Commentary by Emily
Nine bundled up snowshoers scoffed at the wind chill on Thursday , January 9 . They declined the invitation to a Polar Bear Dip as a warm up before our hike. It did not take long for us to warm up as we climbed hills on the trail. When we stopped for lunch along the trail we could certainly feel the chill returning.
We heard just a few bird calls but that could be due to our loud crunching snowshoes and boisterous conversations. There were a few fox tracks.
The snowmobile trail led us past several auxiliary trails heading to places like Hector Lake and Slipper Lake. Those are for future excursions !
We picked up branches and some small trees that that fallen due to the recent ice storm. The trail groomer came along the OFSC Trail twice. Volunteers from the Snobirds also came through to cut down low branches and leaning trees across the trail. A few ice fishermen passed us, as well.
Coffee and conversation afterwards made us glad we had not stayed home !
