A Skull in the forest

 A wander through the woods can reveal much about the world around you. 

Tracks and sign left by the wild ones lead to many discoveries and adventures. 

As you wander, the primitive side of you slowly comes out of hiding and reveals itself. You begin to blend into the forest and you start to feel the energy which surrounds you. 

As you shed the skin of civilization, your body begins to respond to sensory inputs which have laid dormant for far too long. Small noises now have meaning, bird song becomes a message and the tracks on the trail are the signatures of the creatures which call the forest home. 

Always enter the forest without expectations, leave fear at home, simply go for a wander and let your mind drift; the forest will do the rest. 

Blood trail in the forest

 The forest is built upon layers and layers of humus, in other words, decaying matter. 

Death is a constant and is absolutely necessary for the survival of a healthy forest. 

I have taught this simple lesson to thousands of children and adults through my career.

I have witnessed wolves hunting and killing deer, otters killing muskrats and beavers, fishers killing porcupines and a host of other predators doing what they must to survive. I see a design in this, a reason for the killing. I see the forest flourish because of it. 

When I see humans, decked out in the latest hunting attire and carrying the latest technology designed to make the kill easy, I see an imbalance, an unfair advantage.

I have killed, not for need of meat, but rather to end the misery of an animal which has been mortally wounded. I hold no ill-will towards human hunters as long as they follow the rules and hunt ethically. 

For me, all life is sacred and should be treated with respect and compassion. We are an apex predator and as such have a responsibility to act sustainably. 

When I see a blood trail from an animal in distress, I am compelled to follow. I have an innate desire to uncover the story behind the crimson writing on the forest floor. 

The wild ones follow my sled trail.

I have several trail cameras set up at strategic points within the forest which I call home. 

Seeing the tracks of the wild ones and trying to discern the animals movements and actions from the tracks is something I love to do. To have my thoughts verified or nullified by camera footage is a great way to hone my skills as a tracker. 

Deer have a tendency to yard up in the winter. Simply stated, they stay in areas which provide them enough browse for food and can be easily navigated. This is a survival strategy which has existed for thousands of years. 

White tailed deer go into a state of lowered metabolism during the cold months. This allows them to survive during a time when food is scarce.

Feeding deer in the winter raises their metabolism and can actually be detrimental if one cannot keep a constant supply of feed for the deer. The animal's will not be able to survive the winter in this heightened state if the food source is not constant. 

Deer, like us, will take advantage of hard packed trails for the simple purpose of energy management. 

The Algonquin Wolf is an expert at energy management. It too will follow the trails laid down by my sled. This animal is integral to the survival of the natural forest. It keeps the deer moving and ensures their population will not strip the forest bare of vegetation. The wolf and deer were together long before ships landed on the shores of what is now called North America. 

Next time you see a wolf print superimposed on a deer print, be assured that you are walking in a forest which is still intact and natural. 

 

Moon Light Tracking.

The forest under the gaze of the full moon is a beautiful sight. The snow glows with a blueish light and trees cast their shadows far out into the open spaces within the woods. 

I have never been able to resist the siren call of the full moon. It pulls at me as if I am tethered to it by invisible strings. 

It was minus 18 degrees Celsius the other night when I laced up my moccasins and entered the mystical world the moon had painted. There would be no need for artificial light on this hike. 

I only walked a short distance before I came across the trail of an Algonquin Wolf. The photographs in this video were taken hand-held and as such are some-what fuzzy.  

Consider yourself very lucky if you catch a glimpse of one of these intelligent mammals. I have had that very privilege several times in my life. They are very much like ghosts but they do leave tracks. 

I love to follow in the tracks of the wolf, for he has a lot to teach those that want to learn the ways of the woods. 

   

This Muskrat looks sad.

Winter has settled into Algonquin Highlands with  a cascade of snow that stole in on an east wind during the night. 

I wandered past my canoe rack and for a moment, I thought the Muskrat looked forlorn, as if waiting for spring to arrive. 

As I walked through the newly painted landscape, I pondered the time distance between the present and the spring. I found myself looking into the future without being aware of the now. 

Breathing in deeply and then exhaling,  I released the future for the present and let my mind drift as my snowshoes left notes of my passage.

The forest floated by and I immersed myself into the world of the wild ones. Feeling their eyes on me, I would stop and slowly scan my surroundings. 
I did not see another creature;however, they were there.

I know of this because on my return trip, I crossed over my own tracks. Superimposed on them were the tracks of deer, mouse, fisher and red squirrel. 
   
     

I love a fresh blanket of snow, it creates a new page upon which the characters of the forest can sign their names. 

Why do I wander?

Rain hits the canvas cover of my lodge and drips from the smoke vent. I sit staring at the fire as it devours the wood I have placed into its embrace. 

The warmth of the flames infiltrates my clothes and warms my cold skin. I stare at the smoke as it rises and escapes through the open flaps to mingle with the rain. 

I ponder a question which is asked of me often. It is normally asked with innocence and a true desire to understand the answer. 

The problem is, I do not have an answer. This short video may help to provide some insight.

What is the question? 
Why do you leave this comfortable lodge to wander far out into the wilderness where comfort is but a memory?  

I take a walk to read the lessons left by those that live in the forest.

It is late November, almost one week after the end of the seasonal deer hunt. 

I wander out into the forest to check for the tracks of animals which have survived the hunt.  

The forest is like a good book, it draws you in and makes you want to turn the next page. 

As I wander, the tracks I leave in my wake become part of the forest. 

Those same tracks become words to the animals reading them. 

I become part of their story as they become part of mine.