Around the Ridges of The Vermilon River. A Post to MWT and WBW.

The storm, which hit Indiana, proceeded across Lake Huron, and dumped somewhere between 16 and 25 cm of snow on us. That's between 8 and 12 inches approximately. Nevertheless, we got out despite the warning, and much before the snow, but in a different direction this time. In fact, we went to the east track area, but not using the usual trail as it's too snow clogged and steep to handle at this time of year. Remember, click the images to enlarge, and watch the slide show.

I've included a map because we're to the NW and at the front of the ridges that we're usually behind. We're on a mining road that ultimately ends up on an aboriginal reservation that has a terrific restaurant, and makes a great omelet. To help find your way on the map, the first photo is Mud Lake, showing the ridges in the background. The weather is foggy with a light wet snow drizzle. The Lake is in the foreground covered in snow.

The next Lake is Rockcut Lake, also covered in snow. But you have to be careful on these lakes, as the ice is dangerous.

The map is courtesy of MNR Canada and is a topo map. The lakes that I showed you are beside the North arrow. But the map also shows you the area Boomer and I play in. Look at all the uninhabited lakes that are behind Mud Lake, directly to the east, and the wetlands. The map is showing the ridges behind Rockcut and Mud Lake as 340 metres above sea level. That's about 1020 feet, so those ridges are high. The rail line showing to the east is used for a short distance for shunting trains, but is really abandoned, and is the trail we use to hike east, picking up other trails to take us up the ridge into Long Lake, or continuing further onto  Moose Lake. And this is only the east area. You can see the River on the other side of the town, so that's our area also.

The key when you face ridges like these is knowing where the trails are, and watching your step. I forgot to mention that the storm, after the snow passed, dragged the  temperature with wind chill down to about -29 C. Although when these photos were taken it was above zero.

This is the top of the ridge to the west, or other side of the mining road, about 380 metres or 1440 plus feet above sea level. I'll use captions now as this is a long post.

Open Water on the Lake.

Blue Jay

Female Pine Grosbeak.

Male Pine Grosbeak with Redpolls.

Pine Sisken

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

Female Pine Grosbeak

Female Hairy Woodpecker.

Female Hairy Woodpecker.

Male Pine Grosbeak.

Redpoll

Female Hairy Woodpecker.

Female Pine Grosbeak

Common Redpoll.

Blue Jay.

Male Redpoll Hiding behind a Branch.

Male and Female Redpoll.

A Post to MWT @ http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/ and WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/  Of course saying good bye is our favourite Crow, Huegy.