...Sunday afternoon ski tour

Mrs. Huffy navigates the downhill portion of the trail.
Emily tromps through the snow on her blue snowshoes.

Emily peers around Mrs. Huffy on the trail.

The skier and the snowshoer move along the trail.

What could be better on a Sunday afternoon in January than a ski tour around the campground loop at Captain Cook State Park? Not much was our answer, so we packed up our gear and made the short drive to the park. We strapped on our skis (and snowshoes) and took off for a foray through the snow just as darkness was beginning to fall. The woods were quiet as we cut through the crust and across the tracks of spruce grouse, snowshoe hares, moose, and lynx. Emily pointed out all of them and Gabby gave them her best nose work sometimes following them into the woods.

We made it around the loop once and Emily announced that she was "running out of energy." We got a good laugh out of that and headed for the truck. After all, the snow was deep and took extra effort. But, it was worth it and fun to go on a...Sunday afternoon ski tour.

...a cold walk

Mrs. Huffy models her face mask.
Emily all bundled-up for the walk.

Mrs. Huffy walks across the ice of Island Lake.

Emily walks on our snowshoe trail.

The layers Liz wore: primary layer, insulating layer, liner gloves, mittens, face mask, fleece hat, and down parka.

It's been cold. Really cold. Minus 20 degrees cold.

But the sun was out and it was difficult to think of wasting it, so we bundled up and headed outdoors for a walk. The snow was crunchy and the air crisp. When we stepped onto the ice of Island Lake our breath hung in the air as we tromped across the cove and out toward the island. Ice fishers were clustered around the edge of the lake and the exhaust from their vehicles formed clouds on the ice. We were glad to be moving. It would have been painfully cold to be standing still in the open air above a hole in the ice.

It didn't take long before we were over the island and making our way back toward our snowshoe trail through the woods. Gabby ran in all directions and didn't seem fazed in the least by the temperature. She was glad to be out of the house. And, so were we. Even though it was...a cold walk.