I stayed home sort of

We had some very heavy and wet snow late Thursday through Friday mornings. Enough so that our county actually closed a couple of roads due to accidents. 

I knew it would be a while before our driveway got plowed out. Frank and his red truck showed up and Charlie gave the alarm.

I enjoyed seeing the snow once more as things were getting pretty dull around here. I shoveled a path for the boss dog to get out and do his business without trying to snow swim and did the chores early so the gals had plenty to eat.

They ate, took snow baths, and then slept in the sunlight when it cleared up.

Charlie and I decided to make use of my snowshoes and check out our woods.

When we hit the back pasture, Charlie took off running and bounding through the snow. He literally charged along.

I followed at a slower pace but kept him within eyesight.

 Our planned short walk became a long walk. 

We headed to the valley and the creek to just check things out. I learned to snowshoe on this land with all sorts of obstacles since this wild wood has no groomed trails.

Charlie is relentless and full of energy while we are in the wooded areas. He leads along the routes we've taken all of his life and seems to know exactly where we should be going. Sometimes, I just let him pick the route.

One would think he'd get cold right away with snow up to his chest and walking through the creek. That is rather rare for him. 

The temps have to be below 10 F for his back feet to get cold. He has a water repellent thick hound dog coat which keeps him insulated. 

He'll actually sit in the snow to wait for me when he gets ahead.

We followed the valley and came to the snowmobile trail. It hasn't been groomed or used all year long. But it is an old logging road that is nice and wide. We chose to go up that 1/2 mile climb to get to the ridge and circle around to go back home.

Charlie found deer tracks and gave them a good once over as he headed up the hill.

I followed, very happy that I'd chosen to use my snowshoes.

It was interesting when we got to the ridge. The fields that for years had been corn and soy beans were rotated to hay last year. The fields were snow covered but at one point as we were coming across the field it looked like this.

It was as if the sky and the land were almost one...except for the clouds moving in.

The deer had been out digging for food. We saw coyote tracks along with a trail going down into a sink hole where the racoon den up.

This was probably the hardest leg of our hike. Open fields, snow, sky, clouds moving in, and cold winds in our face.

The valley had protected us from the winds.

We made it to the road and I took off the snowshoes and we went home. I had a cup of hot chocolate and Charlie got a treat.

This past week I purchased a 'dog stroller' for Charlie. Eventually, he won't be able to do long walks with me but he still will want to go just like Morris did in his elder years. 

So I figured we'd eventually use this to walk on the easier paved and graveled roads. He does drag his feet on those trails so ... here it is....

And this is the look I got. If this doesn't make you laugh, I don't know what will!