I chose to venture to a new phenology spot this semester, in Centennial Woods. I tramped through a lot of snow to get there, but was surprised how well travelled the trails in Centennial were, despite the snow and cold. I walked up the trail from the entrance to the clearing where I found some very cheerful snow people.
After you reach the clearing you have the choice to go uphill, or downhill towards the stream, which is what I chose to do. I chose a peaceful spot in a stand of coniferous trees by the semi-frozen stream. All of the trees were heavy with snow, and it was clear that they needed to be well adapted to live in the harsh Vermont conditions.
I did not observe any animal tracks on my trip. I’m not sure if this is because they were previously trampled by other people who were walking in the woods, or if they were already filled in as it was snowing during my trip to Centennial Woods. I also looked for bird nests or other signs of wildlife, but I did not see much. I hope to see more signs of wildlife soon, especially in a few months when spring finally arrives.