The wind gusted so hard that the garden flag in my yard flew parallel to the ground. I don't like being out in the wind but I needed to be outside. I thought it wouldn't be as bad if I hiked a wooded forest trail instead of being out in the open. I was right for the most part.

The warm temperatures earlier in the week melted more snow; creating icy conditions on the trail. My trusty cleats provided the traction required to make it up and down the hills.

There wasn't much wildlife to watch but what I did see was pretty entertaining. The squirrels were being tossed around on the branches as if they were riding a mechanical bull. The birds fought the air currents. I could see the crows and magpies rise and fall in their flight path; moving forward a couple feet and then being pushed back by the wind.

The wind howled through the branches. It swayed the tree trunks to and fro. I could hear them creak and groan but then I heard a distinct crack and branches breaking. It was the type of sound one hears when felling a tree except this time it was Mother Nature felling it a mere twenty feet behind me.

The trunk snapped and down it came. I looked up to see how close it was. It took a couple seconds to register that it was falling right where I had just walked. The surrounding evergreen branches slowed the tree down as it fell but the top five feet of it landed on the trail. There's a first time for everything and that was a first time experience.

The temperature has turned cold again. The thermometer told me it was -25C yesterday morning. That was a little unexpected. I checked the weather forecast the night before and there was no mention of it going that low.

It's hard to believe that it is already February. The Groundhog Day rodents sent mixed messages. One report said six more weeks of winter yet another said spring is around the corner. 

We can't complain as it's been a very mild winter. Some snow fell over the last couple of days but there needs to be more before the local Birkebeiner ski event. Some areas on the ski trails had grass showing through the tracks. The event has been canceled in the past for lack of snow and/or frigid temperatures. Here's hoping that it will be a go for 2017.

http://canadianbirkie.com/home 

Saturday is my next outdoor day. I haven't dusted off the x-country skis this year. That just might be the activity of the day. What will yours be?

Happy trails 'til next Friday!

Moose tracks cross the pond surface.

Best hiking cleats ever.

Snow blown through the trees and long shadows across the trail.

The wind blew a tree down behind me on the trail.

Water droplets created from the freezing rain the night before.