Hammocking down the slope on Sunrise Hillside
When Willem and I got home from Ottawa, I said that I just wanted to go snowshoeing right away. I was worried that if we went into the house, I would sit down in my comfortable chair, and I would not end up going snowshoeing.
So we did go down the hill and then I snowshoed in Kingfisher Trail with Willem behind on foot, or on boot, to the Scrabble cabin where we had a wonderful game. I videoed most of it.
After we got back up the hill, having energy, I went around the house to feed the deer. I had been looking at the deer tracks as we walked up the hill, I saw where they went from the road through the berm and across hairy woodpecker hillside, and up the hill, to the Hillside Deer Cafe. I also saw where they head in and end up at the hammock I never go to, as it's at a very difficult part of the slope, right on the cliff.
After filling the bowls, I explored some of the ways the deer get up there. I often see just their heads peeking above the hill. They stay there for awhile to case the safety of the cafe. So, curious as I am, I followed the deer path. I could see how they walked horizontally across the hill angling downward just a little bit, each trail forking at various spots. So using those trails, I descended, cris crossing the hillside, down to the hammock.
As I hiked, holding onto small sticks along the way to keep myself on the trail, dead wood broke off, affording me in time, two hiking sticks. They were invaluable! They were great for keeping my balance on the trails. The deer step onto the same area all the time, so that narrow area is packed while the snow around it isn't. Stepping off the path results in deep snow.
The slope is so steep, that each step is walking along a Cliffside, which is why I don't walk this hillside often! When I finally made it down to the hammock, I had to dump the foot plus deep snow and two or three years worth of leaves out. The composted leaves were soil, some of which stuck to the hammock. I had to make a decision about whether to sit down and chance my white camouflage coat getting dirty or just to not use the hammock. Naturally, I chose to lie in the hammock. You know, seeing that huge pile of snow in the hammock was evidence that the ropes and hammock fabric were in good condition and would hold my weight. The hammock falling would have left me six feet further down the hill.
I had the most beautiful view facing snow-covered Cedar Hillside, the opposing hill. The tall cedars trunks reveal deer tracks that weave up the hillside. I loved looking at them, following them with my eyes and figuring out which were used more frequently. I also enjoyed just looking up at the tops of the trees, both on Cedar hillside, and on sunrise hillside where I lay.
The longer I lay in the hammock, the more interesting was the view. The cedar that held ont end of the hammock was not vertical, but the top six feet was. Interesting.
Lying there, I considered waiting for the deer. They could be coming soon, or maybe not for another hour. The sun was out, and the temperature was quite mild, about 4C. As I waited, exploring with my eyes, I made a few videos. One was an update, another was talking about the deer, and the third was watching A squirrel.
Willem appeared at the top of the hill. "There you are!" I was glad to see him, knowing if I'd fallen and broken a leg, I would have lain there till he arrived. I chose to stay longer.
"Can you come check on me in another half hour?" I ventured.
"Okay."
Eventually, I ascended the hill, weaving my way back and forth up the slope.
So we did go down the hill and then I snowshoed in Kingfisher Trail with Willem behind on foot, or on boot, to the Scrabble cabin where we had a wonderful game. I videoed most of it.
After we got back up the hill, having energy, I went around the house to feed the deer. I had been looking at the deer tracks as we walked up the hill, I saw where they went from the road through the berm and across hairy woodpecker hillside, and up the hill, to the Hillside Deer Cafe. I also saw where they head in and end up at the hammock I never go to, as it's at a very difficult part of the slope, right on the cliff.
After filling the bowls, I explored some of the ways the deer get up there. I often see just their heads peeking above the hill. They stay there for awhile to case the safety of the cafe. So, curious as I am, I followed the deer path. I could see how they walked horizontally across the hill angling downward just a little bit, each trail forking at various spots. So using those trails, I descended, cris crossing the hillside, down to the hammock.
As I hiked, holding onto small sticks along the way to keep myself on the trail, dead wood broke off, affording me in time, two hiking sticks. They were invaluable! They were great for keeping my balance on the trails. The deer step onto the same area all the time, so that narrow area is packed while the snow around it isn't. Stepping off the path results in deep snow.
The slope is so steep, that each step is walking along a Cliffside, which is why I don't walk this hillside often! When I finally made it down to the hammock, I had to dump the foot plus deep snow and two or three years worth of leaves out. The composted leaves were soil, some of which stuck to the hammock. I had to make a decision about whether to sit down and chance my white camouflage coat getting dirty or just to not use the hammock. Naturally, I chose to lie in the hammock. You know, seeing that huge pile of snow in the hammock was evidence that the ropes and hammock fabric were in good condition and would hold my weight. The hammock falling would have left me six feet further down the hill.
I had the most beautiful view facing snow-covered Cedar Hillside, the opposing hill. The tall cedars trunks reveal deer tracks that weave up the hillside. I loved looking at them, following them with my eyes and figuring out which were used more frequently. I also enjoyed just looking up at the tops of the trees, both on Cedar hillside, and on sunrise hillside where I lay.
The longer I lay in the hammock, the more interesting was the view. The cedar that held ont end of the hammock was not vertical, but the top six feet was. Interesting.
Lying there, I considered waiting for the deer. They could be coming soon, or maybe not for another hour. The sun was out, and the temperature was quite mild, about 4C. As I waited, exploring with my eyes, I made a few videos. One was an update, another was talking about the deer, and the third was watching A squirrel.
Willem appeared at the top of the hill. "There you are!" I was glad to see him, knowing if I'd fallen and broken a leg, I would have lain there till he arrived. I chose to stay longer.
"Can you come check on me in another half hour?" I ventured.
"Okay."
Eventually, I ascended the hill, weaving my way back and forth up the slope.