2/19/14 Neighborhood and Snowmobile Trail

We woke up to several inches of  fresh snow. Kelley was anxious to get out in it so we did an hour walk around the neighborhood. She was happy as there were lots of people to greet as they cleared their drives. Lots of snow around

When we got back home I cleared our drive and then decided it was too nice not to do, at least a short hike- upper 20's, hazy sun ( another snow forecast for later today) , no wind, and it was pretty. Drove to the end of Pushaw Rd. to check for snowmobile activity.

  Someone had been on the trail- probably just one sled but  there was the firm base below the new snow so not bad -- going off the trail you end up in almost knee deep snow. Kelley seemed excited about the powdery snow and did a lot of prancing through it. It had been a good idea to do this little hike and the trail was quite pretty with the fresh snow.

We walked to Griffen Rd. and then returned the way we had come. Almost back we were passed by two snowmobiles but saw no one else. 1  1/4 hours.

It's snowing now so tomorrow morning may be a repeat.

2/18/14 Glenburn Snowmobile Trails

Cold ( 8 degrees) and gray but little or no wind which is a big improvement over yesterday. We do, however, have another winter weather advisory for this afternoon and tonight with more snow on the way. We decided to try a get in a good one today because we don't know what we'll get tomorrow. Back to Glenburn and parked at the closed store. This time we crossed the road and headed east. We have done this trail in the past but it got confusing later in the hike. The trail is varied, crossing fields, going through different woods, and by and through marshy areas.

At one point there is a hill and when you reach the top there is a huge field and the winter world is spread out before you

After crossing this field I remembered crossing Pushaw Rd. and continuing on to the lake. Today we ended up in this little development where the streets all had 'Vista" in their names- Vista Way, Vista Lane, Vista Ridge- I thought I could see Pushaw Rd. but not an easy way to get to it. We decided to solve the puzzle another day and turned back - we still had to cut through someones yard to regain the trail.

On the way back we decided to explore a pretty side trail

But after about 15 minutes we came to a 'No trespassing" sign and turned back again.

Heading back

In the field near Hudson Rd. there were a Milkweeds.

Turned out to be a pretty good hike in spite of the gray skies- it had warmed to about 20 by the end of the hike.  No snowmobilers but there were two men working in the woods that Kelley ran over to - she got some attention and I found out they were cutting trees into lumber to build a garage. The footing on the trails was really good  but off the trail was fairly deep snow- enough so that after a few forays Kelley stayed on the trails. 2  1/2 hours

2/17/14 Paul Bunyan Snowmobile Trail

Yesterday we awoke to several inches of new snow and after clearing the drive, just did a couple of walks around the neighborhood. This morning was sunny but cold ( 2 degrees) and quite windy so it felt colder. We decided our best chance for descent footing was a snowmobile trail  We parked at the church across from where the trail crosses Broadway and started from there. The first part is a very large open field and the wind was brutal ( Kelley didn't seem to mind) .

I thought it would get better when we got in the more sheltered section but the wind was directly in our face. I consoled myself with the thought that the wind would be at our back on our return.

A good bit of the way is fairly open and follows the utility easement and is not especially scenic but the walking was easy. As you near the junction with the trail to Glenburn you get into some pretty woods. We met a snowmobiler there who stopped and chatted and gave us some info on the trails.

Shortly after the Glenburn junction we turned back It had been nice in the protection of the woods but we  were soon back out in the open. It was better with the wind behind us. The wind was strong and the snow powdery enough that for much of the way our tracks were already filled in. Near the end we were passed by two more snowmobiles but we had seen no one else.

In spite of the wind we had a pretty good hike. 2  1/2 hours

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