February 2, 2025: Pond Hockey is Back on the Bay

Last weekend it was airplanes on the lake; this weekend it's hockey.  And after being moved to Lake Waukewan the past two years due to lack of ice on the big lake, it's back on Meredith Bay.  26 simultaneous rinks of hockey games means you have be on constant lookout for pucks flying from every direction - it's an exciting event.  We went by twice on Saturday and it was a quite scene with activity taking over the entire downtown area.  We didn't stop to check out the action, so I have no current pictures but these photos from a prior give you the idea.

It's great entertainment for a winter weekend, and it's nice to be able to grab a hot coffee or a snack out on the ice.  The games continue through 1:00 today, so it's not too late to check it out.

Now let's check on creatures even more wild than hockey players.  The fresh snow this week provided good opportunity for tracking; I had a fun time following this bobcat trail through the forest.

Where the snow was thin the bobcat left nice clear footprints.

The delicate round shape of bobcat print - no nails, and a puff where the cat's thick fur brushed the snow.

Tracking can be a challenge though when a two foot tall cat passes easily beneath the branches of thick stands of young hemlock that are nearly impenetrable by a human.  If you follow a bobcat trail long enough you'll almost certainly come to a spot where the hunter stopped for a rest, usually at a prime viewing point with a wide perspective to watch for something to come along and ambush.

A nicely protected, sunny spot for a cat nap,

With a wide view, yet hidden from its prey by a blind of branches and a fallen tree.

This bobcat brought me near one of my favorite porcupine ledges so I took a trip over to see if they've been active.  Porcupine tracks in deep snow are easily distinguishable because their short legs mean the animal just plows its way along through the snow leaving a trench.  Right now it's not very deep, so you can make out individual footfalls in the trench.

A porcupine track leading up into the ledge.

Porcupines prefer a habitat of steep ledges - with lots of caves and crevasses which they use for hideouts and dens - and well populated with Hemlock trees, a reliable food source all year.

Another porcupine trail at the base of the ledge.

There's a spot on the trunk of the tree at the right side of the above photo where all the bark has been stripped off (though this obviously isn't a hemlock).  Mr. Porky probably clung to that trunk and happily gnawed its way around, eating the bark and the cambium underneath.

A tree girdled by a porcupine.

It's easy to follow their path to see where they went for the night - or just a nap.

Down into a small cave in the ledge.

It's always a revelation when you think you are far away from civilization following an animal track, yet you come across this:

Barb wire sprouts from the center of a Red Oak.

It's a reminder that humans had domesticated almost every acre of central New Hampshire in days past.  And the growth of the tree since the barb wire was fastened to it gives you an idea of just how long ago that was.

Cold air, fresh snow, thick ice, sunny days - it all makes for great weather for all types of winter activity.

Fresh snow on a trail waiting for a pair of skis or snowshoes.

If you're looking for a snowshoe trip with a guide to lead the way, sign up for the Meredith Conservation Commission's guided tour of Page Pond Town Forest on February 22nd.  You can find details here.  But next on the winter schedule is the Great Meredith Fishing Derby on February 8th and 9th!