A Winter's Hike at Whipple Dam

It was one of my Freedom Fridays, and my husband and I decided to arrange a little day trip. We went to Couch's in McAlevy's Fort for a hot and hearty roast beef sandwich lunch, then headed to Whipple Dam for a winter afternoon's hike.

Whipple is a place where we spend lots of time during the summer months - to be honest, it's my favorite swimming hole - but we seldom go there in winter. The main road in did not have its snow removed, so we all had to go in the "out" road, hoping all the while that we didn't meet someone heading in the opposite direction.

The snow had been plowed from some portions of the park but not others. A Jeep attempted to go up one of the unplowed roads, but spun out and had to back down. This winter, believe me, is not for sissies.

The lake is mostly frozen over, but the ice is not firm or deep enough for safe walking, ice skating, or fishing. The snow surface there was not so slick as it has been at our house, and we were able to walk on some of the lake trail. (In winter, you go back to basics: remember the simple pleasures of merely walking without slipping or falling on ice?)

The photo above shows one of the little pavilions scattered around the park, nestled among the evergreens. They were built during the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) days. You can reserve them for picnics and other activities, but on this day, they were all deserted. There were only three or four of us in the entire park.

We stayed a few hours and hiked and sat and simply looked at things. It seems so different here now, so barren and desolate. It has its own simple beauty in this season, covered in snow.

We were heading up the hill on route 26 for our drive home, when I looked out the window into the woods and saw a huge bird on a tree branch. My brain said HAWK! but it was not a hawk. It was the biggest owl I've ever seen! I wish I'd had my camera out, but I saw it just for a few seconds before we were past it. Yowza! (In gratitude to this day: thank you especially for the owl.)

There is another little part to this day's story. The little gray neighbor kitty, Stryker, came visiting and spent much of the day. He was on the porch when we left, and he was lying there napping when we got home.

When he greets you, the gray kitty likes to stand as tall as possible and stretch his paws all the way up your leg, flexing his claws. (He's very good at Hello.) That's just what he's doing in the photo in the extras. :-)

The soundtrack song is for the photo above: Chicago, with Song of the Evergreens.