Another Hike

 Life is Movement and a dirty car.

In most sections of this trail, I was the only one making human tracks.

The weather broke with sunny skies and tufts of brilliant white clouds. As much as I hated to, I left Charlie at home for a day of rest and headed out to my favorite close to home 'haunt' at the Reserve. I thought I'd try a different combination of trails that would add up to a 7 miler.

Though towards the end I skipped one section as the snow was deeper on that trail and no human or animal had yet walked it.

I opted for the short cut and ended up with 6.33 miles [according to Garmin]. The snow was not hard and not compacted. It felt like walking in sand. Also, our snow is only about 2 to 3 inches deep in most places but in drifted spots it was knee deep.

Part of the trail did involve walking on the road for a bit. 

Bridge 14 over the
Kickapoo River

During all the summer months, this backroad is full of tourist traffic and loud motorcycles  on their way to one of the state parks or to the biker/hiker/canoer bar that is located on the edge of the Reserve [Rockton Bar]. 30 years ago it was mainly canoers and equine riders that went to the bar-restaurant. They DO serve awesome food.

On my walk through this time, I didn't see a single vehicle. Maybe that is why I like winter hiking so much.

I didn't freeze on this hike. In fact I had to stop at one point and take my sweatshirt off and tie it around my waist. I got that warm by late in the afternoon.

The only other person I saw on my wanderings was Jesse the cop/land manager who was grooming the cross country ski trail [bike trail in the summer]. We waved.

I did have a few successful 'Landscape ICM' photos.

On a whim I did these. To me they are just interesting, I wanted them to feel like paintings.

The pines

Windblown

Lone oak