As I was preparing myself for the cold, windy, and treacherous hike to Salmon Hole, I had an overwhelming sensation of excitement to see how my phenology site looks in the winter and to track down all the changes that have occurred since my last visit. I then became a little sad because I realized that I would have to spend a lot of time away from my site and that I would miss out on experiencing the ecosystem at different stages. With this in mind, I made sure to cherish the moments I had left at this location, mostly because I was under a time crunch since the sun sets so early. We recently had a snowfall, so the conditions on the trail to Salmon Hole were a little dangerous, but the white-covered ground created a contrast so that my attention was drawn towards the bare trees that covered my head. This was one of the biggest changes that I observed at my site a few weeks ago, and it has been crazy to watch the leaves go from green to nothing throughout my blog. The leaf litter that used to scatter the ground is now out of sight due to snow cover, and the leaves are decomposing in the soil. The few coniferous trees that grow in shallow soils above rocks or along the river’s edge still have their needles and will continue to withstand the harsh winds of winter. There was no evidence of any vegetation, and the temperatures have been too low for any plant to continue to thrive. I had a wildlife sighting by tracking the prints in the snow, but I could not tell what kind of animal made those tracks.
I would say that the best part of my phenology place is the Winooski River that runs along the trails of Salmon Hole. This river directly impacts the environment that grows around it, creating moist soils for many trees and plants to grow. In return, the river’s edge is supported by the plants that grow to prevent erosion. It is clear why this river is so crucial to the ecology at Salmon Hole, but it also holds sentimental value for me because of the amount of time I have spent here by myself while adjusting to the changes brought on by college.
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