My previous post was about finding blood, then fur in the snow [A bloody mystery Part 1]. The next day, Saturday morning, I suited up: snowshoes, backpack with water, camera, GPS, and off I went.
It was supposed to rain Saturday night, so I thought I'd best follow the trail while I could. It is beautiful and peaceful on the frozen wetland. I follow the deer trails, as it is much easier to walk. This time, I had a mission, to see if I could see what happened.
The blood drops lessened.
There were lots of deer beds. This next one, below, looks like where our victim bedded down. Happily, after that, the blood spots were absent. I'm glad I had the GPS, as it's easy to get turned around. The constant moan of traffic helps!
Isn't it beautiful?!
I'd gone from solving the mystery, to wandering. The snow is incredible, powdery, and deep in spots. It's best to follow the track. I had to take my coat off, I was overheated! The bulrushes accumulates the powdery snow, it's difficult walking, even with snowshoes.
The deere navigate around trees, making it difficult walking in snowshoes. They don't have a care about low-lying branches, either.
I recognised the tall cedars, that and the GPS helped.
THEN, I tripped! It was a soft landing. Tricky to get up, though, when you put your hands down, and they sink up to your shoulders! It is just like standing back up on skis, be careful where you place them. I wondered if I'd have to take them off, but I managed.
I know this tree! It's on 'the point.'
This evergreen is on the back 40.
I did well. It's easy tracking with drops of bright red blood in the snow. Excellent exercise. The sun was warm. My average speed was pretty lame, but I was in deep snow! I was only out 1 1/2 hours, I should have shut the GPS off, and stopped tracking when I arrived home.
Hubby went walking above the arena, while I snowshoed, then he went to watch curling, did some shopping, and he brought me home a pizza for lunch and dinner, which he cannot have. After I snuggled under a blanket, I had a hot bubble bath with epsom salts.
The only idea I had, we've been watching the deer for signs, was this yearling with something on its chest.
10 comments:
Hari OM
Phew - exhausted just thinking about all that trekking in those conditions. You scored some beautiful images though! YAM xx
GPS is a great tool. I once went a little way off the path to get out of the rain and then went the wrong way when it was over. My BiL who owns the property has a GPS in his head.
Be careful out there in the deep snow, that was quite a mystery hunt.
That was quite a walkabout.
You really did a lot of tracking but it makes you wonder. I saw a dead bunny one day and a day later it was gone...without a trace of fur or blood. I'm always curious! Love your snowy photos and I hope that deer is okay and not hurt. Thanks for coming over to visit Lavender Dreams! I still want my OLD Lavender BACK! I'm sure you understand! Sweet hugs!
that was a lot of very hard work.
The animal in your header is a beauty. You are a true adventurer who really deserved that soothing warm bath and ready-made pizza. :)
Oh my gosh you are brave....not because of the coyotes, which I know would run from you, (we’ve seen them out hiking), but because of how you are not afraid of all that deep snow! That is impressive!
Jenn - I was reading your two posts on the edge of my seat, waiting for a gory picture … whew. I was out snowshoeing today and scared my sister, who is visiting, because I was out for so long. I said I was going to change the cards in the trail cams (and I was) but I was having so much fun I just kept going. She thought something had happened to ME!
We have a GPS tracker - maybe one of these times I should take it with me so I can publish my route!!! Enjoy your week!
I'm also like that - have to get to the bottom of things and find out what happened.
Your "mission accomplished" involved beautiful snow-tree-animal imagery and a lot of walking which does one only good.
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