Thursday, February 24, 2011

One Fine day

Up came the sun and out the door I went, snowshoes and poles in hand to join my brother on an expedition through fields and woods, taking advantage of the clear, bright day before the weather turns nasty again on Friday.

Expedition leader/brother
We began at the entrance to a meadow near his house, a place where we both played as children. A small stream, a frozen slip of water where we used to have ice skating races, still makes its way through the field. In summer it provides a drinking spot for birds, deer, coyotes, and assorted other wildlife. Today it was snow covered and silent and the cattails rattled in the wind.



We left the open field for the relative warmth of the woods where the leafless trees broke the wind but still let in plenty of sunlight. We tromped side by side until the path narrowed. I stopped to watch a bird flit through the trees and inadvertently turned my right foot. When I started off again I fell face first into the snow - I'd stepped on the edge of my left snowshoe and could not lift it! My brother turned to see me rising ignominiously and grinned.

Snow is still deep in these woods
The wind did not reach us here and I was soon too warm in my fur trimmed hood and down parka. I removed my gloves, unzipped my coat, and tromped happily along. There are little pools of snowmelt at the edges of trails, and I spied the purple-green sworl of a skunk cabbage rising from the sunniest of them.

my $5 summer tag sale find

There won't be too many more snowshoeing weekends before the warming sun melts the deep snow. Then I will don my rubber boots and set off through the fields and woods, looking in earnest for signs of spring. By then, the skunk cabbage will be in full bloom and the birds will be singing hurrah!

8 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles. sounds like a pretty peace full and fun time...i so can not wait for spring though...

Tabor said...

I have not snowshoed but have cross country skied which is similar and am always surprised at how much heat you work up in the cold!

Hilary said...

My son has been snowshoeing this year. You both make me want to try that next year. Thanks for the walk.

steven said...

i have some really sweet old old snowshoes but they haven't been used in a very long time. sad to think about. your journey is a really lovely thing to share. steven

Kristen Haskell said...

That sounds like the best way to enjoy the last bits of snow.

Unknown said...

I am head over heels in love with the coming of spring.

Marion said...

I bought some rubber boots awhile ago. Spring must be on its way, at least. You are so lucky to have flat land to snowshoe on. Ours are all rolling hills, some quite steep, and I would have to go farther afield if I wanted to snowshoe.

I envy you your skunk cabbages...I loved it when I lived on the Coast and caught sight of these. They heralded the Spring with their bright yellow blooms!

tattytiara said...

I really want snowshoes, but if I ever do get them I'll remember the wisdom I gained here and be careful not to step on my own toes!