The thermometer hovered at the freezing point all day, everywhere we went. The places we explored, though, were out of the woods and piles of snow, in more arid expanses dotted with rocky hillocks and juniper trees.
The volcanic peak of Mount Shasta rose high above the rest of the land to the south. Closer to the ground, lichens and mosses grew thickly on rocks.
We ate a snacky lunch on the highest pile of boulders, and the children scrambled up and down and climbed rock faces with bare hands that eventually turned red and numb with cold.
I was surprised at how the slightest breeze cut right through my several layers of under and outer winter garments. It was so gorgeous, I wished we could have roamed for more hours. Maybe in another season.
We departed as the sun was going down and taking its tiny bit of warmth from us. The first day of 2022 had been pretty nice!
Gladsome Lights 
You have shown us a wonderful array of lichens here. What a lovely way to spend the first day of the year.
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glorious
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The great thing about rocks is that even in winter they don’t shed, like trees, or fade like flowers. It’s the perfect time to pay attention to those lichens!
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Beautiful lichen and rocks. Here I only tend to see it on trees — not a lot of rocks around. What texture!
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Gorgeous shots! We finally got a little moisture. Went from 80Degrees, to a little rain, to 19 degrees ice and snow. Good time to watch The Chosen!
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At first glance I didn’t see the children that were climbing up the side of that huge rock. It’s amazing that they could do that. The various lichen and mosses are so lovely in their own way. Nice pictures you got of them.
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Lichens create their own exquisite miniature landscapes. What beauties you found!
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Ah gorgeous! Such colour in the bleak mid-winter. I am deciding that winter is my favourite season, this year!
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How beautiful! What a nice way to start 2022
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Phenomenal shot of Shasta — stately and painterly. That bright yellow lichen looks as bright as a highlighter.
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That’s the color!
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That is definitely the best way to bring in the new year, outdoors with the ones you love!
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