It’s the latest dance craze, kids…
No, it’s not. Last time out in the mountains, there was so much fresh snow we decided to put on our snowshoes and take a little wander.
If I’d bothered to check the overnight temperatures, I wouldn’t have left the snowshoes in the car. But I hadn’t, so I did. Great. It was so much fun trying to strap unforgivingly stiff fasteners and clips over my clumpy boots with numb fingers. Trying to look balanced, leaning nonchalantly against a tree and reaching down and behind to fix and tighten the back strap. Of course I intended to hop left, left, left, and then right, right, right back to the tree. It’s a method. Cursing? No, that was singing, you misheard me – they were the words to go with the snowshoe shuffle.
Early season deep snow and raring to go! Raring? Might have had to stretch out a cramp or two, ease the legs back into it, and then off we go, relearning the wider stance and slightly exaggerated strides, over the railway tracks and down into the woods. (Every time we cross the tracks in snowshoes, I can’t help remembering the scene from “Stand By Me” where the boys are crossing a wooden bridge and a train comes around the corner. Not helpful…)
The woods were silent, snow hushed and pristine; white sheets marked with tracks left by snowshoe hares, and a few bird prints, although we didn’t see or hear either. The air was still, but every now and then clumps of snow would fall from tree limbs where there was just enough sun heat to prompt the drop. As we shuffled through the trees, the faint sounds of the creek and river rushing, splashing, and attempting to outrun winter could be heard.
We emerged at the confluence, enjoying the bumps, lumps and humps of a landscape putting on the first layers of seasonal finery. Fresh, textured and intriguing, almost impossible-looking in places. An early winter wonderland, enough to cause a little jig, and maybe I fell, but the landing was soft and powdery, and you could only laugh at it all.
The Bow doesn’t always freeze over, but Baker Creek will. Too early yet, but the signs were there. We saw the beginnings of a frosty, blue-white waterfall where the waters meet; icy, beautiful and brief, soon to be frozen over and buried under snow. It was something to see, and strange to think that when we return in a week or two, we’ll be able to snowshoe over the top of the creek, and closer to, if not over and above the banks of the Bow as winter takes hold.
Our snowshoe shuffle was brief, but an exciting and enticing reminder of the outdoor delights in store for the next few months. Now, if only I can remember to defrost the snowshoes before putting them on next time…
Thanks for taking the time to read this. As ever, please feel free to share a story or leave a comment, and keep your guy ropes secure.
PS As I was writing this, the song “Bad Boy Boogie” by AC/DC came into my head, only my brain changed it to “Snowshoe Shuffle” – showing my age, questionable musical tastes, odd neural pathways, and now I’m off to find the CD. Mrs PlaidCamper will be pleased.
OldPlaidCamper 
Beautiful pictures. Makes one cold to look at these photos. Glad you can laugh at yourself when you fall down.
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Very happy you enjoyed these! Although I complained about cold snowshoe bindings and numb fingers, it wasn’t that cold of a day – it’ll certainly drop a lot more! Snowshoeing is good for keeps no warm, at least if I remember to stay upright…
Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!
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Delightful wintry scenes and photos, pc. Thanks for bringing the beauty in these woods to us–the peace, the dropping snow clumps, the snow hare prints, the still-moving water of the creek. Enjoyed a smile, too, as you took a “break.” 😀
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Thanks, Jet! It was delightful to be out there, and always delightful when you visit here – much appreciated. As for those “breaks”, I take them as they come, intended or not!
Have a wonderful weekend!
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Hello PlaidCamper – thanks for the post and photos. My favourite – Taking a Break – that is definitely a snowshoe shuffle break – I can tell by the position your snowshoe is pointed. I consider myself a snowshoe shuffle expert, ha ha. (I just started to snowshoe last year. I also take several breaks!). I hope to snowshoe sometime next week. I am lucky that I have help to strap on these elegant shoes. Snowshoeing is a lot of fun. Also love the photo Blue-White – a perfect Christmas card.
Have a great week-end!
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How wonderful that you too can appreciate the grace and beauty of the snowshoe shuffle – it takes effort! We have only been snowshoeing a year or two and really enjoy it, more than we thought, and especially for discovering places hard to reach any other way.
Thanks for your visit, it is always appreciated, and have a great weekend!
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Beautiful photos.
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Very happy to share and see that you enjoy them – thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!
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Always enjoy your posts filled with adventure, humor and beautiful scenery. Especially enjoyed Inviting and Find the River. Thought of Irish music because of the snowshoe jig and holiday music for the scenery. Big fan of AC/DC, any chance they recorded a holiday song?
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Very glad you enjoyed this today, and it is always good to hear from you – thank you!
Slightly embarrassed to admit that I know AC/DC have a track on The Razor’s Edge album called Mistress for Christmas…not a highlight, and I usually skip forward (except in December – oh dear!)
Have a great weekend!
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Never did the showshoe shuffle, but I used to do a lot of cross country twist. The shuffle would be worth it, moving forward or sitting down, to get remarkable early winter photos like this. I’d even forgive those AC/DC neural tracks to have such a fine outing.
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Yeah, the cross country twist is a little too familiar – hoping I skip that dance this season! I’ll happily shuffle along, take the breaks as they fall my way, and pretend it’s all part of the plan…
Heading out this evening, and what should come on the radio but Harlem Shuffle – now why couldn’t my neural pathways have taken me there? Instead, the AC/DC cat is out of the bag (and there’s worse left in there – oh boy!)
Thanks, Walt, and enjoy your weekend.
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Beautiful photos as ever ! There is a lot a snow! Wow!
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Yes, we’ve been lucky with early season snowfall – very happy about that! Thanks, and I hope you’ve had a good weekend!
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AMAZING..!!
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Thank you! Happy New Year to you!
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You’re welcome plaidcamper..! My pleasure..! Happy New Year for you too…! : o )
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