snow monster

After just shy of two weeks, we made it up to 19F!! I left three not so happy dogs inside (our Tank & two grands) strapped on my snowshoes and texted my hubby that I was heading to the pines for a solo hike. I quickly found out it would be slow going. 

The snow was light and deep on the way down to the pines.  Knees up, waay up...again and again. One step at a time. I could barely clear the snow. The closer I got to the pines, the less snow there was and it was more compacted from previous treks.

I was surprised to see not all of the drooping snow covered trees on our main trail had sprung back up. I pushed past them and continued on towards our spooky tree trail. I am happy to say I found no additional evidence of human trespassers. There were however more wild animal tracks than I have ever seen before. In every direction, sometimes crossing. It looked like the wild ones had a running party in our woods!! 

The stumps and uneven terrain were buried in snow. I was able to snowshoe the entire upper pine loop. I usually hike it in my boots.

spooky tree trail
(mostly old domestic tracks)

I couldn't believe my eyes when I noticed another large pine tree being used for feeding. We have left many standing (and ground) dead trees intentionally for wildlife to forage. I guess the birds want the insects/sap from the live trees. I googled and found out the woodpecker holes themselves do not kill pine trees, but they do make them more susceptible to disease.

the holes are huge

I headed out of the pines and took the connecting path towards the lower end of our property. Another wooded path usually traveled in boots. I saw two wabbits running for cover, near coyote junction. 

something was on a full run, crossing onto neighboring fields
grouped tracks are very far apart (likely coyote)

snow monster alert
(Harmony & Nemo on guard)

Nemo trying to round up his defense team

18 second video of the snow monster approaching
my mohawk boy knows it is his mom

Snow crunching picks up so loud on my phone! Excuse my heavy breathing in the background. The home stretch of my hikes are always a gradual heart pumping incline. I had my hands full with two poles and extra glove in one hand, while trying to navigate phone videoing Nemo's ridiculousness on snowshoes. At least I wasn't also carrying Leo. Too cold and deep for him to venture far from the barn.

horse eating snow monster

The wind had picked up, my face was starting to get cold. Time to go warm up, and get ready to bring horses in. I was getting too warm earlier in my trek, and had taken my balaclava off. In frigid weather I wear it as a neck guard where it is easy to pull up incase needed. 

I was out late afternoon for over 50 min, between 4-5pm. It was brisk, even with the sun shining. A much needed, welcomed outdoor workout that was sooo refreshing!!