Sunsteps

At this time of year, the woods are very dark under the canopy, but the sun breaks through in gaps and clearings--the first footsteps of spring appear on the forest floor.

 Here the light breaks through the boughs and needles, and the whole tree is illuminated.

The path is well trodden now; we haven't been using snowshoes for weeks, depending instead on the thick crust.

This is the dead of winter, but I think the worst is behind us. Last night's predicted chill (-27) was nothing more than -18.5.