Today it warmed; I headed out on my snowshoes this afternoon. Sunshine on my face was so warm and inviting. Recently a General Dollar store opened in Minong. I was looking for the wild asparagus stand but I didn’t find it. Surely I thought the dead heads would be sticking up through the snow. It looks like the builders may have plowed them under while bulldozing the site. I will go back there in early spring to see if perhaps the deep roots survived and new shoots hopefully will brighten my day with nature’s wild edibles.
I did see some trees that look like they may be cherry. I hadn’t discovered them before when I trekked through this land. I will explore more closely this spring. I love where I live. I saw lots of deer tracks and at least one fox trail on the back property. There were some pretty big foot prints on the front property and I think it may have been a wolf. The field that I normally walk out to had no deer tracks. This is unusual because there are usually deer tracks out there. It was a blessing to be out and about on snowshoes all by myself. I absolutely love to be alone in nature. It is a walking meditation to me and I am revived when I am outside with wind, sun and snow.
December 27, 2009 and the last day of my adventure.
TRACKING A FOX Perhaps
Possible red fox track.
Today was really an adventure. I decided to snowshoe in the 18″ snowfall. It was rather difficult in places because the snow was so deep. I was walking the land I am exploring. The second glacial moraine claimed my attention because I saw tracks and decided to follow.
blackberry bushes
Up the steep hill I went noticing that the brambles were blackberries with frozen fruit still attached. At least the deer and other animals will find nourishment here. Once I got to the top, I wondered who and what I was following all alone.
It was so silent.
DNR confirms cougar in Spooner, WI, copyright DNR.
Cougar and fox live in the Great North Woods of Wisconsin. Now I have been near fox and they are shy but a cougar would be another matter. I didn’t feel a threat and felt the cougar would have larger feet. Then I saw that the tracks also had a shape of a tail and knowing that the cougar is a large animal, I felt the animal I was tracking must be trotting closer to the ground like a fox. This photo of a cougar was taken in the summer of 2009 in Burnett County. There is also reports of cougar in Spooner. Photo caption should read Burnett County.
That’s it I thought and felt no hesitancy in going further. I did think, No one knows where you are and what if something happens like a heart attack? Funny how you mind runs wild. I answered my own fear, This is the happiest day of my life and someone will think to follow my snowshoes.
I could see through the trees to the far horizon (only visible seasonally I suspect) and it was thrilling. I climbed to the top and said out loud, “Wow!” I meant it too.
As far as the eye can see.
I could see for miles and there only forests and silence and the distance to the south. The sun was lighting the sky in pink and I tell you it was glorious.
Possible red fox tail with tracks
As I followed the tracks down the hill and out into the open field, I saw that the animal was leaving an impression of a tail. Here is a photo of perhaps a fox.
For now I bide goodbye to my adventure in the Great North Woods of Wisconsin. Thanks for keeping me company on my ten-day hiatus alone with a sweet corgi at a cabin in the woods.
The cabin of our eco adventure.
Stay happy readers where ever you are. Mary Ellen and Sadie
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