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?