If you want to go snowmobiling, you'll have to go south! That's right, all the snow is in the mid-altlantic states. Up here in in Walpole, there has been no new snow. Evvy and I have been able to take ours hikes with no snowshoes or skiis. Each time I go out I make a point of looking for wonders of one sort of another. Last weekend, Evvy and I were up on Derry Hill, the Galloway property. I decided to follow a well worn deer path, then I was distracted by another set. Evvy was running through the trees and broken tree limbs on the ground. She was in her own little world. We were at the edge of a recently cleared piece of land. Looking to the north, a small log cabin with few amenities, is habited by one of the reclusive Galloways. No electricity, no running water.
Anyway, Evvy and I walked the edge of the field to keep out of the gusty wind. Even though the recent days have been filled bright sunshine, the wind reminds us that it is still winter. As Evvy contented herself by eating frozen kibble(deer skat), she completely missed the Snowshoe hare bounding away from us. I was lucky to have seen it, because they are nearly all white this time of year. There was no chance of taking a photo of this beauty, he was way too fast. So I borrowed the picture above, from the internet.
Evvy and I took another hike on Sunday, up Sheep Hill. The view from there is spectacular, facing Bellows Falls, VT. You can see several ski areas, and hear the trains that stop in Bellows Falls. Once again we tried to stay in the woods as much as possible because the wind was blowing quite hard. We did not see any creatures, but tons of tracks. Mostly deer and coyote. It's funny I see coyote tracks in abundance in some places, and barely any in other locations. The southern slopes with White Pines, and recent logging seem to be attractive for the coyotes, turkey and deer. The snowshoe hare seem to prefer thicker stands of young white pines, with branches low to the ground. They also like the brambles and downed hemlocks to hide in. I don't see quite as much coyote traffic in the deeper woods, but more deer. The deer like to yard up in the thicker woods, upslope. I have found many deer yards with anatomically correct, melted beds.
I haven't found a single shed, and always wonder if Evvy will find one for me. Usually in the spring, Evvy will run ahead and return with various deer bones. Once she found an entire deer leg!
