February 5

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The late morning weather was partly cloudy with a temperature of 18 degrees and no wind. The storm earlier in the week had blanketed the nature area with a foot of snow including some deep drifts.  So, I put on my snowshoes and approached the bird feeders where I saw the usual avian guests. Just west of the feeders, I noticed lots of rabbit tracks and scat. Having decided to reverse my course, I passed the south side of the Classroom Building where I estimated the height of a snowdrift at nearly 4 feet. I continued south across Native Grassland where the snowy surface was covered with water-like ripple patterns created by the strong winds of a few days ago. I entered Brady Cemetery and walked up to one of the grave markers to pay my respects to the late Colonel James G. Brady who fought in the Civil War and farmed this land back in the 1800’s. While exiting the cemetery, I noticed how the snow around the base of the White Pine trees was pockmarked by bits of snow falling from the branches. Next, I headed due west past the “Road Ends” sign and followed the two-track along the edge of a field of corn stubble.  I turned north and was disappointed to see fresh snowmobile tracks on the trail. I wondered if the operator had not seen our “no motorized vehicles” sign. I paused at Artist Overlook to pan the pastoral winter scene. I entered South Woods just as the sun broke through the clouds and reflected off the glistening snow. Continuing along the trail, I observed where squirrels had burrowed under the boardwalk to retrieve their stored cache of nuts. As I walked along, I was puzzled to see a few pieces of rabbit fur next to the trail. Not finding any more fur or blood nearby, I wondered if an owl had swooped down from a tree and grabbed this animal during the night. Exiting South Woods, I continued around Succession Field and entered North Woods. I followed the trail east where I saw lots of deer tracks crisscrossing the trail. Because of the deep snow, these tracks included not only the usual imprints but also v-shaped grooves where the deer dragged their pointed hooves across the snow as they walked Also, I noticed the white snow was peppered with tiny bits of bark that had been shed from the overhanging tree branches. Exiting North Woods, I continued walking east through Bobolink Meadow. As I hiked up the hill from Mallard Marsh to the Storage Building, I noticed how quiet the abandoned property to the north was and recalled how just over a year ago this place was an active dairy farm with the corresponding sounds and smells.  Finally, I found my car, took off my snowshoes and headed for home.

Out of the bosom of the air,

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken, 

Over the woodlands brown and bare, 

Over the harvest-fields forsaken, 

Silent, and soft, and slow 

Descends the snow.

 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow