It was 12˚ when I pulled into the lot for my snowshoe today, which felt like a gahdamn heatwave compared to yesterday’s 3˚. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it really does make a difference to the seasoned lumberist. How much? Well, if we’re splitting hairs, about 8˚.
Moving on.
For today’s snowshoe, I also swapped out the Merrell hikers that live bound in my snowshoes for easy entry/exits in frigid parking lots with my New Balance GORTEX hikers. I’m not a huge fan of the NB hikers, but when compared to the even more sub-par Merrell “waterproof” boots, they are infinitely warmer, dryer, and more comfortable.
I was just about to the bridge on the main path leading to the woods when I looked up and saw a bald eagle flying low and making a big ol’ turn as if it was going to land on a limb (PLEASE!!!). But it either saw me and decided better, or more likely, HEARD the deafening crunch of my snowshoes over the snow and was actually flying away. Either way, it was amazing.
Other than a group of deer that took off over a hill about 100 yards away and a couple skittish ducks on the water, I saw NO other living thing over the 4.75 miles. Actually, that’s a lie, I did see a man out on the water ice-fishing, but he doesn’t count due to his direct affiliation with the human race.
It’s been nice to be back on snowshoes, and they indeed prove to be much more stable, but you can’t deny that they are slower. Or maybe I should say, you can’t deny that I’m slower in them. But it would be way worse without it, so I just sack it up.
I saw next to nothing that was tickling my photographic fancy today and the only image even worth kind of posting was that of a snow-gauge tree fungus, but I was still happy to get outside and burn some calories.
Later.