Snow has a certain crunch at 5:30 a.m. The cold has a particular bite.
An alarm at that time is always a little painful. There is a momentary temptation to roll over and slide back into sleep.
Two hours later, that pain is a hazy memory on the horizon of a magenta sunrise. Those who seek outdoor adventure know that the journeys most worth seeking are the ones that start early and end late, when the light is golden and the world is hushed with sleep. That also happens to be when the best photos are made.
That's why we spend many mornings and many evenings chasing the light. Somewhere between discomfort and awe is nature's greatest beauty, swept in God's most colorful paintbrushes.