Wednesday, Remi cuddled in his warm bed at home while I ventured 23 miles south to hike again in one of my favorite sections of the Maple State Game Area, just west of US127. The entire state game area consists of 9000 acres within the floodplain of the Maple River extending west from Gratiot County through Clinton and Ionia Counties. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 16 degrees and light snow flurries driven by a stiff southwest wind. Approaching my destination in the car, I noticed another sign of the season- flocks of Snow Buntings flying around and landing in the fields along the road. Arriving in late fall and departing in late winter, these migrants breed in either the barren northern tundra, or the northernmost islands of Canada or the mountains of Greenland. Parking at the end of Croswell Rd., I trudged south down a 2-track covered with 8 inches of snow and arrived at the edge of a large wetlands, now sealed in ice. Over a man-made berm, I plodded along a path covered in 12-inch snowdrifts as it curved east where I looked up to see the rising sun peaking through clouds of blowing snow. Looking down, I spotted the spiny round seeds pods of Buttonbush and oval ones of Cocklebur. Continuing east, signs of recent deer activity included their tracks as well as holes they dug to find a few green grass blades to eat. Off in the distance, it was easy to distinguish a grove of leafless Boxelder trees with their trunks that grow every which way but up. Further ahead, I scanned a cattail marsh where I noticed the snow-covered roofs of a few Muskrat lodges. Turning around into the teeth of a heavy snow squall, I hiked quickly back to the car, turned on the heater and headed home.
Deep in the woods
Noises cease
Sounds subdued
Nature at peace
Mid of December
End of the year
Mother prepares
Slumber is near
Tucks her children
Turns down light
Covers them up
Blanket of white
D. DeGraaf
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