The best hours of the year

Some of the best hours of the year show up on the slow afternoons of backcountry trips after a strenuous hike or paddle. You’ve arrived at camp, set up your tent, unfurled your sleeping bag, and changed into cozy clothes. The afternoon is young, the sun still high, and your snacks finally accessible. The group breathes a collective exhale after navigating unfamiliar terrain, and with no temptation to retreat to your airplaned devices, some of the most delightful and formative conversations can spin up out of nowhere and linger for hours. But then the sun will ease west and the temperature will drop, signaling it’s time to add another layer and go pump clean water for dinner. If you know, you know, I guess.