2020 has been a year like no other for all of us.  The pandemic has affected everyone's life.  Fortunately for us we are retired and living in a thinly populated state. We are still able to get out of doors and enjoy nature, which has kept us sane during these trying times.   Since the well-known hiking areas have been very crowded, we have made an effort to explore lesser-known places for hiking and swimming.  We know Vermont much better than we did last year!

In January, for MLK weekend, we were able to do our annual trip across Lake Champlain to the Adirondacks, where we met up with our friends from the Appalachian Mountain Club for three days of cross country skiing.

We had lots of snow, but it was very cold, too!

In late February, we hiked with a group of Green Mountain Clubbers to Laraway Mt on the Long Trail.  There we saw ice columns and frozen waterfalls of different colors.

March, of course, was when the coronavirus hit in full force and all outings for the Green Mountain Club were cancelled.  We led this snowshoe hike three days before the lockdown.

Here we are on Heather's birthday, April 7th.  

Summer eventually came, and we were able to do kayaking and canoeing.

Our borrowed Lab, Bea

We also enjoyed socially distant biking on nearby rail trails

Swimming in Vermont is always a treat.

Melissa visiting in July

Swimming in a nearby quarry

In August Steve turned 70.  We had hoped to celebrate by meeting our children for hiking in the Dolomites of Italy, but that didn't work, so we had a socially distant cake on the deck of our good friends, the Zaurs.

In August Melissa started solo hiking the Long Trail, which runs 273 miles through the length of Vermont.  We were happy to act as her support team, moving her car and resupplying her with food.

Melissa starting her journey

We met her part way for a short hike

In late August we went camping in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.  It was our first time sleeping away from our home since January.  We hiked the mountains and swam in the lakes.

Great Averill Pond

We went to Cape Cod in early September, where we stayed with our dear friends Judith and Bob and saw Steve's cousins Debbie and Wendy.  We also were able to meet up with Heather's sister, Jan and her husband Tom.

Social distancing with Jan and Tom

We always enjoy fall foliage season in Vermont.

Fortunately we got some snow in mid-December, a month later than last year.  We are making up for lost time!

We were sad not to have been able to see Dave and Natasha at all in 2020.  There is no safe way to get to Seattle from Vermont :(

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season!

Love, 

Steve and Heather