Hello! It’s been a while since my last post… I actually caught a very unpleasant strain of the flu that has been going around, and have been out of commission for almost a month. The last 10 days or so have really been more a matter of regaining my energy and strength, but I’m feeling nearly back to my old self now, finally!
Today we went on a walk for the first time since I got sick, and it felt wonderful! It was a nice day, overcast but relatively warm (about 40 degrees). We chose to walk in Carver Park Reserve (part of Three Rivers Park District), along the Maple Trail, which is a loop of about 1.5 miles. Links to trail maps can be found under the Trail Markers menu tab, but I’m also including the link to this trail map here for your convenience.
There are signs that spring is returning everywhere, but there is still snow on the ground here, and the trail was primarily snow-packed. The warmth of the day made some areas of the trail a little slushy, but overall the snow was easy to manage and not icy. However, some parts of the boardwalk (over the marsh) were a bit slippery, so if you take this trail anytime soon, be careful of that. It’s a hilly area for the most part, and wooded, except for the trek across the marsh. There were a few other people on the trail, but for the most part we had the woods to ourselves.
As I mentioned in my last post, winter wandering might require a little more preparation, but it can be just as beautiful and sometimes even more peaceful than walking in summer. It was a calm day today, so the walk was relaxing and beautiful, with birdsong everywhere! We walked slowly, taking it all in and allowing the cool air to revive us – it felt so refreshing and rejuvenating after a month of illness!
There were also signs that folks on the trail before us had been enjoying themselves as well!
We noticed a few other things that indicated spring is on the way, such as tapped maple trees like this one:
Learning the history, lore, and methods of tapping maple trees and making maple syrup are things I’ve begun learning this year, so this is all of special interest to me right now. I’d never before given much thought to how this tasty tradition started, and it’s fascinating to me to learn about the ways Native Americans cooked down and used the bounty from these trees.
Ambling on winter trails can give you the chance to notice interesting details that might not be as visible when the trees and bushes are all leafed out. For example, winter is a great time to take note of nest sites, so you can more easily locate nesting birds in the spring and early summer. It’s also easier to spot things like a uniquely gnarled oak, interesting bark patterns, maybe a small owl roosting among tangled branches, or fungi tracking up the side of a tree, as in the photo below.
Now that spring is getting nearer, and my health has returned, I’m planning to get into a more regular wandering schedule, so please stay tuned. I feel so refreshed and energized after today’s walk, I’m excited to dive in! Hope to see you on the trails!