It takes quite a lot to lure me out into the woods this time of year:
A few days with no rain or snow so the trails can dry up.
Temperatures above freezing so the trails won't be sheer ice.
A brief hiatus between gun season and muzzle-loader season so the woods won't be full of deer hunters.
Mild temperatures that merit wearing the bright blue fleece jacket instead of the deer-colored Carhartt jacket (because not all deer hunters obey the rules).
A trekking stick to keep me steady on the steep slick spots and the places where snow has been stomped down into ice.
A new canister of pepper spray to reassure my loved ones who can't deter me from hiking alone but want to be sure I can handle whatever creatures I encounter.
A stretch of time when nothing else is required of me--no painting, no cleaning, no prepping of classes, no laundry, no cooking, no pressing deadlines for anything.
That's a lot to demand but when it all comes together, there's no better time to enjoy a quiet walk in the woods, where icicles sparkle in the sunlight and woodpeckers chatter in the treetops and my mind is refreshed by the stillness and solitude.
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| New boardwalk through the wetlands! |
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| Who leaves a mask out in the woods? |
2 comments:
Who leaves a mask? Someone who is concerned for the birds lack of social distancing? 🤣
Ha! Very funny
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