Winter in the Woods 2021-22

After back to back snowstorms along the North Shore, the trees were indescribably gorgeous. I buckled up my snowshoes and headed over to Riverwood Hideaway to blaze a trail through two feet of fluffy snow. Even with the snowshoes it was a lot of work tamping a trail.

Ice on the river was still too precarious to test. Because of the earlier warm ups, the river swelled, froze, and melted again leaving thick ice sheets hanging high up on its banks. It’s also deeper than it has ever been heading into winter, which should be good for fish and otter navigation. I didn’t see signs of river otters on my trek, but most winters, we see that they had been surfacing through holes in the ice, then frolicking and sliding down the banks on their bellies.

I am often startled by the loud sound of a ruffed grouse suddenly taking off after I scared it off its branch or out of its warm hole in the snow. These big birds cluster in groups to feed on seeds in the trees. If you listen carefully, you can also hear them talking amongst themselves in little high pitched squeaks. Watch for lines of their three-clawed tracks, and gold and white pill-shaped scat as well. You may even come across one of their snow dens.

And speaking of dens, a family of deer had slept right next to the outhouse just before the big snow. If you see areas of matted snow (and you will see deer tracks too) you know it is where they bedded down for the night.

At Cedarwood Hideaway, bobcat tracks have been sighted and we will be putting up a trail cam to see if we can get a glimpse of the elusive feline.

The Ravens, if not always seen, definitely make themselves heard as their guttural calls echo through the frozen trees.

Other than the sounds of birds, I love winter for that complete silence that other seasons can’t replicate. Especially while it is snowing and I hear each flake hit my coat. It just doesn’t get more serene than that.