Virus vacation???

We were supposed to go to South Dakota for Easter to see Arly's ailing mother then swing up to see Sandy's folks in northern MN, but the virus roaming about the country ended those plans.  Sandy still had to take her vacation so we made the most of it, working on house projects and of course going for hikes and skis.

We got a little snow Monday so Arly got the Boss out.
 I'll supervise.

What is the Kelpie doing on the left?

Having a face rub. Oh that feels good!

The Goldfinches are real hungry since they are changing color.
The bird on the left is a migrating Junco.

For Easter Sunday, we watched the service on Zoom.
No need to fix your hair when attending church from home!

We have been out for long skis and hikes.
After that, we do get tired.

One of the many long-procrastinated home projects underway.

We hiked at Quincy Mine one day, and as always we had
 to make sure the train engines were still there.
Why can't every day, be a vacation day?

Poor Rock Abbey trails snowshoe hike

On Wednesday, the pack headed up to snow shoe the Monk's trails on a pleasant sunny day. This quaint little system of hiking paths was built by the Poor Rock Abbey which is located down the road, on the shore between Eagle River and Eagle Harbor. Gromit stayed back to watch the house, since she had to rest a sore leg.

Sun exposed areas are bare and dry.

But overall the snow cover remains quite good up here.

Which way are we going today?

We checked out the loop by the cemetery which ended up
 being an out-and-back.

Next we went to see the falls.

Soon we can have a picnic here!

OK let's head up-stream now.

Water's up but not really roaring.

Although the roar of the torrent makes me nervous!

And of course we checked in at the Arnold Mine ruins.
This mine operated from 1860 to 63.

Lots of creek crossings during this little hike.

The monk's trout pond.  In the summer, we do see fish here.

Maybe next time I'll take a swim.

We really did need snowshoes for this hike.

We had such a nice romp here today!

Swedetown Creek gorge adventure

On Tuesday, since the pack is still on a "stay-cation", we got out for an afternoon adventure at the Swedetown Creek gorge. Ya, we would have still been in central South Dakota to visit Arly's folks and family, had the corona virus not descended on the world.

As usual, all-paw drive trumps the many devices
the 2-leggeds need to navigate on snow!

Hey! Wait for me!

The creek is up some, but not to epic proportions.
We are standing on Nonesuch Shale that's 1.1 billion years old.

OK let's get back on the trail!

Arly made me jump up here....  He says I need more training!

Hey, I guess it's a pretty good observation perch!

One of the footings for the Middle Bridge.
The other one is buried and not visible.

Oh the noise from torrent makes me very nervous!
Too bad this bridge wasn't reopened after the flood.
I would have! Guess no-one listens to a Kelpie.

Here we're safely away from the torrent. We're glad!

Up Sidewinder we go.
The leaves on the snow sure had an artsy look today.

Puppies like to hunt off-trail, then get back on to zoom along.

Older mutts don't mind just staying on the path.
We had such a nice romp today!

Lake Ste Kathryn and Deer Marsh Trail check

We checked the web cams near Lake Ste Kathryn and seen darn little snow down there.   This location (south of Sidnaw) is quite a ways from the big lake, so lake effect snow does not fall there. Also, temperature variations are much greater down there, than up closer to the lake.   So we thought we might be able to do some early season work on the NF trails we clear there.    This will be a photo heavy post.

Even the younger less smart, trail mutts know tools
are being loaded.

Still good snow cover in our yard.

We parked at the north most trail head. Let's go!

I stop for a drink, while Sandy pulls dead-fall off.

Hey!  What are you guys doing back there?

We enjoyed the view from the platform.
Not really any birds seen here today.

Oh dear, that blaze was just put up late last fall.
Why would they put them on dead trees?

Most of the down trees were still quite buried,
so we couldn't do much work here anyway.

Thin snow cover at a few spots.

Water was flowing under the puncheon bridge.

Some spots were ski-able. The overnight low here was 12,
so crust was pretty hard in the morning and walking was OK.

Even old mutts feel giddy in the spring.

We spied some funny tracks made across the road.
We asked our buddy Steve who thinks they are otter.

Later the crust was softer, so the 2-leggeds put their snow shoes on.

Although they didn't need them all the time.
All-paw drive is so much more versatile!

Ya, as expected, many dead spruce are down.

Hmm....blue blazes?

This whole section hadn't been re-blazed. Oh well.

Arly doing a little tool-less trail work.

When we stopped by the camp ground, we found this parked,
with evidence of having been there for some time.
Sheltering in place at camp, perhaps?
Hopefully not a fisherman under the ice...

At the headwaters overlook, we heard an angry
Sand Hill crane fly off, cackling at us all the while.

Ya he was circling around, keeping an eye on us.
As the puppy took another snow bath.

I recommend it!

The puncheon bridge by the road is plugged up beneath
it again, so water and debris is washing over the top.

More fun obstacles!

Back at the trail head, we take a break in the shelter.

We had such a nice day on the Deer Marsh Trail!
When can we come back?