golv: peace valley park. mud like quicksand.

Last night it we had a wintery mix. It was sleeting when I got home at 11:15, and by morning there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground.  Not the best day to drive to Peace Valley Park, but the temps were rising and the snow was slushy so why not? Besides, consider the alternative. See what I mean?

Lydia opted not to go.

After shoveling snow and eating breakfast, I ended up not leaving until 9:15 am, and it started at 10. And it took 45 minutes to get there. I knew I might be late, but GOLV always takes a half hour to get moving so I knew it would be okay. Besides, I would know exactly where they went -- there would be a lot of tracks in the snow covered trails.

I arrived in plenty of time. There was less snow there, but it was wetter. I should have worn different shoes. When you stepped, it turned to mush. I had on my muck-lucs. I needed to have on my Wellies.

First we went over to the bridge to look at the partially frozen lake. Then we doubled back, past the Nature Center, and near the side of the lake. Under the snow was six inches of mud. It suctioned onto your shoes like icy cold quick sand. I lost my shoes twice. I couldn't lift my foot without pulling off my shoe. After the second time I started looking at the footprints and walking in the not super deep ones. I finished the hike with cold, wet socks. Because of my shoe issues, I was well behind the others, and Chef Deng stayed in the way-back with me. Hours later my feet are still cold.

We headed away from the lake and the trail wasn't quite as muddy. This area was paved, but it was slushy. By the time we returned to the parking lot, the lot was a muddy mess also.

Because of the snow there were a lot of tracks to look at. I didn't take any pics. The lake was noisy with all the birds returning for spring and setting up housekeeping. There were also lots of signs of spring like the items above, but I don't know what it is. If it was my yard, I'd say daffodils. But this is the woods so I'm clueless.

Miles/Steps:         4 miles, includes shoveling 
Weather:              34, overcast and snow covered
Wildlife:                There was a lot. Everybody in the forest is getting ready for spring. Fowl: Gull, red wing blackbirds, blue heron, kingfishers, crows, maybe mockingbirds, wood duck boxes (nobody was home) and one super-sized brown bird that was fishing. Most thought it was a hawk. I thought it was a golden eagle, but Christine (the naturalist) said that they aren't local. She thought it was an immature bald eagle. (They don't get their white heads till about 4.)
     We also saw a lot of tracks in the fresh snow—squirrel, bunny, fox, and possible coyote.