Crunch Time

Snow! It comes in so many varieties from light and fluffy to heavy and wet and everything in between. You may have heard winter sports enthusiasts complain about the slow start to the season this year. Promises of snow forecasts were failing to deliver, taunting us with predictions of heavy flurries that somehow missed Cornwall entirely, yet graced the land of every surrounding municipality. Weather predictions can be a slippery slope sometimes.

Club Activity leaders with scheduled activities must roll with nature’s punches and be ready to juggle times, dates, and locations to make the best of an outing. Our first event of the year turns out to be such a day. Faced with rain and slush, this event was first changed from Saturday to Sunday, then the location itself was moved slightly more to the north in the hopes of finding better snow. Deciding which type of footwear is required when the weather offers us a mixed bag is not easy. Just to be sure we pack snowshoes, trail crampons, our best snow boots, and some hiking poles for good measure. We will figure it out when we get there.

We group together in the parking lot of Warwick Forest for a discussion. It has snowed a bit more here then back home, but it is crusted over by frozen rain. Yesterday’s slushy footprints have frozen over unevenly which make walking more difficult. The conditions are not ideal, and the opinions vary greatly. It sounds like an opportunity to experiment, and in that spirit, we each do our own thing. I opt for snowshoes because I feel that they distribute the weight more evenly resulting in more stability for my ankles. A few others do the same. Some decide to wear crampons for more grips, and others feel comfortable in good-treaded boots. Poles are not a bad idea for added exercise or security, but they can be a hindrance. I compromise and use only one. No matter our choices, none of them are infallible.

The first trail starts from the parking lot. The sound of eight pairs of feet on the crunchy snow causes such a ruckus that we must strain to hear the person ahead of us speaking. We have no chance of hearing the birds chirping today! The forest is beautiful though, and we soon immerse ourselves in the experience. While snowshoeing in deep snow can be hard work, today’s conditions pose challenges of their own. Each footstep must be calculated for optimum stability.

The next trail is across the street from the parking lot which is convenient today because it gives us an opportunity to go back to our cars to make footwear adjustments, if needed. Sure enough, a couple of people decide to exchange their crampons for snowshoes for the second part of our excursion. The others appear satisfied with their original choices and remain as they are.

And we are off again! The second trail has interpretive signs educating us along the way. There are nine signs altogether and for us they mark rest stops, places to study the landscape and regroup. I am intrigued by the second one entitled “Fire Pond”, with no explanation. I will learn later that this pond was dug in the 1950’s when the trees were planted and is now a habitat for many critters. Typically, fire ponds are used to extinguish and prevent the spread of wildfires in remote areas where there are no hydrants. Further along the trail is another sign identifying an old homestead. We can see a foundation, the remnant of a farm abandoned in the 1930’s due to poor soil and drainage. I love the learning opportunities trails such as these provide (not to mention the chance to stop and catch my breath.)

By the time we return to the parking lot again, I am exhausted from the efforts of this hike, both mentally from having to be conscious of each foot placement, and physically because of the awkward terrain. Despite this, I leave with a feeling of deep satisfaction. Winter and all its types of snow are welcome. Whatever winter dumps on us, there is a solution to tackle it and make the most of it. If the driving conditions permit it and the trails are open, we will find a way! Mother Nature keeps us on our toes, that’s for sure, but isn’t that the whole idea?

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