Photography. Travel.
A Perfect Winter Day
Hiking through the snow to a small waterfall and a lake
For many, the perfect winter day involves a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket while sitting by the wood-burning fireplace. There are others, like me, who prefer to bundle up and go hiking to a waterfall, a lake, or both. On January 3rd, 2021, that’s exactly what I did.
I remember spending a lovely Christmas and New Year’s at home despite the world pandemic that continues to this day. Our family continues to be careful following all measures to stay healthy, so on that day, we wanted to do something outdoors. The outdoors gives us the opportunity to be able to breathe in the fresh (and cold) air while also maintaining social distancing.
We bundled up and started our drive through the German backroads to a not-really-known waterfall. The roads were almost empty as we passed through farm after farm.
When we arrived at our destination, we adjusted our coats and hiking boots to start the short hike. The trail only had a thin layer of snow, which made it easy to tackle. We hiked next to a small creek that took us all the way to an adorable bridge crossing.
After crossing, we finally encountered the waterfall we set out to find. I loved that while everything else in nature was white, the waterfall gave us a brilliant green.
What I love most about waterfalls is the sound they make as the water falls (see what I did there?). There’s always a cacophony of different sounds depending on the waterfall. It can be a small trickle of water, which may feel peaceful, or it can be a roar of rushing water making it hard to hear anything else.
As we continued our hike, we came upon branches holding cherries and blueberries. The contrast between the red and white looked beautiful. It reminded me of those black and white photos that only have one subject with its full and brilliant color, while the rest remains black and white.
We started to feel the cold in our bones when we arrived at the lake portion of our hike. It wasn’t particularly windy, but the sun was hiding behind the clouds, which made it colder as the late afternoon arrived. Despite the cold, the lake views made it so worth it.
Again, the day looked like we were living it in black and white. We finished our hike with big smiles, almost frozen fingers, and rosy cheeks.
On our way back home, we drove through more German back roads and it looked just as beautiful. The bare trees lined the lonely road and everything was covered in snow.
We ended our day with a cup of hot chocolate and getting cozy in a mountain of blankets. No wood-burning fireplace, but we turned on the TV to appreciate a video with a burning fireplace and crackling fire sounds. It doesn’t come close to the real deal, but in a bind, it works.
I guess a perfect winter day should always include hot chocolate.
I was inspired by the Winter is Coming writing prompts from the Creators Hub, but I’m sure there are many who have a different way to describe their own perfect winter day. I would like to invite Dennett, Erika, Kim, Mary, Ellie, Pene, Will, pocket, Anne, and anyone else who would like to share.
Story and photos by ©Diana Lotti 2021. Photo(s) taken with a Canon Rebel XTi and/or Samsung Galaxy 20S+.
I’m a freelance writer. I love to write about travel, photography, and self-development. Check out my full list for more stories or my publication Roam & Capture. You can also become a Medium Member today for more reads.
