Winter

Yesterday I woke up and felt out of sorts, not physically - just not all there.  The usual routine is have breakfast and work out for 45 minutes - tradmill, weights, etc.  I wasn't up for that.

A few years ago we bought snowshoes but never had the opportunity to use them.  There was still plenty of snow on the ground, so I decided to head over to the Pennypack and try them out.

It was cold, clear and windy.  The trails were all pretty well defined, people had been out x-country skiing or walking.  I put on the snowshoes and headed out across the fields of Raytharn Farm, away from the trails.  It was fairly strenuous and probably walking would have been easier, especially where the snow was shallow.  But I wanted a good workout, and it was easier to go over the drifts than through them.  Aside from one skier, I had the place to myself for two hours.

Despite the brisk wind, I warmed up quickly.  I had brought the little camera and left the binoculars at home, as I was not sure if I'd be vertical the whole time or spending some time in the snow - as I do when I ski.

Not too much wildlife around.  I saw fresh deer tracks but no deer.  Out in the open I found some small birds where the grass provided wind break and some seed.  The horses were not out grazing, for obvious reasons.

 

I continued on across the meadows and made my way down to the stream.  It was clear but unfrozen, still no one else around.  I stopped for a while by a spring where the snow had melted and watched the birds who had dropped in for a drink with friends.  Then I girded my loins and marched up the hill to the meadows.  I was puffing when I got to the top.  The snow had crushed a lot of the undergrowth making it much easier to navigate through the woods.  I was able to go places I normally would stay out of.

 

I returned the way I had come.  Already the snow was drifting over my tracks.  I was hot and thirsty, and glad to reach the car where I had a bottle of water (NOT THE DISPOSABLE KIND!)  Under my layers I was soaking wet - a good workout.  I no longer felt out of sorts.

Tonight more snow is coming.  Perhaps I'll venture out again.