Two-hour walk in a very spring-like Whitemud Ravine this afternoon. Walked a loop from the powerline, north as far as the third bridge, and then back up through Westbrook. There is very little snow street-level and along the paved parts of the trail, but once inside the ravine – a long, winding strip of puddled-ice. It’s mostly slush thanks to the warm temperature today, but I think it will be another week or two before it’s doable in runners. I wouldn’t want to be down there in the mornings before the ice has had a chance to melt. Even on some of the hills, I was bushwhacking in the brush to avoid the ice. It seems I survived.

Along the path in the open areas, the ice sounds hollow underfoot. The entire ravine is loud with the sound of dripping water, birdsong, and the torrential current of the creek. Most impressively, in the places where the sun is strongest, it smells knee-weakeningly wonderful. That gorgeous, deep, earthy scent of spring. We are in the brown season before spring erupts into green, but it was still beautiful in the ravine today. Full of sensual pleasures.

13C/2:15 to 4:15