My plans for Earth Day consisted mostly of a short hike in Shenandoah. I expected light rain and hoped to hike a couple of miles to some waterfalls. What I got was a rain that quickly turned into a steady blowing wet snow that painted spring's emerging leaves and woods in several inches of snow. Skyline Drive was closed and so I hiked. About 9 miles. Hours of quiet and only the gentle sound of flying snow in an empty woods. If doctors could create such conditions I think a lot more people could be healed. These 30 images are a little of what I saw and a lot of what I felt.

The first snowflakes of an unusually late April snow begin to fly. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

The early young green leaves seem to float in the the ethereal light of fog and snow in early spring. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

This young evergreen bows under the weight of a heavy wet snow. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

The maple at South River Overlook is splendid in all seasons, perhaps especially under a winter snow when Skyline Drive is closed and it can only be seen after a substantial hike. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Skyline Drive curves it way through the gathering snow on this early winter morning. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.