Last winter, I wrote a few posts about my snowshoeing adventures. This year though, my health hasn’t exactly been at it’s peak and continues to be a little iffy. However, I did attempt a little snowshoeing this season so far. The first attempt was on November 18th. I had just recovered from a terrible cold (sort of) and some of my other problems didn’t feel quite as bad so I loaded up Giovanni (my little car!) and headed a few minutes northward to a park b the river called Crocus Prairie. There wasn’t much snow but when in recovery, that helps.
Unfortunately, I didn’t actually recover. Things got worse for a bit and then, the weather turned crazy cold. It’s one of the disadvantages of outdoor hobbies and sports – you’re always at the mercy of Mother Nature!
Lucky, I managed to get out again on December 25th. The weather was gorgeous, people were all in their homes for the holiday, and I was feeling a a wee bit better. Crocus Prairie tends to be used by a lot of dog owners since it connects to the Sutherland Beach off leash area which…is cool but at the same time, can make things a big messy and over run. So for kicks, I thought I’d drive into the Silversprings area and check out the natural grassland preserve that was set up there a few years ago. I’ve often passed these spots on my bike but driving past, it looked like people had been walking around so out came the snowshoes and away I went!
Those trails that I thought had been well worn by people were in fact trails made by deer in the area. (There’s actually a sign by the road warning people of wildlife.) No, I didn’t see any deer or any other critters out there but I have to admit that it was so strange following their trails. It seriously looked like quite a little ‘city’ in some parts since the ‘roads’ had major ‘intersections’.
Anyway, I wasn’t out long; just a quick stomp around. I tired out pretty quickly and definitely felt the pain in my legs and chest but hopefully I’ll be well enough in the new year that I can build up my strength and get out more on those snowshoes because there’s a whole world to discover in the winter and I can’t wait!