Big Red’s DIC says this morning was only 21 degrees before sunrise. 🌡️I’d believe it, kind icy outside with all of the fog 🌫 and moisture from yesterday’s rain and sleet turning into ice on the trees. It’s pretty and the road is free of ice so no complaints. I did start the truck up briefly to top off the batteries 🔋 – mostly the starting battery because it is cold and the voltage was down a little bit because of that – and the solar panel isn’t going to produce much power covered with ice. ☀️

Ran out of propane this morning ♨ but fortunately not before I cooked breakfast and warmed myself by the heater. But it still left me with cold hands 👐🏻 when I took down camp and gave me an incentive to get moving sooner. 🌅 Sun didn’t get above the mountains until after 8 AM which is about the time the tank ran out. Totally my fault, it had been nine nights since I last filled the tank and in the winter I usually try to fill it every six nights camping so I don’t end up with a cold start to the morning. ☕ But regardless it was fine, I enjoyed my coffee and just got moving.

Hiked up to House Pond this morning after I took down camp. 🦆 Woodpeckers and a duck breaking through the ice and the occasional distant gun shot 🔫 but no deer 🦌 to be seen where I was. I am surprised 🤨 I thought more would be moving this morning. Once I get back to camp, I’m going to drive down to Fort Hunter and explore the Schoharie Crossing and the bike path 🚲 around Fort Hunter until around 3:30 and then head home before dark. That’s pretty early this time of year.