Today's Outing

We decided to repeat the ski trip on the lake that we did two days ago, with a few variations, concerning our coffee stop. I'd remember the milk so the coffee was more as we wanted it. I'd take paper, kindling, and matches so we could get a fire started.
Jan is fasting at the moment so she wasn't sure how much energy would be available but we actually skied nearly as far as we did the other day.
Our coffee spot is fairly close to the start of the trip so we ski by it and out along the lake until we feel we've gone far enough. Then we turn around and when we stop for coffee we know there's only about a km left to ski back to the car.
As always in these places I feel grateful to whoever set up the benches and left a firebasket there. I guess they use it themselves, but they also know others will utilise it as they go by.  We repaid them slightly by collecting some dead wood and leaving it leaning up against a tree where it won't get soggy, and leaving kindling under one of the benches where it'll stay dry.
As we were drinking coffee a small forest rat kept poking it's head out of a snow tunnel. I was eating trail mix so I left it a few nuts and coconut flakes to feast on. One has to share the bounty.
The place where the lynx/beaver drama had taken place was exactly as it was 2 days ago. The beaver hadn't returned for it's bark and hadn't been out gathering branches either. Perhaps nearly getting eaten has increased its caution!
As usual the fire kept us warm as much by keeping us moving to collect wood and working at feeding the flames (extra), as by radiating heat over us as we sat quietly! That's all part of the fun of having a fire.