We stayed in a cabin in Montana years ago that we had cross country skied into and I loved looking at the tracks in the new fallen snow the morning after. So much had happened during the night that we were unaware of. My favorite was a rabbit track that disappeared and when I looked to the sides I could see the wing tip prints of a raptor that had caught it.
I wanted to let you know, David, that we are returning from a trip to Deception Pass State Park. It was inspired by your story. We even stayed in a cabin and definitely loved the trees at Hoypus Point.
Lastly, I want to put in a plug for the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition. They offer walks to various threatened-to-be-auctioned forests and there is one coming up in King county soon.
Betsie, Great story about the happy raptor! Glad you found and loved the trees at Hoypus. I hope you had a better map than ours. Thanks for suggesting the LFDC. We need all the groups we can to protect the world around us.
We didn't have any trouble following the trails once we figured out that the signs in the park match All Trails map. They did not match the park brochure/map at all. No wonder it was confusing for you.
I recently finished reading John Valliant's "The Tiger" which is full of snow tracking stories. In addition to the life or death co sequences of reading the snow stories correctly, he notes that reading tracks are indeed a pre-linguistic structured form of information.
I enjoyed this so much and can relate. This snowfall was puzzling to me! Last Thursday, I didn't have any snow at my home in Des Moines, but when I arrived at the Arboretum for the monthly plant walk it was snowy and slushy ... and the walk was canceled. Understandably, as it was pretty messy. I had a beautiful and much needed sanity walk anyway!
Thanks for the info about the sad political fallout, too.
The natural world is most certainly helping me in these troubling times. I am concerned and stressed but at least this coping mechanism is keeping me (somewhat) sane.
This morning I had that odd pattern of snow in my front yard. My yard is all river rock so it holds heat differently than regular lawn. We face west & my yard gets the warm afternoon sun.
On the south side we have a fence, flowerbed with bushes and a sidewalk. This morning that area which had been shaded the day before was the only spot with snow on it. My backyard was completely covered but the majority of my river rock in the front was not.
A perfect example of the earth holding heat and impacting the snow melt or sticking.
I snapped pics from that same snowfall of a squirrel's bounding leaps and a raccoon's shuffling walk. I don't see a way to attach them here so I'll email them your direction.
Last year, I got into making casts of animal tracks in mud using plaster of paris. --Not an option in snow, however, since its hardening process is an endo-thermic reaction.
We stayed in a cabin in Montana years ago that we had cross country skied into and I loved looking at the tracks in the new fallen snow the morning after. So much had happened during the night that we were unaware of. My favorite was a rabbit track that disappeared and when I looked to the sides I could see the wing tip prints of a raptor that had caught it.
I wanted to let you know, David, that we are returning from a trip to Deception Pass State Park. It was inspired by your story. We even stayed in a cabin and definitely loved the trees at Hoypus Point.
Lastly, I want to put in a plug for the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition. They offer walks to various threatened-to-be-auctioned forests and there is one coming up in King county soon.
Betsie, Great story about the happy raptor! Glad you found and loved the trees at Hoypus. I hope you had a better map than ours. Thanks for suggesting the LFDC. We need all the groups we can to protect the world around us.
We didn't have any trouble following the trails once we figured out that the signs in the park match All Trails map. They did not match the park brochure/map at all. No wonder it was confusing for you.
I think I'll stick with using "frazzletrails."
I recently finished reading John Valliant's "The Tiger" which is full of snow tracking stories. In addition to the life or death co sequences of reading the snow stories correctly, he notes that reading tracks are indeed a pre-linguistic structured form of information.
I often feel pre-linguistic!
I enjoyed this so much and can relate. This snowfall was puzzling to me! Last Thursday, I didn't have any snow at my home in Des Moines, but when I arrived at the Arboretum for the monthly plant walk it was snowy and slushy ... and the walk was canceled. Understandably, as it was pretty messy. I had a beautiful and much needed sanity walk anyway!
Thanks for the info about the sad political fallout, too.
Sanity-walks. Something we all need too often at present.
The natural world is most certainly helping me in these troubling times. I am concerned and stressed but at least this coping mechanism is keeping me (somewhat) sane.
Great column!
Thank-you!
This morning I had that odd pattern of snow in my front yard. My yard is all river rock so it holds heat differently than regular lawn. We face west & my yard gets the warm afternoon sun.
On the south side we have a fence, flowerbed with bushes and a sidewalk. This morning that area which had been shaded the day before was the only spot with snow on it. My backyard was completely covered but the majority of my river rock in the front was not.
A perfect example of the earth holding heat and impacting the snow melt or sticking.
I snapped pics from that same snowfall of a squirrel's bounding leaps and a raccoon's shuffling walk. I don't see a way to attach them here so I'll email them your direction.
Last year, I got into making casts of animal tracks in mud using plaster of paris. --Not an option in snow, however, since its hardening process is an endo-thermic reaction.