Although I enjoyed this snowshoe outing into the forest east of Timber Lake, it is not going to make anyone’s recommended lists. The intent (in late winter) was to drive over to the Timber Lake area and hike up into the hills above on routes we have snowshoed before. there had been no winter logging in the area so the road was somewhat snowed in so I parked and just made up my own route instead. I followed a skid track to a glade, then just went through open forest, plantations, cut blocks, up and down ridges, looping around with no particular destination in mind. Mostly I saw trees and snow.

I was pleased to go through a marsh, winding through the rushes and reeds, watching yellow water rise into my snowshoe prints.

Snow and trees, trees and snow, stumps, branches, snags, and tracks in snow drifts… This photo was taken from a glade looking into the sun, then digitally modified to get the effect I was hoping for.

If we just stop to see the forest, we can enjoy the sun on the snow, shadows in the trees, snow-covered shapes, and subtle shades of color.

There were many tracks in the snow, mostly deer, snowshoe hares, and squirrels, and this one with the trail dragging behind the feet.

We head out into the high country forest all winter, not worrying about trails, high points for a view, or any particular planned route. We end with small discoveries only of the forest covered in snow.