be out and about in nature. As cliche as it sounds we all need that. To dial down and just experience rather then go go go. Arethusa reminds me why I am so grateful to have grown up where I did. While I am a city girl at heart, the constant beauty of the outdoors has such a soothing effect on me. We all need that calmness and serenity from time to time.
Have you done any night hiking? Have you visited any Waterfalls?
Hiking in the snow is really impressive!! But the pictures were so worth it and you probably had the best time enjoying the snow xx
Hehe thanks beauty! It is fun, I just do not like the cold! Thank you! The pictures were definitely worth it. There is something stunning about frozen waterfalls 🙂 <3
Wow gorgeous photos hope your dad is on the mend soon xxxx
Thank you so much sweets and thank yoU! He is slowly but surely! 🙂 <3
So sorry to hear about your father! Hope he’s recovering nicely! ♡
All of the photos are so beautiful! I’ve visited waterfalls before but never a frozen one!
Thank you beauty! He is, slow and steady 🙂 Thank you! Despite the cold it really was gorgeous! It is crazy how different it is when it is Winter as opposed to Summer. Hope you are having a great day! <3
That’s really good to hear. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great day, too! Thank you!
Thanks sweets! <3
So sorry about your Dad!! Hope he and your mum are coping okay 😊 wow hiking in the snow is so cool and I love the pics you took xx
Thanks beauty! I appreciate that! Thanks hun! It really was gorgeous! <3
It’s okay 😘 xx
I unfortunately couldn’t read your blog in a while but I’m so glad I’m finally back and I could enjoy this blogpost. I feel so sorry to hear about your Dad. I totally understand that it is impossible for him to quit working, my dad is the same. It is cool that your mom helps him with the recovery and she’s been taking care of him. I think it would feel nice for you that your dad is in good hands with your mom! Anyways, I really enjoyed the beautiful pictures you took while hiking. I have actually never done a night hike and I have never visited a waterfall. Too bad. I live in The Netherlands and it is a very flat country, so we don’t have waterfalls here and we can only go hiking into a wood. That is nice too, but I’d love to go hiking in mountains!
Oh no! I am sorry to hear that! I hope everything is kay hun! I have missed you! I am glad as well! Thank you sweets that means a lot! Awe thank you! I am so glad! I hope you get to go hiking in the mountains sometime soon! 🙂 It is worth it! I hope you are having a fabulous day! <3
Aaw I’m glad everything went well and your dad’s okay. I love your snowy pics and girl you know I love that hat😍 x
Oh my gosh, somehow I must have missed that there was a health issue in the last post . Wow, I send you the BIGGEST hugs. I am so so sorry your family is going through that. Very scary I am so thankful the surgery went well… I hope he is continuing to recover 100% .
The hike I bet was just what you and your brother needed! And girl, you ARE the queen of waterfall world!!
You’re truly an inspiration the way you find a way to make beautiful memories in scary times & seize every moment as a potential special memory. So much love to you, K! I’ll be praying for your Dad <3 <3
I feel like I have said this in reply to all your comments but seriously girl, I needed this thank you! I appreciate all the prayers and good juju thank you!
It really was! Haha I LOVE me some waterfalls! Arethusa is one of my favs! If you ever go to NH you need to go!
Awe thanks beauty, Seriously needed to hear this. It doesn’t always seem it, but I definitely try. Thank you! SO much love to you sweetie! You are the best<3
ALWAYS!!!!! xoxoxox x298509752607384
<3 <3 <3 <3 So so SO much love to you! <3