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walk
October 2009 
Yesterday's winter walk
Posted on Dec 2nd, 2006
by 
Jw
Jw
We go for walks just about everyday, whether or not we want to. Our Vizsla puppy demands it. She is a working dog and she needs to get her work done. What is her work? Running, smelling, hunting.
Yesterday we got a bit later start than usual. And now since the ground is covered with a couple feet of snow our walk takes us twice as long. We also need to wear snow-shoes. The snow is dry and powdery. I can see occasionally, if I look hard enough, little tiny bugs on the top of the snow. Interesting. We check on a neighbor's house and continue south along the plowed runway. Yesterday it was too windy to walk this way.
At the very end of the runway I am surprised by a Piper Cub taking off. I hadn't seen or heard it until now. It flies over and wags its wings.There is a clearing in the clouds to the South and the sky to the is starting to glow sunset-pink. Leaving the runway and walking through the soft snow, I see the steep slopes which overlook Lake Pondereille. Trees are dusted with snow and the pink light is illuminating them with an extra layer of color. The mist softens this scene giving it an etherial quality. This is north Idaho beauty; the times here when the clouds and light cooperate to make a dramatic display.
I am very happy we are out a bit late to be able to witness this. If I had my camera I might be able to get a good picture, but never mind - enjoy it and let it pass. We still have a ways to go before getting home. We slog along through the soft snow along our customary path or I think it is our customary path. Things look a bit different now. Pines are heavily laden with snow. The snow, the time of day make this a place of magic and mystery.
I stop and wait for Lauren beside a wide and ample pine. She is my favorite. (The daughter is my favorite and only, but in this case, I am talking about the tree.) She is so rotund and probably the oldest in this tract. I haven't seen many animal tracks. Maybe one deer. This is supposed to be were the coyotes prowl at night. Sora my dog is sniffing and running and hunting, but not like when there is no snow. This snow does slow her up a bit. I think she is starting to get cold. She has no fur just thin hair. When does a dog need to wear snow booties?
Our walk continues along a gentle slopping area with pines and large open pastures. The runway is on a knob to the northeast. Lauren is following too slowly. I double back and adjust her snowshoe. To the East I can now see the moon, not yet full. We need to walk a bit faster or we will be out after dark. It gets dark so early and it's only somewhere between 3 and 4. Finally we are up the slope and continuing up the runway. Sora is starting to act cold. She isn't running but going along a bit and stopping to sniff. Can she smell dinner or is it a dog's way of navigating the way home. We race up the runway as fast as you can race wearing snowshoes. Darkness is here and finally we are home.
Yesterday we got a bit later start than usual. And now since the ground is covered with a couple feet of snow our walk takes us twice as long. We also need to wear snow-shoes. The snow is dry and powdery. I can see occasionally, if I look hard enough, little tiny bugs on the top of the snow. Interesting. We check on a neighbor's house and continue south along the plowed runway. Yesterday it was too windy to walk this way.
At the very end of the runway I am surprised by a Piper Cub taking off. I hadn't seen or heard it until now. It flies over and wags its wings.There is a clearing in the clouds to the South and the sky to the is starting to glow sunset-pink. Leaving the runway and walking through the soft snow, I see the steep slopes which overlook Lake Pondereille. Trees are dusted with snow and the pink light is illuminating them with an extra layer of color. The mist softens this scene giving it an etherial quality. This is north Idaho beauty; the times here when the clouds and light cooperate to make a dramatic display.
I am very happy we are out a bit late to be able to witness this. If I had my camera I might be able to get a good picture, but never mind - enjoy it and let it pass. We still have a ways to go before getting home. We slog along through the soft snow along our customary path or I think it is our customary path. Things look a bit different now. Pines are heavily laden with snow. The snow, the time of day make this a place of magic and mystery.
I stop and wait for Lauren beside a wide and ample pine. She is my favorite. (The daughter is my favorite and only, but in this case, I am talking about the tree.) She is so rotund and probably the oldest in this tract. I haven't seen many animal tracks. Maybe one deer. This is supposed to be were the coyotes prowl at night. Sora my dog is sniffing and running and hunting, but not like when there is no snow. This snow does slow her up a bit. I think she is starting to get cold. She has no fur just thin hair. When does a dog need to wear snow booties?
Our walk continues along a gentle slopping area with pines and large open pastures. The runway is on a knob to the northeast. Lauren is following too slowly. I double back and adjust her snowshoe. To the East I can now see the moon, not yet full. We need to walk a bit faster or we will be out after dark. It gets dark so early and it's only somewhere between 3 and 4. Finally we are up the slope and continuing up the runway. Sora is starting to act cold. She isn't running but going along a bit and stopping to sniff. Can she smell dinner or is it a dog's way of navigating the way home. We race up the runway as fast as you can race wearing snowshoes. Darkness is here and finally we are home.
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