12/ 20/16 Neighborhood Again

Minus nine degrees when we got up. Still lots of ice and heavily ice coated snow. Makes finding a good hiking spot difficult so when it warmed up to seven degrees we walked in the neighborhood. I let Kelley pick the route and she stayed in the streets rather than exploring yards as she normally does. We need more snow and less ice. We still walked for a little over an hour and that was good. I only took the camera from under my coat a couple of times.

Perhaps we will try Acadia tomorrow where it has been a few degrees warmer and maybe less ice.

12/19/16 Yard

Yesterday it was 45 degrees and rained all day. We did a short walk in the rain but I didn't take my camera. This morning it was back down to 9 degrees and the sun was shining. We started a walk but there was a lot of ice on the pavement  which neither of us liked and there was still lots of  crusted snow which  we, especially Kelley, also didn't care for. After a short distance Kelley wanted to return and we did. She still didn't want to come inside so I left her out front and found a couple of pictures in the yard.

Snow still on the roof this morning

Kale left in the garden looks like something from outer space

The rhododendron always make me nervous with their buds out in the middle of winter. Seems to work as they always bloom profusely in the spring.

Tomorrow is supposed to be in the the mid twenties and clear so we may be able to find a hike. 

12/17/16 Neighborhood

The weatherman was right about yesterday - high was 3 degrees with strong winds. We did a very short walk around the neighborhood. This morning it was a little warmer ( about 5 for our first walk) and snowing but no wind and we ended up  taking two walks around the hood. I didn't want to drive because the snow was fairly heavy and I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get back up the drive. Kelley was just glad to be out in the snow. It ended up snowing steadily all day but didn't accumulate as much as it seemed it would.

First walk in the morning.

A lane that is grassy in summer that connects my street with the next. There are houses at either end with woods along the center

We did a circle and passed by this house on the way back
I would have liked the lights to be lit

Afternoon walk - Kelley was more excited this time around

 Drive of one of the houses at the end of the lane.

When we got back Kelley did not want to come in. I went inside where it was warm to read and Kelley stayed outside lying on the snow in the drive.                

 Weird weather continues with a forecast for tomorrow of 44 degrees and rain!

12/15/16 No Hike

Twenties with sun and clouds and we decided on Branch Lake. When we got there the road in had not been plowed and I immediately got stuck but was able to rock out. Back to town to try Essex Woods. Kelley got out and did a lot of sniffing as we walked a short distance but then stopped and did not want to go on. Some days it just doesn't work out. Tomorrow is forecast to be nasty and we won't try to hike. Down to -2 tonight and then-

FORECAST FOR FRIDAY:

Sunny
High temperature: 5
Description: SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 5 ABOVE. WEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. WIND CHILL VALUES AS LOW AS 29 BELOW. 

12/13/16 DeMeritt Forest

Had to clear the drive first so when we got to the trails  it was up to 23 degrees, sunny and little wind- pretty day.

We started from Logan Rd. and there had only been a single skier before us.

When we turned of onto the Blue Trail it was unmarked.

  A short section of the Red Trail showed prints of two people that looked to be from late yesterday. After that the trails were again unmarked. The woods were really beautiful today.

My plan was to take the Yellow Trail back to Logan but Kelley wanted to take Sewall and so we did. Kelley had done very well up to this point, she was excited about running through the snow and took the lead much of the way. But when we got back to the car and I headed down the road to cross to the river, she sat down and let me know she had had enough so we got in the car and headed home. 1  1/4 hours

12/11/16 Newman Hill-Hinds

Sunny and warmer - lower 20's . We had not done this part of Newman Hill in a long time- no summer use - and I think we came in from the other end last time. Did not bring a map because didn't think we needed one.

The trail starts in woods and them goes across the bog.

After leaving the bog and some more woods the trail seemed to end at an intersection of woods roads. We followed this one thinking we would pick up the trail but did not. We met a couple and asked them where we were and got directions to the main trailhead and , I hoped, winter maps. (That's the trail after the question marked area) There were maps, but they did not include the area we just hiked! I was ready to turn back but Kelley wanted to go further - I think she remembered the water ahead. We only went a short distance and turned and headed back

Eerie ice

Back in the woods

Not sure if this is serious or not.

We had no trouble following our trail back. I again checked where the trail seemed to end and could not see a continuation - perhaps overgrown- so little snow last winter that there was little trail work. Back home I found the old map posted above. In spite of navigation difficulties it was a beautiful day and Kelley did well. 1  1/2 hours 

12/9/16 New Trails at Perch Pond - Redux

Back to do the new trails we hadn't done yet. 27 degrees and more clouds than sun.

We started out the Spruce trail which was a problem when we came here years ago before the new trails. The first part of the trail was easy to follow- a narrow trail on what was once an old woods road, but then we entered the woods. We could still follow the trail- tapes and new bog bridges but sometimes had to look more carefully.

Kelley didn't like the narrow bridges and also found a drink.

Just some lichen

The pond was frozen with no way in for Kelley - those bits of blue sky were short lived.

A nearby pool had ice I could break

Similar to one from the last hike- don't know why I took so few pictures today - it was a pretty hike.

A puddle on the way back - not a good water day for my girl

Another very nice hike and Kelley had a really good day - best she's had in awhile, even running a few times. We met no one. 1  1/2 hours