Lake Serene

So I'm sitting in my bed listening to a litte Indigo Girls goodness, as I often do when I'm feeling supremely satisfied with my life, reflecting on an amazing day. Went for a hike with my girl Kate today out to Lake Serene. The trail winds through the woods and gives you glimpses of a babbling brook here and there. All of a sudden you can look up to see that the snow cap that has been suffocating the mountain top all winter is now melting down into a water fall that is pouring down the entire face of the mountain. Amazing. Every once in a while the woods open up and you can see where you are.......in the middle of a national forest with no civilization to be found. I was telling Kate that I love being in the mountains because it makes me feel like I have a secret that no one else knows. Of course, it was memorial day weekend, so everyone and their brother was out, and this wonderland was no secret. But somehow it still feels like your own spot. Anyway, as we got up closer to the top we got into the snow and we hiked about 3/4 of a mile in the snow in 70 degree weather in t-shirts. Anyone who knows me knows my love for snow....but nothing tops being in snow AND a t-shirt. So we get up to the top and there's no question as to where this trail got its name; the lake is nestled right at the base of Mt' Index, which is a massive granite face that stands nearly 6000 ft. So we climbed out onto some logs that were floating in the lake and picnicked (how the heck do you spell that?) there. After enjoying some much needed pb&j sandwiches and chatting with some fellow hikers, we explored a bit and headed down. We stopped to visit with Kate's folks on the way home and sat with them at their fire pit and devoured a gourmet meal from dairy queen. All in all, just an amazingly refreshing day and just what I needed. I felt rejuvenated and recentered.....funny how the mountains will do that.