Yesterday, my partner and I went on a hike along a mountain with an altitude of approximately 7,200 feet.
Even though it’s spring, the temperature was still pretty chilly, and there were snow accumulations in the parts of the forest where the sun didn’t shine.
We arrived at a beautiful glacial lake after 1 hour of hiking, and I couldn’t resist taking a dip in the lake. The water was freezing, but man, did I get a boost of energy from it! In the evening, we collected some wood and made a fire in our cabin. There is something undeniably romantic about a traditional fireplace, with its crackling fire and warm glow. However, there is one major drawback: smoke. While a gas fireplace is a clean option, a traditional fireplace produces smoke that can cause health issues. I remember my grandparents having an electric fireplace that had a traditional look without the smoke. Last night we had irritated eyes and had to open the windows in order to ventilate the cabin. We also have a furnace in our home, but we rarely use it. We get tired of having to perform HVAC tune-ups and heating maintenance, as well as the costly energy bills. We have looked into various alternatives to traditional fireplaces, like ductless HVAC systems and mini-split air conditioners. We also considered getting an enclosed fireplace, which is more efficient and would solve the smoke problem. I think this is the best solution for us, because in this way, instead of having an electric fireplace or furnace, we can still enjoy the relaxing crackling and warm glow of the fire without putting up with the smoke.