2017 Submission by Forest Doud.
In the shadow of Mt. Lassen lies Lake Almanor. Our frequent visits are usually in the
spring to enjoy the lake, work on our house that hibernates all winter and enjoy the
spring time awakening after the long winter snow. On this particular trip we were
visiting for Christmas to maybe see the end of late fall color and enjoy some quiet
time in Lake Almanor West.
In this region as you know where the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascade
Range meet, it is not uncommon to have a sudden storm move in and blanket the
area in snow the day after you just hiked through a brilliant fall scene of colored
leaves.
Our Springer / Aussie dog Timba had not experienced snow at 4 years old because
we live on the Central Coast of California. Emerging from our house in Almanor West
this particular morning, we were shocked to see that 2-3 feet of white fluff had fallen
overnight.
I wanted to go down the street to the Golf Course and take the perfect Christmas card
photo looking out over the 7th green and fairway. It was clear, fresh and very cold. An
untouched blanket of perfect snow. Timba was afraid of what we met outside the door.
Paws on snow…not sure !
On a leash she went with me and warmed up in spirit to the whole thing. I let her
loose while I spent some time framing the perfect photo with the sunburst through the
pines trees. Timba roamed and wandered a bit quite wary of the scene.
Suddenly as I was taking the image she bolted like a gazelle joyfully leaping through
the snow and went through the foreground of my framed image perfectly completing
one of my best photos in 40 years. It was a Merry Christmas for all.
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