When I have the opportunity to spend part of a day in the woods, there are several goals that I could pursue. If the day is right after a fresh snow I might have winter landscape photography as my primary activity. At other times I might be more interested in testing some new outdoor activity equipment, whether it be a knife, packable stove, shelter tarp, snowshoes, or anything else. Another goal might be to see what new vistas I can find or perhaps reacquaint myself with a piece of woods that I haven’t visited in some time. Sometimes I might just need some time alone in nature or may be curious about that changes winter has caused in the woods that I know well. No matter the aim, it is always good for me to spend time in the woods.
I am fortunate in that the property where I live is bordered by a large forest that is owned by a timber company. I have permission to wander in the timber company woods as long as I avoid doing so in hunting season. There are also three tracts of state forest comprising a total of over ten thousand acres that are very close to where I live. One state forest area abuts the timber company land. There are many convenient locations with varied terrain that I can access easily and wander to my heart’s content. Some of the properties are patterned with dirt roads or hiking trails but in winter these access methods are usually covered in snow and the roads at least are unusable. That means that fewer people will also be in those woods and I usually have the location all to myself. If the snow is deep enough, often no other person will be encountered.
When there are fewer people in the woods, I will often have the opportunity to see more wildlife. Birds such as chickadees, woodpeckers, blue jays, turkeys, cardinals, crows, ravens, and so many more are usually abundant because they seem to sense I am not a threat. The smaller birds are much more concerned with the various raptors (predator birds) than they are with a slow moving earth bound human. Larger mammals like deer, foxes, and coyotes are considerably more wary so it is always a joy to view one and possibly even to take its photograph. When the snow is deeper and softer it is often easier to see these animals because my approach is quieter, even on snowshoes.
A woods wander is not considered a success or failure if I do or do not see wildlife. There is no way to predict whether birds and animals will be present or moving over any given piece of ground. I almost always measure success by simply getting out into the woods. Testing a piece of gear or taking some photographs is a bonus in my book. My primary purpose is to walk through the woods, view whatever may be there, and enjoy my time outside. The first goal is to walk outside, and to my mind, the woods is the most pleasant place to do that. While I do have some favorite locations where I return regularly, any wooded area will bring joy to me.
I have enjoyed wandering the woods year-round for most of my life. There is something very special during each season of the year but sometimes I think I enjoy winter the most. It is a time totally different from the other three seasons, perhaps because it is when there are fewer people in the woods. The quiet is so pervasive and relaxing that you can almost hear the snow falling. Certainly, the air appears clearer and it is bracing in its coldness. There is much to see after the deciduous trees drop their leaves, and it is easier to see longer distances. Consider spending more of your outdoor time wandering the winter woods. It just may become your favorite time of year.