The Cold's Confetti
Yellowstone National Park
You don't really understand cold until you've been in Yellowstone when it's well below zero. The air gets so dense with ice crystals you can almost feel it on your skin. I was standing at the edge of this canyon, the sound of a waterfall, when the sun finally broke over the rim. Suddenly, these beams of light cut through the shadows and hit that frozen mist. The air just lit up. It wasn't just light; it was like a shower of tiny, glittering jewels, each one catching the sun and throwing back little sparks of color. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it was one of those moments that makes the frozen fingers and toes completely worth it.