1/19-23/26 I went up to Camp Serendipity for 5 days: Monday through Friday.

US 2 was clear and the traffic was light making the trip over the pass almost pleasant. I arrived at about 1:00 and found no change in the driveway snow conditions from the previous week. The temperature was 20 degrees, and I don't think it had changed much for a couple of weeks.

I carried my gear up in two trips having to be careful of my footing on the frozen and slippery trails above and below the concrete staircase. I hoisted the flag between the two trips.

I had my lunch, unpacked my gear, and took a welcome nap. When I got up, the day was nearly over.

On Tuesday morning when I got up, the temperature outside was the typical 20 degrees and there had been no new snow overnight. I practiced the piano and then went outside and hauled firewood rounds up the hill and stacked them. I used ice grippers on my Sorel boots which gave me good traction on the slippery, frozen trail. I discovered that instead of letting the slack get taken up by walking uphill, and then pulling the round up hand-over-hand, I took all the slack out first so that the round was right behind me and then dragging the round with me as I walked up the hill. The load was light enough so that I could walk at almost normal speed and get the round up the hill most efficiently. It worked very well.

After lunch and a nap, I walked to the grave. I wore my down Helly-Hanson parka and my big cold-weather mittens which made the walk comfortable.

I noticed that the Smith's garage door was wide open and it looked like nobody was home. There happens to be cell service right there on the road, so I called Clint and left a message letting him know about the open door. Shortly after I had returned to the cabin, Clint called and explained that he had simply forgotten to shut the door. I volunteered to drive back there and shut the door for him, which I did.

On Wednesday morning, it was 20 degrees outside again. After practicing the piano, I went outside and dragged firewood rounds up the hill and stacked them using the same techniques that worked so well.

After lunch and a nap, I went out and walked to the grave. On this trip, I saw absolutely no one. No cars or other vehicles passed me in either direction and I could see that John's truck was gone so he wasn't even home.

On Thursday morning it was 20 degrees outside again. I fertilized Tiger and then Dave called. We had a fairly long and delightful conversation before my phone beeped telling me that the battery was low. After we hung up, I practiced the piano. There was not enough time left to haul firewood.

After lunch and a nap, I walked to the grave and saw that Clint was home. We waved at each other as I continued on my walk. When I got back, the cabin was a little chilly, so I started a fire in the wood stove which warmed up the cabin and made my shower a little more pleasant.

On Friday, the temperature was 20 degrees again. I had just gotten started with my piano practice when Bill called. We talked for quite a while, and he had some interesting information for me that I had missed.

I decided to leave as early as I could to go home, so I had an early lunch, packed up my gear, and left for home at noon. This had been another fun and sort-of productive week.