I spent 10.5 glorious hours hiking 29kms this week. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and Mother Nature provided the entertainment.
I rotated my time between Elk Island, the Biodiversity trail and the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Each offered up some fantastic experiences.
Let's start at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail. The snowpack at the Bio trail is down to half of what it was last week. There is still a lot out there making it hard to believe that in a couple of months the ice will be gone from the pond and the swans should be back.
As I hiked, the chickadees sang their 'cheeseburger' songs when not foraging for seeds on the birch branches. There were a lot of moose, deer, squirrel and weasel tracks visible. No sign of the big cat tracks this week so I'm thinking it has moved on.
The snowshoe trail at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre offered up an opportunity to get some close up views of a couple of porcupines. It's almost guaranteed to see one or two at the far end of the trail. There is a thicket of willow and birch that appears to be a favorite spot for them. I spent an enjoyable 30 minutes watching them feed on the birch bark. The forest was so still that I could hear them nibble. I am always in awe of their ability to balance on narrow twigs but after observing their long claws, I can see how they are able to hold on.
The Simmons Lake trail at Elk Island had hard packed snow. No need for snowshoes there. The temperature hit a balmy +9C on the day of my hike. Needless to say, some of the layers were being removed as I wandered through the woods. It was a beautiful sun-shiney day. Not a cloud in the sky made for a beautiful contrast between the bright blue hues and the white snow. On the way out of the Park along the parkway, three young elk were feeding alongside the fence. It is not often that they are visible. What a treat! Bison, moose and white tailed deer grazed along the fence line adjacent to Highway 16.
Twice this week I saw moose on the way to a hike. The rural roads are not busy in the early afternoon so I was able to pull over and observe them feeding on willows at the edge of a wooded area.
The backyard has been quiet. The flock of redpolls and grosbeaks that had been visiting the backyard feeders through the winter have left.
There are signs of spring everywhere. Puddles forming from the melting snow. Pussy willows opening on the branches. The native grasses that I planted last year are without snow cover now and are about 2cm tall.
It was great to see so many people on the trail this week; some local and some from a distance. I welcome the opportunities to share the info and observances that I have gathered about the local trails and to hear about those that I've not yet visited.
So many 'locals' are not aware of the wonderful opportunities to be with nature that exist just a short drive from Edmonton. Many of them are free so the only cost is the price of gas to get there. Where else could you spend an entire day breathing in the fresh air, clearing your mind, getting some exercise and learning about the environment surrounding the big city for only the cost of fuel?
So, what's your outdoor goal this week? A walk around the backyard or the neighborhood? A visit to a local park or river valley trail? Maybe it's just a few minutes on your back deck?
Whatever it happens to be, take the time to engage your senses. Be in the moment. Listen to the natural sounds around you; birds singing, water running, snow crunching. Smell spring. As temperatures begin to climb, the spruce and pine sap will begin to flow and the smell will be delightful. Watch for colors, textures and patterns in the woods; the oranges and greens of lichen on the treebark, the straight lines of holes drilled into tree trunks by the sapsuckers, the patterns left as the snow melts. Birds will begin the search for the perfect nesting materials and will become more active.
Whatever your outdoor experience is this week...Enjoy!
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