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Sat. 28 February:  The Mill Pond Revisited

Attempt at artistry

It always seems to be perfect weather at the Mill Pond.  These statistics are based on two visits!

Last December we came here on a calm sunny day.   It was even more perfect today.  The snow had accumulated since then, of course, and so our group split into two parties:  skiers and snow-shoes.  I had decided to take my snow-shoes today, and we took a longer, more challenging route around the rugged woodland. 

There was one snow-mobile track across the lake, but, unlike the winter highways across the larger lakes, this must be a calm backwater, winter and summer.  The Mill Pond would be an ideal gentle canoe or kayak trip once the snow melts (if it ever does!).

We made a short-cut across an arm of a small lake or swamp.  Here in the snow was a well-used hole disappearing under the ice, with animal prints all over the snow.  We later learned that this was a beaver which would come up each day for some exercise. Clearly it isn’t just humans who need a winter break.

There were other animal tracks to be seen, and some nuthatches and chickadees in the trees.  As we returned to the sugar bush, a keen-eyed member of our group noticed a porcupine sitting on a branch high up a tree.  I had no idea they did this – yet another fact learned on the trail.

We had travelled through the bare trees of the sugar bush, past the empty snow-covered farm buildings.  It cannot be too much longer before the sap rises, and this silent forest springs to life – a sign of Spring worth returning to see.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         6.0 km (‘shoe)

Height Gain:             Say 100 ft.

Time on Trail:           2 hrs. 2 mins.

Start:                        10.05 am

Lime Kiln Jn:            11.30 am

Ret. to cars:             12.07 pm

Temp:           Minus 12C rising to minus 9C

Weather:       Cloudless, no wind

The skiers set off - not to be seen again until the end

A silent Mill Pond

Over-exposed to accentuate the shadows

Tiny snow-shoes hanging on a tree stump

An enjoyable undulating trail

More striking shadows

We like to disobey signs sometimes...

...so that we can cross the swamp...

...where a beaver has been coming up out of the lake to play

Perfect day for a snow-shoe trip

Good signs all along the trails

Returning to the sugar bush camp

Porcupine high up in a tree

Old homestead