The holidays are over and winter has taken hold. Save for a passing snow plow, it’s quiet outside. Even a walk down a rocky horse trail near our home is muffled by a carpet of snow.
The woods feel like an empty park after all the kids have gone home for supper. But look a little closer and the forest will come alive.
A walk in the woods, albeit quiet, reveals footprints other than your own. Hoof prints and paw prints gather along well-worn trails, forming a labyrinth of streets and alleyways through the snow. Riley, our golden retriever, understands this. Every intersection requires a stop to check for traffic with his nose.
Entering the park yesterday we saw two whitetail deer bounding across a cornfield, their graceful leaps silhouetted against the snow. Riley wanted to meet and greet, but they had more pressing matters. He picked up their scent further down the trail, which was sociable enough for him.
You don’t have to be a dog to appreciate a Driftless Wisconsin winter. When not checking the weather report or shoveling snow, you’ll find humans congregating around friendly people and outdoor fun.
You’ll find both at the Dam Phunski, a cross country ski event at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve this coming weekend, on January 25. It offers courses for youth, juniors, and adults, with the proceeds going toward the Kickapoo Valle Reserve Education Program.
Other outdoor events at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, near La Farge, include an Ice Cave Hike on February 8. The hike will tour caves and frozen waterfalls, while participants learn more about the geology, biology, and history of the Reserve. Registration deadline is February 1.
One of Driftless Wisconsin’s most legendary winter residents, the Bald Eagle, can be seen perched in trees near dams and other open water. Prairie du Chien will celebrate Bald Eagle Appreciation Day on February 21 and22, offering live eagle and raptor programs, educational exhibits and displays, and outdoor viewing of eagles through spotting scopes.
Ferryville observes Bald Eagle Day on March 1, featuring an eagle from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, and Lois the Owl. Chloris Lowe from the Ho Chunk Nation will talk about the honored place of the eagle in the Native American culture.
We don’t need to wait till spring to enjoy Driftless Wisconsin’s outdoors and wildlife. We just have to bundle up; and look a little harder.