3/30/17 Glenburn Trails

We have had days of clouds, rain, sleet, and a little snow and have just walked around the hood, Yesterday it wasn't raining so we went to City Forest. The trails were in good shape

but Kelley didn't want to hike so we gave it up.

Another mostly gray day today but no precipitation. Decided to try the Glenburn snowmobile trails we have been doing. On the way there we passed a trail we hadn't done this year because we couldn't get far enough off the road to park Today we could. I had not brought a map so can't be sure where we were on the trails ( there are trails not on the map).

There was a surprising amount of snow left and no recent trail use.

Kelley was very enthusiastic . I think she liked the novelty

This is a section of wetland. Easy today but in wetter winters we have ended up with wet feet. The sun was trying to come out.

Back in the woods

A little rest near the end.

Turned out to be another pretty hike in peaceful woods we had all to ourselves. Kelley did the best she has done in some time. 1 1/2 hours

3/25/17 Branch Lake

Thirty six degrees, sunny, and a couple of inches of new snow . No one had been out this morning so on the tote road it was not always easy to see the firmer spots, but the footing was still not bad.

Thought we would try the Brookside Trail but it had not had any recent use and was quite soft. We gave up on that idea and headed for the Lake Loop Trail. This had had some use and had much better footing. The woods were  pretty with the fresh undisturbed snow and the sun.

No water for Kelley today

Almost back

Pretty good hike with a bit of slogging at times but mostly not bad. Pretty and peaceful as we had it all to ourselves. 1 1/2 hours

3/23/17 DeMeritt Forest

Seesaw weather continues with  mushy snow one day and frozen crust the next. Tried to hike yesterday but Kelley wouldn't get out of the car. Eleven degrees when we got up but we waited and it was up to 17 when we started our hike .

The trails were mostly firm but lumpy in sections from previous traffic in the softer snow- at least no ice.

It was a pretty day and you can see our route on the map so just some shots of the various trails and Kelley.

A low marshy area that is too wet much of the year

and a leaf

Turned out to be a nice hike. The trees protected us from the wind and the footing was good for Kelley, who did very well. We had the area to ourselves so it was a pretty and a peaceful walk in the woods. 1 1/2 hours

3/20/17 Glenburn Trails

A beautiful morning- sunny skies and 32 degrees.

Yesterday it got up to 40 degrees and then down to 7 last night. Yesterdays traffic packed the snow and then last night it froze and no one had been on it this morning  so we had excellent firm footing and a beautiful day in the woods

Lancaster Brook was frozen and looked OK to cross

After some hesitation, Kelley decided to follow me across

Snowmobiles had crossed the Kenduskeag Stream

but I could see running water and they had swung upstream instead of going directly across as they usually do.  The bank was steep and slippery and Kelley didn't want to come down so that settled the decision not to cross.

Instead we stopped for an apple break before heading back.

Another section of trail

Almost there

This was a very nice hike on a beautiful day. Kelley did very well and we met no one and so had all of it to ourselves. 1 1/2 hours

3/18/17 City Forest

Sunny and mid twenties. Where to go ? Didn't want to use the snowmobile trails because they would probably be busy because of new snow and Saturday. Friend had said the trails at City Forest were in good shape but she had gone in from the main parking lot. We started from the Kittredge Rd. lot and there had not been as much trail use. The first part was pretty good but the farther we went the less traffic and it became a slog. Kelley was picking her way along so we turned back.

The trail down to the beaver pond was well packed and we went down to the pond

Which, of course, was completely frozen

At this point Kelley let me know she had had enough and we headed back.

Almost back

A short hike on a pretty day

3/16/17 Trail Along Kenduskeg

Snow storm on Tuesday - about a foot of heavy wet snow - but it covered up all the ice.

Yesterday morning- waiting for me to get to work on the drive.

After I cleared the drive we just walked around the neighborhood - didn't take my camera but it was sunny and around thirty degrees.


This morning we went to the nearby snowmobile trail, hoping someone had been on it to pack down the snow. They had and the footing was pretty good for both of us.

Still ice in the stream

A bit further up the trail. Not long after this we saw two snowmobiles coming and I got Kelley off the trail but it was hard for her to move in the snow. The snowmobiles took a bypass , but I realized it would be a problem if we needed to get off again and we turned back.

One spot with a little water that was very muddy - this is her second entry on the way back.

When we started the hike the surface was undisturbed from last night but after a point a sled had broken the crust  and it was  more of a slog for me. Twenty degrees but sun and we got in a little over an hours exercise so not too bad overall.