U.S.A. Winter Hiking in Pennsylvania

We only did it once, but it was enough to create a lifelong tradition. With our good friend Monica, a frequent accomplice to this blog, we did an epic trip to an outstandingly pretty area and did what I have come to love - winter hiking.

In this case, we were visiting our friends (who Monica introduced us to) Dave and Krista. They are pretty special people from whom we have learned a lot about how to have a simple yet fun life. We had good fun with them 5 years ago snowshoeing, and this time we went for a regular hike in their neighborhood.

Initially we tried hiking down this pretty road, but a security truck showed up and asked us to leave. Not sure what they were hiding but I would like to think they had a mad scientist hidden away surrounded by bubbling beakers and cackling every now and then.

So we went back up the hill and tried a different hike. It ended up being a fortuitous choice since this was a rather excellent hike, replete with a beautiful lake, river and superb waterfalls.

So long as you keep moving, winter hiking is not as cold as you would think. But in the few minutes we stopped to pose for this picture, the cold starts to seep in...

Let's take a few minutes to fully appreciate the miracle that we call 'ice'. This is an amazing substance. When water freezes, depending on the pressure and temperature, it can form any or 18 different structures. Unlike most substances, it increases in volume when it freezes - substantially, by about 9%. There are a lot of side effects to this phenomenon, for example it floats. It also will break anything that is trying to contain it, so freezing water is responsible for a lot of breaking down of rock on our planet (and also water pipes!)

It takes considerable energy to change ice at 0 degrees Celcius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) to water at the same temperature. As a result, we can put a small ice cube of water into a drink and it cools down the entire drink considerably.

One last detail about ice: scientists don't really fully understand why it is so slippery. There are several theories. One is that pressure or friction (for example from a skate's blade) melts a microscopic layer of the ice and thus make it slippery. For something so abundant, and seemingly so simple, there is soo much that we do not know about this fascinating substance. What we do know for sure, it's fun to play in.

It was super fun hiking with a dog. I love how they are interested in everything, running ahead eagerly, sniffing and investigating everything.

And finally, after being out in the cold, there is nothing nicer than coming back home to have a cup of something nice and hot, and hang out and conversate with dear friends.