2/15/14 Walden

Another good sized storm forecast for tonight so we wanted to get in a hike today. Our friend Faith and her dogs Gus and Roxie accompanied us. Weren't sure what kind of trail conditions we would find after snow and then rain yesterday. We decided to try Walden first - the first leg of the Loop Trail had had no one on it so we skipped that. The rest of the trail had some snow shoe traffic and that helped though it was still a bit of a slog. We met some neighbors on snowshoes and some other people with a big dog. The crust supported Gus and Roxie and Kelley most of the time but she broke through in places. When we got to the old rail bed  there had been very little traffic and the walking was even harder. At that point we turned back.

Here are the dogs- we don't know why Kelley and Gus are so interested in what's ahead.

Not a bad little hike- we all got some exercise and it was comfortable with no wind.  1  1/2 hours

After Faith dropped us off Kelley seemed to want to do more so we  went to the easement behind the house. We had seen snowmobile tracks where  it crossed the road  on our way home - but only on one side.
 I started down the trail and Kelley stopped and sat down. I called and she didn't come so we marched back to the house. She still wanted something so back out again and she sat down again. I tried going the other direction and that seemed to be what she wanted. We went  the short  distance to the road, crossed it and showed her there was only unbroken snow on the other side. She didn't want that either. Back to the house. A walk around the neighborhood ? - we started and she didn't want that either. I gave up and went in- she wanted to stay out. Later she came in for frozen yogurt.

2/14/14 Neighborhood

We woke to several inches of new snow and more in the  forecast. There was also a mix of light snow/rain falling.  My first reaction was to leave the car in garage and leave the drive for another day - maybe spring. So, we went for a walk around the neighborhood. Homer was out in his drive so I let Kelley off her lead to go play for a bit. A treat for Kelley as they play well together.

When Homer went in we continued on our rounds. There were lots of people out clearing drives and Kelley greeted almost all of them - some remember her name from previous encounters.

When we got to Gracie's house she and Homer were not outside but they were let out for more play. They also play well together.

We then continued around the neighborhood looking for people to greet. It's very nice that most people respond so positively to Kelley.

The light drizzle continued and after an hour and a quarter I was wet enough and we returned home. Kelley, however elected to stay outside.

2/13/14 Walden and City Forest

We have a big storm predicted for this afternoon, tonight, and tomorrow so we stayed close to home to get in a hike before the storm. We had not been to Walden in three weeks and didn't know the trail conditions.  We started from the parking lot at the end of Tamarack Trail and were pleased to find the trail with packed snow and no ice. We usually turn on the first part of the Loop Trail but Kelley got excited and took off past there. When I caught up I found her with Sophie and her owner. We continued out to the rail bed and found that someone had run a snowmobile down it- they usually are not on this section - I guessed to condition it some. In any case it made for more nice walking.

Soon Kelley found a side trail she wanted to take. Someone had preceded us on snowshoes so the footing was not bad. I think we were on this trail recently but took a different fork today because that was the way the snowshoer had gone.

We came out on the West Trail which was also in very good condition. There was a woman and her dog on the Loop Road which runs close to the trail in places and  Kelley insisted we  go the short distance through the woods to greet them.

We took the West to it's end and then got back on the rail bed to the other part of the Loop Trail - also well packed and ice free.

And back to our car. A nice hike- gray and threatening but we finished without snow or rain and Kelley was happy to be out. 1  1/2 hours

2-12-14 Glenburn Snowmobile Trails

Cold but sunny and no wind. After enjoying yesterday's revisiting of trails from past years, we decide to try some others. The initial plan was to start from Lancaster Brook Rd. but when we got to where we usually park we found no cars had been off the road, only snowmobiles and did not want to risk getting stuck. We drove over to a store on Hudson Rd. where we have parked before and started from there. There had been a good amount of use on the trail so the walking was easy.

After we crossed Lancaster Bk. Rd. the trail was wider and seemed to have had even more use.

Lancaster Brook is fairly wide but was easy to cross

Shortly we came to the Kenduskeag and didn't hesitate to cross the ice today

We had not done this section before and came to a small area of timber harvesting, although no one was working today

After this the trail was either plowed or groomed, or both

We walked to within sight of Broadway and turned back. Back on the other side of the Kenduskeag we followed a side trail that ran near the stream but had not been much used and was a bit harder going.

We followed it to the road and then returned to the main trail. Along the way I found a few things to photograph

A pretty nice hike- the trees mostly sheltered us from the wind so I was comfortable and once again the woods were pretty. Kelley was again excited to be on a trail she hadn't been on since last year-lots to explore.  We only met one person, he was on a snowmobile and passed us twice.
2  3/4 hours

2/11/14 Paul Bunyan Snowmobile Trail

Cold with a little breeze but sunnier than predicted. First time this year for this trail which is also near home. We parked at the old fire station at Griffin and Kenduskeag and walked the short distance to where the trail crosses Kenduskeag. The trail goes through woods for a short distance and then swings out to Griffin to cross the stream on the bridge. Some snowmobilers had taken a shortcut and crossed the stream itself -  most had taken the bridge.

The stream is wider than it appears in this picture and a short way downstream I could see open water and was a little nervous about the crossing so we took the bridge.

The Kenduskeag Stream

For the first 40 minutes or so the trail  runs near the stream. The surface was nicely packed and good walking.

You can see the stream through the trees and sometimes you get more open views. Kelley seems to be contemplating the water down there but it's quite a ways down and she did not attempt it.

A couple more picture before the trail; goes left and away from the stream

The trail crosses Pushaw Rd. , which dead ends there and reenters woods 

for a short distance before crossing Finson Rd and into another nice stretch of woods

Kelley is looking for a way around as she won't cross the bridge because of the spaces between the boards.

We then came to a large field with this shack

A cell tower and Ohio St.

That was  where we turned back.

A small side trail we did not take- probably went to someone's house

As we were heading back, Kelley got excited, started barking and took off ahead of me- we had met no one to this point. I could not see around the turns but then saw her ahead with three workmen who were giving her attention. When I caught up I found they were checking storm drains. We had a chat about the history of Pushaw Rd.- it dead ended because there once was a bridge there- and then we continued on.

Heading back

On the return I got brave and took the shortcut across the stream - we didn't go through the ice.  It had been a nice hike- we had met no one except the workmen, it had been a beautiful day- hence the excessive number of pictures-  and Kelley was happy with all the scents on a trail she hadn't been on since last year. She was also excited just to be out.  3 hours

2/10/14 City Forest

A bit warmer but a mix of sun and clouds. After yesterday's more strenuous hike I thought Kelley should have an easy one so we went to City Forest. We started from the Kittredge Rd. parking and onto the West Trail which was in very good shape- packed snow- no ice

When we got to the unnamed trail we sometimes use to get between West and the old rail bed, Kelley wanted to take it. The only traffic had been a skier or two but we took it. About half way across Kelley stopped a couple of times and looked like she wasn't especially happy with the fairly deep snow. I pointed out it had been her choice and we continued to the rail bed. There there had been some snowmobile traffic and the walking was nice, especially after we reached the point where the snowmobile trail comes onto the rail bed and there had been even more use.

Still lots of snow

We followed the trail to where it turns out onto the frozen bog and then turned back

Couldn't resist more weeds in the snow

We met two men on the way back and they were the only people we met other than a woman and her two dogs coming into the parking lot as we were starting. Turned out to be a pretty good hike  2 hours