This week I trudged through the trees for a total of 18kms. There were days when I didn't want to go home; especially those with lots of sunshine and bluebird skies.
There's something about that walk each day that is peaceful and calming. I can leave all my thoughts at the parking lot and put myself in the moment.
I hear only the crunching under my snowshoes until I stop and listen.
The trees may be creaking in the wind. The birds may be singing or the
coyotes howling. The moose or deer may be running through the brush.
During the winter I love watching for tracks in the snow. One is able to see 'who goes there'. This has been the first time that I've noticed big cat prints. I've been able to piece together what happened in the woods the night before by paying attention to the tracks.
The spots where the big kitty was lying in wait for its prey were visible. The hollows where the moose lay down to rest were numerous along the trail. There were holes in the snow where squirrels and mice ducked under the deep snow for shelter.
This week I came across the remains of an overnight kill. Coyote tracks were visible along the trail that lead to an area where black feathers were strewn about the base of a towering spruce. An unsuspecting crow became supper.
I saw mama moose and her twins foraging in the willows. Their tracks were visible on the trail and were going in the same direction that I was so I was on the look out for them.
A great horned owl was visible on the outskirts of my favorite area in the woods where my 'thinking bench' sits. Six white tailed deer were resting amidst the trees until they heard me coming. They sprinted across the pond to the woods on the opposite side. There is no sneaking up on anything when on snowshoes!
Chickadees sang their songs from the birch branches. Blue jays squawked from the evergreens. Squirrels chattered from the tops of old snags. The call of a pileated woodpecker echoed through the trees.
I love my time in the woods. As I walked the trails today I wondered about the spring melt. It's going to take a while for all that snow to disappear. There's about two feet of hard packed snow where I've been walking each day.
This coming week should be a beauty for some outdoor time. If you have the opportunity to head to a local park or walk through your neighborhood, try being in the moment where you concentrate on the sights, sounds and smells around you. It will be a great time for a mind reset. Enjoy!
During the winter I love watching for tracks in the snow. One is able to see 'who goes there'. This has been the first time that I've noticed big cat prints. I've been able to piece together what happened in the woods the night before by paying attention to the tracks.
The spots where the big kitty was lying in wait for its prey were visible. The hollows where the moose lay down to rest were numerous along the trail. There were holes in the snow where squirrels and mice ducked under the deep snow for shelter.
This week I came across the remains of an overnight kill. Coyote tracks were visible along the trail that lead to an area where black feathers were strewn about the base of a towering spruce. An unsuspecting crow became supper.
I saw mama moose and her twins foraging in the willows. Their tracks were visible on the trail and were going in the same direction that I was so I was on the look out for them.
A great horned owl was visible on the outskirts of my favorite area in the woods where my 'thinking bench' sits. Six white tailed deer were resting amidst the trees until they heard me coming. They sprinted across the pond to the woods on the opposite side. There is no sneaking up on anything when on snowshoes!
Chickadees sang their songs from the birch branches. Blue jays squawked from the evergreens. Squirrels chattered from the tops of old snags. The call of a pileated woodpecker echoed through the trees.
I love my time in the woods. As I walked the trails today I wondered about the spring melt. It's going to take a while for all that snow to disappear. There's about two feet of hard packed snow where I've been walking each day.
This coming week should be a beauty for some outdoor time. If you have the opportunity to head to a local park or walk through your neighborhood, try being in the moment where you concentrate on the sights, sounds and smells around you. It will be a great time for a mind reset. Enjoy!
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