A Perfect Late Winter's Day

Moose tracks in deep snow up on the trail.

The view from up here on a perfect Winter day.

Thursday turned out to be the sort of Winter's day that seems to make all of the snow and cold weather and crappy driving conditions worthwhile.  Particularly if you're retired and can get outside for some relaxed snowshoeing.  If you have to work, well maybe not so much.  But anyway, the day dawned sunny and mild and stayed that way all day.  When I say mild I mean the mid 20s F (-5 or so Celsius).   There was no wind and a full sun so it felt like it was a lot warmer.  The dogs and I took a long walk up through the woods, enjoying the balmy weather and checking out any new tracks or other signs of animal activity.  Some fresh moose tracks followed the trail for some distance and there were other mysterious scents that the dogs thoroughly investigated.  Other than that there was nothing of note really, just the feeling that Winter may be on its last legs and Spring may actually appear sometime in the next few weeks or months.  In that same vein, on Groundhog day back in early February everyone in the region was encouraged when the groundhog apparently saw his shadow.  There was dancing in the streets when people got the word that there would be only 6 more weeks (as opposed to the usual 6 more months) of Winter.  Our current weather is keeping that hope alive.  At this rate we may get to plant the garden before July.  Who says global warming is all bad?