The lay of the land is beneath my feet, the roots and ridges, the mud I’m not always able to avoid. When I lived in New England, mud had a season. It followed winter and preceded spring. But here in these more temperate climes, mud is often with us.

Today, for instance, as I decide whether I’ll walk in the woods or on the street, mud must be factored into the equation. Will I squish and squash, or simply plod?

Mud trips me up and slows me down. To avoid it requires detours or balancing on a two-by-four that another hiker has thoughtfully left behind.

On the other hand, mud means warmth … or at least a semblance of it.