Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoeing and Tracking

Northern Michigan had about 20 inches of snow that they gotten before Christmas.  It tends to snow a little most days there, so even though there is evaporation the amount of snow stays the same or is increased slightly.  I cross-country skied at Aspen City Park in Gaylord three days in a row.  Aspen Park is a lovely treasure with plantations of pine and areas of deciduous trees.  The park includes an area enclosed by high fencing with a small elk herd.  The city grooms the ski trails for Nordic skiing and they stay in fairly good condition.  This is probably in part because the younger folks tend to skate ski, which requires a groomed trail, but a differently groomed trail.  Most of the other skiers I saw were mature adults.  Snowmobiles aren’t permitted in the park, so it is quietly peaceful.  I love skiing there!

Skiing through the pines got me to thinking about problems with pine plantations.  Last summer we were in the Scottish Highlands where there are a number of pine plantations.  I learned that pines planted too closely so that other species don’t grow would eventually die.  They become susceptible to insects, disease, and forest fire.  The dying out of a forest is happening at the pine forest in Glen Helen Nature Preserve in Yellow Springs.  So, I wondered if this might eventually be a problem for Aspen Park. Northern Michigan has a number of pine plantations where trees are harvested thus thinning the forest, which makes it healthier. 

I also snow shoed from our house in Michaywe to a trail that runs behind it.  When there is so much snow, the only way to take a walk in it is to snow shoe.  After going over the same path several times, the snow gets packed down so that animals and humans can walk without too much difficulty.  I do love the snow and winter activities.

I’m finished with the intensive training with Magnum to recognize and ignore cross tracks.  Now when I track with him, I first lay a starter track of about 100 yards with 3 cross tracks on it.  Then a regular Tracking Dog Excellent track is laid (850- 1500 yards) with 2 sets of cross tracks on it.  Last time we tracked, Magnum wanted to follow a cross track on the starter track.  I excitedly called him back to the track and he continued on.  We then did the regulation track and he completely ignored the cross tracks.  It was almost like he was communicating, “Okay, you fooled me once, but not again.”