Lolli and I were invited to go on a lengthy hike at Allegany State Park today. That kind of invitation is difficult to resist. As I was getting my pack ready, Lolli’s teeth were chattering in anticipation. She just loves to go on adventures.
We are in a state of transition between winter and spring. The weather forecast showed morning temperatures in the 20s with the promise of highs in the 50s. As we drove out, the depth of snow varied greatly depending on elevation and which direction the sun hit the curves of the hill (or ditch). We selected Holt Run for our hike and intended to try to hike the old road all the way to Cricks Run. Yeah. That didn’t happen.
Here’s what the day looked like at Holt Run:
And here’s how the dogs reacted to it:
Glock: Let’s play stick! Lolli: Let’s just run!
We followed another hiker’s footprints over to the edge of a beaver pond:
Along the trail, there were lots of beech and birch branches which had been buried. It looked like the warmer temperatures had melted them and released them from their frozen prison:
I should mention that Terry noticed them first and insisted that I give him credit as my creative consultant.
Lots of colors and textures caught my eye along the way.
Yellow Birch:
Branch Shadows on Rocks:
Ice in the creek:
There were plenty of tracks in the snow. Lots and lots of deer, which I didn’t photograph. We were hoping to see bear, because we have on this trail before, but we didn’t. I think these might be fisher tracks:
And these might be coyote:
I have no idea what critter climbed out of this:
We weren’t lost. We consulted the map and we know exactly where we were… it just isn’t where we intended to go. We eventually found the “road” we intended to hike, but we were too tired to try. We paid special attention to the landmarks and hope to be able to find it next time.
It was a beautiful day to be outside. Lolli is snoring on the couch.
A Passion for Nature 
It looks like you still have quite a lot of snow in the woods. Ours is melting fast now!
OUrs is melting fast, too… and even Winter Woman is ready!
Your photos are too cool! I look forward to your postings.
Thanks…I sure enjoy making them!
Love those frozen creek shots. Just wow.
That one veil of ice was so very pretty backlit… not nearly as interesting from the other side!
Once again … Envy.
Oh David… You DO need to get out!
Indeed a wonderful way to see the changes from winter to spring!
Can’t wait for the spring flowers!
BeAutiful photos Jen. And a nice story too. My husband swears he saw a Fisher near here a few months ago.
Hi Barb! Thanks for stopping by! I know the fishers are around. We have “captured” one on the game camera down here at Audubon and found their footprints in the snow.
I love your article, I’m very envious of you, such beautiful countryside for you to enjoy, thank you 🙂
Holt run is nice but Cricks is just beautiful and is one of the most wild and primitive areas
in ASP. Great photos Woodswoman, this is a part of the park that gets few visitors.
We will find it one of these times! Next time, instead of trying to get to it from Holt Run, I think we will start at Crick!
Looks so cold there. We had cold like that in 2009-2010 and 2010-11 but it has been mild since. Thankfully we get no bears in the UK.
Oh, But bears are nice. AT A DISTANCE!!! Supposedly, one came through camp where I was staying over the weekend. I slept through it.
The only bears I have seen recently were the Sun Bears at Edinburgh Zoo.