2/9/14 Frye Mountain Trail

Cold ( about 12 degrees) but sunny and no wind. We went with our friend Faith and her dogs Roxie and Gus. We weren't sure what conditions we would find so had maps for three hikes in the area. When we got to Walker Ridge Rd. ( closed to cars) we considered just walking the woods roads- there are several miles of them.

But then three snowmobiles zoomed past us and we decided on the Frye Mountain Trail, even though the only recent use was by deer - and then what we thought was a moose.

Roxie in a rare quiet moment

Gus and Roxie leading the way

The trail was well blazed which was good with the snow. I still managed to briefly get us off onto an alternate trail.  There was a fair amount of snow,  but because it's been so cold it remains fluffy and wasn't  bad walking.

Kelley having a little rest

In the more open woods the snow was deeper but short legged Gus motored on.

The trail crosses two woods roads on it's way up the mountain and at the second we decide we had gone far enough for today. We found a downed tree, brushed of the snow and sat down with the dogs for snacks and then headed back

Gus checking to see if we are still behind him

Other than the snowmobiles at the very start and one more on the woods road where we turned around we had the woods to ourselves. A very nice hike - very peaceful, quite, and beautiful. 3  1/2 hours

2/8/14 City Forest

A friend wanted to join us and go early- even though it was only 3 degrees- at least the sun was shining and there was no wind. We just walked the West Trail to it's end then back on Main and Loop Rds. to West again to complete the loop. We met one man with a dog and several skiers  all of which made Kelley happy. Also the footing was good and once we got moving it was not uncomfortable. It has remained below freezing since the last snow so it has stayed pretty.

A very pleasant 1  3/4 hour hike. We are lucky to have this resource so close to home. Many of the places we hike have been inaccessible.

2/7/14 City Forest and Neighborhood

No post for yesterday because Kelley was being a brat. We got  several more inches of snow and after I cleared the drive , decided to do the snowmobile trail again so as not to have to worry about parking. As soon as we got out on the easement Kelley sat down and did not want to walk. Back to the house. A bit later tried again with the same result. I gave up and went inside and she came in with me- usually she likes to stay out. I sat down at the computer and she came over wanting something. I took here to the door and she went and stood by the car, apparently wanting to go somewhere. I told her "no" and went inside. A bit later she came inside but again wanted out and went back to the car and stood by the door. I wasn't going anywhere and offered her a walk around the neighborhood. We walked a short distance and she decided she didn't want that either. I gave up and was in for the day. Eventually she joined me and settled down.

This morning we went to City Forest with a friend for a short 1  1/4 hour hike-- she had an appointment and couldn't hike longer.  Cold, but sunny and no wind. A fair amount of snow with lots still on the trees, making it pretty. The footing was pretty good and Kelley seemed happy. We talked briefly with two women who were on the road parallel to the trail but met no one else. A peaceful walk in the woods.

After lunch we went back on the easement for another go at the snowmobile trail and Kelley seemed happy with it. No one had been on it except deer and the new loose snow made it a bit of a slog. I did not want to overtax Kelley so when the trail crossed a road we took that and just walked around the neighborhood for an hour. Kelley was happy with this as there were people out shoveling for her to greet.

2/5/14 Snowmobile Trail

Yesterday Kelley went to the nursing home so we did not hike. This morning we woke to new snow and it was still coming down fairly heavily. Decided to leave the  car in the garage and take the easement behind our house to the snowmobile trail. There was only 2 or 3 inches of  new snow and the crust beneath was mostly firm - pretty good walking. We walked for an hour and then turned back for home.

The pictures

The trail not taken - a side trail we left fo another day

A pretty nice 2 hour hike- very pretty with the snow and we didn't meet anyone so it was quiet and peaceful.

2/3/14 City Forest

Gray day - mid 20's. I had some things to do in the morning so we went to nearby City Forest. The West Trail was mostly packed snow with some patches of ice that were easily got around. Took the Bobcat Trail which was supposed to take us to Moose

but circled and brought us back to West. We met two skiers who were unhappy with the icy conditions but Kelley was glad to see them.

The rail bed had pretty good footing but the view was kind of bleak and wintry.

I did find a nice plant

We took one of the unnamed trails back to West to complete our loop. Near the end Cadie came charging down the trail to greet us with Pete just behind her. Kelley usually likes to play with Cadie but not today- she's an unpredictable girl.

Not a bad little hike in spite of the less than cheerful weather. 1  3/4 hours

2/2/14 Neighborhood

We woke to a couple of inches of new snow and a gray day. I shoveled the drive and then while waiting to hear from a friend decided on a brief walk around the hood. Shortly before Gracie's house, Kelley saw what she thought was Gracie ( an old friend )  in her yard and got very excited. I let her off her leash and she tore off down the road, only to stop short when she realized it was not Gracie. She had met Bentley but didn't know him well. Then Gracie also appeared in the yard and Kelley ran to greet her. Soon all three dogs were playing and we were pleased to see how well the three of them got on. They played hard for almost an hour. My pictures were disappointing- poor exposure-dark dogs and white snow - and not well focused -dogs in motion, but they give a sense of the time they had with each other.

Gracie

Bentley

 Getting tired.

Great fun for the dogs and we enjoyed watching them enjoy themselves. they all got a good work out.

2/1/14 Georges Highland Path

Warmer today- 29 when we started and 34 at the end- mostly sunny and little wind. We had not done the section of the trail from Walker Ridge Rd. to the Hogback Loop. For awhile it was closed due to timber harvesting ( they must have rerouted as we saw no evidence of it today) and then when we tried it anyway, it was very wet and difficult to follow. The last time we were on the Hogback Loop- from the Sheepscot end- we met a couple who had come from Walker Ridge and said it had not been a problem to follow. We found this to not be entirely true.

We parked by the Inland Fisheries Bldg. and walked to where the trail crosses the road- about 1/4 mile. The parking shown on the map is only available in summer. We passed the entrance to the snowmobile trail- We had taken that to Hogback in the past. There was a blue blaze as we entered the trail and then not any others. This was not a problem at first as the trail was obvious but it soon became confusing and after walking around looking for it we gave up ( even Kelley couldn't find it ) and headed toward what I thought was the road. We came out of the woods where the snowmobile trail crossed Rte. 220 and found our trail also across the road. From this point on the trail was well blazed. For some reason it had been laid out to take you up the side of the hill

and then back down

and up again

several times- just the trail if you wanted a real workout.  No one had been on the trail recently but the footing was not bad with no ice except for a couple of frozen streams

When we reached the Mountain Rd. it again became confusing. The map said we should come out at the end of the Hogback Loop but we have done that loop many times and know where it comes to the road. This was not that place. We walked a short ways on the road and what looked like another trail but the only thing I found familiar was the trail we had come in on long ago- there was still an animal skull tacked to a tree that I had photographed back then. We decide to leave the rest for another day and headed back.

One more hill on the way back

When we reached the road, we took the snowmobile trail back to Walker Ridge Rd. and on the way found that the GHP came to the trail we were on. We ignored it.

In spite of the confusion and the hills it had been a good hike. Pretty woods, quiet, pleasant temperature, and none of it a problem for Kelley.  2  1/4 hours