As we proceed with Meteorological Spring (see previous post) and await astronomical-cosmological Spring, the local environment is just as confusing. It is 20F at night and 45F during the day (that includes during snow/rain/other stuff storms, too). This winter has been challenging to the hikers on the property. Low-slung, four-footed hikers have trouble in 18 inches of snow/ice layers; old, two-footed hikers have special shoes they can use but they are a pain to put on and off and force the users to trod through the woods like they are mimicking Groucho Marx. In the old days, like three years ago, we would have winter, it would be cold all the time and the snow would pile up but be fluffy and fun to play with.

So, our trips into the back woods have been few. On a recent trek down to the nearby pond, we checked out the stream that empties the old Beaver Bog and meanders past our property down to the pond. A nice view (see image above) shows moving water among fairly fresh snow. The odd weather winter season has disrupted other typical events. The local snow-machine travelers have not been out until late February due to the inadequate levels of snow and the high variation in snow quality, as previously mentioned. In previous years, the snow-machiners would have packed down the trails by early January and allow us regular hikers to get some transit time between pond and bog. With the expected transition to less snow (and more mud), we are hoping to get some more exercise in the woods during the next couple weeks (of course, as I post this, another almost-a-foot of snow is forecast tonight!).