the snow falls gently in flat, chunky flakes. collecting in branches weighted to the max with angel droppings. i tug on a branch and it reels from my hand, giddy from the release, triggering other branches to jump into a vertical position. the snow falls heavily and a fine crystalline dust whumps up and over my body. supremely refreshing. the river gurgles and glugs around snow islands whose foundations are single rocks with icy skirts and fringed balleens of icicles straining down to drip into the movement below.