My morning commute today was transcendent.

20F degrees. It was snowing and the trail was covered with a layer of dry powder. Enough to cover the pavement but not enough to have to push through. I left just after sunrise and made first tracks. Very, very quiet and relaxing. I stopped once just to listen to the silence and look out over Champlain.

I ran into (not literally) a woman walking her dog. She told me I was brave. I told her I have studded tires. That seemed to subdue her fears. (Not that studs do anything on fresh powder, but The Uninitiated don't know that.)