Snowshoeing

We have about 2 feet of snow in the woods so it is a great time to get out and enjoy the winter. While snowshoeing through a paper birch forest, I saw several different animal tracks. This white pine stump endured one of the fires that burned many parts of the North Shore in the early 1900’s.

Snowshoeing

Skiing Cascade River State Park 001

The ski trails are in great shape with fresh groomed tracks.

Skiing001

Skiing Cascade River State Park 002

Cascade State Park has several giant white pines that tower above the forest around them.

Skiing002

Skiing Cascade River State Park 003

I met the groomer so I was the first person to ski in the new tracks.

Skiing003

Skiing Cascade River State Park 004

At the beginning of the trail there is a “Don’t walk in the ski tracks” sign. Apparently the deer ignore it! Deer are fun to see while skiing and I saw at least two-dozen deer walking on the ski trails. It is considerably easier than walking through two feet of fresh snow.

Skiing004

Skiing Cascade River State Park 005

Interesting things can be found while skiing. The wind peeled back the bark on this paper birch. It is easy to see why this tree is called the paper birch.

Skiing005

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

I photographed Split Rock Lighthouse with the freshly fallen snow.

SplitRockLighthouse

March Moonrise at Split Rock Lighthouse

After the wind went down the lake was calm while I photographed the March full moon.

SplitRockMoonrise