Hi everyone and welcome back to another adventure snowshoeing!  This is something that happened a few years back.  But it was a winter much like this one, with a lot of snow on the ground.  For those of you who may not know what snowshoes are, I would suggest looking it up.  Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of snowshoes and I don’t even have any today.  They are large, and are webbed, like a tennis racket.  Kind of look like an over sized tennis racket actually.  There are, however, different kinds of snowshoes as well. The ones I had were made for walking in deep, soft snow.

Anyway, let us get moving with our adventure!

I don’t want you to think that all my snowshoeing ended in some kind of mishap.  Not at all.  Anyway, it started off quite normal.  It was cloudy.  The odd snowflake floating down to the trillions already on the ground.  Not too cold either, which was nice.  And this time I was smart.  I left a note detailing where I was going.  Forgot to mention how long I would be gone.  Oh well.  Off I went.  Walking at first.  I was planning to lengthen this trail and turn it into a loop type trail.  However, after walking for a distance on the old trail I spotted a pileated woodpecker and stopped to watch.  They are such a beautiful bird.  It wasn’t long and off he went.

Hmm.  And off I went.  I came to the part of the trail where it split in two directions.  I was supposed to go right.  However, the pileated woodpecker went left.  So I did too.  It was snowing more heavily now.  After about half an hour I came to a spot where I decided to make a new trail.  I looked back.  There was about 2 inches of new snow on the trail.  Hmm, should I, or should I not?  Sure, why not.  No one would ever know which way I went now.  Oh well.  Off I went anyway.  The snow was soft and deep in this area.  It was not exactly easy going even with snowshoes.  But it was so beautiful.  And quiet.

Sometimes I just get a certain “feeling”.

After about 20 minutes I heard some familiar little chirps and looked up into the pines.  Sure enough, there was a small flock of black-capped chickadees overhead.  When moving about like that they often just give a light chirp, constantly keeping in touch with each other. 

They kept moving a certain direction, so I followed them for a bit.  I wasn’t really watching where I was going.  I was watching the chickadees.  Besides, nothing here but snow and some trees.  But then I started to get that “feeling” that happens every now and then.  You know, like I was being watched, that kind of feeling.  I looked around.  Nothing.

I just never thought of something like this.

Then I spotted some movement in among the trees.  I couldn’t believe it.  There it was.  A huge wolf!  Standing.  Staring right at me.  Animals are generally scared of people.  Not necessarily so with wolves.  I decided it might be a good idea to change direction.  I was getting kind of tired about now anyway.  So it’s a good time to head back.  I looked behind me.  That big fella is following me.  Hmm.  I kept looking back as I walked.  It was snowing very heavily now.  Suddenly…

To Be Continued.

©2022 Steve McLeod.