December 27

Tuesday, for my final “wandering” of 2017, I hiked the last section of the Heartland Trail between Edmore and Alma. Developed from an abandoned railroad line and purchased by grocery-store magnate Fred Meijer in 2000, the Heartland Trail rolls for 42 miles from Greenville to Alma through farmland and forests as it links a half-dozen rural towns. The mid morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 0 degrees and a light bone chilling wind from the west. Leaving the car in the parking lot of the former Episcopal Church on Luce Rd., I headed north a hundred yards and turned east on the trail where I noticed a meandering mound of snow made by a burrowing Meadow Vole. These small mouse-like mammals survive the winter by tunneling under the snow to escape subfreezing temperatures and predation. Nearby, I spotted a set of tracks of one that had recently surfaced and scampered over the snow. Continuing east over the crunchy snow, I noticed the long shadows across the trail created by the winter sun that was beginning to ascend from its recent solstice. At the half-mile mark, I crossed Charles St. and continued east where I was surprised to see a single Maple tree still holding on to many of its leaves even though they were dead. Still heading east, I crossed Iowa St and entered Alma College campus where I could see clusters of leaf buds on twigs of several maple trees. Hiking east along the railroad tracks, I turned around at Superior St. and retraced my steps on the path following my shadow along the edge of the campus. Continuing west, I paused to observe a Dark-eyed Junco and a male Goldfinch with its muted winter plumage. Further ahead, red sumac bobs and decaying apples caught my eye. Finally, I made it back to the car, turned on the heater and headed home.

End of the asphalt

End of the year

Edmore to Alma

Memories adhere

Every single mile

Every single stride

Wildlife wonders

Nature my guide

There’re other trails

Beside this one

Other hikes

Journey’s not done

D. DeGraaf