Redwater Brook Trail - Part 1

We were surprised with another day above freezing. I couldn't stay indoors brooding all day, so I took the dogs back to the trail we'd discovered in the autumn. It began with this bridge, spanning Redwater Brook. There may not have been much snow, but the ice was treacherous in places:

I stood on the bridge and looked out over wild, beautiful Redwater Brook, which inspired me to give the trail its name:


There were still patches of green, like this fern, which I believe was a Christmas Fern:

 And this fern, which I believe was a Hay-Scented Fern:

The dogs joyfully explored a side trail, but we didn't go far:

We did, however, leave the trail and enter the forest to do a bit of exploring. I was always careful to keep the trail in sight:

It was clear that deer frequented the forest:

We came to a grove of magnificent White Pines:


And the dogs seemed dwarfed as they raced between the big trees:

Seamus has trouble stepping over fallen trees, so he was hesitant. But when we kept going on without him, he hurried to catch up with us:

We passed by a number of blow-downs such as this one with its roots exposed, still clinging to the soil and rocks which once anchored it. I wouldn't want to be in the forest during a storm wild enough to take down tall trees:

I had intended to continue on, following the trail but not on it - until we came to this ravine, with a creek and lots of brush. That's when I decided the trail was looking mighty good again and we headed for it. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: