I returned to campus in late January and was ecstatic to see the snow. Coming from Pennsylvania, seeing this much snow on the ground was incredibly exciting. I’m not entirely sure what I expected, but I was still blown away. Being back on campus gives me an incredible sense of calm. I struggle at home simply because my state is constantly shut down. I missed my friends, and most of all I missed the mountains. It’s strange going from being able to see them from my window, to only seeing houses.
I returned to the same Phenology spot I left; the Beaver dam in Centennial Woods. I’m not sure what I expected, but I was a little disappointed. I almost got lost trying to find it, especially since everything looked so different. I’m not surprised I was unable to find any sign of the beavers’ activity, especially considering the fact that the pond is frozen over. This allowed me to walk far enough out to pick up the trash some hikers left. I also found signs of dogs enjoying the new access, and even met a few dogs.
Most plant life around my phenology spot consisted of woody grasses, which means the beaver dam is very exposed now. The pond is frozen enough that I was able to walk across it, which was a new experience for me. Unfortunately I was unable to find any signs of beaver presence other than the dam itself.
The trees, especially the Oak, no longer have leaves. Frankly the view, while beautiful, was serene. It made me miss the fall foliage for sure.
