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Article: Making tracks.(includes related article on effect of types of snow on the physical conditions of terrain)(hiking through the woods during winter)
- Article from:
- Country Living
- Article date:
- February 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Hearst Communications, reprinted with permission of Hearst. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Let it snow! A trek in the winter woods awakens the senses.
After an overnight snowfall last winter, I made the most of the opportunity in the morning to explore our piece of land on skis. Most animals forage very early, and you can see their fresh tracks. In new snow the edges of their prints are sharp. As I skied along everything was quiet - the only audible and visible signs of life came from a chickadee, that fearless and friendly acrobat, until, because snow deadened my approach, I flushed out a deer that gave me an indignant snort before crashing away.
This is one of the few times you can actually surprise wildlife. Even with their acute hearing ...