Almost. Maybe not, but close. Dropped off at the Whitemud Creek trailhead in Westbrook. Lovely day. A little bit overcast, with the promise of blue here and there in the clouds. The first part of the walk was warm and soft underfoot after a brief snowfall in the early afternoon. Instead of veering right as we had been doing since the south access was closed in July, we veered left and took the trail down the hill toward the ‘first’ bridge. At the end of the trail, near the stairs, I saw a guy and his dog emerge out of the woods and noticed, for the first time, a path leading south. How hard could it be…I thought.

An hour later, I’m glad I escaped with my life. Perhaps the threat to life and limb is a bit of an exaggeration, but parts of that trail were very steep, and very narrow. I am SO GLAD I wore my cramp-ons, which I’m sure played a huge role in keeping me upright, and most importantly, alive. Without a word of a lie, the path in some places was the width of my foot, with nothing between me and a sheer drop to the frozen creek but a few twigs, some fresh snow, and several clenched orifices. Maggie seemed to be encouraging me from the other side, but I might have mistaken this sentiment for impatience. There were about five of these narrowed areas, many of them on dips in the trail, which only added velocity to my near-death experience(s.) The rest of the walk was fine, although the up and down continued until we emerged on the sidewalk at the top of the hill. Generally speaking, it’s the kind of trail I prefer, being in the woods and largely untrodden, but I’m kind of a chicken when it comes to falling (which I do often) and dying (not as of yet.)

Last walk before I return to work tomorrow. Still too dark after work for much of a walk, but at least we’re on the other side of the solstice. Should have walked more over my holidays.

3:55PM/1C

Super nice outside. Didn’t think it would be, as my walk started with an overcast sky, and a cold, ‘acetylene’ sun, as Sting would say. However, about half way through the blue sky materialized out of nowhere. Mitts came off, mood instantly lifted. We were on the trail to the right of the bridge in Whitemud. Maggie noticed the deer first, scampering along the hill across the creek. Three of them. Of course, I was too far away to capture the damn things on film. Maybe if I figured out how to use my new camera, I’d be able to photograph fleeting, faraway images like this. As it was, the hour’s photographic takeaway was several shots of snow, snow on branches, snow on hills, and inadvertently, Maggie having a pee on snow.

I had meant to walk everyday on my holidays. Half of them were too cold, and the other half…I don’t know. Inertia. Winter blahs. Well, two more days. Hopefully Maggie and I will see a few more trails before I have to go back to work (speaking of blahs.)

3:33PM/-3C

A BEAUTIFUL afternoon. Finally, a break in the cold snap, which I think began in October. So little walking, so much eating and mall hopping. I’m not sure who was happier stumbling though the snowy trails, the dog or me. Probably the dog. She loves the snow. So do I, but I love blue sky more, and the endless grey cloud of the last month has weighed heavily on my motivation, as has the terribly chilly weather…and the trays of delicious snack items. They all conspire to keep me off the trails. But, no more. Really. No, really.

3:30PM/-2C

A brief walk yesterday in the sunshine and biting wind. First time in a long while. Couldn’t resist the sun. So bright and beckoning. The wind, however, insisted on bitch-slapping my face. Repeatedly. Maggie and I made it to the tip of Whitemud Creek, and then she started lifting her leg. Not in a boy dog way, but in a I’m cold let’s get the hell outta here way. Not surprisingly, a 25 minute walk tired me out. Too much candy, too little exercise. I’m not who I was. Hopefully…two weeks off at Christmas will release me from this imposter…if only fleetingly. Maybe I’ll even be able to speak in full sentences again. Maybe.

-15C (yesterday)

Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted something. Coincidentally, the lack of posting corresponds directly with the lack of walking. So much snow, so much dark. So cold, so busy. All the usual December excuses. But really, it has been cold. Hope to rectify the walking situation soon, weather permitting. The frigid temperatures (-24C this morning) made me think of the brown rabbit I used to feed in Louise McKinney Park during the winter of 2010.

I don’t know how any animal survives this, especially as I sit here with a dog and a cat, snuggled on the floor in their own blankies. Glad I’m inside. Glad they’re inside. Best of luck, bunnies.

4:35PM/-13C

This post may go without a photo (resolved, I think), which would be a shame as this city is postcard beautiful at the moment, with more snow on the way. New computer. Having trouble with images (resolved, I think…) Anyway, not a lot of walking in the last week. It’s been dark, and I’ve been busy. No excuse, or at least, that’s what the dog says.

Last weekend was tremendously beautiful. So was yesterday. Not so much today. It’s grey and snowing. With the power-line route opened up, Whitemud Creek Ravine is accessible again. Not that it wasn’t before, it just took a lot longer. When Maggie saw no frost fence preventing her from running down the hill last weekend, she went full gallop into the ravine. I might have mentioned this already. So nice to wander around on the snowy paths along the creek. Even yesterday, the creek was still running. The water is oil black, but there is a distinct and rather delightful babble coming from the slow-moving bubbles of water visible under a thin, crystaline layer of ice. Kinda like red blood cells coursing through an artery. Except black.

Hope I can fix the photo thing soon…

-4C/12:47pm