Along the Trail

Last week the Seniors for Nature Canoe Club was staying with us.

Our ski conditions weren't optimal -- the trails had a fantastic base, but the snow was pretty darn hard, which made for fast and icy conditions, which are not everyone's (Read: Not Mine) cup of tea.

 On the other foot, snowshoeing was quite good.  The crust on the snow meant that the guy in the lead had to work a little harder. If everyone takes a turn, like geese flying in a V, it's about 80% more efficient.




Hiking, with ski poles, was another popular option. Most of the trails were firm enough that walking them was easy. It was the driveways that were the worst -- although we did our very best to stay ahead with the sanding process!

The deer made a point of dropping by the Lodge and cottages to say a cheerful hello.  I know that there were some sliced carrots and apples that magically appeared on the picnic table, and almost as magically vanished.


In the afternoons, the sun had softened the snow enough to make skiing a better choice.  Ursula was kind enough to send us these pictures, taken on one afternoon's ski through the Hawk and Hidden Lake trails.


 Although early in February, the conditions were more what we might expect from Spring Snow.  Combined with the sun, it is just lovely out there.

Those on snowshoes are certainly not restricted to staying on the ski trails.  That's one of the fun things about a good winter's day -- you can head off to explore without any fear of getting lost in the woods.  Just follow your big-foot tracks back!

If you aren't sure where to go to explore, it's always a good bet to follow one of the trails made by the deer.  They, too, like to travel with comfort and will tend to follow the same tracks, packing them down into little superhighways through the bush. 

Rabbits and mice do the same, but their trails are harder for big-footed humans to follow.  You will frequently see where the mice have crossed our ski trails -- a little hole in the snowbank, a narrow band of mice tracks across the ski trail, and -- poof -- another little hole in the opposite bank.  Mice like to stay under the snow if they can. For one thing, it's much warmer down there, with the snow acting as a big fluffy insulating blanket.  For another, it is harder for predators such as owls and foxes to locate them.

Harder. Not impossible.  Owls -- and foxes -- can hear the mice through the snow. Owls will drop in on silent wings and stab through the snow with their talons.  Foxes will leap way up in the air and come down in a nose dive. 

Along our trails we constantly find signs that the 'neighbours' are enjoying the ease of travel. Rabbit tracks, fox tracks, wolf tracks and of course the deer trails, all follow along where Brian has groomed up the trails for our skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts.  Seems like, on days like this, everyone wants to be out and about in the Muskoka woods!  Who could blame them?  Thanks you so much, Ursula and the SFNCC for sharing these lovely pictures.