January 2025 Backyard Bulletin

January is a tale of two worlds. View the full edition at this link.

It's inversion season in the Methow Valley, and the story of January can be quickly understood by simply looking at the banner photo above. It's a tale of two worlds: the cold and gray of the valley floor, the blue and warm of the upper elevations. Months like this present an interesting psychological case study in my life. I find that the "activation energy" required to get me out of the house is much higher when I look out my window and see gray skies. Conceptually, I know there is a whole other world accessible not far above my head, but I almost can't believe it until I see it. As a result, in the battle between my couch and the great outdoors, the couch is a frequent victor this time of year. That said, I don't think I've ever regretted heading for the hills. So, I'm offering this paragraph as a pep talk to you (and me): if you're thinking of going for a ski, a walk, or a drive to higher ground, do it! Feel free to put the above photo on your fridge as a reminder that there's a bright world above the clouds, defined by warm sun and snowcapped views. I'll see you up there!

~ Bridger Layton, Education Programs Coordinator

Photo: Dana Golden