Mid-Winter: Tracks & Trails

I didn't go cross-country skiing this week.

We had a lot of snow that had to be shoveled. (Shoveling snow is a different type of exercise that I generally don't mind, in moderation.) And on Friday mornings we ski at the hill, so no cross-country that afternoon.

I thought the wind-whipped snow would be to hard to ski on but when the kids and I went for a walk mid-week I discovered sections I wished I had skis for. But for the most part we could easily follow the snowmobile track without sinking through.


our neighbors snowshoe tracks

One of the best parts of winter walks in the woods is all the evidence of animal life, tracks only visible in the snow.

And like animals, or as animals, we leave our own evidence, marks that we have been here. 

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« Mid-Winter: Making
Mid-Winter: Skiing »
  • Tiffany

    Tiffany on Feb. 22, 2015, 2:13 a.m.

    Where did you get your mukluks?  What do you think of them?  I have been wanting to make some, but haven't found the pattern or motivation to start. 

    reply

    • renee

      renee on Feb. 22, 2015, 1:44 p.m.

      Tiffany,

      There is a story to these mukluks. Damien gave these to me the first year we were dating, so 20 years ago. His father, my father-in-law, shot the moose they are made from and aboriginal friends of my in-laws (they were just my boyfriend's parents at the time) did the sewing and beadwork. These mukluks are more precious to me each year.

      Now, as for their practicality...I can't speak for all mukluks but mine are only wearable in certain snow conditions. I don't wear them in wet snow and I only wear them for woods walks and in clean snow, never around town or in dirty snow. They are good for country living. I've worn them more in the past 4 winters than I did in the previous 16 years of owning them. 

      I wear mine lined with a woven boot slipper (wool would be ideal, mine are cotton I think) for extra warmth and they keep me warm, if I'm moving, down to -18C or so.

      reply

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