Kip’s Comments - January 8, 2025

Sheet Ice Wrestling - Image 937395

Outdoor Sensations in Winter

Winter aired smelled clean and refreshing as I hiked without intent in the timber.

Miles away and tens of thousands of feet overhead a lone plane crossed the sky with the faint sounds of the aircraft breaking the silence. Meanwhile an adult bald eagle sat still on a branch overhanging the river. That eagle was silent as its eyes were focused on me.

Directly around me I heard subtle noise from the wind as tapping from a red-headed woodpecker seemed to circle me in the timber. In the quiet the tapping almost sounded loud, yet it wasn’t.

Nearby, on the river, there was crunching and the sounds of glass breaking as the Wapsie maintained some areas of open water. Sheet ice would break free, float downstream, then wrestle where other free floating ice collected. River current maintained the sounds.

The “near quiet” was much appreciated as brisk temperatures tried to freeze my exposed skin. I pullled my hood up tighter to block the breeze.

Cold or not, my walk continued as I enjoyed winter along the river.