“Winter provides an afterglow.
This effect glistens through the trees.
Illuminating me.
Winter snaps and & crackles
under our feet.
This crunch, crunch, crunch.
Winter tickles our senses.
Following our eyes to the light.
Our ears to the snaps.
Our touch to the cold.
Winter is here
Winter is everywhere.
Hibernating truths waiting to be turned.
Finally being illuminated” (Howlett, 2024)
As I was exploring the trail of East Woods natural area in Burlington, Vermont, I came across some faint prints. Unsure of what it is, I put down my glove. I think it may be a snowshoe hare. However, the full print of a bounding pattern is not there. I used the naturalist and recorded my observations in the Wildlife Tracking Project.
In a different location, I noticed some holes in a tree. I believe this is signs of a woodpecker.
When I go in the woods during this time of year I admire this glow. I close my eyes for a second and just breathe. The crisp, cool air sends a shiver, yet I feel like I’ve been rebirthed in some way. The conditions weren’t perfect for tracking, and most of what we came across was domesticated animal prints, but I still enjoyed some time in the great outdoors.
