Convergence

There’s a powerful convergence of holidays and celebrations going on this week. Sunday was both Valentine’s Day as well as the Chinese New Year (in comes the Year of the Tiger, this time). Monday was President’s day; and the Carnival Season kicks off with Mardi Gras Tuesday, although I have heard of people already celebrating Dimanche Gras and Lundi Gras on Sunday and Monday.  Must have a lot of leftover fat to use up before Lent.  If that weren’t enough, the Winter Olympics began this weekend and are getting into high gear right about now. And, if you can’t find anything in those holidays and events to enjoy, maybe you are celebrating “Arizona Statehood” day – the last of the 48th contigous states became official part of the Untied States on February 14th, 1912.

Such a convergence of mid to late winter holidays makes me wonder if this is all a coincidence OR if there is something about the middle of February that we need to find and excuse to celebrate? Already we’ve shortchanged February by giving it 2 or 3 less days than every other month.  Are we in a rush to forget the whole mid to late winter thing?

Maybe we would be better off to embrace it – to cherish what we have.  Get out and take a winter walk – we have something scheduled every weekend until the end of March. Find your inner Mountain Goat. If nothing else, you will at least feel like you have earned whatever other celebration you choose to enjoy!

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About The Author:

Phil Hough is the Executive Director of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.

He has hiked the "triple crown": the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest trail (twice). He has also paddled the length of the Yukon river. Phil's love of wilderness guides him as he works to save the incrediblly wild Scotchman Peaks, one of the last and largest roadless places in northern Idaho and western Montana.

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