After several days of being stuck inside, Luke and I needed a long walk! The frigid temperatures had finally let up so we could get out. I put my snowshoes on, since the snow was still very deep and soft. When we got to the “End of the Trail” that Luke told you about last week, we decided to plow ahead and see if we could extend our trail. I told Luke he could follow my snowshoe tracks, but he found some deer tracks and decided to follow those instead.
When I heard his paw crack through some ice, I realized the deer tracks were leading us astray and heading us towards the swamp that is down in that area! No worries, the swamp is not deep, and I think it had just flooded into our trail back when all our November snow melted.
We got back on track and made ourselves another trail to use, which was great, even though it was tiring work blazing that trail!
The next day it was so warm, Luke didn’t even need his coat! I was able to just wear my light cap which I ended up taking off, and my gloves quickly went into my pockets. It was absolutely gorgeous out, even without the sun shining. I headed out leaving my snowshoes behind, which I came to regret. The snow was quite soft that day, and even on our beaten paths, I was often sinking down into the tops of my higher tops snow sneakers! Luke was able to walk on top for the most part though, so it was fine for him.
By the next day we were back to more normal temperatures, just below freezing, and the walking was much easier for me. Two days of warmth had packed the snow down on our trails and then the colder temperatures had hardened it without making it icy. It was perfect for walking, as long as we stayed on the trails. Luke ventured off the path here and there and the snow was still soft there. On this colder morning, the sunshine did join us which was very nice!
It was so nice to finally get out for some longer walks, though we did miss the next day because of freezing rain the previous night which turned everything into a sheet of ice. The temperatures eventually rose above freezing, and Luke had to be a brave boy all morning as we listened to all the ice crashing off our metal house roof. He did great, because the noise even had me jumping several times! Today more rain is predicted, so who knows what we’ll end up with when all this over.
Thank goodness for all my different clothing and equipment that prepares us for anything, since things seem to be changing from day to day around here! It’s challenging to figure out how to gear up before heading out though, not knowing from one day to the next what the conditions will be. Now, when I go out in the morning to let the farm birds into their run and put the eggs out for sale by the road, I’ll walk a little ways on the beginning of our trail to see what they’re like.
After this crazy up and down week, I hope our temperatures will even out a bit more next week. Luke and I have a lot of trails left to blaze through the snow yet, and we’re both looking forward to getting the chance to extend our walks even deeper into our woods.
Thank you to our friends at Living, Laughing & Barking in Our Backyard for hosting the Nature Friday hop! Please visit other blogs through the links below to enjoy more of nature’s beauty.
I am so happy that you got out and started packing down new trails! I bet that the work tired you both out!!!
It sure did! Now, of course, we have more snow coming this week, 6 – 12 inches, so we may have to start all over again! 🙂
In uncharacteristic fashion, it’s been quite gloomy here. While I can handle the cold, and yes, I will likely may grouse about it, I can’t abide by the grey skies day after day. We’re on day 3 and I’m whining because I just want to see blue sky again even if I’m trudging into the deepest snow banks to clean up after a couple of contrarians who feel compelled to poop only in the deepest snow…under a low branch, because that’s just the way we roll in winter. 🤣Hope you are able to get more long walks in.
I agree – no sunshine is the WORST. It’s gotten a lot colder here the last few days. While we’ve still been getting out, our walks haven’t been quite as long. Late winter will be the best – still snow on the ground, but not so cold. That’s when we’ll really get those longer walks in!
On the rare occasions that I have experienced snow, it never lasts more than a couple of days. I can’t imagine it staying all winter. LOL!
Your way sounds much more enjoyable. It often overstays it’s welcome here. LOL
Mom hates Winter because she never knows what to wear from day to day. Short sleeves one day a sweater the next. At least Summer is a reliable hotter than hell every day.
Even our summers can be so up and down, with hot days but cool mornings and evenings. I often change several times in one day!
We have had a lot of up and down temps this week too. Nice photos of Luke.
Thank you!! Let’s hope things moderate, and soon!!
I also love walking with my dog. I’m glad you and Luke enjoyed it even with that snow. 🙂
If it wasn’t for having dogs (only one now), I’d probably hibernate all winter, so it’s a good thing. We try to make the best of what Mother Nature throws at us, though it’s not always easy!
For once I’m not going to complain about no snow. It would be tough taking Shadow outside – with her pulled groin muscle – to take care of “nature”. I can just see me trying to help her up without falling down myself.
That is definitely not something you want to do out in the snow! I can barely stay upright myself sometimes, when just trying to walk through it all!
What a beautiful walk! Glad the weather warmed up a bit for you…it’s also nice to know the weather is crazy on both coasts!
I know, right? It is definitely crazy everywhere. We got more cold days again, and now another round of snow. The snow we don’t mind so much, but the frigid cold weather needs to go!
Looks mighty cold, Luke, but you seem not to mind.
Have a woof woof day and weekend. My best to your peeps. ♥
Luke is way more tolerant of the cold than I am!! 🙂
That looks like a very nice out n’ about Luke, but that is a lot of snow!
And yet it still keeps on coming! We got another few inches last night!
You look so happy to be out and about and exploring, Luke. We have rain to start but it will end around noon so we will head out for our walk at that time. Happy Friday!
We got some of that rain and had to wait it out before walking too! Today we were out in the snowstorm. 🙂
We are at -12 this morning, but it is only one super cold day. It would be hard to walk without having any plowed or groomed trails. Thankfully, the trails here are mostly plowed right after it snows and we take full advantage of them. Enjoy your snowy winter walks.
We enjoy walking in the snow; it’s just the frigid cold that we can’t take! 🙂
I love this post… and I will send the sentence: Thank goodness for all my different clothing and equipment that prepares us for anything… to mark immediately…. a super reason to buy some things LOL
Any excuse to shop, right? 😉
I love your attitude of adventure. I’d be complaining about trudging through the snow. “But he found some deer tracks and decided to follow those instead.” Hahahaha. Life. with. dogs.
I don’t complain much about the snow, but the super cold weather, that gets some curse words thrown at it. LOL